714 people are being detained without trial in South Africa, according to a SAIRR estimate published at the end of November.
Two delegates from the International Red Cross were allowed to visit the 47 detainees held at that time under the "preventive detention" clause of the Internal Security Act in early December. It was reported that this was the first time the Red Cross had been granted access to political detainees as opposed to convicted prisoners. Apparently the two delegates had hoped to see people detained under Section Six of the Terrorism Act and to report on their condition to the I.R.C. However the Department of Prisons refused. Detainees in preventive detention are allowed visits by relations and lawyers and their detention is not related to the bringing of charges.
It was reported in the Daily Dispatch of 19 October that ten Transkeians, including the leader of the Democratic Party, Mr. Hector NCOKAZI, had been released from detention the previous day, having been detained since August. The other nine are: Pkamee Phakamisa MZWAKALI, Mackay MABOZA, Ezra MTSHONTSHI, information officer attached to the Transkeian Department of Information and Foreign Affairs, Robert NTLATYWA, Nicholas MAPIPA, a trader and former Robben Island prisoner, Sigqibo MPENDULO, Discipline NKONYENI, Synod MADLEBE and Osmand KUMAL.
Mr. Ncokazi said he had been detained under Proclamation R400 and not under the General Law Amendment Act as reported earlier. "I saw this in my warrant of detention", he said. "The Minister of Justice, Chief George Matanzima should tell the world why he detained me. I put the blame squarely on his shoulders."
The head of the Transkei Security Police, Major M. Ngceba, said they were being released unconditionally, and that they had answered all questions satisfactorily.
Mr. Ncokazi was asked if he had co-operated with the police, he replied: "By co-operation the police mean that you become a police informer. That I will never do."
Mr. Ncokazi was in detention for 67 days. Last year he spent 212 days in detention. He also said that when he was released he was informed for the first time of the death of Steve Biko. "He was a personal friend since 1973," he said.
