DON Pinnock swears that Gang Town is his last book on gangsterism and crime in Cape Town. In his search for answers during his fourth and final examination of the scourge, he joined the ranks of scientists who believe that epigenetics holds an important clue."One of the things that made me write this book is anger — it is a very good motivator," the criminologist and investigative journalist says in an interview."This has to be the end, I don’t know how much more I can take. There is only so much anger and sadness that I can carry. I love these people, but I have done what I can."It is impossible to estimate the extent of gang membership on the Cape Flats, as thousands of people boast an affiliation to avoid being attacked in their neighbourhoods. Membership, Pinnock writes in Gang Town, is based on reasons that may be economic, fashionable, temporary, permanent, or pathological.On the Cape Flats, gangs are generally held responsible for all crime, but police statistics indicate tha...
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