STILL MARGINAL

This research paper examines the disproportionate rates of victimization and incarceration among the coloured population in South Africa, particularly in the Western Cape and Northern Cape. The author argues that social exclusion, historical marginalization, urban density in areas like the Cape Flats, and substance abuse contribute to high levels of crime and gangsterism within this community.

• Coloured people in South Africa experience disproportionately high rates of murder and incarceration relative to their share of the national population. While they represent 9% of the population, they accounted for 14% of homicides in 2001 and 13% in 2002, and they make up 18% of the national prison population.
• Coloured murder victims exhibit a unique pattern of violence compared to other ethnic groups, being more likely to be stabbed than shot. In 2002, 44% of coloured victims were stabbed and 39% were shot, whereas the general average was 54% shot and 30% stabbed.
• Since 1994, the coloured community has faced a more significant increase in unemployment than the black community. Unemployment in the coloured community increased by 35%, compared to a 19% increase in the black community.
• High population density and residential stability in the Cape Flats 'dormitory communities' are linked to the rise of gangsterism. Because families cannot expand their housing and youth spend significant time on the streets, playgroups often evolve into gangs with norms that supersede those of the home.
• Substance abuse is a critical factor in the community, specifically alcoholism linked to the historical 'dop system' on farms and the use of Mandrax. Coloured people were the ethnic group most likely to have alcohol in their systems at the time of death in 2002 (68%), and over half of coloured men in one sample tested positive for Mandrax.
• Historical 1998 data suggests a distinction between types of crime by area in the Cape Town metropole: black areas (such as Nyanga, Guguletu, and Langa) had the worst violence and murder rates, while coloured areas (such as Mitchell's Plain) scored higher for property crime and burglary.

APA

Leggett, T. (2004). STILL MARGINAL. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.org/01-mar-2004-sacq-no-7/still-marginal

Chicago

Leggett, Ted. STILL MARGINAL. Institute for Security Studies, 2004. https://issafrica.org/01-mar-2004-sacq-no-7/still-marginal.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Leggett |first1=Ted |title=STILL MARGINAL |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=1 March 2004 |url=https://issafrica.org/01-mar-2004-sacq-no-7/still-marginal |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{leggett2004still, author = {Leggett, Ted}, title = {{STILL MARGINAL}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2004}, month = mar, url = {https://issafrica.org/01-mar-2004-sacq-no-7/still-marginal}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }