Robert Kirby
CHANNELVISION
Any television documentary bearing the name Cliff Bestall is sure to be of distinctive quality. Last week’s Special Assignment was no exception, an extended programme about the so-called numbers gangs that conduct a reign of terror in South African prisons.
Any details of the daily brutalities dished out by the gang members has to be hearsay. Not even the most arrogant among them is going to conduct a cell murder or take part in a gang rape when there’s a television camera hovering. But you got the impression that, given the chance, any one of these ferocious darlings would be only too happy to demonstrate.
All they could do was recite what they’d done, how many they’d killed or maimed, all but which actual pieces of their victims’ hearts they’d eaten. It was hard to determine where the truth stopped and the braggadocio began, but there was no doubting that some of South Africa’s “correctional institutions” are all but fully controlled by their inmates.
The bulk of the documentary was devoted to an interventionary experiment that took place recently in Cape Town’s Pollsmoor prison. A specialist in “conflict resolution” was brought to the prison and given monitored access to some of the gang leaders and enforcers. She persuaded them to take part in a series of workshops where by means of group therapy they might be guided under gentler lights.
The results were impressive and demonstrated merit in the oblique approach. If the gangsters’ boastings were only half true I tend to the old-fashioned belief that the best thing would be to take the lot of them out and shoot them. Here were signs of an alternative to such effective and economical remedy.
Behind their elaborate facial tattoos the Pollsmoor seniors all looked a bit sheepish, at the end they held hands, smiled and talked about this welcome and overdue change to their lives. The worst of the monsters actually squeezed a tear of remorse for the 14 notches he’d carved on his soul prison murders conducted at his behest. Whether these new and humane attitudes will stay imbued once the reformed are again immersed in the harsh realities of prison life is, of course, the obvious question.
The documentary was notable for the professionalism and sheer class of its production. Script and narration by Allan Little had insight and was articulate. How rewarding to see that proficient English still has a tiny place on local TV. It was revealing, one evening last week, to note the difference in the treatment of the same news story by e.tv news and that reliable old lapdog, the SABC. The story concerned the mayor, Bavumile Vilakazi, of the East Rand metropolitan council of Ekurhuleni or, as he’s wryly nicknamed, Mr Big Spender.
e news gave a detailed list of mayor V’s abundances, to include R500 000 spent on his inaugural party; R480 000 on refurbishments to his offices; R468 000 on “personal protection” that’s an awful lot of condoms and his proposed but now shelved plans for an armoured limousine at the fire sale giveaway price of R560 000 Along with a few other mayoral essentials, Vilakazi’s buying spree came to a tad more than R4,5-million.
On the SABC news, however, such spendings were hastily glossed over and no details were given. Instead the time was used to let this fine civic leader explain that the purchase of the armoured limo had been aborted and that otherwise he was blameless. Once he’d added the obligatory line about having the people’s interests deep at heart even while robbing them blind, the SABC departed.
It was encouraging to see how the African National Congress’s minor leaders are emulating the inspiring example of the now-R408-million 10-seater luxury airliner being acquired for our state president’s personal use.
That evening SABC news also ignored what must be the most alarming news item of the past six months. On e.tv, though, Minister of Defence Mosiuoa Lekota sounded off about the need for a second arms review. Apparently the first R50-billion one isn’t going to suffice. They need to order a lot more. That should have brought on an attack of the trembles in even the most slavish of news editors.
Not so up at the SABC. They were too busy doing a snow job on that paragon of injured probity, Allan Boesak. With a steady flow of donor money still pouring in he’s in urgent need of another high-ranking political appointment.
“In the ANC?” I hear you ask. Where else?