Vigilantism as a feature of political decay in the post-1994 South African dispensation
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Date
2007
Authors
Swanepoel, Lenie
Duvenhage, Andrè
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
English: Little research has been done on the phenomenon of vigilantism in South Africa.
Vigilantism describes the action of citizens who take the law into their own hands,
making use of violent methods, in the context of inadequate law enforcement by the
state and the collapse of public order. In an environment of political instability, lack
of public order and related security problems, groups such as People Against Gangsterism
and Drugs (PAGAD), Mapoga-a-Mathamaga and “people’s courts” have come
into being as vigilante organisations. This article describes and analyses vigilantism
in South Africa against the backdrop of disintegrating public order.
Afrikaans: Slegs beperkte navorsing is gedoen op die terrein van vigilantisme in Suid-Afrika. Vigilantisme beskryf ’n situasie waar burgers die reg in eie hande neem teen die agtergrond van gebrekkige wetstoepassing deur die staat en ’n openbare regsorde wat besig is om in duie te stort. Binne ’n onstabiele politieke omgewing en ’n gebrekkige openbare regsorde, het groepe soos People Against Gangsterism and Drugs (PAGAD), Mapogo-a-Mathamaga en straatshowe (people’s courts) begin optree as vigilante organisasies. Hierdie artikel konsentreer op vigilantisme in Suid-afrika teen die agtergrond van ’n openbare regsorde wat besig is om te disintegreer.
Afrikaans: Slegs beperkte navorsing is gedoen op die terrein van vigilantisme in Suid-Afrika. Vigilantisme beskryf ’n situasie waar burgers die reg in eie hande neem teen die agtergrond van gebrekkige wetstoepassing deur die staat en ’n openbare regsorde wat besig is om in duie te stort. Binne ’n onstabiele politieke omgewing en ’n gebrekkige openbare regsorde, het groepe soos People Against Gangsterism and Drugs (PAGAD), Mapogo-a-Mathamaga en straatshowe (people’s courts) begin optree as vigilante organisasies. Hierdie artikel konsentreer op vigilantisme in Suid-afrika teen die agtergrond van ’n openbare regsorde wat besig is om te disintegreer.
Description
Keywords
Vigilantism, Political instability, Public order, South Africa, Post-1994 South Africa
Citation
Swanepoel, L., & Duvenhage, A. (2007). Vigilantism as a feature of political decay in the post-1994 South African dispensation. Acta Academica, 39(1), 123-145.