In response to national and international protests to the SA government over security police treatment of political detainees, the Minister of Police announced new measures intended to allay public fears and 'protect the police from unfair criticism'.
Firstly, he stated, 'it has been decided to appoint in each province one or more retired jurists of esteem to visit detainees at all reasonable times (who) will be at liberty to bring any matter concerning a detainee directly to the attention of the Minister'. Secondly, district surgeons will be instructed to examine detainees once a month and, if appropriate, compile a medical report and prescribe treatment.
As existing detention regulations provide for all necessary medical treatment for detainees, the second part of the announcement appears to have arisen directly out of the request on Steve Biko when the doctors involved said their medical advice was overruled by security police decisions, although it does little in itself to protect detainees against assault. Nor is it evident that the 'retired jurists of esteem' will be any more effective in acting on detainees' complaints than the magistrates who currently visit detainees and indeed frequently report anything said by the detainee back to his jailers, the security police. A report going 'directly to the attention of the Minister' is unlikely to result in any amelioration of detention conditions, unless possibly the detainee is prominent enough, as in the case of Biko, for ill treatment to embarrass the government. According to the Progressive Federal Party, the only way to safeguard detainees is to abolish the Terrorism Act.
In March there were over 600 people detained under the Terrorism Act and 50 under the Internal Security Act.
VENDA At least 50 persons, many of them teachers and students, have been detained under Emergency Regulations proclaimed for the Venda Bantustan in October following unrest. By January some 28 had been released, mainly secondary school heads and staff, who were assured they would not lose their jobs, together with students and some Bantustan clerks. Among those still in detention were Rev. T. S. FARISANI of the Lutheran church; T. A. RAMUKUMBA, University of the North; A. M. MAHAMBA, theological student; and L. KHOROMBI, teacher and president of Bold Evangelical Christian Organisation.
DURBAN A number of people were detained in Durban early in the year. They included newly-qualified attorney B. M. GUMA, articled clerk Kwenzokwakwe MLABA and hospital clerk Archibald NEMBULA. Also detained were Nhlanhla NGIDI (25) articled clerk and son of Rev. Ben Ngidi, organiser with the now-banned Black Community Programmes who has been in detention since May 1977 and is now held under the Internal Security Act; and Sibongile KUBHEKA, former SASO receptionist banned last year. Nhlanhla Ngidi was one of those acquitted in the University of Zululand case as was Wiseman Khuzwayo, detained in November and Penuel MADUNA, detained in January.
Six detainees in Durban held since July 1977 were released in March. They were Leonard MDINGI, founder member of Pondo Peoples (later Democratic) Party; Shadrack MAPHUMULO, of Natal University, Russell MPHANGA of Umlazi; Helia PHUNGULA (39), Delase CILIZA (35) and Gladys MANZI (45) all of Umlazi. All except Mdingi were reported to have been immediately re-detained under the Internal Security Act.
