Foster gang

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The Foster gang were a group of criminals who operated in South Africa, around Johannesburg and the Rand, during 1914. The gang, led by William Foster, committed various acts of robbery and murder. After a stand off with the police, the gang members and Foster's wife all committed suicide.

The gang is historically significant because a nominated senator, General Koos de la Rey, was shot by a policeman at a road block set up to look for the Foster gang, his death and subsequent funeral, where it was rumour that he had been assassinated by the government, was a contributory factor in the Maritz Rebellion of 1914.

A South African feature film on the Foster Gang, entitled "The Foster Gang" produced and directed by Percival Rubens, was released in 1964. A copy of this film is preserved at the South African National Film, Video and Sound Archives (www.national.archives.gov.za).