Cape Town - Two youth gangs blamed for a spate of violent robberies and four murders in Hout Bay recently have effectively been disbanded.
Police say calm has been restored to the area after more than 300 members of the Xaba (XB) and Bad Boys Crew (BBC) handed themselves over at Hout Bay Police Station to partake in a rehabilitation process at local youth centres.
Police spokesperson Frederick Van Wyk said: “The youth of Imizamo Yethu were introduced to a programme at James House.
“No new incidents have been reported. The area is still being monitored.”
The Hout Bay Community Policing Forum (CPF) chairperson JJ de Villiers said no crime from Imizamo Yethu had been reported at Hout Bay Police Station for the past two weeks.
“The gangs are no more. After the boys handed themselves over we have had no crime in the area reported in the past two weeks. They have been disbanded,” he said.
A procession of “elders” had marched through the area two weeks ago to warn the gangs to stop committing crimes.
During that week, two gang leaders were stoned to death.
Fearing for their lives a group of about 40 alleged gang members met with the CPF and other community organisations on August 15 to discuss getting involved in skills development programmes.
James House Child and Youth Care Centre managing director Edwin Corbett said that 79 “troubled youths” had been identified for screening processes at the centre.
Corbett met with some of them and they said they wanted to change their lives.
“Their ages range from 18 to 28. The idea is to rehabilitate them through various programmes which include psychological therapy and outdoor activities like camping and hiking,” said Corbett.
Psychologist Welcome Witbooi is a former 28’s gangster who works closely with members from both gangs at Ubuntu For All, another youth care centre in Hout Bay.
Witbooi said 225 former gangsters (162 XB members and 63 BBC members) are currently part of a rehabilitation programme at Ubuntu.
“We are planning two separate camps for rival gangs and then one where they combine in the hope to foster peace.
“At Ubuntu we focus on the social and psychological aspects of their rehabilitation,” he said.
MEC for Safety and Security Dan Plato met with the community in Imizamo Yethu on Tuesday.
Plato joined representatives from Chrysalis Academy and various Further Education and Training (FET) colleges, encouraging the young men to enrol in courses.
“We have put lots of resources into the area and have garnered the support of many NGO’s and FET colleges.
“We handed out registration forms on Wednesday and have strongly urged the youth to make use of the opportunities available to them.
“It is encouraging to see that many of those who were involved in crime there are now keen to change there lives,” Plato added.
Cape Times