In November the South African government took action against a number of people, mostly white, by imposing banning orders to restrict their movements and activities. In most cases a banning order means the victim must leave his job and forego a normal social life, as well as reporting regularly to the police. In some cases partial house arrest is also involved.
The recent bannings were concentrated on two groups: trade union advisors and organisers (eight in Natal, five in the Transvaal) particularly those associated with bodies endeavouring to help African workers exercise their rights under SA labour laws. Three people were banned from the Urban Training Project in Johannesburg, an organisation established to aid and advise a number of African trade unions (legal but unrecognised). It does educational work for the unions and helps to run a legal aid clinic for workers.
In Natal several of those banned were associated with the Trade Union Advisory and Co-ordinating Council (TUACC), representing five African unions, and the Institute of Industrial Education (IIE), a service organisation for TUACC unions. As far as is known, these organisations exist to help workers exercise their rights within the law, and have not sought or provoked political confrontation with the authorities. The UTP in particular has adopted a non-political approach to black trade unionism. The banning orders may be designed to hinder the already difficult task of African worker organisation.
The second group to be served with banning orders are mainly university students or associates. Most were in the Cape Town area and thought to be involved with the UCT Wages Commission investigating black working conditions and wages. The Commission has published several newsletters on workers' conditions which were distributed to workers and subsequently banned by the government. It also gives advice to workers on their rights under the law.
NEW BANNING ORDERS Marius SCHOON of Johannesburg. Political prisoner released earlier last year after serving a 12-year sentence for attempted sabotage. Banned from attending all meetings and gatherings until 30 September 1981. Sheila WEINBERG aged 31 of Johannesburg. Secretary of the Human Rights Committee, which bases its demands on the UN Declaration of Human Rights and publishes an irregular bulletin detailing current repressive actions by the authorities, all of whose issues have been banned. Ms. Weinberg was detained in 1964 for 65 days without trial and later served a short prison sentence for painting a slogan. Both her parents are also subject to banning orders, though her father, Eli Weinberg, recently left South Africa. Sheila Weinberg's banning order includes a 12 hour house arrest order prohibiting her from leaving the house between 6pm & 6am. Loet DOUWES-DEKKER, chairman of the Urban Training Project in Johannesburg and part-time lecturer in industrial sociology at Witwatersrand University. Also an executive member of the newly-formed Institute of Industrial Relations and described by a colleague as a leading figure in industrial relations in South Africa. Formerly Douwes-Dekker was with TUCSA and the clothing industry industrial council in the Transvaal. Eric TYACKE, secretary of the Urban Training Project since it began in 1971 and full-time director. Formerly general secretary of the Engineering and Allied Workers Union and the Laundry & Dry Cleaning Workers' Association, he left the TUCSA African Affairs Section when TUCSA barred African unions in 1969. Earlier he had founded the Young Christian Workers movement in the 1950s. Jean TYACKE, administrator of the Urban Training Project and wife of Eric, with whom she earlier worked in the Young Christian Workers. The Tyackes were described by a leading churchman as 'committed Christians who lived to bridge the gaps between the races'. Sipho KUBEKHA, aged 23, secretary of the Metal & Allied Workers Union (MAWU) branch in Johannesburg. Also a member of the Industrial Aid Society providing educational and legal aid facilities for workers. In March Mr. Kubekha was involved in a confrontation between workers and police at the Heinemann Electric factory in Germiston. Later he was charged with inciting workers to riot and fined R45. Gavin ANDERSON, aged 24, MAWU organiser and like Kubekha involved in the Heinemann Electric incidents and subsequent prosecution (when he was fined R90). Alpheus MTHETWA, general secretary of the MAWU and based in Natal since 1974. MAWU is one of the unions affiliated to TUACC. John COPELYN, secretary of TUACC and also with the Textile Workers Industrial Union in Natal. Chris ALBERTYN, secretary of the Textile Workers Industrial Union. Jeanette MURPHY, former secretary of TUACC, and employed by the Institute of Industrial Education (IIE), who was previously banned until May 1975 when the order was lifted. Mike MURPHY, husband of Jeanette and acting secretary (part-time) of the Transport and General Workers Union in Natal. Also associated with the IIE. Charles SIMPKINS, lecturer in economics at University of Natal and former research officer for IIE. Patricia HORN, education officer with the IIE, engaged in literacy projects for black workers. Mfundise NDLOVU, MAWU organiser in Pietermaritzburg since 1974. Jeanette CURTIS, archivist with SA Institute of Race Relations in Johannesburg and former official with Industrial Aid Society, providing educational and legal advice for workers. Jack Philip LEWIS, student at Rhodes University, detained in October and state witness in the trial of Zotwana and others. Lewis's banning order confines him to his home district of Cape Town. Graeme BLOCH, recent graduate in economics from University of Cape Town (UCT). Member of SRC for past two years and president of newly-formed Students for Social Democracy. Debby BUDLENDER, economics student at UCT, past SRC vice-president and member of Wages Commission. Willie HOFMEYER, economics graduate from UCT and executive member of Wages Commission. Judy FAVISH, literacy project worker with Western Province Workers Advice Bureau, which assists African workers in Cape Town. Several other staff members have been detained one of whom died in detention. Wilma VAN BLERK, worker with the Food and Canning Workers' Union in the Western Cape, one of the oldest unions in South Africa. Mary SIMONS, lecturer in comparative African government at UCT, thought to have no connection with the Wages Commission. Tanya SIMONS, librarian at UCT and sister of Mary. Both girls are the daughters of Professor Jack Simons, former head of the department of African government and law at UCT until he was banned as a communist and forced to leave his job and the country. He now lives and works in Lusaka with his wife Ray Alexander, a former trade union leader and now working with the SA Congress of Trade Unions (SACTU). Elijah LOZA, longstanding African trade unionist. Loza was formerly secretary of the African Commercial and Distributive Workers Union and Cape Town chairman of the S.A. Congress of Trade Unions. The first person to be held under the 90-day law in May 1963, he was re-detained after three months, charged with 44 others in November 1963 (the Goodwood trial) sentenced to 6 years but eventually acquitted on appeal. He was then put under 24-hour house arrest and spent ten years under banning orders. Jeremy BASKIN, UCT student and chairman of the UCT Wages' Commission. Detained during August under the General Laws Amendment Act. Gideon COHEN, aged 22, Rhodes University graduate and former economics student at UCT. Eric ABRAHAM, aged 22, freelance journalist who founded and ran the South African News Agency (SANA) which published bulletins mainly relating to black and Namibian news. He also contributed to overseas newspapers such as the British Guardian and the Swedish Dagbladet and was pursuing sociological research at UCT. Early in January 1977 he escaped via Botswana to England. S.R. MAHARAJ ('Mac'), former political prisoner sentenced to 12 years' jail in 1964 for sabotage and membership of ANC Umkhonto we Sizwe military wing. He was served with a banning order on his release from Robben Island, and is confined to his home from 6pm to 6am. and at weekends and holidays. He may not enter any African area or factory and is forbidden to address or instruct any meetings or pupils
BAN LIFTED Paul PRETORIUS, former student leader banned in 1973 for his activities in NUSAS together with seven other white students, had his banning order lifted after representations to the government
