Extra‑Judicial Killings: South Africa’s Long Continuity of Violence

From apartheid death squads to today’s police hit teams, extra‑judicial killings have become entrenched in South Africa. They silence evidence, protect crime kingpins, and weaken the rule of law.

By DR CRISPIN HEMSON, Graduate School of Business and Leadership, UKZN

Revelations that senior police have provided hit squads for criminals draw attention to how long illegal killings have been a norm. There is a continuity from apartheid, when the state killed activists, to the present, where some agents of the state act as prosecutor, judge and executioner, normalising violence as a quick solution.

Apartheid’s violent legacy

Not long ago, a friend recalled sweeping out the boardroom of his Defence Force unit, where a huge map marked operations against “the enemy” — civilians whose political activities were seen as threats. Units like Vlakplaas routinely engaged in killings of apartheid’s opponents. Apartheid’s war against the population established this as routine practice.

Continuity after democracy

That practice did not end with apartheid. It presented itself readily to some agents of the state, once they realised that a society pervaded by violent crime might tolerate the simplicity of quick solutions with personal benefits.

A personal tragedy

In 2012, I was asked to assist a brilliant young swimmer. Later that evening, I heard he had been shot dead. Police chased a car they thought suspicious; the driver panicked, crashed, and as occupants tried to escape, police opened fire. Braiden was killed, another beaten, a lifeguard mauled by dogs. None were criminals — just young Black men.

Crime, kingpins and impunity

In recent decades, killings of those suspected of violent crimes have grown. Citizens weary of crime often endorse them. Yet claims of guilt are rarely scrutinised. Crucially, those who benefit most are organised crime kingpins. Even when suspects had committed serious offences, their deaths erased critical evidence. The masterminds behind cash‑in‑transit heists, often living in gated estates, remain untouched.

Weakening the rule of law

Killings by police do not reduce crime. With large numbers of unemployed young men, society readily provides new recruits. In some cases, killings offer corrupt gains, as revealed at Madlanga. In others, stigma against the poor and vulnerable is reinforced. Ultimately, the justification of police killings weakens the rule of law and shields those who see violence as the answer to frustration. TQ

About the author: Dr Crispin Hemson is a South African legal scholar and government spokesperson known for his work in constitutional law and justice policy within the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development.