“Several Gauteng townships, where formal governance structures are losing credibility, have been increasingly replaced by informal governance groups, and in some instances, by gang authorities.” shares Dr. Jean-Pierre Misago (Senior Researcher and Co-Director, African Centre for Migration & Society) at the Governing Gauteng Colloquium.

This is not a statement about crime. It is a statement about governance, and the erosion of the state’s legitimacy in spaces where residents no longer trust formal structures to deliver justice, safety, or services. When communities turn to vigilantes and gangs for protection and order, the state does not simply lose control. It forfeits its sovereignty. And the consequences are felt most acutely by the most vulnerable, including migrants and foreign nationals who are already excluded from formal systems.

The Governing Gauteng Colloquium, hosted by Wits University, brought together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to confront these realities head-on. No election promises. No political speeches. Just evidence, accountability, and difficult questions.

WATCH here:

[Video Credit: Jaclyn Modise / ACMS]