Despite being a South African herself, Kennedy tells PLANET she knew very little about her neighbors. What was discovered through the countless interviews during her journey as she risked her life are portraits of a sub-culture thriving on vice. PLANET is pleased to present a selection of images from what Kennedy describes as being her greatest accomplishment.

Why did you choose to do this project when you were seven and a half months pregnant?

I have great respect for mothers. My mother was a stay at home mom and it was amazing to always have her around. But times have changed and I firmly believe woman should work to show self worth to make your children proud and to keep your marriage alive. Many told me things were going to change once I became a mother, that my career would suffer. To prove them wrong I decided to photograph the worlds most dangerous gangsters. I wanted to prove that having a child doesn’t limit you in any way but in contrast acts as a motivation to get off your ass and do something amazing, something great. Also, I had been working in Dubai for five years and felt the need to regain my creative voice. If I honestly considered the degree of the potential risk, I probably wouldn’t have pursued the project, so I deliberately avoided over-thinking it. After flights to Cape Town were booked, there was no turning back.

You are a South African from Cape Town yourself. How did this influence the project?