Gangsterism on the Cape Flats: a Challenge to 'Engage the Powers'

Page 1 of 7 Original Research Gangsterism on the Cape Flats: A challenge to ‘engage the powers’ Author: One of the most pressing issues in the urban ghettos of the Cape Flats is that of gangsterism 1 Nadine F. Bowers Du Toit and the discourse of power and powerlessness that is its lifeblood. Media coverage over the Affiliation: past two years was littered with news on gangsterism as the City of Cape Town struggles to 1Department of Practical contain what some labelled a pandemic. It is a pandemic that is closely tied to a deprivation Theology and Missiology, trap of poverty, marginalisation, isolation, unemployment and, ultimately, powerlessness. Faculty of Theology, The latter concept of powerlessness and its interplay with these factors constituted the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa main thrust of this article as it explores the concept of power (and powerlessness) as deeply relational with the economic, psycho-social and spiritual dimensions. It is proposed that Note: Kingdom power challenges the status quo within such contexts and offers the church an This article forms part of the special collection on alternative framework within which to engage prophetically. ‘Doing urban public theology in South Africa: Visions, approaches, themes and practices towards a new Introduction agenda’ in HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies The issue of gangsterism1 came close to home recently when a young mother was killed in a gang- Volume 70, Issue 3, 2014. related shooting on the corner of the road where my parents live in Retreat on the Cape Flats. In The collection is the result a news report of the same week it was reported that: ‘Statements from police, emergency services of the project ‘Urban Public Theology’, which was and community police forums show that at least 17 people have been killed in just 16 days from initiated by the Institute for 5 January until Tuesday, 21 January’ 2014 on the Cape Flats (News24 2014). All these deaths were Urban Ministry but later gang-related; it appears as if there is a full-scale gang war raging on the Cape Flats2 in which expanded to include several academic departments and children, youth and even the elderly are the victims. Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu recently institutes at the University of mourned the violence on the Cape Flats and called on communities to make a concerted effort Pretoria (UP) and University to ‘create an earthly chorus of undeniable protest’ (Tutu & Tutu 2014:15). Although gangsterism of South Africa (UNISA). The leading centres in this is a national phenomenon, Western Cape gangs are much more sophisticated and are believed regard were the Centre for to account for almost 70% of all crime in the Western Cape (Kinnes 2000:5). Well-known gangs Contextual Ministry (UP) on the Cape Flats include the Hard Livings, the Americans, Sexy Boys, Yuru Cats, Junky Funky and the Research Institute Kids, Corner Boys and Naughty Boys.3 Although it is hard to determine the exact membership of for Theology and Religion (UNISA). Cape Flats gangs, it has been estimated at between eighty thousand and one hundred thousand (McMaster 2007:279). The power wielded by these gangs often cripples communities in areas such Correspondence to: as the Cape Flats, and it is evident that this power is multifaceted in nature. For the purpose of this Nadine Bowers Du Toit article I will be focusing on the relatedness of issues of power and powerlessness within the context Email: of gangsterism from three perspectives: its socio-historical roots, psychosocial understandings of [email protected] power and powerlessness within this context, and the issue of power through a theological lens. Postal address: This analysis will critically engage the work of the influential theologian Walter Wink. In the final 171 Dorp Street, part of the article, I will explore how theology and praxis4 could meet in ‘engaging the powers’ Stellenbosch 7600, within the context of gangsterism through the public witness of the church. South Africa Dates: Gangsterism on the Cape Flats Received: 15 May 2014 Accepted: 06 Aug. 2014 The historic roots of gang activity on the Cape Flats Published: 20 Nov. 2014 The roots of gang activity in the vast urban ghetto that is the Cape Flats are deeply rooted in socio- How to cite this article: historical factors and highlight the contrasts of a socially and economically fragmented city. This Bowers Du Toit, N.F., 2014, urban wasteland had been earmarked as places of relocation for those forcibly removed by the ‘Gangsterism on the Cape Flats: A challenge to “engage 1.Gangsterism may be defined in various ways. According to Mncube and Madikizela-Madiya (2014:43), gangs range from scavenger the powers”’, HTS Teologiese types (petty crimes) to territorial types (well organised with initiation rites) to corporate gangs (they are well structured, conduct illicit Studies/Theological Studies activities and have distinct names and symbols attached to said names). 70(3), Art. #2727, 7 pages. