If you have been in Cape Town for more than 5 minutes, it is likely you have heard about the horrific gang violence that plagues particular areas of the Mother City.

It is a particularly difficult problem to address as gangs are very deeply integrated into many communities and cultures. This community, however, has had enough of the gang violence: Manenberg is speaking up against gang wars.

 “Taking Back Our Streets” is an initiative organised by Glenda Gain of the Manenberg Community Work Programme (CWP) in partnership with the South African Police Service. Together they organise weekly marches through the most dangerous streets in Manenberg.

“We didn’t have a big crowd a few weeks ago,” Gain says, “because the night before it was a warzone and people were quite scared to come out and march the next day.” But today is different. It’s Wednesday, midweek and early 200 people have gathered at the Manenberg circle waving placards, ready to march.