According to the Minister of Police, ten persons died in 1977 while in detention under South African security laws. The list given to Parliament on 14 February omits the names of two who died in detention, presumably because they were formally detained in terms of non-security legislation.
The full list is as follows: Nanoth NTSHUNTSNA (detained 14.12.76, died 9.1.77) Inquest verdict: suicide by hanging. Lawrence NDZANGA (detained 16.11.76, died 9.1.77) Not included in the official list, apparently because Ndzanga was regarded as an awaiting-trial prisoner, although he had not appeared in court at the time of his death. Elmon MALELE (detained 29. 1.77, died 20.1.77) Inquest verdict: natural causes - hypertension and spontaneous cerebral haemorrhage. Matthew MABELANE (detained 27.1.77, died 15.2.77) Inquest verdict: multiple injuries. Aaron KHOZA (detained 9.12.76, died 23.3.77) Inquest verdict: suicide by hanging. Harry Phakemile MABIJA (detained 27.6.77, died 7.7.77) Inquest not yet concluded. Elijah LOZA (detained 27.5.77, died 1.8.77) Inquest verdict: natural causes - cerebral haemorrhage. Hooen HAFFAJEE (detained 3.8.77, died same day) Not included in the official list apparently because his detention was in terms of the Criminal Procedure Act, as a potential witness. Steven BIKO (detained 19.8.77, died 12.9.77) Inquest verdict: head injuries with extensive brain injuries. Bayempini MZIZI (detained 9.7.77, died 13.8.77) Inquest verdict: suicide by hanging. Bonaventura MALAZA (detained 1.7.77, died 11.11.77) Inquest not concluded.
A close reading of the 1977 issues of FOCUS shows that in the majority of these cases, the inquest verdicts conceal police assaults or their effects. The Biko verdict was the only one where death was deemed neither natural nor self-inflicted and even there the police were carefully excluded from blame.
INQUESTS The verdict on Bayempin Mzizi aged 54 who died in Durban on 13 August 1977 was that he committed suicide by hanging.
The chief state pathologist in Durban Prof. I. Gordon said there were no bruises, abrasions or other marks of violence on the body. Mzizi had hanged himself with strips of material torn from his own clothing. Police constable M. S. Strauss on duty in the charge office at Brighton Beach police station on 13 August said he had come on duty at 8 p.m. and inspected the prisoners hourly. Lawyers for the family claimed that the keys to the cell had been missing from their usual place that evening, and that the police explanation was unsatisfactory and misleading.
HAFFEJEE The inquest on Dr Hooen Haffejee who died at Brighton Beach police station on 2 August 1977 opened in February. Details will be reported in the next issue of FOCUS.
BIKO It was reported that the doctors who examined Steve Biko in security police custody in Port Elizabeth following his head injury but failed to provide any treatment would be referred to the SA Medical & Dental Council. The South African Council of Churches also lodged a complaint with the Council.
At the end of January the Minister of Police told Parliament that the case had been referred to the Attorney General in the Transvaal (where Biko died) to decide if any of the police involved should be prosecuted. Two days later the Attorney-General in the Eastern Cape (where the injuries were inflicted) announced that he would prosecute no-one in connexion with the death.
The Biko family's claim for R178,000 against the Ministers of Police and Health is to be contested by the state, it was announced in February. Two state-employed doctors and nine security policemen are named in the action. As a civil case it is not expected to come to court for several months.
MDLULI It was reported in January that the widow of Joseph Mdluli who died in security police custody in March 1976 is to sue the Minister of Justice for R39,000.
