New social bandits? A comparative analysis of gangsterism in the Western and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa
| Date | 01 April 2019 |
| Author | Irvin Kinnes,Theodore Petrus |
| Published date | 01 April 2019 |
| DOI | 10.1177/1748895817750436 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
https://doi.org/10.1177/1748895817750436
Criminology & Criminal Justice
2019, Vol. 19(2) 179 –196
© The Author(s) 2018
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DOI: 10.1177/1748895817750436
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New social bandits? A
comparative analysis of
gangsterism in the Western
and Eastern Cape provinces
of South Africa
Theodore Petrus
University of Fort Hare, South Africa
Irvin Kinnes
University of Cape Town, South Africa
Abstract
Gang violence has been extensively highlighted as an issue of national concern in South Africa.
Gangs also pose concerns about the social contexts of the communities in which they are found.
The Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces have had the most prolific occurrences of
gangsterism. Here gangs have demonstrated unique characteristics that set them apart from
gangs in other areas. This article examines the context of gangsterism in the selected provinces
by means of a comparative analysis. The purpose is to provide some strategies for effective
intervention. The discussion also interrogates how or why intervention efforts may have failed
and what could be improved in order to strengthen the chances of success of future interventions
in affected communities.
Keywords
Cape Flats, gangsterism, gang violence, northern areas of Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Western
and Eastern Cape provinces
Corresponding author:
Theodore Petrus, Research Professor, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Fort Hare,
50 Church Street, East London, 5201, South Africa.
Email: tpetrus@ufh.ac.za
750436CRJ0010.1177/1748895817750436Criminology & Criminal JusticePetrus and Kinnes
research-article2018
Article
180 Criminology & Criminal Justice 19(2)
Introduction
Gangs and their associated challenges are a global phenomenon. As Hagedorn (2005:
153) pointed out, ‘[G]angs are a significant worldwide phenomenon with millions of
members and a voice of those marginalized by processes of globalization.’ Gangs are
found in various degrees in various regional contexts, whether they be developed coun-
tries such as the USA (see, for example, Curry and Decker, 1998; Howell, 2012; Klein
and Maxson, 2006; Vigil, 2002), Canada (see Rollwagen and Beland, 2012) and the UK
(see Bartie, 2010), or developing countries such as those of the Northern Triangle of
Central America (see Savenije and Van der Borgh, 2014), the Democratic Republic of
Congo (see Geenen, 2009) or Indonesia (see Kadir, 2012).
At the tip of the African continent, for a long time, gangs have impacted the country
of South Africa as well (see, for example, Bangstad, 2005; Kinnes, 2000; Kynoch, 1999;
Petrus, 2013). In particular, the Cape Flats in the city of Cape Town in the Western Cape
Province, and the northern areas of Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape Province, have
been identified in the local news and other public media as the most high profile and
notorious areas of gang violence.
This article examines the context of gangs in South Africa, with special reference to the
two provinces identified above. The Cape Flats and northern areas have been singled out due
to the pervasive characteristics of gangs in these areas. While much research has been con-
ducted on gangs in the Western Cape, very little has been done on gangs in the Eastern Cape,
particularly in the northern areas. Even more noteworthy is the fact that despite the local and
national media attention given to these two specific areas, no comparative research on gangs
has been conducted in these areas. Consequently, this article seeks to address this limitation
by providing a comparative analysis of the context of gangs in both the Western Cape and
Eastern Cape. It should be noted that the authors focus on the armed organized violent gangs
in both provinces. While there is no clearly defined category of gang formation, as explained
later, our main emphasis is on the type of gang characterized by some degree of organization,
that is, it has a structure, and that utilizes violence in pursuit of its objectives. This formation
is somewhat distinct from the prison gang, which is restricted to the more infamous forma-
tions known as the Numbers gangs, but which may nevertheless still have links to the prison
gang. Often the latter includes gang members that served as leaders for their gangs outside of
prison, and these individuals may still have influence on their gangs on the outside.
Three major dimensions are addressed in the article. First, the authors outline the
relationship between gangs and the social dynamics of the Cape Flats and northern areas
communities most affected by gangs. Second, attention is given to the consequences of
gangs in these communities, as well as elucidating some reasons for why intervention
strategies have as yet been unsuccessful. Finally, the authors suggest some holistic inter-
ventions that may assist in the ongoing efforts to curb the violence and other negative
effects of gangs in the selected communities.
The Gang Phenomenon in South Africa: A General
Overview
The historical context of gangs in South Africa reveals that these formations have existed
in one form or another for a long time. Some scholars, such as Bangstad (2005: 196),
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