The South African Police killed 149 persons 'in the execution of their duties' during 1977, excluding those killed 'in black township arrest', and wounded 403, it was revealed in Parliament on 29 Feb.
Of those killed, 138 were adults and 11 juveniles. The vast majority (108 adults, 3 juveniles) were shot dead while 'attempting to escape arrest'; the rest were just shot. Of those wounded 362 were adults and 41 juveniles; 242 adults and 26 juveniles were wounded while attempting to escape arrest.
In January 1978 it was reported that 120 persons were under sentence of death in South Africa's prisons for criminal offences.
Of these two were women (one white) and five were white men. Some may be reprieved, so that it is unlikely that all will be executed. Since 1966 there has been an annual average of 70 executions.
