Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(S.Afr.) a lazy person, often a labourer; thus used derog. of a black person.

1939		R.F.S. Hoernlé S. Afr. Native Police n.p.: The Natuive to many [...] was a schepsel (‘creature’) not wholly human.
1977		Sun. Times (Johannesburg) 18 Sept. n.p.: Mr Kruger [said] ‘the death of this particular skepsel [...] left him cold.’ For Steve Biko was just another skepsel like you or me.
1987		M. Melamu Children of Twilight 41: You had to feed them properly. And what can’t you get the skepsels to do with their stomachs propvol? [Ibid.] 43: Johannes would bark at the other volk at such moments. Ja, ou Johannes knew how to handle the skepsels.