As the high-profile Wainstein trial enters a critical phase, prosecutors are preparing to call expert witnesses to decode the cryptic numerical language and slang used by alleged gang members to conceal criminal activities a linguistic code that forms a key part of the state’s racketeering ca
The trial, unfolding in the Western Cape High Court, centers on alleged underworld figure Jerome “Donkie” Wainstein, who stands accused alongside several others of running a vast criminal enterprise involving extortion, drug trafficking, and targeted assassinations.
In court filings submitted this week, state prosecutors outlined plans to present linguistic experts, gang intervention specialists, and former gang insiders who will testify about the secretive numerical system used by syndicate members a coded dialect that has long puzzled law enforcement and complicated surveillance efforts.
“It’s not just about what they say, but how they say it,” one senior prosecutor explained. “A simple number or phrase could translate into an order to collect money, issue a threat, or even carry out a hit. Understanding this coded language is crucial to unpacking the inner workings of the syndicate.”
Among the terms expected to be analysed in court are combinations like “26 for eyes,” “28 for justice,” and numeric patterns that represent territorial claims, ranks, or criminal responsibilities all tied to the subculture of notorious prison gangs that extend influence far beyond prison walls.
This linguistic element is expected to be a cornerstone of the state’s argument that Wainstein was not merely a peripheral figure, but a central orchestrator of coordinated gang activity.
The defence, however, is likely to challenge both the credibility of the gang “decoders” and the interpretation of such slang as evidence of criminal intent. Wainstein’s legal team has consistently denied the charges and dismissed the trial as “a politically charged spectacle rooted in unreliable testimony.”
Legal experts say the outcome could set a precedent in how South African courts handle coded gang language, especially in organised crime cases where direct evidence is often scarce.
“The prosecution is effectively asking the court to treat language even numbers as a form of conduct,” said Advocate Leila Naidoo, a Cape Town-based criminal law analyst. “That’s legally complex, but not impossible, especially if they can establish patterns and corroborate them with witness testimony.”
The trial continues later this week with the anticipated testimony of a former gang member turned state witness, who is expected to decode several intercepted messages allegedly sent by Wainstein and his co-accused.