Understanding the factors driving gangsterism among South African youth

Absent fathers, socio-economic challenges, poverty, unemployment, and societal pressure to provide and to be leaders are some of the factors pushing men and boys towards gangsterism.

These were revealed during a recent engagement held by the Commission for Gender Equity (CGE) on X spaces, where they unpacked a research study on factors contributing to the prevalence of gangs in the Western Cape, Gauteng, and KwaZulu-Natal. They also identified interventions that can redirect boys toward constructive pathways. 

Gangsterism has become a topical issue after the acting Police Minister, Professor Firoz Cachalia, admitted that there is no concrete plan to fight gang violence.

Sharing insights from the report titled, ‘Men, masculinities, and gangs: Investigating the persistence of male gangs in selected provinces of South Africa 2024’, Thabani Mdlongwa, a researcher at CGE, said they found that gangs provide identity and admiration.

“Poverty, unemployment, poor service delivery, and lack of opportunities push youths to gangs for survival,” Mdlongwa said.

Pearl Moabelo from the Gauteng Department of Social Development said they have partnered with the Department of Education in Gauteng and introduced programmes in schools, where they share information about bullying and gangsterism. 

She said they also work with the families of children affected by gangs or at risk of joining gangs.

Moabelo said absent fathers, unemployment, and family environment are some of the challenges. She also raised a concern that adults are becoming facilitators for youngsters to be involved in gangs.

Solly Ngoveni, Northern Cape Manager of the CGE, stated that the country has a national anti-gang strategy, and it is not working because it is largely reactive, fragmented, and poorly monitored.

He said another challenge is that the anti-gang strategy lacks public engagement and awareness.

“We do have community-centred restorative interventions, including any childhood interventions to promote healthy family dynamics and emotional support. We also need mentorship and after-school programmes offering alternatives to gang identity. Strategies must centre gender dynamics, especially addressing masculine identity, male trauma, and social pressure to provide,” Ngoveni said.

He highlighted that NGOs are underfunded and inadequately supported to deal with gangsterism.

Mansoer Arendse from Hanover Park, Cape Town, and has been living in the area for decades, said the community is living in fear because of the gangs.

“The shootings are impacting our lives so badly that we are afraid to take our kids to school, to fetch them when they come out of school. Our kids can’t play in the parks; they can’t even play outside. We are afraid to walk outside. It is so hectic that we need an immediate intervention. It should be a state of emergency. Hanover Park is bleeding, and we need help,” Arendse said.

Abie Isaacs, founder and chairperson of the Cape Flats Safety Forum (CFSF), said there is a need for good role models because absent fathers are among the factors driving youth towards gangsterism.

“Social issues are factors driving up crime; we need a multifaceted approach that includes all spheres of government, civil society, and the business community. Once we start addressing some of the social ills, we should be able to dive in and assist from a social perspective. Another area that needs focus is gender-based violence (GBV),” Isaacs.

He said funding is the biggest concern, and they fund projects from their own pockets.

Isaacs added that the CFSF has several interventions on substance abuse, and works with relevant institutions for holistic assistance, and supports families by opposing bail for serious and violent crimes.

Siyabulela Monakali, a GBV activist from Ilitha Labantu NGO, said gang violence and gender-based violence are deeply intertwined on the Cape Flats, with women and girls often carrying the heaviest burden.

“Women are not only subjected to sexual violence, coercion, and exploitation by gangs but are sometimes forced into complicity for survival. We address this by creating safe spaces for women and girls, providing counselling, legal support, and empowerment programmes that reduce vulnerability. Our work also centres on dismantling harmful gender norms that feed into cycles of violence, while equipping women and girls with knowledge, agency, and resources to resist gang-related exploitation,” Monakali said.

He added that they work closely with the police, the Department of Justice, the Department of Social Development, and health facilities to ensure survivors have access to comprehensive services. 

Rafique Foflonker, spokesperson for the Western Cape CPF Board, stated that CPFs are volunteers but are expected to do critical work without proper resources. 

“The Minister is right: a proper plan is needed right now. If the government provides leadership and resources, and if communities, CPFs, SAPS, and social partners work together, we can build a plan that actually makes this province safer,” Foflonker stated.

Professor William Gumede from the Wits School of Governance stated that to end gangsterism in Cape Town, the government must declare a state of emergency and bring in the army permanently.

“Also, a few things need to happen. Special economic zones must be created where companies that set up factories in communities affected by gang violence get incentives, such as tax breaks for five or 10 years, to encourage companies to go there. They can also do an alternative BEE by employing young people and locals. Safety will be guaranteed because the army will be guarding the area. 

“Then the government must focus hard on education in schools, by turning schools into centres of excellence. Get kids to stay in schools longer. In countries like Taiwan, they have six days of school. They leave the schools very late, doing extra lessons in Maths, Science, etc. They must ensure focus on subjects that will create opportunities,” Gumede said.

He added that there is also a need to focus on sports, culture, and recreation.

“People often forget that when young people live in areas affected by gang violence, they really don’t have much to do. With sport, if you are good, you can make money,” Gumede said. 

Once a state of emergency has been declared and the army moves into the area, the government, NGOs, businesses, and all stakeholders must come together to formulate a plan and partner, he said.

Assets of gangsters, he said, must be seized and used for reparations and to clean up, as it happens in countries such as the US.

Gumede highlighted that this does not only apply to Cape Town, but the government can target some of the high-crime areas around the country and implement these.  

Professor Nirmala Gopal, a senior lecturer of criminology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, stated that the historical context of apartheid has played a significant role in shaping the socio-economic landscape of the region.

“The segregation and marginalisation of communities have fostered an environment where gangs can thrive. The lack of access to quality education and employment opportunities associated with these historical injustices has left many individuals vulnerable to recruitment by gangs, as these organisations often promise a sense of belonging, financial gain, and protection,” Gopal said.

She stated that communities that are still grappling with poverty and under-resourced social services are more susceptible to gang influence, and the failure of institutions to provide adequate support and opportunities has created a breeding ground for criminal activities.

This situation is further exacerbated by a lack of trust in law enforcement, which can lead individuals to seek protection and identity through gangs rather than through legitimate means, Gopal said.

She highlighted that with the fragmentation of communities due to ongoing issues such as violence, neglect, and substance abuse, social cohesion, gangs often fill the void left by ineffective social structures, gaining power and control within these neighbourhoods. 

Ian Cameron, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, said the weaknesses of the SAPS in combating gangs in Cape Town emanate from their being overly reactive, dependent on visible policing operations like roadblocks and raids that deliver short-term arrests but fail to dismantle gang structures.

He highlighted that crime intelligence remains unstable, under-resourced, and plagued by internal dysfunction, leaving investigators without the intelligence picture needed to target leaders, finances, and supply chains. 

“The detective service is stretched, with low conviction rates and backlogs in forensics undermining follow-through. Leadership instability and a culture of impunity for some further erode professionalism and adaptability,” he stated.

Cameron said an intelligence-led approach would map networks, trace firearms, follow the money, and coordinate with prosecutors to dismantle gangs systematically.

He added that corruption enables gangs to access dockets, firearms, and protection from within SAPS itself, and this undermines trust and strengthens organised crime. To restore professionalism, units deployed to gang areas must undergo vetting, lifestyle audits, skills audits, and rotation to limit capture. 

Trust is rebuilt when residents see consistent, fair policing rather than short-lived operations, Cameron said. 

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