At the very dawn of the country’s brave new democracy, Cape Town was at war. Pagad, which started as a community protest action against crime, had mutated into a sinister vigilante group wreaking death and destruction across the city.
Between 1996 and 2001 there were more than 400 bombs, most famously at the popular Planet Hollywood restaurant at the V&A Waterfront, and there were countless targeted hits on drug lords and gang bosses.
The police were at their wits' end. The new ANC government was alarmed. The citizens of Cape Town were living in fear.
Mark Shaw tells the incredible tale of how the police response pulled together former foes — struggle cadres and the apartheid security apparatus — to break the Pagad death squads.
It is a story that has never been told in full and was not possible until recently, when many were released from prison or had retired and were finally willing to talk openly about this revealing chapter in South Africa’s recent history.
Listen to Shaw and Van der Spuy’s conversation here:
LISTEN | Putting Pagad’s reign of terror to rest
In this episode of Jonathan Ball Publishers’ Pagecast podcast, author and director of the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime Mark Shaw and emerita professor in the department of public law Elrena van der Spuy discuss Breaking the Bombers
Image: Supplied
At the very dawn of the country’s brave new democracy, Cape Town was at war. Pagad, which started as a community protest action against crime, had mutated into a sinister vigilante group wreaking death and destruction across the city.
Between 1996 and 2001 there were more than 400 bombs, most famously at the popular Planet Hollywood restaurant at the V&A Waterfront, and there were countless targeted hits on drug lords and gang bosses.
The police were at their wits' end. The new ANC government was alarmed. The citizens of Cape Town were living in fear.
Mark Shaw tells the incredible tale of how the police response pulled together former foes — struggle cadres and the apartheid security apparatus — to break the Pagad death squads.
It is a story that has never been told in full and was not possible until recently, when many were released from prison or had retired and were finally willing to talk openly about this revealing chapter in South Africa’s recent history.
Listen to Shaw and Van der Spuy’s conversation here:
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
BOOK EXTRACT | No acknowledgment for those who risked their lives against Pagad
SAPS must be held liable for putting guns in the hands of murderers
The 2023 Sunday Times Literary Awards shortlist, in partnership with Exclusive Books
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most read
Latest Videos