The campaign for political prisoners' study rights reported in FOCUS 23 p.15 collected 9000 signatures for its Prisoners' Education Petition. A deputation consisting of Roman Catholic Archbishop Hurley of Durban, Rabbi Selwyn Franklin, Dr. Ntatho Motlana of Soweto and Adv. Chris Nicholson applied to present the petition to the Minister of Prisons Louis the Grange.
In December the Minister refused to meet the deputation, saying that there were other priorities in a sound and disciplined prison system besides education, and that the present restrictions on post-matric studies by political prisoners might be relaxed "if circumstances change".
In May 26 political prisoners were pursuing such studies, started before the restrictions were announced. Only 60 non-political offenders were engaged in similar studies, including 14 women in Kroonstad.
