The effect of exposure to community violence on youth on the Cape Flats

Abstract

Community violence exposure contains a variety of contextual and subjective complexities that include being the victim or hearing of shootings, stabbings, weapon possession with intent of criminal use, beatings, burglaries, and drug activities that could have negative consequences on youth development. This study aimed to understand the effects of exposure to community violence on youths from selected townships on the Cape Flats in the Western Cape province, South Africa, and to suggest ways of reducing community violence on the Cape Flats. Results indicate that increased extortion by gangsters on the Cape Flats has prevented young people from establishing their own businesses and consequently from participating in the mainstream economy. Furthermore, this study also revealed that the fear of being attacked by gangs is discouraging young school-going youths from walking long distances to their schools. The study recommends that the community on the Cape Flats including parents, guardians, and religious leaders should play an active role in addressing community violence by reporting people who resort to violent behaviour and not protecting them.

Keywords

• community violence
• Cape Flats
• crime
• youth violence
• positive youth development
• youth gang