“The aim of this paper is to describe and critically evaluate the most recent of the anti-gang policies that have been adopted by the authorities in the Western Cape. In order to understand the strengths and weaknesses of anti-gang policies it is essential to start this paper with a brief overview of the official view on gangs—the accepted narrative on what they are, how
they have changed in the last decade and the nature of the threat they pose to society. The paper then goes on to describe the main
thrust of recent anti-gang policies, which are then critically evaluated based on results of fieldwork as well as other available gang research in the region. The paper ends with policy recommendations, the most important of which is based on the fundamental question of whether we need an anti-gang policy at all.”