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/ 2.Recently increased gang activity has occurred in Manenberg, Delft, Belhar, Hanover Park, Mitchells Plain, Lavender Hill and Athlone. hts.v70i3.2727 3.These are only a few of the existing gangs on the Cape Flats. It should also be noted that I have not referred here to the notorious prison gangs ‘on the inside’, which are often aligned to those on the ‘outside’. Read online: Scan this QR 4.By ‘praxis’ I am not referring to the words ‘practice’ or ‘action’, but rather praxis as ‘reflected-upon action and acted upon reflection’ code with your (Bevans 1992:65). Bevans (1992:70) notes that ‘doing theology as a critical reflection on praxis makes theology capable of being a smart phone or powerful expression of theology’. mobile device to read online. Copyright: © 2014. The Authors. Licensee: AOSIS OpenJournals. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License. http://www.hts.org.za doi:10.4102/hts.v70i3.2727 Page 2 of 7 Original Research legislation of the Group Areas Act (1950) from what were then highlighted by McMaster (2010:61), every social ill cannot be declared ‘white areas’ such as Lower Claremont, Windermere, blamed on apartheid, it is fair to state that gangsterism found Newlands, Plumstead, Simon’s Town, Tramway Road and a fertile ‘breeding ground’ within the ‘socio-economic issues District Six (Field 2001:13; Naidoo & Dreyer 1984:9).5 Perhaps created by apartheid on the Cape Flats’.8 Clark (2012:80), in one of the most devastating and long-lasting of the social exploring the causes of youth violence in South Africa, cites costs of forced removals on the communities that now form Galtung’s differentiation between what he termed ‘direct the Cape Flats is that of gangsterism, which is accounted violence’ and ‘structural violence’. While direct violence for by several researchers as a legacy of the forced removals entails the ‘infliction of physical violence ... the general during the apartheid era (Cooper 2009:2; Daniels & Adams formula for structural violence is inequality, above all in the 2010:46−47; Dixon & Johns 2001:3; Kinnes 1996). Kinnes distribution of power … ’ (Clark 2012:80). Clark (2012:80) (1996:17) argues that one of the reasons for the high incidence argues that the prevalence of structural violence in the form of gangsterism on the Cape Flats ‘is the sheer misery of the of poverty and inequality ‘helps to explain the country’s high environment into which families and whole communities levels of direct violence’. Clark (2012:81) further states that were forcibly relocated from inner city areas during the poverty, unemployment and other socio-economic issues, apartheid era’. Sources attest to the presence of gangsters therefore, form a ‘backdrop’ to youth violence. or ‘skollies’ in areas such as Lower Claremont and District Six before the Group Areas Act removals, but it appears that The aforementioned ‘street gangs’ of the pre-apartheid era these individuals and groups were regarded as ‘street gangs’ have now evolved into sophisticated and violent criminal and as part of the communities (Bickford-Smith 2001:110; fraternities which have grown in numbers post-1994 and have Kinnes 2000:2; Swanson & Harries 2001:80).6 set up powerful empires which preside over drug running, extortion, money laundering, robbery and prostitution rings, In fact, in describing the extent of crime on the Cape Flats amongst others (Kinnes 2000:8−12). Kinnes (2000:8) notes that and the causes of it, it has been noted that the ‘Group Areas the economics of poverty and power are at the heart of the removals fragmented extended families and family networks development of organised criminal gangs on the Cape Flats as and dissolved the social glue which existed before the Coloured communities remain socio-economically vulnerable removals’ (Lombard in Bowers 2005:147). Calix (2013:32) (and often powerless) in the post-apartheid era. Wilson and cites Pinnock in stating that before the forced removals ‘youth Ramphele (1989:152) and Chambers (1995:21) agree that at involvement in gangs was largely controlled by a strong the heart of powerlessness, whether it be social, economic or degree of informal social control, that is, active engagement political, lies the constant struggle of the poor as they seek to and strong neighbour relationships resulted in a strong sense access resources that will enable them to better their situation. of collective identity, cooperation, purpose and pride’. These This makes the poor both vulnerable to exploitation by the rough and ready street gangs have now metamorphosed powerful and to feelings of anxiety and despair when they are into sophisticated crime syndicates, which Kinnes (1996:18) not able to overcome their circumstances. believes to be a result of high levels of unemployment, poverty and overcrowding that ‘exacerbate the problem, and Kinnes (2000:10) highlights the fact that, as a result, gangs in criminality and violence easily emerge as a response to the the Western Cape have used the act of providing for members 7 experienced violence of a heartless system’.

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