Gangsterism on the Cape Flats: A challenge to ‘engage the powers’

One of the most pressing issues in the urban ghettos of the Cape Flats is that of gangsterism and the discourse of power and powerlessness that is its lifeblood. Media coverage over the past two years was littered with news on gangsterism as the City of Cape Town struggles to contain what some label...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Hervormde teologiese studies 2014-12, Vol.70 (3), p.1-07
Main Author: Du Toit, Nadine F. Bowers
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Church
Epidemics
Gangs
Gangsterism
Gangsters
Ghettos
Power
Powerlessness
Religion
Social aspects
South Africa
Unemployment
Urban areas
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Summary:One of the most pressing issues in the urban ghettos of the Cape Flats is that of gangsterism and the discourse of power and powerlessness that is its lifeblood. Media coverage over the past two years was littered with news on gangsterism as the City of Cape Town struggles to contain what some labelled a pandemic. It is a pandemic that is closely tied to a deprivation trap of poverty, marginalisation, isolation, unemployment and, ultimately, powerlessness. The latter concept of powerlessness and its interplay with these factors constituted the main thrust of this article as it explores the concept of power (and powerlessness) as deeply relational with the economic, psycho-social and spiritual dimensions. It is proposed that Kingdom power challenges the status quo within such contexts and offers the church an alternative framework within which to engage prophetically.
ISSN:0259-9422
2072-8050
2072-8050
DOI:10.4102/hts.v70i3.2727