Photographer Sarah Stacke has spent several years documenting families in the South African town of Manenberg. Her series "Love From Manenberg" focuses on the relationships in an area known for its gangs and poverty. <br> <br> Meezie Lottering, 6, is comforted by his aunt, Naomi Lottering. When this picture was taken Naomi, who primarily lives on the streets of Cape Town and is living with HIV, was staying with her sister Debby in an effort to take care of her health and change her lifestyle, Jan. 2016.

Storms River Way is one of the main thoroughfares of Manenberg, Jan. 2016.

"In this place, you can't ask, 'why?'' says Debby Lottering of her hometown, Manenberg. Debby is pictured at home in duplex she shares with with her three children and her cousin, Dec. 2012.

Ashwin Pietersen walks through Manenberg with his friends. Ashwin's sweatshirt bears the symbol of the Hard Livings gang, the main rival of the Americans gang, March 2014.

Debby Lottering helps her eldest son, Zobie, get ready for school in the morning, March 2014.

During apartheid, many of Manenberg's first residents were removed from thriving neighborhoods near Cape Town's city center and relocated. In recent years attempts have been made by the city to improve living conditions by renovating the row houses built in the 1960s. Gang violence in Manenberg prevented the completion of the renovations and families were forced to settle in shipping containers for up to a year that were intended for short-term use. Many containers housed four to 12 family members, March 2014.

Meezie Lottering at home in Manenberg on the bed he shares with his mother, Debby, and two siblings, Dec. 2012.

Ashwin Pietersen, a member of the Hard Livings gang, displays a picture of the star of "Four Corners," a film based on gang life in Manenberg. Ashwin is also a son, brother, uncle, friend, boyfriend, March 2014.

Meezie and Zobie Lottering, front, play with neighbors after school. Many parents worry about letting their children play outside because of the danger and influence of the gangs in Manenberg. Some gang members are recruited when they are as young as 10 years old, July 2014.

A young man who goes by the name "X" smoking crystal meth. Known as "tik" in South Africa, meth has reportedly become Cape Town's mostly commonly used drug. Sea Point, July 2012.

Debby Lottering visits with her neighbor, Luna, March 2014.

A member of the Hard Livings gang, one of the oldest and largest gangs in Manenberg, shows his tattoo. Because of relentless gang violence, Manenberg was declared a "red danger zone" in mid-2015 by the Health Department and for several months ambulances were not allowed in the area unless escorted by the police, March 2014.

One-year-old Zipporah Lottering visits her father, Kazuba, who lives in Philippi, a suburb four miles from Manenberg. Kazuba sees his daughter an average of once every two months, Jan. 2016.

Meezie Lottering, 6, waits to be called inside on his first day of primary school, Jan. 2016.

The Lottering family cheers at the television as they watch a professional WWE wrestling match between Roman Reigns and Sheamus. Thirty-year-old Naomi Lottering, second from left, recently learned that her CD4 count is below 200, meaning her health status has progressed from HIV to AIDS, January 2016.

Meezie and Zobie Lottering, Debby's children, play with their Grandpa Franz in the living room of Franz's home, where he lives with his third wife and her children. Franz sees his grandchildren almost daily, taking on childcare duties that allow his daughter Debby to work longer hours, March 2014.

Charmain Pietersen, the mother of Ashwin Pietersen, stands over Ashwin's body at the viewing in the Pietersen's living room. Two of Charmaine's daughters stand at her side, January 2015.

Debby Lottering, right, and her older sister, Naomi, in their childhood home, July 2012.

Naomi Lottering with her son, Shaquille, at the ARK, a center for rehabilitation in Faure, a suburb 15 miles from Manenberg. In her early teens, Naomi began spending time on the streets. Today, she doesn't contact her family for weeks or months at a time, but whenever she comes home to Manenberg she is welcomed by her sister, Debby, and father, Franz, Dec. 2012.

Charmaine Pietersen visits the cemetery as often as possible, always bringing a shovel to keep the dirt in place on top of her son's grave. Her granddaughter, Chelsea, is by her side. On Dec. 21, 2014, Ashwin Pietersen, Charmaine's son, was killed outside their home in Manenberg by a rival gang. Charmaine says, "The years go on and the months go on. We know he's in a safe place. I don't need to worry where Ashwin is at night if they start shooting or if there is violence in Manenberg. We can sleep peacefully now. I'm glad for Ashwin, for where he is now," Jan. 2016.

Ishmael Sondag, a friend of Naomi Lottering's from the streets, swims in the sea. In late 2011, Ishmael was arrested for possession of crystal meth, called "tik" in South Africa, and has not been seen since, July 2011. <br> <br> <a href="http://www.sarahstacke.com/" target="external">Sarah Stacke</a>