DETENTIONS
Action by the parents of detainees and several protest meetings have focused attention on the conditions under which security detainees are held. Criticism has been levelled at the manner of detention — often by a security raid in the middle of the night. Detainees' whereabouts are kept secret, access is severely restricted and food and clothing parcels are accepted or refused arbitrarily. Long periods of solitary confinement without even the means to study are common. Calls have been made for the unconditional release of all detainees and the scrapping of all detention without trial.
PROTESTS
Parents of Cape Town detainees held a press conference and called for a national day of fasting and prayer on 7 September. Teachers, pupils and students were detained in the Cape, scene of two school boycotts in June. The Department of Internal Affairs introduced tough new measures and by the end of the month over sixty pupils had been expelled (CH 27.6.81). The fathers of Nicolette van Driel and Amanda Sanger both spoke against "state terrorism". James van Driel whose daughter has now served two periods of detention (see FOCUS 32 p.6; 36 p.7) said: "To tell people in council houses they have rights is not terrorism. When our children are taken out of their homes in the most horrifying manner possible, that is terrorism" (S 31.8.81).
Over 200 people attended an inter-faith service for Cape Town detainees in St. George's Cathedral. Dr Allan Boesak, student chaplain at the University of the Western Cape, condemned security laws as "unjust and therefore no law at all". Most of the Muslim and Christian congregation signed a petition calling for the unconditional release of all detainees. Security police kept a watch on the cathedral throughout the service (CT 8.9.81). COSAS held a prayer service for detainees in Sebokeng on 10 August. Police baton-charged the congregation as they left and made two arrests (see current FOCUS list).
CONDITION OF DETAINES
Difficulty of access to detainees is a major cause of complaint. Ms. Nonqaba Mosunkutu has not seen her husband Elias (FOCUS 34 p.8, 35 p.2) since his detention in March (S 27.8.81). Detained teacher Derrick Naidoo (FOCUS 36 p.7) had been on hunger strike for 3 weeks before his wife was informed, even though her regular food parcels had been accepted (CT 12.8.81). Naidoo continued his strike for almost 40 days (ST 30.8.81). Sadia Daniels was forbidden to deliver halal meat to her daughter Gairo (FOCUS 36 p.7) who was also deprived of a prayer book and scarf for Ramadan observances (CH 25.7.81). Journalist Zwelakhe Sisulu (FOCUS 35 pp.6 & 7) has been refused leave to continue his studies with UNISA and to sit exams in October (S 9.9.81). The mother of Job Molahloe, a Musi High School student detained in June (FOCUS 36 p.7), is seeking permission for him to study in prison (S 9.9.81). Alpheus Motsisi, whose son Petrus Mabe was formerly at Musi High School, was among those who called for an end to all detention without trial which "has caused a lot of grief in black society" (S 28.8.81).
During the Censure Motion debate in Parliament in early August, conditions affecting security detainees were raised. Mr Louis le Grange the Minister of Police said that parents were not told where their children were detained so they could not go there and demand to see them. He further claimed that detainees were not in solitary confinement but only allocated their own cells (CT 7.8.81).
SOWETO AND JOHANNESBURG
On the weekend 11–13 September, the fourth anniversary of the death of Steve Biko, police in camouflage manned road blocks in and around Soweto. People were checked both entering and moving within the township. A national serviceman, Charles BILL, whose father is an executive member of the South African Council of Churches, was detained after subversive literature was allegedly found in his car (S 14.9.81). Mr Bill joined the army in July and has completed his basic training.
Another national serviceman, so far unnamed, was detained on 30 July, the 60th anniversary of the founding of the South African Communist Party. He and a Wits law student, Ben GREYLING, were allegedly putting up commemorative posters (CT 4.8.81). University sources link these arrests to those of three more Wits students: Lesley LAX, Elaine MOHAMMED and Michael O'DONOVAN on 12 August. A meeting of 600 students condemned the arrests as "repressive" (CT 13.8.81).
