People Against Gangsterism and Drugs
Encyclopedia
People Against Gangsterism and Drugs (PAGAD) was formed in 1996 as an Islam
ically-oriented, militant group in the Cape Flats
area of Cape Town
, South Africa
. It claims to fight drugs and gangster
ism but its members have been implicated in several criminal and terrorist acts.
. Initially the community and police were hesitant to act against PAGAD activities, recognising the need for community action against crime in the gang-ridden communities of the Cape Flats. However, PAGAD increasingly took matters into their own hands, believing the police were not taking enough action against gangs.
PAGAD's campaign came to prominence in 1996 when a local gang leader, Rashaad Staggie, was beaten and burnt to death by a mob during a march to his home. Police quickly came to regard PAGAD as part of the problem, rather than a partner in the fight against crime, and they were eventually designated a terrorist organization by the South African government.
s, was believed responsible for killing a large number of gang leaders, and also for a bout of urban terrorism
— particularly bombings — in Cape Town. The bombings started in 1998, and included nine bombings in 2000. In addition to targeting gang leaders, bombing targets included South African authorities, moderate Muslims, synagogue
s, gay
nightclub
s, tourist attractions, and Western-associated restaurants. The most prominent attack during this time was the bombing on 25 August 1998 of the Cape Town Planet Hollywood
.
In September 2000, magistrate Pieter Theron, who was presiding in a case involving PAGAD members, was murdered in a drive-by shooting
.
PAGAD's leaders have become known for making anti-semitic
statements. A 1997 incendiary bomb attack on a Jewish bookshop owner was found by police to have been committed with the same material PAGAD has used in other attacks. In 1998, Ebrahim Moosa
, a University of Cape Town academic who had been critical of PAGAD, decided to take a post in the United States after his home was bombed.
.
In 2002, PAGAD leader Abdus Salaam Ebrahim was convicted of public violence and imprisoned for seven years. Although a number of other PAGAD members were arrested and convicted of related crimes, none were convicted of the Cape Town bombings.
Today, PAGAD maintains a small and less visible presence in the Cape Town Muslim community.
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ically-oriented, militant group in the Cape Flats
Cape Flats
The Cape Flats is an expansive, low-lying, flat area situated to the southeast of the central business district of Cape Town. To many people in Cape Town, the area is known simply as 'The Flats'....
area of Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. It claims to fight drugs and gangster
Gangster
A gangster is a criminal who is a member of a gang. Some gangs are considered to be part of organized crime. Gangsters are also called mobsters, a term derived from mob and the suffix -ster....
ism but its members have been implicated in several criminal and terrorist acts.
Origins
PAGAD grew as an offshoot of the Islamic organization QiblaQibla (group)
Qibla is a militant Shi'a Muslim organisation in South Africa, founded in the 1980s. The group espouses jihad and the establishment of an Islamic state in South Africa.Qibla is associated with People Against Gangsterism and Drugs, which was founded in 1996....
. Initially the community and police were hesitant to act against PAGAD activities, recognising the need for community action against crime in the gang-ridden communities of the Cape Flats. However, PAGAD increasingly took matters into their own hands, believing the police were not taking enough action against gangs.
PAGAD's campaign came to prominence in 1996 when a local gang leader, Rashaad Staggie, was beaten and burnt to death by a mob during a march to his home. Police quickly came to regard PAGAD as part of the problem, rather than a partner in the fight against crime, and they were eventually designated a terrorist organization by the South African government.
Cape Town bombings
Although PAGAD's leadership denied involvement, PAGAD's G-Force, operating in small cellClandestine cell system
A clandestine cell structure is a method for organizing a group of people in such a way that it can more effectively resist penetration by an opposing organization. Depending on the group's philosophy, its operational area, the communications technologies available, and the nature of the mission,...
s, was believed responsible for killing a large number of gang leaders, and also for a bout of urban terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
— particularly bombings — in Cape Town. The bombings started in 1998, and included nine bombings in 2000. In addition to targeting gang leaders, bombing targets included South African authorities, moderate Muslims, synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
s, gay
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
s, tourist attractions, and Western-associated restaurants. The most prominent attack during this time was the bombing on 25 August 1998 of the Cape Town Planet Hollywood
Planet Hollywood
Planet Hollywood, a restaurant inspired by the popular portrayal of Hollywood, was launched in New York on October 22, 1991, with the backing of Hollywood stars Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Demi Moore, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.-History:...
.
In September 2000, magistrate Pieter Theron, who was presiding in a case involving PAGAD members, was murdered in a drive-by shooting
Drive-by shooting
A drive-by shooting is a form of hit-and-run tactic, a personal attack carried out by an individual or individuals from a moving or momentarily stopped vehicle without use of headlights to avoid being noticed. It often results in bystanders being shot instead of, or as well as, the intended target...
.
PAGAD's leaders have become known for making anti-semitic
Anti-Semitism
Antisemitism is suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish heritage. According to a 2005 U.S...
statements. A 1997 incendiary bomb attack on a Jewish bookshop owner was found by police to have been committed with the same material PAGAD has used in other attacks. In 1998, Ebrahim Moosa
Ebrahim Moosa
Ebrahim E.I. Moosa is Professor of Islamic Studies in Duke University's Department of Religion. His scholarly interests span both classical and modern Islamic thought with a special focus on Islamic law, history, ethics and theology...
, a University of Cape Town academic who had been critical of PAGAD, decided to take a post in the United States after his home was bombed.
Recent history
Violent acts such as bombings and vigilantism in Cape Town subsided in 2002, and the police have not attributed any such acts to PAGAD since the November 2002 bombing of the Bishop Lavis offices of the Serious Crimes Unit in the Western CapeWestern Cape
The Western Cape is a province in the south west of South Africa. The capital is Cape Town. Prior to 1994, the region that now forms the Western Cape was part of the much larger Cape Province...
.
In 2002, PAGAD leader Abdus Salaam Ebrahim was convicted of public violence and imprisoned for seven years. Although a number of other PAGAD members were arrested and convicted of related crimes, none were convicted of the Cape Town bombings.
Today, PAGAD maintains a small and less visible presence in the Cape Town Muslim community.
External links
- People Against Gangsterism and Drugs
- Gangs, Pagad & the State: Vigilantism and Revenge Violence in the Western Cape - Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation, 2001
- People Against Gangsterism and Drugs (PAGAD), Center for Defense Information