“One Merchant, One Bullet” The Rise and Fall of PAGAD

The public lynching of Rashaad Staggie, a notorious gang leader in Cape Town and the further killing of 24 drug dealers by members of PAGAD (People Against Gangsterism and Drugs) led to the group being labelled as vigilantes in South Africa. Subsequent bomb attacks in the Western Cape, primarily in the Cape Town area although not claimed by PAGAD were attributed to the group. This paper explores the rise and fall of PAGAD and considers whether the group’s actions constitute vigilantism or terrorism.