The Kimberley Correctional Facility (KCF) was established in 1989. The purpose of this facility was to facilitate the successful rehabilitation of drug addicted, convicted youths. The instruction to the Head Master and his wardens were very clear. They either leave clean or they don’t leave at all. They had introduced a very modern and revolutionary rehabilitation program. However, the results were not that great, only about 40% of the youths were successfully rehabilitated. The others usually left in the ambulance, mostly to be taken to the mortuary due to overdose or other related incidents.
What had started out as a good and noble project had turned into the dumping ground of not only the local courts, but also of courts all over South Africa. Most of the wardens were ex war and navy veterans, tough guys who had seen it all and wanted to run a clean ship. This obviously led to numerous confrontations between the wardens and the inmates, resulting in very tense relationships between the two groups.
Five years after being opened, Paul Jackson, the head of the South African Department of Correctional Services was faced with a delicate challenge. Should he close up this obviously failing facility, or keep up appearances and leave the problem for the next guy? Community leaders were however starting to question the practices of this facility, and he would need to make some sort of decision soon.
Chapter 1
24 September 1994. At last! Graduation day. The day that all the students had been waiting for. Jake Brown was like a bottle of champagne, ready to explode. Police College had been tough on him, especially since he grew up in a very anti violence community. However, he knew that this was his calling and what he had been born for, of that he was sure. As he walked towards the parade ground to join his fellow students for the graduation ceremony, he couldn’t help but to start reminiscing about the past three years in college. How he had started experiencing life in a more intense way than ever before. How he was confronted by the other side of life he had always read about but never experienced. And how he had realized that this was his calling in life.
As the students lined up on the parade ground, a silence fell over the group. The South African Heads of Police and of Correctional Services were preparing to deliver their speeches. As the group came to attention, the two gentlemen thanked them for their courage and vision to step into this service. They made some display of the successes achieved by the South African Police & Correctional Services. Jake was in awe of all of this, drinking it in and enjoying every moment thereof. Soon after this, the diplomas and official SA Department of Police & SA Department of Correctional Facilities badges were handed over to the students.
Jake was thrilled as the two larger than life leaders shook his hand and empowered him with these special badges and diploma. After the ceremony, the students went to their parents, who were all waiting to congratulate them. Jake’s father, Pastor Frank Brown, gave his son a huge hug and a kiss, to Jake’s embarrassment. “Well, son,” his father said, “it’s great to have another member of our family serving the community. I hope these two old goats didn’t faze you too much. They’re politicians, son, remember that. But you’ll find out soon enough what it’s like when you start getting your hands dirty.”
As they were speaking, Paul Jackson came over to them. “Hey, Frank,” he said, “I didn’t know that your son had joined our services? I’m pretty sure that we can do with some people of faith in our environment!” “Well you know Paul, its lead by example, I guess,” Frank replied. Jake was stunned. How did his father and this big brass guy know each other? He and his mother started walking to the car as the two older men continued their conversation.
On the way home to his parents’ house in Menlyn, Jake’s father explained to him how he and Paul Jackson were friends since college days, and how they had actually kept on corresponding with each other for all these years. His father also explained to him about the challenges men like Paul had to face in their career, especially since they had to keep the community, the political leaders and themselves happy.
Chapter 2
His name is Joe DiMaggio. Joe the Blade Runner is what his enemies and clients called him in the Cape Town Underworld. But on 15 August 1994 Joe made a vital mistake. He ignored several warnings and was caught by the cops in a drug dealing trap.
Although only 15 years old, he had been dealing and using drugs since he was 9. His father had left him and his mother and 2 sisters to cope on their own as he left the country to go back to Italy. Joe grew up hungry and bitter. He soon learned the trades of the street, and was driven by the passion to provide for his family and to proof himself. He was hugely successful, but he made one mistake too many.
The judge was very sympathetic towards him, and decided to send him to KCF. Joe however was distraught. He knew that this was a hellhole, a place of no return. Even the toughest kids on the street feared KCF. And now he was doomed to go there.
Chapter 3
A week after the graduation ceremony, Jake Brown received his official notice of being posted to the Kimberley Correctional Facility as Deputy Warden. He has never heard about such a place in his life. However, working at a correctional facility was his first choice as indicated when he enrolled at the college.
