In February the Voice newspaper visited the resettlement area of Dimbaza outside King Williams Town and reported that former political prisoners and their families are living in 'object poverty' there. Many of the original banning orders have expired but the families are still effectively restricted to Dimbaza and few have found employment. Most of those affected were members of the ANC.
The report stated that at least 86 families of political prisoners were removed to Dimbaza during the 1960s; their situation was grave but 'they still displayed that indomitable spirit which they had before they were deported.' Mrs. Fanele Mati, wife of Winard Mati, former ANC provincial official, said "if it was not for the help we receive many of us would have languished to death long ago". The wife of former Robben Island prisoner James Koyo, aged 67, said that their family of eight lived on a pension of R47.50 after every third month. Mr. Koyo is now partially blind. Also in Dimbaza are Zilindile and Mlungwana Mkwayi, twin brothers of Wilton Mkwayi, ANC leader serving a life sentence on Robben Island since 1964. Both served eight years on the island before being banished to Dimbaza.
