SPECIAL REPORT: Drug money at heart of DV gang culture
The life of a Duncan Village gangster has one of only four endings: commit crime and “win”, go to jail, get paralysed, or die.
This shocking summary emerged from a frightening interview in a smoke-filled shack with one of the numerous gangs terrorising the community of Duncan Village.
During a Daily Dispatch special investigation, the team heard how gangs turn on each other in deadly fights for territory.
The gangs have names like Nasty Boys, Mafias, Hot Boys, Mongro, Varam 313, Zola 1, Zola 2, G2G, Nozinja, Outlawz and the Nokstotes.
We interviewed members of the Feratjie Boys, feared in Duncan Village but unknown beyond it, although their reach extends to behind prison walls where fellow gang members are incarcerated.
Feratjie Boy Digger, 27, describes himself as “Duncan Village’s worst nightmare”.
Inside a shack, the picture is sordid. Furniture is threadbare, with the only shine coming from dusty electronic goods, probably stolen.
When first approached for an interview, Digger pronounced: “You must not waste time. You must come back with your photographer and do the story. If you don’t you might find me dead – it is Friday today and we will be all over tonight .”
He said they broke the law to get money. Their staple was armed robberies, mainly mugging people in the neighbourhood.
Digger said some victims were “troublesome” and fought back, while others relinquished their belongings without resisting.
Money from robberies was spent on dagga and mandrax tablets.
“We also use some of the money to buy dagga, food and toiletries for our friends in prison.”
Digger joined the gang in 1998 when he was only 10.
“I was inspired by the old guys and the thought of easy money made me more determined. But it has not been an easy journey,” he said.
His first arrest came in 2003 when he was caught stealing at a local supermarket. Since then Digger has been in and out of jail on multiple counts including illegal possession of a firearm and fraud.
After a three-year fraud sentence in Pollsmoor Prison ended in 2012, Digger has evaded a cell even though his life of crime continues.
“The gang life is not glamorous. It ends in four ways – you win or you pay with your life; you go to jail or you end up paralysed,” he said.
The father of two, who dropped out of Grade 12 to fully focus on being a gangster, said he saw no way out of his short, nasty and brutish life.
“We all want to work but the thing is we can’t all have degrees and diplomas and unfortunately for us crime is all we know,” Digger said.
Although he does not see himself as a leader, Digger commands respect among his army of lieutenants and speaks fluent English.
Sitting with him on the day of the interview was Ndoda, 25, the craziest and meanest of the bunch.
He joined the gang in 2007 at the age of 17 and has spent five years in jail for robbery.
Another member, Wrong, 36, claims to have been reformed after his release from jail for armed robbery.
He joined the gang in 2000 aged 14 and by 2001 he was already serving an 18-month jail sentence for robbery. In 2003 he was sent back to prison, after being found in possession of seven guns, one a rifle.
Digger said the Feratjie Boys lost six members, two of whom were his brothers. “They died in the line of duty. They will forever be in our hearts,” said Digger.
Victims of crime would likely disagree with this assertion. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za