tsotsi

plural tsotsis

1. South AfricaA hoodlum or street thug, especially one from the townships; a township skollie.

   [Title:] Pupils shaken as tsotsis strike after exams!

   2026 June 12, Nhlanhla Khomola, “Pupils shaken as tsotsis strike after exams!”, in Daily Sun, archived from the original on 12 Jun 2026

   3 more examples

   A gang of tsotsis – hooligans – attacked a group of older men, and when the owner tried to throw them out they ran amok in the place, smashing everything in their way.

   1979, André Brink, A Dry White Season, Vintage, published 1998, page 39

   Gangsters – known as tsotsis – carrying flick-knives or switchblades were plentiful and prominent [...].

   1994, Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela, London: Abacus, published 2010, page 88

   Mandela, standing up for all the tsotsis out there, said: "Don't dismiss any youngsters who are not behaving according to your wishes."

   2006 March 17, Cape Times