What I’m saying is. This was done to help show that Gangs are not just a police problem, a school problem, or a family problem. Someone sees what is happening but looks away and says “that’s not my problem”. But remember that prevention is the key to controlling gang activity in South Africa the society we shape now is the society we will leave for our children. Everyone and every community can work on solutions to gang activity. It all begins with partnerships among parents, schools, law enforcement, religious institutions, community organizations, businesses, and youth. Two decades ago, kids in gangs that existed in South Africa were gangs that fought for the struggle and against the injustices that were taking place in South Africa. Today, gangs are formed in order to hang on to the money, girls and perceived respect they get as privileges of membership. Hundreds of troubled youth in the South Africa turn to drugs or alcohol as an escape from poverty, abuse and broken homes we are all victims of circumstances but they should not shape our youth. With that said family and community are important to the development of a child's social, emotional, and physical needs. If the family is the source of love, guidance, and protection that youths seek, they are not forced to search for these basic needs from a street gang. The family and community need to share responsibility for teaching children the risk of drugs and the risks involved in gang activities.

Robert “Yummy” Sandifer : standing 4 feet 6 inches tall and weighing 86 pounds, he had an arrest record dating back to January of 1992, when he was 8. Arrested for residential burglary, auto theft, armed robbery, murder and shoplifting,

The eleven year old knew too much about the gang and, if caught, his cooperation could lead to the arrest of gang leaders. By his leaders Yummy was walked a short distance into the tunnel tagged with gang graffiti. He got down on his knees and was shot twice in the back of his head with a .25 caliber pistol.

Medical Examiner performing an autopsy on Yummy, discovered the physical evidence of his hardened and abusive life from family and gang alliances . He also had a tattoo on his right forearm, “BDN III,” which represented the Black Disciples Nation the gang he followed and the same gang that killed him

• “They come from dysfunctional families lacking role models. Whatever they don't get in the family structure they are trying to get from the gangs.” A world in which poverty, homelessness, hunger and racial discrimination thrives South Africa is now experiencing high rates of gang violence……

“As much as I despise what they do, I don't want them dead, “I know these kids and I've been to many of their funerals. Even though they are gang members, they're still kids”….. Riaan (2010).

• Young gang members are getting orders to KILL from someone higher up in the gang. The word on the street is this may be a gang initiation.

HIGH LEVEL OF GROUPTHINK.

• South Africa’s children are the main victims of the South African violent-crime epidemic: targeted by tens of thousands of vicious armed criminal gangs which not only kidnap and ‘recruit’ youngsters into their gangs but the children are also targeted by murders and other gangs that show no fear of prosecution by the SAPS.

• The purpose of this creative piece is to identify and analyse, gang activity in South Africa. And to expose Some of the reasons for joining a gang that may include.

• A search for love, structure, and discipline and a sense of belonging and commitment.

• The need for recognition, power companionship, training, excitement, and activities and the need for physical safety and protection and a sense of self-worth and status.

• And this may lead to life imprisonment or death.

sources • http://constitutionallyspeaking.co

.za/no-blood-filled-dreams-of-dread/

• http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/gangster-stanfield-hailed-as-a-messiah-1.223672

• http://www.health24.com/news/Teens/1-950,72514.asp

• http://digitaljournal.com/article/264956#ixzz1ti1PCCeH

• Pictures: http://www.riaanphotography.com/documentary/youth-gangs/

• https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles/156059.pdf

• Google pictures. • http://www.focusas.com/Gangs.h

tml

The research process involved secondary sources and primary sources. Primary sources include talks with people who have had an encounter with gang activities and who have interacted with gang members. Places like Soweto, Brixton, Westberry and Hursthill.