International Journal on Criminology Volume 3, Number 2, Fall 2015 | Page 56

Organized Crime Behind Bars
“From today, you are no longer a frans. You're a 28. You do not insult your
brothers. You do not wrong them. You never do anything that might harm your camp
[gang]. And if you desert, you will do so at the price of your own blood.” 144 This was
corroborated by a “general” of the Airforce Gang of South Africa, before the High Court
of Pretoria. Francois Van Staden, 145 39 at the time, had been incarcerated for the first
time at fourteen years of age and had spent most of his life in prison. He admitted
having “executed” one of his “soldiers” who had behaved as a “rat” He revealed to the
authorities that his “superior” had a pass, which opened all the doors of the facility. “We
charged him with treason. There is only one sentence and that is death—he poisoned
our organization. That was my role” said Francois Van Staden. He had to wait three
years before the “execution” could be carried out as the victim, who felt threatened, had
been transferred to another facility.
Note that although he considered himself leader of the gang in his prison, he
recognizes that he would have been killed himself if he had not carried out the sentence,
and that he even regarded the victim as a close “friend.” He added, showing the Court
the “flag” tattoo of the gang on his ankle: “The only way out of the gang is in a coffin.” 146
As an illustration, a cleaner at the juvenile detention center in Pollsmoor prison,
formerly a leader of the 28s, subsequently worked with the center's administration to
report potentially dangerous situations. He was stabbed by inmates who saw him as a
“sell-out, to be eliminated.” 147
The expression of loyalty and fidelity required of members is also a form of
protection of the organization against attempts at infiltration by undercover agents or
informants. The blood criterion for membership removes any doubt about the applicant,
and confirms his credibility in the eyes of the leaders: “...when a member has killed, he
will not reveal to the authorities acts of violence he has seen.” 148
Initiation rites always involve violence. One inmate describes his recruitment to
the 28s thus: “I answered the question correctly then they told me that to join the gang
I had to stab a white guard. They told me when the knife would come, how I should go
about it and what I should do next.” 149 Under these conditions, as long as the perpetrator
is neither arrested nor recognized, this act definitively binds him to the organization for
which he did the deed. 150
144
Steinberg. Nongoloza's Children, 22.
145
iafrica.com, November 19, 2002.
146
South African Press Association (SAPA), November 19, 2002.
147
Correctional Services Portfolio Committee, Department of Regional Commissioners, Briefings
August 27, 2004 (http://www.png.org.za/docs/2004/viewminute.php?id=4372).
148
Walker, Robert. Gangs Or Us. 2003. www.gangsorus.com
149
Steinberg. Nongoloza's Children. 28.
150
Maughan, Karyn. “Gang Initiation Drove Man to Edge of Reason.” Cape Argus, March 26, 2004.
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