Children as young as eight allegedly recruited by gangs in Manenberg

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Vicky Stark

13 January 2026 | 12:09

A Community Policing Forum spokesperson says he's seen mothers filling their overalls with stones and giving it to their kids.

Children as young as eight allegedly recruited by gangs in Manenberg

Picture: Pixabay

Children as young as eight are allegedly being recruited by gangs in Manenberg, Cape Town, with some reportedly carrying guns or throwing stones in exchange for money, sparking alarm among residents and police.
The spokesperson for the area's Community Policing Forum, Abdurahman Govind, claimed that children are being made to carry illegal guns during police raids.
Pre-teens also brazenly throw stones at police, certain private vehicles and houses, in exchange for money from gangsters.
"And now they tell you, 'Listen, start throwing stones there. You're going to throw stones, but we're going to give you something on the side.' Like money for tekkies," said Govind.
He said he's seen mothers filling their overalls with stones and giving them to their children.
According to him, an eight-year-old and a 17-year-old were recently arrested.
"Now the community's up in arms with us. How can we allow SAPS to arrest these kids? I mean, really, you cry on one side that you need the assistance, and when you get the assistance, then this is what we sit with."
Govind urged people to adopt the attitude 'my child is your child'. "I mean, when I grew up, if I did something wrong, and our neighbour used to see I did something wrong, they would reprimand me."
He said people must stand together and remember that they have great people coming out of Manenberg, like lawyers and doctors.
To listen to Govind's full discussion with CapeTalk's Clarence Ford, use the audio player below:
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