That night, his father was horrified when he heard where his youngest son had been posted. Paul Jackson has shared his worries about this facility with Frank, and Frank knew all about the hatred between the wardens and the inmates. However, Jake was convinced that he would not be sent to a place if he was not destined to go there. His boyish enthusiasm overwhelmed his father, who grudgingly gave his doubtful approval.
As Jake started packing for the bus trip to Kimberley, he had a distinct feeling that somehow, there is a change in life about to happen.
Chapter 4
It was in these surroundings that Jake Brown started working as a young Deputy Warden.
Nothing could have prepared him for this. The circumstances were desperate. The supposedly correctional facility was more like a war zone. The wardens had the upper hand. But the inmates also had rival gangs within the facility. And the place was filthy and very unhygienic. No wonder the rehabilitation program was not working. The place was not fit for any normal person to live in.
Jake was much younger than the other wardens. Some of the older inmates were almost his age. And being raised in a loving, caring home, his heart wept for these broken young men. He so desperately wanted to help them, but he knew that his powers as a newcomer were extremely limited.
After the first month, Jake realized that there were two leaders in the facility. The Head Master and Joe the Blade Runner. He realized that the only way to get this facility remotely functional again would be to get the support of both these men. And after his first month, Jake was sick of all the venom and hatred that was going around the facility.
One morning, Jake woke up with a novel idea. He was going to start a special achievers club. It would be called the Drifters Club, since all the inmates seemed to be drifters – drifting along in life, without any direction or purpose. The only prerequisite for this club would be that the members had to be successfully rehabilitated from the use of drugs. And the Drifters Club members would be taught by him to play soccer. They would have the freedom of getting out of the facility to go and practice from time to time.
Jake raised this idea with the Head Master. He was very sceptical about the idea. He thought that by opening the facility to these soccer outings, it might create a way to escape. But Jake wouldn’t give up. After a couple of week, the Head Master relented.
And behold, the Drifters Club was established.
Chapter 5
Soon after arriving at KCF, Joe DiMaggio decided that he would need to make things go his way in this joint. So soon after his arrival, he had convinced some of the other inmates to form an alliance with him to strengthen their position in the facility. Of the 420 inmates, about 280 had joined his group – the Blade Runners. This gave him considerable power in the facility. He ruled his group through fear and promises of what they can achieve together.
The remaining 140 inmates were split into two groups – the Rehab group, about 40 members, and the Seniors group, about 100 members. The Rehab group were the successfully rehabilitated inmates, and the Seniors were the older inmates who had been there since the facility was opened.
After Jake’s arrival, he and Joe only met once. Joe had marvelled about such a young guy making a conscious decision to come and work in such a place as KCF. Certainly there were more to life than this?
Nevertheless, Joe’s days were filled with drug dealing and extortion. They had a regular inflow of drugs via certain corrupted medical officials. These drugs were traded inside the facility for cash and certain favours. This was his trade, and this was what he excelled in.
Then one morning at the breakfast meeting, the inmates were introduced to the Drifters Club. The purpose of the Club was explained – to give special recognition to the inmates who had succeeded in the rehabilitation program, and to form a soccer club. Therefore, only the 40 members of the Rehab Club will be initial members. And Jake would be the program leader and coach.
Joe was astounded. This could not be for real? The minority group was now going to get the best treatment and freedom! He was also taken aback by his feeling of admiration for Jake. No one has done anything for the inmates before. And he really seemed to be such a likable guy. He even sort of felt like he might be able to relate to this guy. Well, be it as it may, he decided to be right in front for volunteering for the next rehabilitation intake.
But Joe was in for a surprise. The program could only accommodate 30 inmates per month, and preference was given according to your period of detention. Since there was a sudden rush for the program, he was dismayed to hear that he would only be accommodated in 2 months’ time.
Joe felt that he was losing control. Suddenly his group was not the strongest and most appealing group anymore. Being a sharp and streetwise guy, he realised that the only sensible tactic would be to become a member of this new group and to take over the leadership of that group.
Chapter 6
The Drifters Club was a huge success. Suddenly the inmates had some goal to work towards. A soccer field was actually prepared next to the facility, and Jake even got a sponsorship for soccer gear for the teams.
Although initially sceptical about this whole project, the Head Master and other wardens later admitted that it was a stroke of genius. The morale was much higher, the tempers lower, and the overall atmosphere in the facility was much lighter than when Jake arrived. Everyone was gaining from this new project.
