Report on Gang Violence Dialogue

Dialogue on Gang Violence: Report

Rapporteur: Joelien Pretorius[1]

2013

Report on the dialogue on gang violence in the Western Cape, jointly hosted by the South African branch of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs and the Department of Political Studies at the University of the Western Cape on 15 October 2012.

1.      Introduction and goals

On 15 October 2012 the South African chapter of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs teamed up with the Department of Political Studies at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) to host a dialogue about gang violence in the Western Cape. Prof Nola Dippenaar, Prof Joelien Pretorius and Mr Rian Leith were the main organisers of the event. The goal of the event was to facilitate open dialogue on the issue of gang violence in the Western Cape, with the following outcomes:

(i)                to have community leaders, doctors and health workers, policy makers, the police and academics share views and experiences that would provide a clearer understanding of the nature, causes and consequences of gangs and gang violence;

(ii)               to provide a forum to debate government responses to gang violence and give stakeholders, like the medical profession and universities, a chance to contribute to policy deliberations; and

(iii)        to reach out to communities that surround the UWC campus in an effort to get to know these communities and the issues that they face in daily life as well as to develop an understanding amongst UWC students about an issue that they are likely to come across in their professions one day.

The two organisations were well positioned to collaborate on this issue: On the one hand, Pugwash is the winners of the Nobel peace prize in 1995 and promotes expert engagement with policy makers to pursue peaceful ends. On the other hand, UWC is situated among communities affected by gang violence and has a history of political engagement and recent experience in community dispute resolution.

2.      Format and participation

The dialogue had two parts. Part one was broadcasted on the radio programme “Praat Saam” (or “Converse together”). The discussion was facilitated by seasoned journalist and media programme host, Lynette Francis, and involved the following panel:

·         Minister Dan Plato, MEC for Community Safety, Western Cape

·         Ivan Waldeck (ProPeace)

·         Errol Valentine (Community Action towards A Safer Environment)
Elrena van der Spuy (Centre of Criminology, UCT)

·         Lukas Muntingh (Community Law Centre, UWC)

Members of the public could phone in to participate in the dialogue.

Part two of the dialogue was structured in a more academic way and the following panel members provided presentations that led to a broader discussion among participants:

·         Serena Isaacs (Psychology Department, UWC): The impact of violence on adolescents

·         Dr. Robertson (Division of Emergency Medicine): A view from the medical profession on gang violence

·         Derica Lambrechts (Political Studies, US): How gang-community interaction impacts on state authority

·         Ashley Potts (Cape Town Drug Councelling Centre): Addressing gang violence through addressing addiction

·         Eric Nduna (National Institute For Crime Prevention and the Reintegration of Offenders): The challenges of reintegrating gang members in society

The event was attended by 80 people, including a number of students, lecturers and community members.

3.      Summary of discussion[2]

3.1 Themes

The discussion focused on the following themes:

Multiple causes: Gangs exist for many reasons, including for historical reasons, such as legacies of urban design under apartheid and socio-economic inequalities. They provide a sense of empowerment in areas where socio-economic circumstances are such that people cannot develop their potential through stable and legal careers (social mobility is low and life is hard). These communities are often characterised by high unemployment, desensitization to violence, political neglect in terms of infrastructure (schools, urban renewal, etc), substance abuse and addiction. In these circumstances recruitment of gang members seems easier, especially if a history of gangsterism exists in a community. Role models (fathers, uncles) are also gang members, drug dealers or users, which continues the institutionalisation of gangs over generations in communities. Gang violence has various causes, including fighting over territory, relationships with women, retribution violence, and substance abuse and drug dealing. A medical professional noted that the number one cause of medical trauma in young men from the Cape Flats (an area on the outskirts of Cape Town known for socio-economic hardship) is violence related, and alcohol is the lubricant of this violence.

Community complicity: Gangs are embedded in communities. Gang members are also fathers, brothers, uncles, etc. Community members often protect and hide gang members and may even benefit from their activities (livelihoods may depend on the gang member’s activities). Communities may decry gangs and gang violence in public, but are not prepared to expose relatives who are gang members. A police official noted that false testimonies are often given that allow gang members to go free. In addition, gang members chase people from their homes and take over council houses. It takes three to four years to evict a gang member from a council house. A police official argued that the municipalities should not negotiate with gang members residing in these houses, and that evictions should occur sooner as these houses are used for gang activities.   

