Yet another detainee has died in police custody—a boy aged 16 from Mdantsane, East London. No reports of the actual death have been received, but an inquest opened in East London in March, when it was stated that the boy may not be named because of his age.
In the brief press report, horrifying details of the boy's injuries were revealed. After being detained in Mdantsane police cells, he was admitted unconscious to Frere Hospital (where he died) with extensive bruises on his chest, a paralysed right arm and septic ulcers on both legs. Other evidence showed wounds to his feet, the soles having apparently been burnt off.
The inquest magistrate said the court was having difficulty in establishing the facts and adjourned the case to 14 April. This death brings the number of detainees who have died in police custody to 48. As explained in FOCUS 14, there are many other cases where political 'suspects' have died unnaturally, but not all were being held under security legislation. It is not clear under which law the Mdantsane boy was held.
It was reported in Post (7.2.78) that five Mdantsane youths had been detained by the Security Police. Apparently they were due to appear in the Mdantsane Magistrate's Court on 7 February. It is possible that they are connected with the 16-year-old youth's case.
