vigilante, noun and & adjective
- Origin:
- EnglishShow more Special sense of general English.
A. noun A member of an organised group of armed men, espousing conservative political views and formed with the expressed aim of disciplining ‘comrades’, working against activist groups, and controlling townships. See also A-team, comrade, fathers, ibutho sense 2, Mbokodo, rooidoek, witdoek.
1985 Cape Times 3 Jan. 1A New Year raid by Ndebele vigilantes into the largely Pedi-speaking Moutse district north-east of Pretoria.
1992 R. Lyster in Natal Mercury 25 Nov. 8There is a continuous, low intensity war taking place..between the Kwazulu police and Inkatha-based vigilantes on the one hand, and on the other any person or entity which represents a threat or challenge to the legitimacy of the KwaZulu government.
B. adjective Of or pertaining to such a group.
1987 E. Prov. Herald 19 Jan. 1Two people died in an outbreak of vigilante violence in Port Elizabeth African townships at the weekend. Township sources reported a witch-hunt of supporters of the United Democratic Front.
1990 M. Kentridge Unofficial War 9Vigilante leaders are drawn from a variety of sources: Inkatha members with a particular penchant and talent for combat;..chiefs of rural areas and their indunas, or headmen.
A member of an organised group of armed men, espousing conservative political views and formed with the expressed aim of disciplining ‘comrades’, working against activist groups, and controlling townships.
Of or pertaining to such a group.
- Derivatives:
- Hence vigilantism noun, also vigilanteeism, the attitudes and actions of vigilantes.1987 Weekly Mail 7 Aug. 11Township vigilantism and tough action against rent boycotters or squatters.1990 New African 25 June 10 (letter)It is common knowledge that vigilanteeism has always been backed by the apartheid regime as it..adds another brutal form of their defence strategies or assault tactics in a bid to crush the might of the progressive forces.
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