A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF GANGSTERISM IN SOUTH AFRICAN CORRECTIONAL CENTRES: THE CASE OF BARBERTON MANAGEMENT AREA by SARAH LETTIE NEL submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of MAGISTER TECHNOLOGIAE in the subject CORRECTIONAL SERVICES MANAGEMENT at the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA SUPERVISOR: DR P MUTHAPHULI FEBRUARY 2017 DECLARATION Name: SARAH LETTIE NEL Student number: 36885320 Degree: MASTER OF TECHNOLOGIAE Exact wording of the title of the dissertation as appearing on the copies submitted for examination: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF GANGSTERISM IN SOUTH AFRICAN CORRECTIONAL CENTRES: THE CASE OF BARBERTON MANAGEMENT AREA I declare that the this dissertation is my own work and that all the sources that I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references. ________________________ _____________________ SIGNATURE DATE Dedicated to my late sister, Helena Jacobs (nee Botes) (Liekie) who was gifted, but passed away at a young age. i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My sincere thanks and appreciation to: Our Heavenly Father for giving me the wisdom, guidance and courage to further my studies. Dr. Phumudzo Muthapuli, my mentor and supervisor, for your professional guidance and patience. Correctional Services Area Commissioner Barberton: Mr. B.K. Fakude and Staff Support Mr. S.A. Nkosi for granting me permission to conduct the research. Thank you to my colleagues, friends, participants in my research, and family members for all your support, interest and motivation. My family deserves to be mentioned by name, Jan (my husband), Lienkie (Helena)(daughter), Milla (Merlè) (daughter) and Monalisa (Monique)(daughter), thank you for all your loving support and encouragement. ii ABBREVIATIONS ACA – Affordable Care Act AIDS – Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome APHA – American Public Health Association CBO – Collateralized Bond Obligation CCTV – Closed –circuit Television CMAX – Maximum Prison in Pretoria CPT – Committee for the Prevention of Torture CSPRI – Civil Society Prison Reform Initiative CSVR – Centre for the Study of violence DCS – Department of Correctional Services DG – Director General HIV – Human Immunodeficiency Virus IC – Integrated circuit ID – Identification Document IJS – Integrated Justice System JCPS – Justice Crime Prevention System iii MC – Master Chart NCPS – National Crime Prevention Strategy NGO – Non-governmental Organization NIA – National Intelligence Agency NICRO – S.A. National Institute for Crime Prevention and the Reintegration of offenders NPA – National Prosecuting Authority PMC – Prisoner Member Committee POW – Prisoners of War SAPS – South African Police Service SAS – Statistical Analysis System SC – Smile Columbia STAT – Statistics STG – Security threat group STI – Sexually Transmitted Infection USA – United States of America iv ABSTRACT Prison gangs are currently rife in South African correctional centres. Correctional officers and fellow offenders are frequently attacked by gang members, facilities are damaged and inmates are injured or killed in fights or during fires in correctional centres. Severe gang violence occurred at the Polls moor and Rustenburg correctional facilities at the end of 2016 and inexperienced correctional officers lacked the expertise to suppress the violence. This state of affairs necessitates further study into the management of prison gangs. Given the above background, this study aimed to examine how correctional facilities can suppress gang activity. The study provides an overview of the history of gangs in South Africa and shows how community gangs spread to prisons. This is followed by a meticulous documentation of the different elements of gang culture by means of observation in an effort to arm future correctional officers with knowledge regarding gangs. The findings of the observation revealed that gangs each have a unique way of greeting, using hand gestures, tattoos and verbal greetings. These communicative acts can be used as part of a strategy to prevent new offenders from becoming involved in gang activity. The observational research was confirmed by means of qualitative research. The experiences of gang members were examined by means of questionnaires to better understand the dynamic. The qualitative study was conducted at four correctional facilities, namely a maximum, medium A and medium B facility and a town youth facility. These different facilities ensured that all age groups were represented. Questionnaires were distributed to offenders who voluntarily consented to participating in the research. The literature study showed that South Africa has good legislature and policies in place, but that they have to be implemented more strictly and that the correctional officers have to be empowered by an increase in human resources and funding. In addition to capacity building, the strategic framework presented as part of the study suggests that supervision of gang members should be sharpened by for instance reconsidering the lay-out of correctional facilities. Gang members should be involved in rehabilitation programmes, which are frequently available, but not implemented. Correctional officers should be trained to manage v gang members and legislation and policies should be revised frequently, as criminals tend to adjust their modus operandi continuously. The suggested framework can be of great value to the Department of Correctional Services, as managing gang activity in correctional centres can greatly change the efforts of the department to rehabilitate offenders. Key words: correctional services, gangs, offenders, gang cultures, correctional centre, rehabilitation. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................ II ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................................................... III ABSTRACT V CHAPTER 1: BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY ........................................................... 1 1.1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 1 1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT ..................................................................................... 3 1.2.1 Overcrowding ......................................................................................................... 4 1.2.2 Violence .................................................................................................................. 6 1.2.3 Sodomy and sexual abuse ....................................................................................... 6 1.2.4 Escapes ................................................................................................................... 8 1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS .................................................................................... 8 1.4 AIM OF THE RESEARCH .................................................................................... 9 1.5 MOTIVATION FOR THE RESEARCH ............................................................. 10 1.5.1 Scientific value ..................................................................................................... 10 1.5.2 Value for the administration of Correctional Services in South Africa ............... 10 1.6 DEFINITION OF KEY CONCEPTS ................................................................... 11 1.6.1 Gang ...................................................................................................................... 11 1.6.2 Sentenced offenders .............................................................................................. 11 1.6.3 Correctional Centre ............................................................................................... 12 1.6.4 White Paper on Corrections .................................................................................. 12 vii 1.7 RESEARCH METHODS ..................................................................................... 13 1.7.1 Research design .................................................................................................... 13 1.7.1.1 Qualitative research .............................................................................................. 14 1.7.1.2 Quantitative research ............................................................................................ 14 1.7.1.3 Population ............................................................................................................. 14 1.7.1.4 Sampling ............................................................................................................... 15 1.7.1.5 Data Collection ..................................................................................................... 16 1.8 VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY ........................................................................ 16 1.9 LAYOUT OF THE THESIS ................................................................................ 17 1.10 SUMMARY .......................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. CHAPTER 2: THE HISTORY AND CAUSES OF PRISON GANGS IN SOUTH AFRICA ..................................................................................................... 19 2.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................ 19 2.2 THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN PENAL SYSTEM AND CORRECTIONAL CENTRES DURING DIFFERENT PERIODS .................... 19 2.3 THE HISTORICAL ORIGINS OF GANGS IN SOUTH