Govt confronts gang terror head-on

The BTK’s off-shoot gang which calls itself “666”, the biblical Apocalyptic number associated with devil worshippers has members who literally drink human blood and has been branded Satanists

Fear. Paralysing fear is what has gripped reformed gang members who have turned their backs on the thuggery and savage existence they used to lead, as they now look to turn their lives around and adopt a cleaner and more constructive way of life.

This agonising and all-consuming fear was very much evident last Friday as the authorities and community leaders engaged former gang members in Botshabelo, with a view to consolidating their rehabilitation process.

Converted gang members, who were scheduled to take part in the dialogue, were afraid to publicly denounce their former gangs; the infamous Born to kill (BTK) and Dinotshi bandits. They were scared to talk to the media, even on conditionof anonymity, claiming their former partners in crime possessed superhuman powers and would know and come after them if they dared to condemn them.

Out of fear for their lives, they never showed up at the discussions, leaving the provincial government and municipality officials, law enforcement agencies, traditional leaders and church leaders to proceed with the discourse without them.

Gangs have unleashed a reign of terror of cosmic proportions in areas where they are active. Their crimes of choice include assault, rape, murder, assault and robbery.

The scourge of gangs in Botshabelo first emerged in 2009. It was initiated by bandits who came to be known as “Born to Kill” (BTK) and “Nigel” (Dinotshi, a Sesotho word for bees).

The ‘movement’ actually traces its origins behind the prison walls, where it was initially started by inmates aged between 15 and 29 hell-bent on settling old scores.

Outlining the history of the BTK gang, the head of Grootvlei Prison, Thami Nelane, said it started out as a dance group from Bultfontein. This choir would dance for money. Their original idea was to ‘kill’ through dancing, meaning giving the best dancing performances.

Accusations of mismanagement of the group’s funds saw it splitting up, resulting in a catalogue of violent confrontations that extended to the outside world, as the ex-convicts’ families took up arms in defence of their loved ones’ honour.

“Then there is also an aberration of the BTK, who call themselves ‘666’, the biblical Apocalyptic number associated with worshippers of the Devil. Members of this variation gang literally drink human blood; they are Satanists. The BTK’s of

Thaba Nchu and Botshabelo are despised by others in areas such as Brandtfort, who do not recognise them. (Brandtford is actually regarded as the headquarters of BTK and gang members here spot tattoos that say ‘Boy Don’t Respect’.)

“This has seen some BTK members moving from Botshabelo to Brandtford in search of status, prestige and security. During gang fights these ‘defectors’ are placed in the frontline.”

Boasting a membership of up to 3 000 in Thaba Nchu and Botshabelo, BTK has spawned several affiliate gangs. The most prominent are Tenezela Dikatofa and Girls do not Respect 7 (GNR7). These are either girlfriends or female members of a gang known as 7Sledge.

Then there is the BTK’s blood foas, the Nigels gang. Like BTK, this ring, too, originates in prison and has several off-shoots; Nation Beautiful Spiders and Sofa Sonke, as well as emerging cliques, namely 6Dices, Egepeta (Egypt), Fuck Life and Diphepheng.

These gangs have previously incurred a backlash from communities, which saw some of their members going into ‘exile’ convinced that they were attacked by rival gangs.

In a bid to defuse the insidious sub-culture of gangs, the South African Police Service (SAPS) has undertaken a process to profile gang members with a view to narrowing their net in the event of any gang-related incidents. Police also conduct disruption operations on high risk areas, including schools, while also conducting public awareness and sensitisation campaigns.

According to provincial police commissioner, Khehla Sithole, gangs do operate in schools, albeit on a smaller scale.

“We have a joint programme with the education department, known as school safety plan, which seeks to make schools as secure and gang-free as possible.

“We also have an investigating unit whose specific focus is the gangs. Recently, we managed to secure life sentences for six young people. This shows just how heavy-handed we are when it comes to gang-related crimes,” added Sithole.

Meanwhile, the Mangaung Metro’s mayoral committee on social development’s initiative to rehabilitate young gang members is making slow but steady progress.

“So far, 200 former gang members have been re-integrated into the community. They were place on a two-week rehabilitation programme. They are also kept busy with sporting activities and we help them start their own businesses,” said committee member’ Maditaba Matsoetlane.

“Plans are also underway to send those who did  not finish their studies back to school.” For his part, the MEC for police, roads and transport, Butana Kompela, did not mince his words as he swore to tighten the screws on gang-related crime.

“You will hear them scream when we get to them. Gangs must not think, just because they have guns, the police will cower. Together with the municipality, we are determined to create a secure environment, and we do not need the gangs’ permission to do it,” emphasised Kompela.