By the beginning of April over 1000 people had been detained under security legislation since January 1975, according to the SA Institute of Race Relations. Of those 471 were currently being held.
Among those detained since the beginning of the year are a number believed to be held in connection with sabotage and guerilla activities, several Soweto students and the parents of others arrested under threat of being held until such time as their children surrender to the police.
One detainee to be released in March was Tembani Phantsi, of Graaff Reinet, a former school student who was originally detained on 17 October 1975 and held for a total of 513 days in solitary detention. During his detention he spent three months in jail for contempt of court and refusing to give evidence.
Mr Mzanwile Msoki, an employee of the South African Council of Churches, has been held in solitary detention since 13 May 1976. Before his arrest in the Transkei, Mr Msoki distributed aid and scholarships to families of political prisoners. He has been held indefinitely, without being charged.
