Gangsterism – The Mail & Guardian

/ 23 September 2023

Murder spikes as Delft gangs target child recruits

Gang-related deaths totalled 23 in the first 18 days of September

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By Eunice Masson

National

/ 6 November 2022

‘This is why a forever war kid like me is friends with gangsters’

Gangs offer Cape Flats youths a way to elevate their status, opportunities for manageable responsibility and to gain access to resources. And they start young

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By Pete Barlow

National

/ 10 October 2022

Gunshot detection system stalls while Cape Flats violence persists

Nearly 50 people were gunned down in another bloody week while implementation of the gunfire-detection system ShotSpotter was delayed by “administrative processes”

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By Eunice Masson

National

/ 30 July 2022

How a rock and bunny chow changed the lives of young gang members

An ex-gang member tells how his life was turned around when a pastor intervened in the violence that was devastating his community

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By Eunice Masson

Sport

/ 21 November 2021

It’s a goal: How a former gangster is changing the lives of children through football

Wynne Dryden is dedicating his life to children in Epping Forest’s gang-riddled streets with the help of his love for soccer

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By Eunice Masson

Opinion

/ 17 October 2021

A new book asks the timeless question: ‘Can We Be Safe?’

Ziyanda Stuurman’s new book critiques the South African police and their role in society

By Kim M Reynolds

National

/ 1 October 2021

Cape Town’s desperate female gangster phenomenon

Research finds women and girls act as recruits, drug dealers and armed gangsters in the ‘deeply ingrained’ gang culture in the Western Cape

By Eunice Masson

National

/ 2 July 2021

New Western Cape police commissioner to sort out old problems

The province gets a permanent police commissioner to fight crime and violence during a time of instability in the police force

By Eunice Masson

Friday

/ 12 November 2020

Q&A with author Mia Arderne: ‘A prayer for the jol not to end

Mia Arderne’s Mermaid Fillet was a lifetime in the making. The author’s vulnerability gives the book superpowers

By Kwanele Sosibo

Friday

/ 18 August 2020

Extract from ‘Mermaid Fillet: A Noir Crime Novel’ by Mia Arderne

This extract from Mia Arderne’s debut work of fiction, ‘Mermaid Fillet: A Noir Crime Novel’ introduces readers to Uncle ‘M16-in-your-bek’

By Mia Arderne

Article

/ 11 March 2020

How to refresh SA’s jaded democracy

We should look to the Philippines, where barangays, or neighbourhood governments, help to empower communities

By Ivan Turok and Andreas Scheba

Article

/ 19 February 2020

From the archives: For the first time, an insiders’ account of the Third Force

Two young gangsters give an horrific account of how they were encouraged, equipped and trained to carry out violence against ANC-linked targets by the security forces.

By Eddie Koch

Article

/ 10 January 2020

Staggie legacy remains a threat

The Cape’s notorious hoodlum was buried in reverence while an innocent child was shot during a gang chase

By Lester Kiewit

Article

/ 6 December 2019

Defence lawyers killed as Cape Town gang wars spread

Several attorneys and advocates told the Mail & Guardian that their fraternity is now “under siege”.

By Lester Kiewit

Article

/ 27 September 2019

The case for not punishing drug users

We need to reinvent the system so we can address the reasons for abuse, rather than punishing individuals

By Paul Michael Keichel

Article

/ 19 August 2019

Education MEC blames overaged learners for violence in schools

The North West MEC education of education says overaged learners should not be admitted into schools because they cause disruptions

By Bongekile Macupe

Article

/ 10 August 2019

Cape Town’s bloody gang violence is inextricably bound up in its history

Given the framework within which removals under the Group Areas Act took place in Cape Town, a social disaster was inevitable

By Don Pinnock

Article

/ 2 August 2019

Ganglands heroes don’t wear capes

Ordinary people are doing what they can to help children surrounded by gunfire and drugs on the Cape Flats

By Lester Kiewit

Article

/ 2 August 2019

‘We live in a shack – bullets pass through easily’

Journalism student Anathi Mlonyeni describes what it is like to live in the middle of violence

By Anathi Mlonyeni

Article

/ 19 July 2019

Boys join gangs to survive in toxic environment

Now those working on the ground to help children say many girls are also being drawn into gangs

By Lester Kiewit

Article

/ 17 July 2019

Delay in military deployment will work in the favour of the cops — defence minister

Last week Police Minister Bheki Cele announced that President Ramaphosa had approved the deployment of military personnel to parts of Cape Town

By Lester Kiewit

Article

/ 15 July 2019

Military intervention is not a crime-fighting solution

Moving towards militarised policing in South Africa could prove to be a deadly mistake

By Ziyanda Stuurman

Article

/ 21 June 2019

Drag queen’s push against gangs

In Lavender Hill, one of South Africa’s most violence-ridden areas, an unlikely activist is finding ways to keep children out of trouble

By Carl Collison

Article

/ 1 February 2019

Queers and the allure of gangs

People ostracised by society often have to make alliances with other outcasts in order to survive

By Carl Collison

Article

/ 25 January 2019

‘Politicians woo us, but don’t stop Cape Flat gangs’

‘I’ve only got one message for politicians: don’t come and waste my time talking to me’

By Lester Kiewit

Article

/ 26 October 2018

The Two Tales of ‘Tin Can Town’

An upsurge in violence in Blikkiesdorp is linked to residents competing for homes in a new housing scheme

By Niren Tolsi, Raeesa Pather and David Harrison

Article

/ 15 October 2018

Unembargoed: October 12 to 18

Floyd must account. The M&G looks at Shivambu’s link to his brother’s business bank account in the VBS scandal.

By Mg Reporter

Article

/ 12 October 2018

Struggle veterans lead the fight against gangsterism

Anti-apartheid activists are now using their skills to force the state to deliver socioeconomic justice

By Raeesa Pather

Article

/ 4 October 2018

Cele tells Westbury to sleep easy

The Police Minister has called on Westbury to welcome and support the new police units, asking that residents not engage in clashes with authorities

By Sarah Smit

Article

/ 3 October 2018

Cape Flats groups meet with parly over gangsterism and rape

Hundreds marched to call for intervention against corrupt police and crime

By Govan Whittles

Article

/ 2 October 2018

Cele promises to rid Westbury of gangsters

The police minister has promised a patrolling unit would start their work on the streets of Westbury so the residents can ‘sleep better at night’

By Sarah Smit and Mashadi Kekana

Article

/ 2 October 2018

“We’ll take it back to the streets” — Westbury residents

The community began protesting on Friday after a woman was fatally shot in the crossfire between alleged gang members on Thursday

By Sarah Smit and Mashadi Kekana

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