Rising youth violence ahead of Guy Fawkes: 'Don't allow children to run havoc!'

The Steenberg community policing forum (CPF) has reported a worrying rise in violent incidents in Cape Flats communities ahead of the annual Guy Fawkes observance on 5 November.

Erica Jacobs, the deputy chairperson of the CPF and director of the New World Foundation, said that groups of young people have already engaged in stone-throwing and assaults.

She said that this behaviour was an early indication of the unrest that usually characterises this time of year.

"Guy Fawkes has now become an opportunity for misbehaviour. There's always been sort of a smearing or a gathering of people, and then there's been chaos. Now kids can't go out of the community, so they are misbehaving within their streets, within their courts, within the area where they live. The group mentality is that we all go into one space, we identify with a particular group, we are throwing stones at another group, we're throwing stones at vehicles, at police vans, at public transport, anything where they can make an impact."

Jacobs explained that stone-throwing between neighbourhood groupsoften serves as a gateway to deeper gang involvement.

She stated that limited recreation options, poor supervision, and exposure to normalised violence at home and in communities further fuel the problem.

"I want our community to understand that our children are actually at risk of being injured themselves.

"We live in a context where exposure to violence and aggression is so normalised, so children naturally gravitate to that kind of thing because it's been an example to them. People living their lives through gang violence; they perpetuate violence all the time within homes and families. The influence of gangs is unbelievable on young people."

Jacobs urged parents, schools, and community and religious leaders not to ignore the behaviour but to speak out and intervene early.

"Do not turn a blind eye. Do not allow children to run havoc like this. To schools, we are asking them to do prevention. Please speak to the parents, to the children, to the youth. Do not get involved. The trajectory of your life will change if this becomes normal."

To listen to Jacobs in conversation with CapeTalk's Lester Kiewit, use the audio player below: