MANENBERG - Manenberg has become synonymous with gangs, drugs, and killings.
Now, residents and the local SAPS want their streets back.
They kicked this off with a colour run ahead of Freedom Day.
Manenberg is a gang hotspot where the sounds of gunfire have become the order of the day.
A community member said it was important for the residents, who constantly live in fear, to have fun.
"I am part of the community, and there is so much violence in Manenberg and gangsterism, it's just lekker just to gather as a community to do something fun instead of running away from bullets and fighting."
"We are here to have fun. To run the colour run."
"It is important for young people to understand that the choices they make in life are critical. One moment of madness is a whole life of sadness, and we want them to get rid of that.'
This is the second year of the colour run, and it's hoped that more people will join and liberate the streets.
Another resident said being out, running in the streets, was liberating.
“I felt very free while running. I saw no criminals. Just people applauding, go mama go mama."
"I enjoy it, I enjoy it very much because at the end of the day we can show young people there is a way out, they don't need to do drugs, alcohol, and gangsterism."
Jayce Naidoo, Manenberg Police Station Commander, said he would like the event to take place monthly and then weekly to get young people active, healthy, and away from crime.
"The youngsters are joining gangs from a very young age, and the incentive currently is that gangs are offering stipends to the youngsters to join the gangs. 80 percent of the socio-economic conditions, people are living in poverty, and the youngsters are bringing in an income for the place."