Guards push dagga for salaries

POLOKWANE – A correctional services warden makes more money by smuggling marijuana to offenders than what he or she earns in salary.

This was according to a high ranking member of the 28 gang, who spoke to Review on condition of anonymity. The 28 gang operates inside the correctional system in South Africa, but is acknowledged outside.

The interview with the gang member came after a warden at the Polokwane correctional centre was arrested for possession of marijuana at the Polokwane Correctional Centre on Thursday August 7.

The warden appeared in the Polokwane magistrate’s court the next day and was released on own recognisance. He was suspended from duty and a disciplinary hearing is pending against him. He will appear again on September 15.

The gang member explained how smuggling in the correctional centre took place: “We start with small talk to get to know the kind of person that the warden is.

“We do it subtly so that they do not catch on that we are trying to figure out what their circumstances are; information we can use to our advantage to get them to smuggle things in for us.

“There are some wardens who refuse, but others are more than willing because the money is good. There is a lot of money in jail, and wardens who work with us earn double their salaries like this. The minimum fee for one delivery is R500, depending how many goods they bring in,” the gang member explained.

He added that if a warden did not want to play along, they were “persuaded” to do so by gang members outside the correctional centre.

“The warden gets paid by the person who gives him the dagga outside, but there are some offenders who prefer to give the warden the money once he delivers the goods. The delivery is done easily, because the warden and offender communicate via cell phone at all times. When the warden brings the stash, he calls the offender to let him know where he hid the goods so that he can collect it,” the member explained.

According to the gangster, a warden was not allowed to cross over to other gangs, and could only work for one gang.

“Number one rule, a warden is not your friend. They will never snitch on us because there is no way they can do that without implicating themselves. If a warden is caught dealing with more than one gang, he or she will be stabbed. They know this from the start. But it’s not just dagga that wardens smuggle in; anything we want, we get. Be it alcohol, cell phones or weapons,” the gang member said.

A warden, who spoke to Review on condition of anonymity, confirmed there was a lot of money in prison and that it took a person with guts and a strong personality who refused to stray from his or her morals and not fall into temptation.

“Offenders are very clever and they have a lot of time to plan how they are going to pull you in. They are very smooth operators and it all starts with small talk before they ask you to help them with their illegal operations. I have been approached many times, but to me it is not worth it. I have a family to take care of.

“Work is scarce and for me to risk losing my job over dirty money is not worth it. It might start with dagga, but later you will be in so deep you will smuggle in weapons and those weapons can be used against you,” the warden said.

He advised other officials not to get involved in such dealings and to never trust an offender or befriend them.

“Try to keep it professional. Listen to their complaints and requests and try to help them according to the department’s regulations, which will help with their rehabilitation. This will help with peace and order in the prison,” the warden said.