Just more than 4000 women are imprisoned in South Africa. Only 2.6% of our prison population are women. Photo: Armand Hough
It lies at the foot of Muizenberg Mountain, tucked away between the Steenberg wine fields and the mystical Tokai forest. Notorious for its “Numbers Gangs” and as unforgiving as the Cape of Storms once were. Pollsmoor Maximum Security Prison. Photo: Armand Hough
The prison's gangs, the 26s, 27s, and 28s, are collectively referred to as "The Numbers". The groups are loosely affiliated with one another, each having its own hierarchy, leadership, and function within the whole. The 26s secure money via gambling and smuggling. The 27s serve as gang enforcers. The 28s are the soldiers for all three groups, and deal with procuring and keeping sexual partners or "wyfies". Photo: Armand Hough
Some of South Africa’s most dangerous criminals are held in Pollsmoor Prison. The prison has a staff of 1278 and the capacity to accommodate 4336 offenders, but the current inmate population is over 7000. This figure fluctuates daily. Photo: Armand Hough
A prisoner in transit shows the gang hand signal of the 27 gang, known for bing killers. On a daily basis, about 300 prisoners are booked out to appear in various courts around Cape Town. Photo: Armand Hough
Pollsmoor Prison is a major maximum-security correctional facility in Tokai, Cape Town, known for high overcrowding rates, its historic anti-apartheid figures, and recent security crackdowns. Photo: Armand Hough
Inmates from Pollsmoor Prison take a ride on the back of a bakkie while doing community service. It was quite unusual to see prisoners in orange jump-suits walking the streets of Gugs around the Tembaletu School. Luckily they were under close guard. The Department of Correctional Services dedicated a team of officials, inmates, and parolees to a back-to-school cleaning and maintenance program at Tembaletu Special School in Gugulethu. This initiative is part of the Department's community outreach efforts to support educational institutions and ensure they are fully prepared for the 2025 academic year. Tembaletu Special School is vital in providing essential education and services to learners with special needs. Photographer: Armand Hough
Pollsmoor Prison is a major maximum-security correctional facility in Tokai, Cape Town, known for high overcrowding rates, its historic anti-apartheid figures, and recent security crackdowns. Photo: Armand Hough
Pollsmoor Prison is a major maximum-security correctional facility in Tokai, Cape Town, known for high overcrowding rates, its historic anti-apartheid figures, and recent security crackdowns. Photo: Armand Hough
Inmates from Pollsmoor Prison pick litter up while doing community service. It was quite unusual to see prisoners in orange jump-suits walking the streets of Gugs around the Tembaletu School. Luckily they were under close guard. The Department of Correctional Services dedicated a team of officials, inmates, and parolees to a back-to-school cleaning and maintenance program at Tembaletu Special School in Gugulethu. This initiative is part of the Department's community outreach efforts to support educational institutions and ensure they are fully prepared for the 2025 academic year. Tembaletu Special School is vital in providing essential education and services to learners with special needs. Photographer: Armand Hough
An ex-inmate shows me his pistol in the back of a police car. It was quite unusual to see prisoners in orange jump-suits walking the streets of Gugs around the Tembaletu School. Luckily they were under close guard. The Department of Correctional Services dedicated a team of officials, inmates, and parolees to a back-to-school cleaning and maintenance program at Tembaletu Special School in Gugulethu. This initiative is part of the Department's community outreach efforts to support educational institutions and ensure they are fully prepared for the 2025 academic year. Tembaletu Special School is vital in providing essential education and services to learners with special needs. Photographer: Armand Hough
Many women are imprisoned for theft rather than violent crime. Photo: Armand Hough
Inmates from Pollsmoor Prison take a ride on the back of a bakkie while doing community service. It was quite unusual to see prisoners in orange jump-suits walking the streets of Gugs around the Tembaletu School. Luckily they were under close guard. The Department of Correctional Services dedicated a team of officials, inmates, and parolees to a back-to-school cleaning and maintenance program at Tembaletu Special School in Gugulethu. This initiative is part of the Department's community outreach efforts to support educational institutions and ensure they are fully prepared for the 2025 academic year. Tembaletu Special School is vital in providing essential education and services to learners with special needs. Photographer: Armand Hough
Members of the South African National Defence Force were deployed in Tafelsig today to assist the South African Police Service in tackling crime in the area. The deployment forms part of a nationwide operation authorised by Cyril Ramaphosa, aimed at stabilising crime hotspots, including parts of the Western Cape affected by gang violence. In Tafelsig, soldiers are expected to support police through patrols and search operations, with the goal of restoring safety and strengthening law enforcement efforts on the ground. Photographer: Armand Hough
Members of the South African National Defence Force were deployed in Tafelsig today to assist the South African Police Service in tackling crime in the area. The deployment forms part of a nationwide operation authorised by Cyril Ramaphosa, aimed at stabilising crime hotspots, including parts of the Western Cape affected by gang violence. In Tafelsig, soldiers are expected to support police through patrols and search operations, with the goal of restoring safety and strengthening law enforcement efforts on the ground. Photographer: Armand Hough
One person has been knocked down and killed, and four police officers were injured in Kraaifontein this morning, where police are on the scene attempting to quell violent protests. Public Order Policing members were deployed on Wednesday morning to maintain law and order in Cape Town areas where violence erupted during protest action. It is reported that thousands of protesters are demonstrating in Wallacedene, Kraaifontein, where police had to open fire on them. Pictures from the scene also showed that a police armoured vehicle ploughed off the road damaging three structures, leaving four officers injured. Photographer: Armand Hough
Members of the South African National Defence Force were deployed in Tafelsig today to assist the South African Police Service in tackling crime in the area. The deployment forms part of a nationwide operation authorised by Cyril Ramaphosa, aimed at stabilising crime hotspots, including parts of the Western Cape affected by gang violence. In Tafelsig, soldiers are expected to support police through patrols and search operations, with the goal of restoring safety and strengthening law enforcement efforts on the ground. Photographer: Armand Hough
Police used stun grenades and arrested two SAFTU members, Andre Adams and Nadine Adams. South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) planned a motorcade protest to Parliament but was stopped by police. The motorcade was going to start at Kaizersgracht to Parliament via City of Cape Town Offices. Photographer: Armand Hough
A large group from PAGAD G-Force and the EFF marched through the streets of Beacon Valley in Mitchell's Plain to demand a stop to gang-related shootings and drug dealing in the area. They were escorted by Public Order Police, POP SAPS. Photographer: Armand Hough
Police escorted a family to safety after their vehicle was attacked by protesters in the Crossroads area in Nyanga. The Taxi Strike death toll rises after a motorist allegedly fired shots at assailants who were pelting cars with stones on Monday morning. One person died, and three other people sustained injuries. Another person was shot dead and a vehicle set alight at the N2 Borcherds Quarry Road turn-off in Nyanga in a separate incident. Last week the SA National Taxi Council (Santaco) in the Western Cape declared a taxi strike in reaction to the City of Cape Town’s implementation of the newly amended traffic by-law, which has seen taxis impounded. So far nine Golden Arrow buses have been torched since the strike started on Thursday, while on Friday night, a Law Enforcement Advancement Plan officer (LEAP) was killed in Nyanga. Motorists traveling on the N2 Highway are advised to seek alternative routes and to expect severe delays during this week as multiple road closures and public violence have been reported across Cape Town so far. The United Kingdom has also issued a travel alert for its residents following a wave of violent protests in the city of Cape Town. Photographer: Armand Hough
