kitskonstabel
nounEtymology Borrowed from Afrikaans kits (“instant”) + konstabel (“constable”).
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South Africa, Historical, Slang A newly deputized constable in the South African police during the last days of apartheid; they were noted for their zealousness and lack of procedure. Their official name was special policeman.
- During 1987 sixteen kitskonstabels were sent to Bhongolethu to police the area after their six weeks of training. The kitskonstabels proved to be a law unto themselves - between September 1987 and January 1988 less than six months, at least six activist were injured by kitskonstabels a remarkable series of incidents, involving the kitskonstabels was recorded by the police themselves in the Bhongolethu police station incident book.1996 June 18, “Submission, questions and answers”, in Truth and Reconciliation Commission, archived from the original on 17 Mar 2004:
- The activities of the South Africa Police's notorious apartheid-era "kitskonstables" will come under the spotlight at the three-day hearings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Grahamstown next week, from April 7 to 9. The kitskonstables (special constables) were infamous for random beatings and shootings in the Grahamstown area during the 1980s.1997 April 3, “KITSKONSTABEL ACTIONS TO BE HEARD AT GRAHAMSTWON TRC HEARINGS”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name), archived from the original on 18 Jan 2005:
1 more example
- Harrington’s hero was Major Deon Terreblanche – notorious for his killing sprees. ‘He was actually like my father. He was interested in my work. He always wanted to know how I was. He told me I personally have to fight against the ANC, because they were communists. He said he would see to it that I never get into trouble.’ But a kitskonstabel with ANC sympathies killed Terreblanche.1998, Antjie Krog, Country of My Skull: