Citation

Larner S. S. Afr. Crime Q. 2017; 61: 41-55.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Institute for Security Studies (South Africa))

DOI

10.17159/2413-3108/2017/v0n61a2605

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Crime has gripped public discourse in democratic South Africa.1 Cities such as Cape Town, Durban and Nelson Mandela Bay have some of the highest homicide rates in the world.2 Most South Africans do not feel safe at night3 nor do they believe government is capable of maintaining law and order.4 Nationally the picture is bleak. But at the local level, innovative responses to crime are underway, illustrating the constraints and advantages of community-based interventions. Established in 2004, the Rebuilding and Life Skills Training Centre (Realistic) is a community-based response to youth crime in the township of Gugulethu in Cape Town. Using in-depth interviews, this article presents a case study examining the obstacles faced by young ex-offenders in Gugulethu, and the impact of Realistic's aftercare programme on their life path.

Language: en