In search of a family : the challenge of gangsterism to faith communities on the Cape Flats

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Gangsterism, as described in this study, is a serious problem. It has deep historical roots inCape town has developed into a kind of 'resident evil' that rears its ugly head time and again,despite several efforts by state organs to crush it.The study was not attempted as a thorough and in-depth research on gangs as such. The mainresearch question was: How do faith communities, in particular Christian churches, respond tothe challenges of gangsterism on the Cape Flats.The research gives an overview of gangsterism as a global phenomenon and how it specificallymanifests and presents itself within the context of the Cape Flats of Cape Town. The discussionof gangsterism deliberately wanted to dispel the notion that there are quick-fix solutions togangsterism. People of faith should guard against superficial analyses and over-simplification ofsocial issues, including gangsterism, poverty and unemployment. With this in mind, the researchhas traced the historical origins of gangsterism in Cape Town, highlighting various socio-political,economic as well as cultural and personal factors that contributed to the formation andestablishment of street gangs. It was also noted how some of these factors still exist in postapartheidSouth Africa and continue to provide fertile ground for gangsterism to continually raiseits ugly head in communities on the Cape Flats. It was important to note that many gangs haveevolved from ordinary street gangs to sophisticated, high-profile crime syndicates that have builtstrongholds in poor communities. This furthermore underlines the fact that there are not quick-fixsolutions to gangsterism as if it is only a few youngsters causing trouble that should be sortedout [Chapter 2].Faith communities on the Cape Flats have come a long way themselves. These communitieshave shown an incredible resilience in the face of many challenges as a result of socio-politicalfactors. It is therefore important to discuss some of the elements that contributed to thisresilience as the research explores the nature of the ecclesiology that has developed over aperiod of time. What transpired is that the ecclesiology under discussion is dynamic, not static innature. The type of ecclesiology on the Cape Flats may be called a social-systemic ministry ofinter-contextual presence. It is responsive to the social context, and is kept alive by the contextwith a huge emphasis on orthopraxy rather than orthodoxy. The situation on the Cape Flatsrequires a missional ecclesiology as faith communities are challenged to continuously involvethemselves in the mission dei. While reaching out to the world, faith communities are also calledivupon to be open, practicing hospitality as they welcome gangsters and ex-gangsters into theirspaces of worship [Chapter 3].The next question to explore is: What kind of pastoral care is needed when faith communities onthe Cape Flats have to deal with the challenge of gangsterism and other social phenomena likepoverty, unemployment and substance-abuse? In order to answer this question, it wasnecessary to trace back the development of pastoral care and counseling over many centuries.Learning from these historical developments, a communal-contextual paradigm for pastoral carewas chosen as a base theory. This choice indicates a move away from individual care with afocus on the human 'self to a hermeneutics of systemic, public care and compassionatepresence. Some of the elements of this kind of care is discussed which include contextuality, aswell as the eco-systemic, hermeneutical, anthropological, relational and public nature of pastoralcare. It is also important that pastoral care operates and is practiced inter-disciplinary in order toprovide the best possible help to care-seekers.The final question that is posed is: How different is the care that faith communities provide fromthe care of any other welfare agency or non-governmental organization (NGO)? In order to linkan eco-systemic and social hermeneutic paradigm to the theology of presence of God withincommunal and contextual systems, a pneumatological approach to theory formation in pastoralcare is proposed. Pastoral care has to offer more than behavioural and social sciences, becausewe believe that the salvation and grace it offers are good news to people. Pastoral care offersnot only comfort and consolation, but also transformation (change and growth) and the fosteringof a mature faith and spirituality by means of Scripture, prayer and the sacraments within thecommunion sanctorum, the familia dei.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University