40 pictures showing the actual situation of the gang taken closely with the gang in South Africa

The picture below is a picture showing the real situation of the South African gang and its surroundings taken by a Spanish journalist, Jose Chengdong, closely attached to the South African gang.

Mr. Chengdong analyzed and reported the situation that Somalia became a lawless state in 2009, and received the Ortéga y Gassett Prize, one of Spain's most prestigious journalism awards. Currently he is working as a journalist based in Cape Town, South Africa.

Gangland culture in South Africa: Jose Cendon

South African gangs are said to have started from the 1950s when colorful races were driven out of the city center by the apartheid policy.


As the police are taking action to drive out residents from their homes, it is considered that gangs emerged as vigilant group self-defense measures.


Children blending into gang society. I see a big trace on my chest.


A boy dyed his hair red.


Gang is rooted in the poor and is tied up with social problems.


◆ Drug trafficking

When apartheid was over, Gang began to form an alliance with Nigeria and Chinese criminal groups for the production and sale of heroin and methamphetamine (stimulants).


A man holding drugs.


Suction the smoke with a pipe.



A man who removes dentures. I do not seem to be at the age that teeth will come off, but I do not know if it is due to fighting or organic solvent such as thinner or toluene.


They are rooted in areas suffering from unemployment and poverty, where sales of drugs further aggravate local security and deepen the problem.



◆ American

Besides these gangs closely tied to the area, there is a group called "American's" as a larger gang which is active in Cape Town.


They say that they like American flags and rap music, and because they make easy money earnings, they are said to be called "American's".



Tattoo written "MONEY LOVE".



A statue of liberty is drawn on the back.


T-shirt written "MONEY WALK $".


A gun was drawn under the clothes.


A mark of "$" is drawn on the head of the nose.


Coins are drawn to fill the feet.



◆ flood of guns

South African gangs are divided into groups such as "Mongrels", "Playboys", "Naughty Boys", "Hard Livings", "Junkie Funkies and Corner Boys", each of them has territory, and they are said to be repeating regular fighting.



A man holding a handgun. It looks pretty young.


A revolver thrust into trousers in a casual way.


Gangs have weapons such as handguns and these weapons are used in conflict situations.


Mr. Jose · Chengdong is trying to contact family members belonging to the gang.




A youth with a knife.


I will lend a shoulder to a man who has lost one foot in conflict and will walk.


Prosthesis of a man who lost one foot.


Even during Mr. Chandong's interview, a gang died. A family grieving the death of a man.


A man is placed in a coffin and buried.




In South Africa, the strategy of gang removal by police has all failed, and it seems that gangs are now even perceived as a kind of culture in South Africa. Cape Town continues to be always in the top 5 of the city with the largest number of murders caused directly by gang. A clue to problem solving is still not visible.


You can check the picture of Mr. Jose · Chandon and the contents of currently ongoing project from his website.

Home: Jose Cendon