The Hard Livings used to be one of two 'super gangs' in Cape Town with the other one being The Americans.

[3] The gang was formed in 1971 by Rashied Staggie and his twin brother Rashaad.

After their distribution network grew, the Hard Livings gang as well as their rivals evolved into a structured criminal organization involved in a wide range of criminal activities.

[1][4] In 1996 Rashaad was publicly set alight and killed by the vigilante group PAGAD.

Their local activities range from drug running & trading, poaching, protection rackets, prostitution and shebeening (provision of unlicensed drinking places) They have associations with Westbury gang , Varador Cortet.