Transforming Manenberg: JP Smith's initiative to curb youth gang recruitment

JP SMITH is tackling klipgooiery in Manenberg, in the hopes of preventing the youth from joining the endless cycle of gang violence in the area.

​The City of Cape Town’s Safety and Security chief, Smith, together with residents, on Friday took action to remove gang graffiti from the neighbourhood’s walls, with the aim of giving laaities a clean slate and promoting positive opportunities.

​The local police and community activists have struggled to curb running stone-throwing battles between youth gangs.

​And Smith engaged the youth, in particular, who he says are targeted by street gangs as recruits.

​He said: “Manenberg has a particular problem, and that is youth violence, which includes stone throwing and other weapons get involved, and very often these degenerate into shooting incidents.

​“The street gangs then get involved, and it results in shootings and murders. We have been mapping out these youth gangs as they have become problematic and act as recruitment agencies for the gang.”​

​Members of the Manenberg Neighbourhood Watch (NHW), community safety structures, and other stakeholders also participated in painting over the gang tags.​

​Smith added that the City has engaged with the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) and Department of Social Development (DSD) to host engagements with laaities to expose them to better options.​

​These talks include assisting those who have dropped out of school to re-enroll and to help them understand why stone-throwing is destructive.​

​Manenberg NHW coordinator Keegan Hendricks told the Daily Voice that this initiative is a good step, as it changes the mindset of the youngsters.​

​He explained: “At the end of the day, they are going to grow up thinking that this is their territory, so for myself, this is something good. ​

​“And if these boys can just keep their promises, they can bring in projects and work for the community.”​