Pro-Government Militias
Red Ants/ Wozani Security (South Africa)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 566 |
| Country: | South Africa |
| Date formed: | June 14, 2001 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | year |
| Details of Formation: | Evidence suggests that from 2001 the government hired private Red Ants security forces. |
| Date dissolved: | Unknown |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | day |
| Details of Termination: | In 2014 the group was still active. |
| Termination Type(s): | not terminated |
Former and Successor Group Information
| Predecessor group(s): | none |
| Successor group(s): | none |
| Private Military Company? | yes |
| Former Group? | no information |
| Former Armed Group? | no information |
| Former Rebel Group? | no |
| Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: | none |
| PGM Becomes Rebel Group? | no information |
| Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID: | none |
Government Relation, Support, and Training
| Government Relation: | semi-official (type 2) |
| Created by the Government?: | no | Main Creating Government Institution: | no information |
| Government Link(s): | state (institution) |
| If link to party, name of party: | |
| Training and Equipment: | no |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | yes |
| Shared Personnel: | no |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | domestic government |
| State Sponsor(s): | none |
| Other Connection(s): |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | mercenary |
| Primary Membership: | noncivilian |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | Johannesburg/ Soweto |
| Force Strength: | [200, 300] |
| Target(s): | civilians; immigrants; foreigners |
| Purpose(s): | protect national borders and integrity; intimidation of civilians; anti crime |
Ethnic Characteristics
| Ethnic Target(s): | none |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: | not applicable |
| Ethnic Membership: | none |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: | not applicable |
| Ethnic Purpose: | none |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: | not applicable |
Other Information
| Other Information: | The name “red ants” was given to the group based on the colour of their overalls. |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | The main purpose of the Red Ants is to destroy people’s homes (and relocate them), in cases of illegal settlements, slums and immigrant housing. Regular actions of the Red Ants pursuing this purpose are reported. While the city used the house destruction strategy to alleviate underlying socioeconomic causes of crime and poverty and prepared the city for visitors as in the 2010 World Cup, there is no information why they used the Red Ants for this task. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | unknown |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | The group is involved in destruction of people’s homes by orders of the authorities. In 2001, a news source reports that while they conduct the destructions they behave kindly to the occupants and treat their belongings carefully. In 2010, a news source reports that Red Ants beat around 100 Zimbabweans whose squatter camps they cleared. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | beating |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | no |
| PGM Members Paid? | yes |
| Reasons for Membership: | Members are hired by security firms. |
| PGM Members Killed? | no information |
PGM Size
| Size: | A news source of June 2001 speaks of 200 security guards, but this is a total of Red Ants, and another private company, and it is unclear how many were exactly Red Ants members. A news source of May 2002 mentions 300 Red Ants members involved in an operation near Soweto. In 2010, a news source suggests that the number of members has been growing, without providing further details. |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: | Red Ants are armed with crowbars, shields and pump action shotguns. They also have visored helmets, batons, gloves and protective clothing. |
Organisation
| Organisation: | The authorities mandate the Red Ants security firm. This mandate is on contract basis, and the Red Ants company is supposed to receive weekly installments form funds provided by the Johannesburg City Council. The operations which the Red Ants undertake are confirmed by court order. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.