History of the number
The history of the numbers gang differs from gang to gang, however, there are a few agreements between the different gang members. The 28’s believe in Nongoloza and the 27’s believe in Kilikijan. The time differs as to when the groups actually got together, however, it has been mentioned that it was sometime between 1880 and 1890.
The two were migrant workers looking for work at a local mine, where Po, a nomad, had seen them and discouraged them from working at the mines. Po had discovered that many of the black youth would go into the mines and would die. Po found that the black workers were treated inhumanly and worked in poor working and living conditions. Po taught the two boys how to rob coaches and black mine workers and how to live a life of crime. Po then found 15 other young men to join the different groups and thus, Nongoloza had 7 people in total in his gang and Kilikijan had 8. The two gangs worked separately, Nongoloza at night and Kilikijan during the day. At one time Po instructed Nongoloza and Kilikijan to go to buy a steer at a local farm, but when the farmer refused to sell them the steer they stabbed him and stole his steer. With this, Po instructed the men to drink the blood of the animal and keep certain body parts, which to this day are seen as icons in many gang tattoos and in the constitution.
With the cow hide, the 2 men were instructed to use the blood to write the constitution on a rock and then use the blood to write on the inside of the cow hide. The rock was given to Kilikijan and the hide to Nongoloza. However, during one of the robberies, one of Kilikijan’s men dropped the rock and it broke in two, one part going into a river. They now only had half of the laws. However, one day the two groups decided to work together. Before they went out, Nongoloza said he was not feeling well and asked Kilikijan if one of his members could stay behind to look after him. When Kilikijan and the rest of the gang returned, they found Nongoloza having sex with this other man. Kilikijan was furious, he and Nongoloza began to fight. Po heard the commotion and came down to sort it out, when he found out what happened, he instructed the 2 men to go to the nearest mine and see if men do sleep with other men. This was found to be true and thus the 28’s see sex with males a normal and natural thing. With this Kilikijan told his gang member to move to Nongoloza and thus the 28’s and 27’s were formed.
They say 2 is for the two men (Nongoloza and Kilikijan) and the 7 and 8 is the total amount of members there were in the gang. After the 2 men split ways, Nongoloza and Kilikijan continued robbing mines, coaches and migrant black workers. Once the two members were caught and arrested they eventually met in a Durban Prison, this was around 1907/1908. This is where the 26’s were formed. Nongoloza tried to take the 6 men for himself as his sex slaves, however, once Kilikijan told the 6 men what Nongoloza does, they refused and began their own gang. There was major conflict between the 26’s and 28’s and thus the 27’s were used as a mediator between the two groups.
During the apartheid era in South Africa, racial inequalities and segregation was a common site. The numbers gangs felt that they were not being looked after properly in the prisons and thus fought for equality and improved prison conditions. They wanted to work against the Boere who oppressed the prisoners. It was here that Nongoloza began working in the prison kitchen and today all around South Africa, only 28’s work in the kitchen, while the 26’s work as cleaners in the prisoners.
The two were migrant workers looking for work at a local mine, where Po, a nomad, had seen them and discouraged them from working at the mines. Po had discovered that many of the black youth would go into the mines and would die. Po found that the black workers were treated inhumanly and worked in poor working and living conditions. Po taught the two boys how to rob coaches and black mine workers and how to live a life of crime. Po then found 15 other young men to join the different groups and thus, Nongoloza had 7 people in total in his gang and Kilikijan had 8. The two gangs worked separately, Nongoloza at night and Kilikijan during the day. At one time Po instructed Nongoloza and Kilikijan to go to buy a steer at a local farm, but when the farmer refused to sell them the steer they stabbed him and stole his steer. With this, Po instructed the men to drink the blood of the animal and keep certain body parts, which to this day are seen as icons in many gang tattoos and in the constitution.
With the cow hide, the 2 men were instructed to use the blood to write the constitution on a rock and then use the blood to write on the inside of the cow hide. The rock was given to Kilikijan and the hide to Nongoloza. However, during one of the robberies, one of Kilikijan’s men dropped the rock and it broke in two, one part going into a river. They now only had half of the laws. However, one day the two groups decided to work together. Before they went out, Nongoloza said he was not feeling well and asked Kilikijan if one of his members could stay behind to look after him. When Kilikijan and the rest of the gang returned, they found Nongoloza having sex with this other man. Kilikijan was furious, he and Nongoloza began to fight. Po heard the commotion and came down to sort it out, when he found out what happened, he instructed the 2 men to go to the nearest mine and see if men do sleep with other men. This was found to be true and thus the 28’s see sex with males a normal and natural thing. With this Kilikijan told his gang member to move to Nongoloza and thus the 28’s and 27’s were formed.
They say 2 is for the two men (Nongoloza and Kilikijan) and the 7 and 8 is the total amount of members there were in the gang. After the 2 men split ways, Nongoloza and Kilikijan continued robbing mines, coaches and migrant black workers. Once the two members were caught and arrested they eventually met in a Durban Prison, this was around 1907/1908. This is where the 26’s were formed. Nongoloza tried to take the 6 men for himself as his sex slaves, however, once Kilikijan told the 6 men what Nongoloza does, they refused and began their own gang. There was major conflict between the 26’s and 28’s and thus the 27’s were used as a mediator between the two groups.
During the apartheid era in South Africa, racial inequalities and segregation was a common site. The numbers gangs felt that they were not being looked after properly in the prisons and thus fought for equality and improved prison conditions. They wanted to work against the Boere who oppressed the prisoners. It was here that Nongoloza began working in the prison kitchen and today all around South Africa, only 28’s work in the kitchen, while the 26’s work as cleaners in the prisoners.
Which number?
Once sentenced by the South African Department of Corrections (DOC), the prisoners are classified into 3 different categories. These categories are either economic offense, sexual offence or a crime of violence. According to the category the prisoner is classified under, will depend on the number gang he will join.
Pollsmoor prison
Pollsmoor prison is located in Cape Town South Africa, the southern tip of the African continent. It is the most violent prison in South Africa and has the highest number of prison gangs. It is at this prison, that the numbers gang are thriving and are at its highest population.
Map of south africa
Pollsmoor Prison is found in Cape Town, which is at the bottom left of the map.