Gang members use prisons as refuge from street wars, Madlanga commission told
The strategy depends on the gang member having connections with prison gangs.
The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry heard on Thursday that some street gang members intentionally commit crimes to secure a place in prison during heightened violence between rival gangs, according to Correctional Services National Commissioner Makgothi Thobakgale. Thobakgale testified at the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College in Pretoria, providing insight into the connection between street gangs and prison gangs, and how criminal networks can persist even when members are incarcerated.
He stated that prison does not halt criminal operations, as 243 facilities house approximately 167,000 inmates and are serviced by around 18,000 correctional services officials. The motive behind this behavior, Thobakgale emphasized, is the illicit economy, which includes drugs, human trafficking, and extortion. Gang members often flaunt their affiliations through tattoos and other indicators, and they cannot deny their gang status unless instructed to do so or face specific tasks within the correctional setting.
The presence of street gang members inside prisons has become more common, creating a direct link between street and prison gang activities. Thobakgale explained that gang culture historically thrives on violence to establish authority and rank, and some gang members can instruct juveniles to commit serious crimes, such as murder.
The relationship between street gangs and prison gangs is not informal, as criminal organizations use prison structures to advance their interests, allowing criminal activities and gang influence to continue even when members are behind bars.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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