Cape Town: The City Graffiti Unit hosted a community clean-up in Manenberg this week, that targeted gang tags made by youth as they mark their territories. These tags have been linked to a recent increase in violent stone throwing incidents in the community.
Reportedly, the specialised unit within the Law Enforcement Department is assigned a task with cleaning illegal graffiti on a daily basis, throughout the metropole. During the last three months of 2025, the unit removed around10,000 square meters of graffiti.
In terms of the Graffiti by-law, graffiti constitutes any one of, or a combination of, any inscription, word, figure other than a figure indicating a street number, letter, sign, symbol, sketch, picture, drawing, or design that is applied to any natural surface or man-made surface on any property and which is visible to a person from a public place. Removing illegal graffiti helps to prevent urban decay, reduces crime, and protects property values.
The by-law states that the owner or occupier of a property has the responsibility to ensure that the property remains free of illegal graffiti. The first offence for someone caught in the act of defacing property carries a fine of R1500. The offender will also be served with a compliance notice to have the graffiti removed at their expense.
Complaints received by the unit are investigated and recorded in a register, with each case file containing evidence such as photographs and statements by complainants.
The Graffiti Unit not only enforces the by-law, but they will also assist where a formal application for mural art is received. By doing site inspections of the locations where the proposed mural will be situated, and who the affected parties and property owners will be.
Following an inspection, a report is then submitted to the Arts and Culture branch of the City of Cape Town, which is responsible for facilitating applications.
The clean-up in Manenberg was inspired by a recent pilot project undertaken by the Safety and Security Directorate focusing on the formation of Youth gangs known as “klipgooiers”. The project will include social and enforcement interventions.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Safety and Security – Alderman JP Smith said that as part of the research, it was established that the youth who are involved in daily violent altercations have created various groupings.
Subsequently, they have taken to tagging their gang names across the community to mark their territories. This is a very concerning trend, and it speaks to the ongoing grooming of youth to join gangs.
According to Smith, the Gang graffiti has an immense psychological impact on residents living in communities like Manenberg. This is not just a drawing on a wall. It is a clear message sent by gangs to assert their dominance over law abiding residents, while warning rival gangs not to enter.
The clean-up was the first step in showing the gangs that they will not allow their youth to carry on these traditions. Together, they will take their communities back from gangs.
The City of Cape Town urged residents to make use of the C3 platform to log graffiti and gang tags in their communities, where the logged service request will be handed over to Law Enforcement.