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Article: South African Police Unit to Battle Vigilantism (Fall 1999)

The high level of violent crime in South Africa has sparked responses by organized and ad hoc vigilante groups. A new police organization characterized as an "FBI-style Special Operations Directorate" is being established to combat urban violence and vigilantism, especially in South Africa's Western Cape and Northern Cape provinces. A major target of the "Scorpions" (as the police unit is called) will be the vigilante group, People Against Gangsterism and Drugs, or PAGAD. Despite its avowed aim to curtail criminality, especially drug trafficking, PAGAD is perceived by the government to be "deliberately subverting the authority of the state". A second vigilante group - reportedly more exotic in its approach - is the Northern Cape vigilante organization called Mapogoa Mathamaga. It has recently become active in Pretoria. Whether the group's supposed practice of dangling its victims in front of crocodiles is myth or fact, it is clear that the group has beaten people to death while administering its nonjudicial punishment. The new Special Operations Directorate was supposed to have begun operations Sept. 1. When it is fully operational in December, the organization will consist of 2,000 agents with a variety of intelligence, investigative and other skills.

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