Police and judicial complicity: Some police members are accused of knowing who gang members are, where they live and what they are up to, but turning a blind eye and even being on the “pay-role” of gang members, selling their service fire arms to gangs and informing gang members of impending police raids. Community members complain that they are too scared to stand up to gangs, especially as arrests are not made or gang members are not prosecuted.

Gangs in prisons: Gangs have existed in prisons since the 19^th century. Some gang violence is orchestrated from prisons where gang members serve terms for crimes, but continue gang activities. Recruitment to gangs also happens in prisons and young people who are sent to prison for short periods are targets for such recruitment. When inmates have served their time, they return to continue with gang activities outside, providing a crucial link in a network of gang activities and violence inside and outside prisons.

3.2 Policy questions and recommendations

The following policy related questions and recommendations arose from the discussion:

Negotiating with gangs: One of the main controversies is whether there is a role for negotiating with gang members to resolve conflict between hostile gangs and ensure periods of peace. The opinion was raised that such negotiations legitimise gangs and consolidate them as institutions in the communities where they operate. An institution that engages with gangs by employing rehabilitated gang members, with their knowledge of gang structures, to negotiate cease fires for example, argues that this is a legitimate and productive way to address gang violence.

Urban planning challenges: One of the “bigger picture” ways to address gang violence is integration of marginalised areas on the outskirts of Cape Town’s wealthier suburbs into the city’s infrastructure. One participant noted that community members could be employed to reverse urban neglect and said: “If we put it up ourselves, we will maintain it.” There is thus a sense that community members need to be encouraged to participate in and take ownership of infrastructure and renewal programmes, which can also create jobs.

Challenges of rehabilitation of gang members, especially once imprisoned: It was argued that rehabilitation of gangsters who go to prison should already start when they enter prison and yet only 5% of the budget for correctional services is allocated to rehabilitation. Rehabilitated offenders face difficulties to reintegrate in society and their criminal record counts against them when looking for employment. Skills development, employment programmes and continued programmes to reorient offenders exist, but need to be expanded and better resourced.

Options to improve community agency: In addition to programmes already in place, several ideas were presented to improve the community’s agency in addressing gangs and gang violence, including addressing substance abuse and addiction rehabilitation, instituting better witness protection programmes, and sharing resources among non-governmental and not-for-profit organisations working in these communities and who often fight over donor/aid sources. One participant noted that the family is the first line of defence against gangsterism, and suggested that programmes for parents, especially fathers, should be increased to teach parents to prioritise their family responsibilities and values. There is a need for new role models.

Military deployment in affected areas: The South African constitution makes provision for the South African National Defence Force to be deployed in exceptional circumstances for purposes of stabilising domestic situations. The president can give such an order, but he has to justify it. Where this has been done in the past in relation to gang violence, stability has ensued, but there is a concern that it will militarise communities and de-professionalise the defence force if used as a long term solution. In the end addressing gang related crime and violence remains a policing function.

The role of other departments: The role of other governmental departments were emphasised inasmuch as the problem is so multifaceted. These departments include in addition to the police, the Correctional Services, Social Development and the Judiciary. In terms of the latter, the idea of special courts to address gang issues was mooted as is done in some Latin American countries. An added question around policy is as to where the buck stops, especially between national and provincial authorities responsible for policing, safety and security.

One strategy? The idea of an integrated strategy was aired where the multifaceted causes and symptoms of the problem are addressed concurrently, but in a focused and collaborative way. Currently no single strategy with, for example, a name, objectives, and measurable envisioned outcomes exists. Such a strategy would arguably also institutionalise the cultivation of relations with the NGO and NPO community to approach the problem of gangs and gang violence holistically. 

4.      Conclusion

Gang violence has a long history on the Cape Flats. The dialogue hosted by Pugwash and UWC provided an opportunity for various stakeholders (academia, NGOs, NPOs, the Police, community members, etc.) to meet each other and/or give input into debates around the issue. Besides specific incidences of gang violence, the issue often drops off the political and media agenda. This forum for dialogue helped to keep it on the agenda of policy-makers, and to identify the problems and options for police and community agencies from expert panellists and from community members themselves.

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[1] The report is a summary of the discussions that took place from the perspective of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of Pugwash (SA) or UWC.

[2] The principle followed at Pugwash meetings of not attributing any opinion to a specific participant (by name) (Chatham House Rules) is also followed in this report.