He runs with gangs and he’s only 9

Cape Town 12-03-2014 The little boy's mom fears for his safety as well as that of her youngest children

Cape Town 12-03-2014 The little boy's mom fears for his safety as well as that of her youngest children

Published Mar 14, 2014

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Western Cape - A nine-year-old boy’s mother lives in fear of him after he threatened to kill a relative and drink their blood.

The Worcester mother says her son already runs with gangs, drinks, smokes tik, dagga and mandrax and is dubbed “Danger” by his friends.

And police have warned that if he does not change his ways, the oy will become one of the thousands of gangsters in the Western Cape.

“He also sniffs glue which makes him very aggressive. He swears terribly and gets moody,” his 30-year-old mother said.

The boy remained in his room during the interview, listening to his mother describing her terror.

The boy refused to speak to the Daily Voice and he shouted, swore and tossed his clothes out of the window of their small home.

The boy’s mother says her nightmare began when her son started hanging out with older boys when he was seven.

“He is only nine years old so how can they call him Danger?” she said of the boy who cannot be named as he is a minor.

“I had to take him out of school last year during exams because he wanted to stab the children with scissors.

“His teacher is scared of him.”

The Grade 2 boy, his parents and their four other kids between the ages of 11 months and 10 years old, all live together in a four-room Wendy house in her granny’s yard in Roodewal.

The area has been torn apart by gang violence.

The family live in the heart of Junior Cisko Yakkies turf – a gang Danger has been linked to.

 

Worcester police station commander Colonel Willis Smith said police are aware of allegations that Danger is linked to gangs.

“The community and police officers have informed me that the boy moves around with gangsters and there are further allegations that he is linked to the JCY gang,” said Smith.

He said the boy has, however, not been linked to any crimes.

“If we do not intervene he will definitely become a gangster,” warned Smith.

“The connotation attached to the name Danger can also give people the wrong impression about the child.”

Smith said SAPS is currently working on a solution for Danger and children like him.

“We are working with other state departments and involve the child and parents in a one-on-one programme with the help of the Toevlug rehabilitation centre.”

“Our next programme will target school dropouts because they can easily be drawn into gangs,” explained Smith.

The boy’s mother and grandmother deny that the nine-year-old is a fully-fledged gangster.

His mom said he was obsessed with the “Illuminati” and speaks about drinking a family member’s blood to gain power.

“I do not believe he is a gangster,” said his grandmother.

“He isn’t scared of anyone and he walks all over because everyone likes him because he is a smooth talker.”

She said she does not fear for his safety but is concerned about his future.

“I am worried he will become worse if he does not get help,” she added.

She said she was very worried about her grandson’s health because of his substance abuse.

“I am scared he is going to get sick from the stuff he uses like dagga and sniffing glue.”

His mother saod she was at her wits’ end because she has tried everything to help her son.

Hitting and scolding him doesn’t help, she said. “It’s like it makes him worse.

“A social worker is currently busy trying to get him into a place of safety so we can get him out of Worcester and away from the wrong crowd.”

Daily Voice

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