spoiler, noun

Origin:
From the Spoilers a gang operating in Alexandra township, Johannesburg, during the 1940s and ’50s (see quotation 1952).
obsolescent, slang
In urban (especially township) English: a trouble-maker; one who terrorizes law-abiding persons. Cf. skebenga, tsotsi sense 1.
[1952 Drum May 40The Spoilers take their name from a gangster film, and their operations are centred around the Pimville and Moroka areas...Spoilers dare not come to town during the day.]
1963 Wilson & Mafeje Langa 22The townees or tsotsis are also called ‘location boys’, ‘ooclever’, bright boys, and spoilers, after a gang which terrorized Alexandra Township in Johannesburg.
1963 A.M. Louw 20 Days 95Only last night Eunice, the wife of a Xhosa policeman..had told of the way the spoilers had dragged out their furniture and burnt everything, even her husband’s uniforms.
1963 A.M. Louw 20 Days 235He was told that there had been clashes with the police.., that the police had gone now and that the ‘spoilers’ were more active than ever.
1964 G. Gordon Four People 218‘Why do they call them “spoilers”?..’ Philemon was puzzled at her ignorance. The meaning of the word seemed so obvious. ‘They spoil your pass, Madam. They tear it, or burn it, or throw it away.’
1964 G. Gordon Four People 237‘Spoilers,’ he said. ‘That’s what they call these damn agitators. Tomorrow you’ll see we won’t get any newspapers.’
a trouble-maker; one who terrorizes law-abiding persons.
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19521964