Turf Wars in KZN, Gauteng and Cape Town

Communities in KZN, Gauteng and Cape Town live in fear as rival gangs take to the streets to fight for turf to ply their trade

Drugs like whoonga, tik and 'buttons' sell for anything from R6 to R40

Children as young as 10 are caught up in gang life, often carrying out drive-by shootings and working as runners for gang lords.

Most come from poorer, single-income homes and are swept up by the allure of the splashy cars and gold chains worn by these gangsters

Very often, innocent people are killed in the crossfire between rivals
Kids are afraid to play outside and parents live in fear

Related incidents which have all occured in 2022 and was reported on by IOL include:

A plea by Hanover park residents for police intervention as they face gang wars.

In June, Sydenham Heights in the western outskirt of Durban were said to have fallen in the hands of Cape Town drug gangs.

In August, Wentworth and Sydenham were repordedly "under seige" as running gun battles had become the norm in those communities.

In May, alleged gang-affiliated suspects, who were said to have terrorised the community of Riverlea in Langlaagte, appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court