Prison Journalism: Relationships and trust in prison

Prison Journalism: Relationships and trust in prisonDavid van Nek was incarcerated in Pollsmoor Prison from 2013 until 2015 and participated in the restorative justice programme.

by David van Nek

18-12-2023 10:09

in Prison Journalism

Prison

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There was this lady who worked at the CMC board; I liked her the moment I laid eyes on her, and she noticed my affection. They called her Miss N, and she worked alongside Mr. S, who enjoyed my company. He once bought me a pig's head, and when I returned to my cell, my entire group ate it, leaving everyone with full stomachs.

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The Special Bond with Miss N Returning to Miss N, during my time in prison, she made me feel special. I was in C-section, Room 4, Cell 3, working as an office block cleaner. Along with other guys, including Lisa, I would stop by her office to clean it and other offices shared with Mr. S. Miss N and I got along well. This was a time when I owned six pairs of sneakers and wore new clothes every day. I felt it was essential not to disappoint myself, especially regarding this lady. Initially, I thought she was older than me, but it turned out she was around my sister's age, which pleased me.

Kindness and Support in a Harsh Environment Miss N was very kind to me; she would bring blankets, pillows, sneakers, white t-shirts, and long-shirts. There were times she would ask the others to stay back, allowing only me to clean her and Mr. S's office. She would sign me off at 3:00 PM. I later saw another side of her and wished I could have married her. Because of her, they started calling me King D. I was known for being smart, clean, and neat.

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Dealing with Trust and Financial Transactions In the prison cell, other inmates would lend sneakers to me and my working mates, and sometimes they would borrow money from me. I was cautious with money, lending only to those I knew could repay.

The Fragility of Trust in the Prison System In prison, trust is a rare commodity. Even outside, trust isn't easily given. Some inmates make it through, while others don't. Some have been stabbed with knives brought in by the same warders. The officers were primarily interested in money. They were involved in serious business, including drugs and weed, and were on the payroll of both criminals and the law.

ALSO READ: Prison journalism: Power and Survival in Prison

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Surviving the Prison Hierarchy I worked well with the captain or my lady at the office; they understood me. In prison, especially as a member of the 28s, you must be cautious. You start with your group - they are like brothers - and may help others like the 26s and 27s, but you must never be coerced into doing something against your will. Some inmates would give you short knives, and you had to be vigilant. This is the nature of prison life, where trust is a scarce resource and survival a constant challenge.

DISCLAIMER: Submission published as received

RESTORE is an NGO based in Cape Town, South Africa, providing inmates at Pollsmoor Prison with restorative justice opportunities.

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