A field separating warring gangs in Lavender Hill in Cape Town could soon become a space of healing and hope for a community ravaged by crime. The area is regarded as a gang hotspot on the Cape Flats. Residents, desperate to stop the cycle of violence, are now taking trying to turn the field into a recreational facility. For more news, visit sabcnews.com and also #SABCNews on Social Media.

Ralph Bouwers (CEO: The Guardians of the National Treasure) & Mark Nicholson (Chairman: Lavender Hill Sport & Recreation Foundation) join us in studio as they give our audience some insight into the disheartening state the Cape Flats area of Lavender Hill is in. They also shed some light on the work their respective organizations are doing in the area. Website: http://afternoonexpress.co.za/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afternoonexpress/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AfternoonChat Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afternoonexpress/

Two aspiring professional soccer play hopefuls, Tristan Hollander & Imtiyaaz Ruiters, joins us in the Afternoon Express loft – as they share their experiences growing up on the Cape Flats in Lavender Hill, and how the work of Ralph Bouwers (The Guardians of the National Treasure) and Mark Nicholson (Lavender Hill Sport & Recreation Foundation) has changed their young lives, as they venture off to Barcelona, to spread their soccer talent. Website: http://afternoonexpress.co.za/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afternoonexpress/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AfternoonChat Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afternoonexpress/

Lavender Hill, Cape Town. Short introduction https://www.guardiansofthenationaltreasure.org/about

Ralph Bouwers started the Guardians of National Treasure Organisation to uplift the youth of Lavender Hill through sports. Join the Expresso community: Facebook | @expressoshow.sabc3 | https://www.facebook.com/expressoshow.sabc3 Twitter | @expressoshow | https://twitter.com/expressoshow Instagram | @expressoshow | https://www.instagram.com/expressoshow Pinterest | @expressomorning | https://www.pinterest.com/expressomorning Snapchat | @expressoshow | https://www.snapchat.com Website | http://www.expressoshow.com

Lavender Hill, near Cape Town in South Africa - It's considered a no-go area, one of the most dangerous places on earth, completely under resourced in terms of any kind of community assistance, charity or creative engagement. In Place of War is there - meeting past and current gang members to understand how creativity, arts and entrepreneurship could make a difference in the community. We are being showed around by former notorious gang member, Turner Adams, who would like to work with In Place of War to provide more opportunities for his community. In Place of War is a global organisation that uses creativity in places of conflict as a tool for positive change. We enable grassroots change-makers in music, theatre and across the arts to transform a culture of violence and suffering into hope, opportunity and freedom.

Ralph Bouwers, started the NGO Guardians of The National Treasure in Lavender Hill. The NGO receives free vegetables from the Philippi Horticultural Area (PHA) in Cape Town. The rezoning of the Farmlands to residential areas will tripple the vegetable prices in Cape Town and destroy the precious Aquifer underlying the PHA. Farmers and farmworkers will be without income and connected businesses will have trouble to survive. Soupkitchens, schools, NGO's and churches now receiving free vegetables from the PHA farmers will have great difficulties feeding the poor.

Western Cape Community Safety MEC Dan Plato says he was threatened by a gang leader in Lavender Hill Saturday morning. The threat came just before an anti-crime, anti-gang march he was part of in the area. Four local schools were forced to close down last week, due to gang violence. Meanwhile, provincial Cosatu members have also also marched to Parliament, to highlight the need for urgent action in the recent killings of children and women on the Cape Flats and elsewhere. For more news, visit: http://www.sabc.co.za/news