Prison Gangs and Sexual Violence: Centre of the Study of Violence briefing

Meeting report

CORRECTIONAL SERVICES PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
1 March 2005
PRISON GANGS AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE: CENTRE OF THE STUDY OF VIOLENCE BRIEFING

Chairperson:

CSVR briefing: "Daai Ding" - an exploration of sex, sexual violence and coercion in men’s prisons

SUMMARY
The Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (SCVR) reported that the predominant sexual relationships in prison were coercive and violent. These relationships were structured according to gang codes. In order to remedy this, the issue of overcrowding would first have to be resolved as the ability of warders to control overcrowded prisons was too difficult. The Committee asked for clarity on certain issues as figures presented by the delegation had contradicted those in previous presentations.

MINUTES

Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation briefing
Ms Sasha Gear, a CSVR researcher, related that there were three main relationship types in which sex took place in prisons. These were man and wife ‘marriages’ that tended to involve rape and coercive sex, ‘uchincha ipondo’ which tended to be consensual, and others which were understood to included gay people. In ‘marriages’, the ‘husbands’ exercised extreme power over their ‘wives’. Newly arrived first-time offenders, economically vulnerable offenders, physically weak offenders and good-looking offenders were typically vulnerable. Some warders had offered protective cautions to prisoners and others were directly involved in sexual abuses. Complaints of rape and sexual abuse were rarely given official attention. The only certain remedy for an inmate who has been labelled a ‘woman’ to ‘redeem’ himself, was through committing an act of violence.

Mr Jonny Steinberg, another CSVR researcher, stated that there was a continual battle for authority between prison gangs. These gang wars had ‘spilled over’ on to the drug economy on the streets and therefore a measure of control had been lost by the internal inmate structures. In order to control these gangs, it should be understood that any attempt to destroy these gangs had been unsuccessful in the past and would be in the future. This was due to prisoners serving longer sentences. The more overcrowded a prison was, the harder it was to control and the more powerful role these prison gangs had on the streets. He suggested that the best way to deal with these gangs would be to ‘tame’ them by minimising or eradicating their most feared form of control - sexual violence - and for the authorities to regain control of prisons by reducing overcrowding.

Discussion
The Chairperson asked why the research and projects had not been expanded to all correctional institutions. Ms Dissel answered that the lack of resources made this difficult.

Mr J Selfe (DA) asked if there were any prisons in South Africa where no gangs existed, and what were the factors that resulted in higher prison gang activity in the different regions. Mr Steinberg answered that he would be surprised if there were any prisons where no gang activity was present.

Mr E Xolo (ANC) asked if sexual violence occurred in women’s prisons. Was it possible to identify corrupt officials aiding the rape of inmates? Ms Dissel answered that sexual violence was indeed present in women prisons. Mr Steinberg added that warders were intimidated into assisting the prison gangs.

The Chairperson stated that the misinformation given by prison officials denying the existence of prison gangs would be taken seriously

Mr M Moatshe (ANC) asked about the reaction of the authorities to reported rapes and if mechanisms were in place to follow up on these reports. Ms Dissel stated that policies around the issue were blurred and that no support structures existed.

Ms L Chikunga (ANC) asked if it would be possible to extend their work to other regions to scientifically prove the existence of gangs there. She asked about the prevalence of rape in prisons. Ms Dissel answered that no quantitative information was available. These practises were widely prevalent.

Mr C Burgess (ID) asked how the sexual experience and desires of inmates should be dealt with. Mr Steinberg suggested that perhaps the answer was not to ‘eradicate’ sex, but to alter the power certain inmates held over others in these relationships.

Mr Molefe (ANC) suggested that a closer look should be taken at policy to deal with these ‘human desires’.

Mr S Mahote (ANC) asked if any of the recommendations in this research had been implemented. Mr Steinberg replied that the research suggested that overcrowding resulted from many of long-term sentences. Long sentences were not as strong a deterrent to criminals as the certainty of being caught.

The meeting was adjourned.