And then it happened. The day of the big confrontation. 12 April 1995.
One morning, as Joe got out of bed, his right leg was lame. He just couldn’t move it at all. The doctors came in and took him to the medical facilities. After thorough tests, it was established that the leg had gone lame due to the low grade of drugs which Joe had been using. Not much they could do – he’d have to start getting used to hopping around on crutches, they informed him.
Joe was distraught. Not only was he now going to be physically impaired, but it would mean that he would not even be able to join the coveted Drifters Club soccer team. And his group would laugh at him – probably would call him the Blade Hopper!
That same morning, Jake had received a message from his father that he was doing some special prayer time for Jake – he had a prompting in his spirit that his son was entering a war zone.
It was 5pm when the inmates of the facility gathered for the evening meal. The wardens guarded the doors while the inmates moved inside to take up their seats at the tables. As Joe came into the room, he was feeling very depressed and frustrated with his situation.
And then he saw Jake, about ten metres away, being his friendly self towards the inmates and his fellow wardens.
Something broke inside Joe. He just couldn’t handle it any more. He hopped towards Jake and lunged himself at Jake. Jake had seen him coming, but he was taken aback by the attack. Fortunately, Jake was a strong and fit young man. He easily unscrambled himself. “You think you’re so smart,” Joe wailed out loud. “Look at me. My leg has given in on me. What am I to do? I will never be able to play in your team. You took everything from me!”
Jake felt a sudden rush of compassion for this poor boy. He had nothing in life. No family, no nothing. Only pain and bitterness. The other wardens were ready to take Joe out of the room, but Jake stopped them.
The rest happened as if in slow motion. Jake came forward, knelt next to this poor broken boy, and like he saw his father doing it so often, he started praying for the healing of Joe’s leg. Everybody froze. Even the wardens couldn’t move. And as Jake finished his prayer, he stood up, took Joe’s hand, and pulled him up. Joe was awestruck. His leg was fine! It was working! He jumped around, and then the full impact of what had happened dawned on him. He fell to the ground, sobbing and weeping, crying to God for forgiveness for all his wrongs. Once again, Jake knelt next to him, this time praying the sinner’s prayer with Joe.
As Jake stood up, the inmates were ganging up around him. “Hey mister,” one said, “please pray for me too!” And as Jake started praying for him, the Holy Spirit fell on every one in that room. The inmates and wardens were all kneeling down on the ground, sobbing and weeping as they realised their sinfulness and as they opened their hearts to God. Jake took each one by the hand and prayed with them. Burdens were released, years of bondage were broken. And every person in that dining room accepted Jesus as their Saviour.
By 6am the next morning, they were still praying and rejoicing in the room. The Head Master had arrived that morning, only to find all the offices and sleeping quarters empty.
In alarm, he phoned the mayor and the National Head of Correctional Facilities, Paul Jackson. Paul in turn informed Jake’s father. By 8am, the major, Paul Jackson, Pastor Frank Brown and the media arrived at the KCF. As they entered the premises, their ears were suddenly filled with the sound of singing. As they followed this, they came into the dining room, where every one was still busy praising the Lord. Revival had broken out in the KCF. When they came to the Head Master, he listened to them in unbelief. He had been too scared to look further around the premises.
Epilogue
The KCF turned into a model rehabilitation facility. The Head Master volunteered his early retirement, and Jake Brown became the new Head Master as of 01 May 1995.
Joe DiMaggio became the Captain of the Drifters Soccer Club. The Drifters became the SA National League Champions in 1997. They retained their position for several years.
In 2001 the Drifters became the first non National team to play in the Africa Soccer Cup.
In that year they won the Africa Cup with a penalty shootout against Egypt. The winning goal was kicked by the captain Joe DiMaggio.
Joe DiMaggio has since been employed by the SA Department of Correctional Facilities.
He is happily married and has 2 daughters and a son. His son’s name is Jake.
In South Africa today security plays a vital part in any business or private home. This book and the volumes to follow, will guide you step by step through the essential precautionary measures to be taken in protecting your family and valuables. From employing security guards, evacuation of your site and security measures to burglar bars and alarms in your private home.
a Book compiled by me from experience gained after 10 years in the security industry as Industrial relations officer with Nosa qualifications, 1st Aid, fire protection and also S.O.B. grade A.
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