By Nontobeko Motsa
The Mgazini community in Mankayane, Eswatini is living in fear as a notorious gang who call themselves “26” and “28” is terrorising them. Young boys are being initiated to join the gang by stabbing people and earning points. The once quiet and safe community is fast becoming a place of terror. These young boys are occupying unused homes and market sheds in the area as their hideout places. Boys as young as Primary attending children are being initiated into the gang. Walking at night is now risky as these gang members are soon becoming the “Night watch men”. What is disturbing is that these codes are used in jail and inmates in jail are given rules of operation which these boys aren’t aware of but are simply happy to be called, I namba -namba, without fully understanding the consequences of their actions
