Byron Ashton, a 33-year-old former gang leader from Ocean View, Cape Town, has renounced his criminal past to focus on youth mentorship and fatherhood. After founding the Junky Funky Kidz (JFK) gang in 2014 and spending years in a cycle of violence, Ashton stated he abandoned gangsterism in 2023 following a near-fatal shooting by his own associates that left him in a coma. He now intends to use his history to discourage at-risk youth from joining gangs.
The Rise of the Junky Funky Kidz
Ashton’s path into organized crime began in his teens. Raised by his grandmother until age 13, he later worked under his father after failing Grade 10, a period he described as mentally abusive and unpaid. Seeking an alternative to the poverty he feared, he rejected the prospect of working for established gangs and instead sought a leadership role.
In 2013, at age 19, Ashton traveled to Capricorn near Muizenberg to meet a founding member of the Junky Funky Kidz. A year later, he established the JFKs in Ocean View, recruiting nine initial members. At that time, the Hard Livings gang was the primary criminal entity controlling the Ocean View area.
A Violent Turning Point
Ashton’s departure from gang life was triggered by a 2023 incident in which he was shot by his own “manskappe,” or gang members. While hospitalized and breathing through a medical pipe, he experienced a shift in perspective that led him to disavow his previous life.
He describes this change as a spiritual awakening, noting that he now prioritizes his role as a father to his two children. He characterizes his current life as an attempt to “be the father I never had,” and he is actively working on personal rehabilitation.
Future Aspirations for Youth Mentorship
Looking ahead, Ashton plans to leverage his extensive experience in the gang subculture to reach youth currently at risk of exploitation. He believes that by sharing the realities of his past, he can provide a cautionary narrative that steers young people away from the shop corners and gang affiliations he once occupied.
While he acknowledges that he is still working on his own recovery, his ambition remains focused on community intervention.
Frequently Asked Questions
What led Byron Ashton to leave his gang?
Ashton left the Junky Funky Kidz after he was shot by his own gang members in 2023, an event that left him in a coma and prompted him to change his life path.
When did the Junky Funky Kidz start in Ocean View?
Ashton founded the Ocean View branch of the gang in 2014 after meeting a founding member in Capricorn the previous year.
What is Ashton’s goal now?
He aims to work with at-risk youth and current gangsters, using his personal history to motivate others to avoid a life of crime.
How can communities effectively utilize the experience of former gang members to prevent youth recruitment?