During 1976 a total of 130 people died while in police custody. Of these, 13 were political detainees and 117 were under arrest for other reasons. The Minister of Police, giving in parliament details of the causes of death in each case, indicated that at least 43 of the deaths were from injuries sustained during or after arrest, and 18 were suicides. Nine of those who died were classified as mental patients.
In the course of their duties, the SA Police also shot and killed 202 people during 1976, of whom 164 died in the course of arrest. 168 were Africans and 32 Coloured. Those wounded by police in the execution of their duties numbered 439.
In addition, 500 people were identified as having been killed by police during the disturbances of last year. The final figure is thought to be much higher, possibly as many as 1,000 dead.
Altogether the police are thus known to have killed at least 830 people in 1976.
