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Special Constables

Explanation
Known colloquially as ' kitskonstabels' (instant constables), 'blue lines', or 'bloupakke' , Special Constables were recruited from urban and rural areas and were usually unemployed African men with few educational qualifications. Many were illiterate and some had criminal convictions. Training was conducted in September 1986 at the SAP's Koeberg facility outside Cape Town and consisted of a six-week course, later increased to three months. The training was perfunctory and involved only one seven-hour course in riot drill. The training presented the UDF and ANC as the enemy to be suppressed. By the end of the 1980s, approximately 8 000 Special Constables had been recruited, trained and deployed in urban and rural towns across the country where unrest was the strongest. In KwaZulu/Natal they were used to bolster Inkatha in areas around Pietermaritzburg and the Natal Midlands. Special Constables rapidly became associated with numerous violations both on and off duty, and were the subject of several interdicts. They were themselves victims of attacks by both civilian internal opposition groups and the armed forces of the liberation movements.

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Was shot dead by Special Constables in Bongolethu, Oudtshoorn, Cape, on 16 January 1988. Two other people were shot dead by Special Constables in Bongolethu that day. A fourth person died of his serious injuries two years later. The community subsequently won a court restraining order against the ...
Was shot dead by Special Constables in Bongolethu, Oudtshoorn, Cape, on 16 January 1988. Two other persons were shot dead by Special Constables in Bongolethu that day. A fourth person died of serious injuries two years later. The community subsequently won a court restraining order against the ...
... supporter who was shot dead by a named Special Constable in Bongolethu, Oudtshoorn, Cape, on 16 January 1988. Two other persons were shot dead by Special Constables in Bongolethu that day. A fourth person died of his serious injuries two years later. The community subsequently won a court ...
Was shot and severely injured by a named Special Constable in Oudtshoorn, Cape, on 16 January 1988. Three youths were shot dead that day by Special Constables. Mr Mvimbi died in February 1990 from complications arising from his injuries.
Was shot and severely injured by a Special Constable in Bongolethu, Oudtshoorn, Cape, on 16 January 1988. Three people were shot dead by Special Constables that day and another died later of his wounds. Ms Silo is unable to bear children as a result of the shooting.
Was one of eleven people killed by Special Constables who attacked an all-night prayer vigil at Trust Feeds, New Hanover, Pietermaritzburg, on 3 December 1988. See Trust Feeds massacre. The station commander at New Hanover police station, who also chaired the local JMC, was granted amnesty for the ...
Chairperson of COSAS who was shot and severely injured by Special Constables in Mandlekosi, near Bloemfontein in January 1988. Forced into hiding as a result of police harassment, Mr Stuurman instituted a civil claim for damages against the Minister of Law and Order and was awarded compensation.
Was one of eleven people killed by Special Constables who attacked an all-night prayer vigil at Trust Feeds, New Hanover, Pietermaritzburg, on 3 December 1988. See Trust Feeds massacre. The station commander at New Hanover police station, who also chaired the local JMC, was granted amnesty for the ...
Was one of eleven people killed by Special Constables who attacked an all-night prayer vigil at Trust Feeds, New Hanover, Pietermaritzburg, on 3 December 1988. See Trust Feeds massacre. The station commander at New Hanover police station, who also chaired the local JMC, was granted amnesty for the ...
Was shot and injured by Special Constables who attacked an all-night prayer vigil at Trust Feeds, New Hanover, Pietermaritzburg, on 3 December 1988. The station commander at New Hanover police station, who also chaired the local JMC, was granted amnesty for the attack (AC/1996/0011). See Trust ...
Was one of eleven people killed by Special Constables who attacked an all-night prayer vigil at Trust Feeds, New Hanover, Pietermaritzburg, on 3 December 1988. See Trust Feeds massacre. The station commander at New Hanover police station, who also chaired the local JMC, was granted amnesty for the ...
Was one of eleven people killed by Special Constables who attacked an all-night prayer vigil at Trust Feeds, New Hanover, Pietermaritzburg, on 3 December 1988. See Trust Feeds massacre. The station commander at New Hanover police station, who also chaired the local JMC, was granted amnesty for the ...
Was severely beaten by Special Constables in Crossroads, Cape Town, on 1 August 1988. He is mentally disturbed as a result of the head injuries he sustained.
Was one of eleven people killed by Special Constables who attacked an all-night prayer vigil at Trust Feeds, New Hanover, Pietermaritzburg, on 3 December 1988. See Trust Feeds massacre. The station commander at New Hanover police station, who also chaired the local JMC, was granted amnesty for the ...
An ANC supporter who was shot and killed in political conflict by named KwaZulu Police Special Constables in Umlazi, Durban, on 1 September 1990.
Was shot and injured by Special Constables who attacked an all-night prayer vigil at Trust Feeds, New Hanover, Pietermaritzburg, on 3 December 1988. The station commander at New Hanover police station, who also chaired the local JMC, was granted amnesty for the attack (AC/1996/0011). See Trust ...
An Inkatha supporter who was killed on 18 March 1990 when an Inkatha induna’s house was attacked with AK47s and grenades in Njobokazi, at Mpumalanga, KwaZulu, near Durban. Fifteen people were killed, including two KwaZulu Special Constables, in the attack which police attributed to ANC supporters.
Was shot and beaten by named Special Constables in Oudtshoorn, Cape, on 16 January 1988. Three young men were shot dead that day and several others injured, one of whom died two years later from his injuries.
An ANC activist who was detained in June 1985 in Jansenville, Cape. In detention, he was tortured by named SAP members and Special Constables. He was charged with the ‘necklace’ killing of a police informer, convicted, and sentenced to three and a half years’ imprisonment.
Was one of eleven people killed by Special Constables who attacked an all-night prayer vigil at Trust Feeds, New Hanover, Pietermaritzburg, on 3 December 1988. The station commander at New Hanover police station, who also chaired the local JMC, was granted amnesty for the attack (AC/1996/0011). See ...
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