Twelve people were detained in Johannesburg between 22–25 September. These include two former NUSAS officials, Cedric DE BEER, Auret VAN HEERDEN and a NUSAS honorary vice-president, Joanne JAWITCH. Most detainees are connected with a number of voluntary organisations: the Environmental & Development Agency (EDA) (an organisation for rural development); Actstop (opposing Group Areas evictions); SACHED (South African Council for Higher Education), an adult literacy and education trust (RDM 23/26.9.81). One detained EDA official is Gavin ANDERSON whose banning order was recently lifted (see BANS). Jawitch was involved in the Wilson-Rowntree boycott. The Transvaal organiser of SAAWU, H BARNABUS, was detained but released after a few hours. Allan FINE, an official of the Wits Liquor and Catering Employees' Union and former student detainee (FOCUS 7 p.9) was detained on 25 September. It is claimed that Mandla MTHEMBU, a Sached employee, was taken to his house in leg irons (RDM 26.9.81). In June there was widespread condemnation of police action in taking detainee Fr. Enoch SHOMANG (FOCUS 35 p.3) while shackled in leg irons to search his presbytery.
DISKEI
Amongst the many detentions in the Ciskei included in this issue are those of several people from Mgwali. No reason was given for their detention, except that they were holding "illegal meetings" in the area.
However Mgwali is an area whose residents are due to be forcibly removed. The area, lying some 40 km outside the boundary of the Ciskei, is classified as a "badly situated area". The apartheid regime intends creating a "white" corridor between the Transkei and Ciskei bantustans (RDM 23.9.81). (See also BANTUSTAN REPRESSION on p.1).
"129 IN DETENTION"
Figures released by the Minister of Justice to Helen Suzmen in Parliament revealed that on 10 August there were 129 detainees: 75 under the Terrorism Act, 3 under the Internal Security Act as witnesses, 14 under the General Law Amendment Act, 4 under preventative detention but not in solitary confinement (RDM 11.8.81).
CHILDREN
During the first six months of 1981, 25 boys under the age of 18 were detained under the Internal Security Act, according to the Minister of Police. Six detainees had been charged with sabotage and one under the Terrorism Act. No convictions had resulted but six trials were continuing (CT 8.8.81).
During 1980 127 juveniles, 95 boys and 32 girls, were detained under security laws (FOCUS 35 p.2).
RELEASES
- A male nurse Walter MAKONJWA (FOCUS p.3) was released after six months detention in the Ciskei (DD 20.4.81). * The NGWEDZENI brothers, detained in March (FOCUS 34 p.8), have now all been released: Ernest (the unnamed 17 year old in FOCUS) after 2 days; Norman after 3 weeks and Arlone on 18 July (Voice 29.7.81). * Two COSAS detainees have been freed: Simon NKODI, Secretary of the Vaal branch (FOCUS 34 p.8) on 29 July (DD 31.7.81); Wandile ZULU (FOCUS 36 p.6) on 1 September (S 3.9.81). * Three trade union leaders are now free. Joseph MAVI (FOCUS 35 p.3) was released from detention under the Internal Security Act on 31 July, following the death of his infant child who was born during his detention (RDM 1.8.81). Terrorism Act detainee Thozamile GQWETA (FOCUS 36 p.7) was released on 4 August (RDM 6.8.81) and Sisa NJIKELANA (FOCUS 35 p.3) was released from detention under the Internal Security Act on 10 August (RDM 11.8.81). * Fr Enoch SHOMANG (FOCUS 35 p.3) served eight days detention. Rev Sol JACOBS (FOCUS 36 p.7) was released on 6 August and said he "would not be put off his plan to minister to South African refugees living in neighbouring countries" (ST 9.8.81). * Three school students, Aziz JARDINE (FOCUS 35 p.3), Oupa LEHULERE and Kent MKALIPI (FOCUS 34 p.8), were all released from detention under the Internal Security Act on 10 August (S 11.8.81). * In Cape Town six detainees reported in FOCUS 36 have been released. Gairo DANIELS and Nicolette VAN DRIEL on 28 August and 31 August respectively (CT 1.9.81); Vanessa LUDWIG by 11 September (CT 12.9.81) and Ebrahim PATEL, Derrick NAIDOO and Mohammed Matthew CLOETE on 23 September (S 25.9.81). All had been detained under the Terrorism Act.
