The controversial execution of former gang member Stanley "Tookie" Williams in California in 2005 crystallises the polarised debates about contemporary street gang memoirs, which have been variously demonised in the media as Violent and sensationalist or by contrast, praised as offering a pedagogic and preventative anti-gang stance. Williams was simultaneously a death row inmate and Nobel Peace Prize nominee. My project analyses this cycle of gang memoirs which commenced in 1993, focusing on the bestseliing works or two African Americans, Williams and Sanyika "Monster" Shakur, and one Mexican American, Luis J. Rodriguez, exploring these contradictions both within the memoirs and in their reception.

In hierdie studie word die ses Suid-Afrikaanse gevangenisbendes vergelyk met vyftien bendes uit oorsese lande of streke, tw. Amerika, Sentraal- en Suid Amerika, Kanada, Nieu Zeeland en Brittanje. As basis van vergelyking dien hul Oorsprong, Ontstaansdoel, Geslags- en Etniese samestelling, Eienskappe, Gesagstruktuur, Uitkenningstekens en Metodes van kommunikasie. Die verskillende bendes word ook vanuit Penologiese oogpunt beoordeel. `n Spesiale hoofstuk word gewy aan die uniekheid van die sogenaamde "Nommerbendes", tw. die 28, 27, 26, 25, 24 en 23 bendes. Verskeie aspekte soos die ontstaan, rituele en geheimhouding word volledig onder die soeklig geplaas. In die bespreking van die Nommerbendes word `n groot verskeidenheid geheime inligting vir die eerste maal geopenbaar. Die studie word afgesluit met enkele aanduidings van terreine wat roep om verdere navorsing. `n Vyftal bylaes dien om sekere aspekte van die navorsing en gevangenislewe verder toe te lig. / In this study the six South African prison gangs are compared to fifteen prison gangs from foreign countries, namely America, Central and South America, Canada, New Zealand and Britain. The comparison is based on their Origin, Original aim, Gender and Ethnic make-up, Characteristics, Authoritative structure, Gang identifiet·s and Methods of communication. The different gangs are then evaluated from Penological viewpoint A chapter is specially dedicated to the uniqueness of the so-called "Number Gangs", i.e. 28, 27, 26, 25, 24 and 23 gangs. Difierent aspects, such as their common origin, rituals and secrecy, are carefully described. In the discussion of the different Number gangs a large variety of secret information is exposed for the first time ever. The study concludes with some indicators for possible further research. Five Addenda serve to elucidate certain aspects of the contents. / Penology / M.A. (Penology)

In hierdie studie word die ses Suid-Afrikaanse gevangenisbendes vergelyk met vyftien bendes uit oorsese lande of streke, tw. Amerika, Sentraal- en Suid Amerika, Kanada, Nieu Zeeland en Brittanje. As basis van vergelyking dien hul Oorsprong, Ontstaansdoel, Geslags- en Etniese samestelling, Eienskappe, Gesagstruktuur, Uitkenningstekens en Metodes van kommunikasie. Die verskillende bendes word ook vanuit Penologiese oogpunt beoordeel. `n Spesiale hoofstuk word gewy aan die uniekheid van die sogenaamde "Nommerbendes", tw. die 28, 27, 26, 25, 24 en 23 bendes. Verskeie aspekte soos die ontstaan, rituele en geheimhouding word volledig onder die soeklig geplaas. In die bespreking van die Nommerbendes word `n groot verskeidenheid geheime inligting vir die eerste maal geopenbaar. Die studie word afgesluit met enkele aanduidings van terreine wat roep om verdere navorsing. `n Vyftal bylaes dien om sekere aspekte van die navorsing en gevangenislewe verder toe te lig. / In this study the six South African prison gangs are compared to fifteen prison gangs from foreign countries, namely America, Central and South America, Canada, New Zealand and Britain. The comparison is based on their Origin, Original aim, Gender and Ethnic make-up, Characteristics, Authoritative structure, Gang identifiet·s and Methods of communication. The different gangs are then evaluated from Penological viewpoint A chapter is specially dedicated to the uniqueness of the so-called "Number Gangs", i.e. 28, 27, 26, 25, 24 and 23 gangs. Difierent aspects, such as their common origin, rituals and secrecy, are carefully described. In the discussion of the different Number gangs a large variety of secret information is exposed for the first time ever. The study concludes with some indicators for possible further research. Five Addenda serve to elucidate certain aspects of the contents. / Penology / M.A. (Penology)