Exploring Factors That Gravitate Rural Youth Towards Gangs

Abstract

Youth gang involvement, also in rural areas, has been noted as a concern in South Africa. This article reports on a study, framed in the Ecological Systems Theory, that explored the factors gravitating rural youths towards gangs to make recommendations for preventative and early intervention social work services. It was envisaged that, by addressing these causes within the different systems of youths’ lives, they can be empowered and supported to make alternative life choices. A qualitative approach and explorative and contextual research designs were utilised. Non-probability purposive sampling was used to draw a sample from the population of youth in the rural community. Data was collected through individual semi-structured interviews with eight participants. Ethics entailed the limitation of harm to participants and debriefing, informed consent, anonymity, confidentiality, privacy, and data management. The findings provided a description of causal factors in terms of the micro, mezzo, exo, macro and chronosystems that gravitate youth towards gangs. It was concluded that a variety of role players are needed to ensure sustainable prevention and early intervention services to rural youth and their families. Recommendations for preventative and early intervention services were made based on the findings and framed in the Ecological Systems Theory.