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Gangs and youth at risk in the Western Cape a review of the literature
Gangs affect countries the world-over. The formation and consolidation of criminal gangs remains entwined with political, economic and social factors. In this minor dissertation criminological debates relating to the phenomenon of gangs are explored within the South African context, with a particula...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English English |
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Centre for Law and Society
2026
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| _version_ | 1867613190307708928 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Choritz, Sharon Lisa |
| author2 | Van Der Spuy, Eirena |
| author_browse | Choritz, Sharon Lisa Van Der Spuy, Eirena |
| author_facet | Van Der Spuy, Eirena Choritz, Sharon Lisa |
| author_sort | Choritz, Sharon Lisa |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | Gangs affect countries the world-over. The formation and consolidation of criminal gangs remains entwined with political, economic and social factors. In this minor dissertation criminological debates relating to the phenomenon of gangs are explored within the South African context, with a particular focus upon marginalised youth in the Western Cape. By drawing on a range of scholarly material, documentary material and legislative reports, a number of thematic issues relevant to the development and regulation (control) of gangs in South Africa are considered. South African history played a significant role in gang formation and development, especially amongst marginalised youth. In the case of South Africa, a number of political and socio economic factors provided a fertile breeding ground for the formation of gangs. The range of factors is discussed in this paper. Furthermore, legislation designed to stifle gang activity will be reviewed and intervention strategies identified and assessed. In the final instance I argue that gangsterism needs to be addressed holistically. A holistic approach will have to involve socio-economic development, community involvement and law enforcement. A truly holistic approach requires the co-ordination of the various relevant stakeholders as well as the growth of human development so as to address the psychological needs of marginalised youth, an important tool for youth identity and transformation. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/42946 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | English eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:32:12.136Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | Centre for Law and Society |
| publisherStr | Centre for Law and Society |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/42946 Gangs and youth at risk in the Western Cape a review of the literature Choritz, Sharon Lisa Van Der Spuy, Eirena Western Cape Youth Risk Gangs affect countries the world-over. The formation and consolidation of criminal gangs remains entwined with political, economic and social factors. In this minor dissertation criminological debates relating to the phenomenon of gangs are explored within the South African context, with a particular focus upon marginalised youth in the Western Cape. By drawing on a range of scholarly material, documentary material and legislative reports, a number of thematic issues relevant to the development and regulation (control) of gangs in South Africa are considered. South African history played a significant role in gang formation and development, especially amongst marginalised youth. In the case of South Africa, a number of political and socio economic factors provided a fertile breeding ground for the formation of gangs. The range of factors is discussed in this paper. Furthermore, legislation designed to stifle gang activity will be reviewed and intervention strategies identified and assessed. In the final instance I argue that gangsterism needs to be addressed holistically. A holistic approach will have to involve socio-economic development, community involvement and law enforcement. A truly holistic approach requires the co-ordination of the various relevant stakeholders as well as the growth of human development so as to address the psychological needs of marginalised youth, an important tool for youth identity and transformation. 2026-03-06T13:40:31Z 2026-03-06T13:40:31Z 2007 2026-03-06T13:37:13Z Thesis / Dissertation Masters LLM http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42946 en eng application/pdf Centre for Law and Society Faculty of Law University of Cape Town |
| spellingShingle | Western Cape Youth Risk Choritz, Sharon Lisa Gangs and youth at risk in the Western Cape a review of the literature |
| thesis_degree_str | Master's |
| title | Gangs and youth at risk in the Western Cape a review of the literature |
| title_full | Gangs and youth at risk in the Western Cape a review of the literature |
| title_fullStr | Gangs and youth at risk in the Western Cape a review of the literature |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gangs and youth at risk in the Western Cape a review of the literature |
| title_short | Gangs and youth at risk in the Western Cape a review of the literature |
| title_sort | gangs and youth at risk in the western cape a review of the literature |
| topic | Western Cape Youth Risk |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42946 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT choritzsharonlisa gangsandyouthatriskinthewesterncapeareviewoftheliterature |