SDU, noun

/esdiːˈjuː/
Origin:
Initial letters of self-defence unit.
A name given to any of several vigilante units, originally formed to protect township communities, but subsequently falling into disrepute because of the lawlessness of their members; a member of such a unit. Also attributive.
1993 Sunday Times 4 Apr. 2SDUs turning into monsters. In the early 90s the ANC looked to self-defence units to protect communities — today they are mostly renegade bands of criminals who barricade roads, rape women and hold up shop owners. The typical SDU member in the PWV area is..a disgruntled returned Umkhonto we Sizwe member who has no money no status and years of accumulated grudges.
1993 C. Hani in Weekly Mail 8 Apr. 5It’s time non-partisan control structures are found which introduce a genuine element of accountability into SDU activities.
1993 City Press 12 Dec. 1A leading ANCYL and civic leader from Katlehong — who requested anonymity because SDU members have vowed to kill him — said the conflict was triggered by the SDU’s quest for absolute power.
1994 H. Nkhoma in Sidelines Dec. 14I realised they were not police, so they must be the SDU, the Self-Defence Units started by the ANC for the purpose their name implies, but now sometimes out of control, sometimes hand-in-glove with the police, and definitely shady.
1994 H. Nkhoma in Sidelines Dec. 15These guys were SDUs who had joined forces with the police.
A name given to any of several vigilante units, originally formed to protect township communities, but subsequently falling into disrepute because of the lawlessness of their members; a member of such a unit. Also attributive.
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scriba, nounn.sea bamboo, noun phrasen. phr.
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