[imagesource:carteblanche/x]

Last night’s (June 2) episode of Carte Blanche was one of the harder ones to watch, delving into the disturbing truth of child soldiers in the Western Cape.

Gangs exploit these vulnerable youth, the episode trailer explains, with some acting as spotters, others as peddling drugs, and the most dangerous of them all, the enforcers, wielding guns and committing violence upon violence.

The saddest part is that they are all just children who can’t even dare to have a relatively normal childhood without the risk of being murdered.

It is truly shocking to see the extent of the gang warfare playing out in parts of Cape Town. Children pay the ultimate price of lawlessness in the Cape Flats – as victims, but most tragically, as perpetrators, too.

Guns, drugs and power in the hands of children. We take you inside gang territory in the Western Cape where some youngsters run riot. Join #CarteBlanche tonight at 7pm on @MNet channel 101. pic.twitter.com/XHPJoIcvfU

— Carte Blanche (@carteblanchetv) June 2, 2024

Around 8,000 of the roughly 55,000 people in Hanover Park are in gangs, many of them children. Journalist Govan Whittles gets to know one of them, Ashley, who is just 14 years old.

Hanover Park is home to 55 000 people. Around 8000 are involved in gangs – many of them children. This is Ashley – he’s just 14 years old and already tried to kill someone. #CarteBlanche @govanwhittles pic.twitter.com/uL7Og9LiKa

— Carte Blanche (@carteblanchetv) June 2, 2024

Within these gang territories in the Western Cape where some youngsters run riot, choosing to be a kid and not a gangster can cost them their lives.

Many children in the Cape Flats just want to be kids. But refusing to join a gang could cost them their lives… #CarteBlanche @govanwhittles pic.twitter.com/1CDzhn2hmm

— Carte Blanche (@carteblanchetv) June 2, 2024

Deuwrico de Wee was 15 when he was found mutilated in a field near his grandmother’s home. He’d refused to join a gang for three years of his young life and in the end, that cost him his whole life.

In August 2023, the mutilated body of 15-year-old Deuwrico de Wee was found in a field near his grandmother’s home. He’d been targeted by a gang for three years, but he refused to join. It ultimately cost him his life. #CarteBlanche @govanwhittles pic.twitter.com/NlUxksNT2t

— Carte Blanche (@carteblanchetv) June 2, 2024

You can find the full story a bit later this week on MNet channel 101 via DStv Catch Up and the DStv Stream app.

[source:carteblanche]