Gang Rule and other Factors Affecting Social Cohesion and Collective Violence in Mamelodi

This report presents findings of research conducted by the African Centre for Migration and Society (ACMS) in April and October 2022 in Mamelodi East (Wards 15 and 18), in the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, Gauteng Province. Conducted as part of -and for- the Kagisano programme1, this research builds on -and updates- an original study conducted in the same area in 2017. The 2017 study resulted in a Mamelodi Case Study Report (hereinafter referred to as the ‘original report’). As an update of the original research, the current report should be read together with the above-mentioned detailed original report.

Like the original study, this research aims to identify obstacles to -and opportunities for social cohesion to inform interventions to address collective or group-based violence and foster social cohesion in 16 selected sites and the country. Social cohesion generally refers to the ability of different population groups and people to peacefully live together differently (Freedom House 2017). Updating the original research was important to assess whether there may have been significant changes in the empirical reality in the targeted, highly mobile and fluid communities, and by doing so, ensure that new interventions are not based on outdated data and information. Further, the new research envisaged to collect additional baseline qualitative and quantitative data. This baseline data is not available in the original reports but is required for the new, planned community based programmes.

This report has three key sections. The first section briefly discusses the research methods and data sources. The second section provides a summary of the detailed presentation and analysis of the research findings. Lastly, the third and concluding section reflects on the implications of the research findings for the promotion of social cohesion and prevention of collective violence.

Read the report here.