At least 1354 people have been banned in South Africa in the past 18 years, according to figures released by the South African Institute of Race Relations. At least 368 of them are known to have left the country. According to IDAF figures 139 people were still under banning orders in South Africa on 30 June, 1978. A further 34 people were under banishment orders. A further 29 people in exile were still under current banning orders. In addition 4 people under current banning orders are now dead.
A new development in official action against banned people has been the deportation of a banned man from Germiston to the supposedly independent Bantustan of the Transkei. Mr. Pindile MFETI, 38 a former trade unionist and secretary of the Industrial Aid Society, was served with a deportation order at his home on 25 July, and escorted to the Transkei the following day. Mr. Mfeti was banned in 1977 after spending more than a year in detention. He was first confined to the magisterial district of Germiston, and later to Alberton. He was twice refused permission to change his place of restriction to take up employment. His wife and children accompanied him to the Transkei.
Kenny MATIME and Thabo SEHUME, both of Atteridgeville, Pretoria, have been banned for five years and restricted to the magisterial district of Pretoria. Both were detained after 19 October, 1977, under section 10 of the Internal Security Act.
Reggie Pakiry VANDEYAR, of Lenasia, and Shirish NANABHAI of Fordsburg, Johannesburg, appeared in the Government Gazette of 30 June, 1978 as having been served with banning orders. Both are former Robben Island prisoners. Reggie Vandeyar had already served a five-year banning order.
Chris MOKODITOA, former BPC executive member, was served with a new two-year banning order, specifically prohibiting him from continuing in his present employment. Mr. Mokoditoa was working as an articled clerk for Mr. Shun Chetty, an attorney. A special clause in the new order prohibits Mr. Mokoditoa from working for Mr. Chetty. Mr. Mokoditoa was served with a banning order in 1975.
Barney Nyameko PITYANA, of New Brighton near Port Elizabeth, was re-banned for five-years on his release from detention. The banning order specifically forbids him from entering the premises of an attorney, thus preventing him from working in the area in which he is trained. Mr. Pityana, a former SASO president, has a law degree and was originally articled to a New Brighton firm of attorneys. He was first banned in 1973, and then detained in 1977. On 24 August he was reported to have fled to Lesotho with his wife, also banned, and daughter.
George SITHOLE of Umlazi, was sentenced to 56 days' imprisonment in a Durban court on 14 counts of having contravened his banning order. The counts concerned receiving visitors at his home and being in another township, Lamontville, without a permit. George Sithole was a founder member of the Umlazi Residents' Association.
Reggie VANDEYAR was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment, suspended for five years, by a Johannesburg Regional Court after being convicted of 22 counts of breaking his banning order. 21 of the charges related to watching television at a friend's house. Vandeyar spent ten years on Robben Island from 1963 to 1973. On his release two five-year banning orders were imposed on him. He has just been re-banned for five years. In his trial Reggie Vandeyar told the court how he was unable to get a job because of his political imprisonment, and said he went to watch television to escape the "imposed isolation". The magistrate said: "the evidence of suffering seems to be grounds for compassion but you have only yourself to blame".
Dr. Mamphele RAMPHELE was acquitted by the Tzaneen Regional Court on two counts of contravening her banning order by allegedly attending two gatherings. Dr. Ramphele, a former superintendent of a BCP clinic in Kingwilliamstown, was banished to the northern Transvaal in 1977.
Winnie MANDELA appeared in court in Bloemfontein on new charges of contravening her banning order on 16 August. No evidence was led and the case was postponed to 31 August.
Mrs. Beauty LOLWANE of Mdantsane township near East London has been served with an order prohibiting her from staying in or entering the Mdantsane district and all other Ciskei Bantustan areas. The banishment order was issued by the Ciskei Minister of Justice. She is a mother of seven children. No reason was given for her banishment. She is a registered member of the ruling Ciskei Independence Party.
27 former Pan-Africanist Congress members released from Robben Island earlier this year after serving 15-year sentences for Poqo activities, have been banished by the Transkie authorities to remote parts of the Transkei.
Mxolis'i MVOVO, brother-in-law to Steve Biko, has had a five-year banning order on him lifted. He is recovering from a nervous breakdown which he suffered while in detention early in 1978. He was a vice-President of the Black People's Convention until it was banned in October 1977, and was restricted to the Dimbaza area, near Kingwilliamstown.
