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South-Africa Gangs Graffiti And The Good StuffSouth-Africa Gangs Graffiti And The Good Stuff is about the people, the art,(of which this country is very rich) which includes graffiti, and gang lore. Gang Profiles show that gangs world over, have their own signals, tags, tattoos and dress codes but share a similar agenda, making money through drugs, extortion and organised crime. South-African Gangs are in this respect no different. There are several gangs in South Africa that operate mainly in the Cape, Port Elizabeth and Gauteng. (Johannesburg) Many of whom are conscripted in prison. This in the main, is due to non-members being targeted and thereby being pressurised into joining up. This in fact does not differ from most prisons world over. Facial tattoos generally indicate that the person has served time in prison and these particular tattoos are in defiance of prison rules and laws. Some of the most powerful prison gangs are known as the 26's, 27's and 28's. There is a long and bloody history as well as myth associated with these numbers and the rules that bind them to their separate gangs. Tattoos indicate specific gangs and specific meanings such as a penis indicates a member of the 28's. A scorpion indicates a membership to the Scorpion gang, FG tattooed between the forefinger and the thumb indicate membership of the Fast Guns. Tattoos are body graffiti, each tattoo has an agenda and a message, they can be a warning to someone or a group, they make a statement of who the person is, which group they belong to, and they tell the tale of the person inked.
This is a loose introduction into the complex world of South-Africa and it's many peoples from South-Africa Gangs Graffiti.
South-Africa Gangs Graffiti, extends as a courtesy to visitors to South Africa and especially for those who will be travelling there for the Football World Cup in 2010 a kindly warning in regard to safety. I would advise that visitors be wary of the lesser known gangs. By this I mean to say that these South-Africa Gangs are not as easy to identify from the ordinary man on the street. These are gangs that range from the highly organised drugs trafficking trade, stolen cars and hijackings organisations to the more informal and often loosely organised street gangs of youthes and children. The latter more informal South-African gangs are probably more troublesome to the average person as they weave in and out of shopping malls in groups looking for likely targets. They tend to hang around ATM's moving in closer to people who are less observant, waiting for a chance to either talk a person out of their card by being friendly and seemingly wanting to give advice or by using intimidation tactics! If an ATM seems to be out of order leave right away and find one in a well lit, well populated area. South-Africa Gangs and Graffiti list this as a top tip! Street kids use their orphan like charm to pull on heart strings whilst their buddies are sizing up the moment to snatch cameras, wallets, phones and games players. Some wait at stop streets for the chance to smash a car window and grab a handbag or laptop left on the front seat. If you are tempted to give them money, rather give a donation to organisations that look after street kids. Any money they receive themselves, no matter how hungry they say they are, will more likely be used on glue, alcohol and cigarettes. Also be aware that AIDS is rife in Africa and is particularly high in many areas of South-Africa. Don't take AIDS home as a souvenier!! Always use condoms! Another South-Africa Gangs Graffiti top tip! The simple answer to the tourist is, if you and your gang want to enjoy your holiday in South Africa, do not: Place your camera, handbag, wallet, sunglasses, iPods etc on any restaurant table; Do not use shoulder bags unless they are looped over the neck and do not use satchel handbags that have an easy to open zip. In crowded situations use a moonbag or bumbag with the purse kept hidden under a shirt or top; Do; Carry as little cash as possible and leave extra cards or cash at the hotel in the hotel safe; When driving a rented car do not leave anything of value on the front seat and do not leave valuables in the car that are openly visible to a passer by. Lock these items in the boot. Most good car rental companies should give you the low down on all of this as well. Do; Take advice on where to visit from the locals; People who have been born or have lived in South Africa for a good part of their lives, percieve foreigners who do not take heed of their surroundings as being a bit 'Los Kop', loosely translated it means without a head. Africans find it difficult to fathom people who do not take care of where they are, or their baggage, their children and most of all cannot fathom why people walk around at night on their own or in small groups. The culture of walking alone in town or inner cities in relative safety does not exist in South Africa and from what I know and understand also does not exist in most African countries. To do this is highly dangerous in some areas, so do ask the locals and officials for advice and take heed of what they say. I can promise that by doing this, South Africa will be the experience of a life-time. One last and extremely important South-Africa Gangs Graffiti Top Tip and reminder to visitors, child trafficking is huge in Africa!! Do not let small kids in your gang out of your sight even in seemingly safe areas! For all Security and Business Security Solutions
Dredd Security Solutions.
For now I would like to take South-Africa Gangs Graffiti into the good stuff. There is a lot that is great about South-Africa and the people. It is a bubbling 'Potjie', ( a big black cast iron pot, used for cooking stew over an open fire) of great artists from every sector of the population. Given that South-Africa is it's own melting pot of many nationalities and nations, it is no wonder that the art, the humour and the stories told are so diverse. The photo header above is of a wheel barrow race that took place at a competition held in Graskop for Gold Panning. The competitors came from all around the globe. The whackiness of the whole concept is a good indicator of South-African humour and love of the out-doors. Wherever there is an event you can bet that there will be cooking in big black pots or over open fire! The wide open roads and beautiful scenery means travelling from one end of South Africa to the other is a joy. I hope that you take a trip with me as I search for more South-Africa Gangs Graffiti and stories, with the help of my son and enjoy it as much as I do! The graffiti displayed has been taken around Graskop and Gauteng. I will be adding to this page as and when the opportunity arises. Enjoy South-Africa Gangs Graffiti And The Good Stuff!
I extend into a bit of God's Graffiti here, with the wonderful bejeweled paving of dropped Jacaranda flowers in Pretoria.
South-Africa Gangs Graffiti will attempt to answer as many questions as possible and research any others that are not at the tips of my fingers. All e-mail addresses or private information will be treated as confidential unless otherwise specified. Happy touring, happy snapping and happy holidays!
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