During September and November 1981 two people died while in detention under security laws in South Africa. During October an inquest was held into the death of a man who had died in detention in December 1980.
By 1978 at least 50 people had died while in detention under security laws in South Africa. In the face of international protest, the torture to death of detainees appeared to have stopped. However, evidence in recent political trials, reported in successive issues of FOCUS, has shown that severe torture of detainees still occurs and since September 1980 four people have died in detention.
Tshifhiwa MUOFHE died in detention on 12 November 1981 two days after being held by the Venda Security Police. A former leading member of the Black People's Convention which was banned in 1977, he was one of 14 people detained after an attack on a police station in Venda, believed to have been carried out by the ANC. He was reported to have been in excellent health at the time of his detention (T 18.11.81; S 23.11.81).
Manana MGOWETO, aged 60, died on 17 September 1981 in the Engcobo prison cells while detained under Transkei security laws. He was a staunch member of the Transkei Oppo- sition Democratic Progressive Party, and was detained with nine others early in September, after a headman's house was burnt down (S 30.9.81).
Sifundile MATALASI, aged 27, died in detention in the Umtata prison on 20 December 1980, 112 days after being held under the Transkei security laws. At the inquest case in September 1981 it was alleged that he had killed himself: 'Mr. Matalasi had joined his pair of socks and tied them round his neck, tying the other end to the window. He then allegedly lay down on the floor, covered himself with a blanket, using the left arm to exert pressure and thus died of strangulation'. The magistrate said he could not find anyone to blame for Matalasi's death (RDM 26.9.81; S 9.10.81).
Saul NDZUMO, formerly 'Minister of the Interior' in the Transkei, was detained on 1 September 1980, the same day as Mr. Matalasi. He was suspected of involvement in a plot to overthrow the Transkei bantustan leaders. He died in detention eight days later. Chief George Mantanzima stated that he had died of natural causes (FOCUS 31 p.4, 35 p.2).
Allegations of torture and assault of two detainees were made in recent applications for court orders by their families.
On 2 October the Grahamstown Supreme Court ordered the Ciskei Minister of Justice and two others to stop further alleged assaults on an East London trade unionist, Boyboy MPULAMPULA, who has been held since 2 September. His father was granted an interim interdict after fellow SAAWU members who had been detained on 6 September reported after their release seeing him suffering an epileptic fit and showing signs of injury. He told them he had been assaulted during interrogation about SAAWU and the ANC (DD 3.10.81).
Doris KATI, released from detention on 24 September, applied to the Transkei Supreme Court for an order preventing the security police from removing her detained father James KATI from the Transkei. She alleges that she was assaulted in detention and that her father was taken to East London and Pretoria and tortured there. Police accused them of har- bouring guerillas (FOCUS 27 p.3; S 24/30.9.81; RDM 6.11.81).
The Johannesburg detentions listed in FOCUS 37 resulted in the formation of a Detainees Support Committee by friends and relatives (RDM 13.10.81). The numbers grew with the October detentions of Hanchen KOORNOF, Keith COLEMAN and Clive, brother of Auret van HEERDEN.
The Committee has sustained interest with letters to the press, demonstrations and a public meeting organised by the Parents Support Group within the Committee. The secrecy surrounding the whereabouts and welfare of detainees has been exposed and the discrimi- natory treatment of black detainees and their families noted (S. Exp.11.10.81).
A placard demonstration outside John Vorster Square on 13 November led by the Coleman and de Beer parents was imitated at eight shopping centres around the Johannes- burg suburbs the following day (Star 14.11.81, 16.11.81). The John Vorster demonstration is planned to be repeated each Friday lunchtime.
The Attorney-General is studying reports on eleven detainees mostly held in Durban with a view to bringing charges (Daily News 27.10.81). Some have been held since June but none have been allowed visits from relatives.
The family of one of the detainees, George SITHOLE, (see current FOCUS list) has been harrassed by the police. His daughter was detained overnight with her infant child and his wife, who is Durban director of SACHED, has also been questioned. Mrs Sithole has refused to take her 12 year old son to the police station for questioning.
A number of detainees have been brought from other parts of the country to Durban. Titi MTHENJANE (FOCUS 36 p.7) was brought from Johannesburg and detained under Section 6 of The Terrorism Act without his relatives being informed (S 12.11.81). Bulelani DYANI was transferred from East London.
He has been connected with the African Youth Council as have Jabulani NGCOBO, Petrus NTULI and Michael ZITULELE.
The newly elected president of the AYC, 72 year old Phillip MATHEWS, was detained in September (FOCUS 37 p.3). He is a former Soweto branch chairman of ANC. In October his son-in-law Tom MANTHATA of the SACC complained that the security police had refused to accept food and clothing parcels (S. Exp 11.10.81).
Security police detained many workers in Port Elizabeth following industrial disputes. On 7 October a workers' meeting was raided and seven people detained under the Criminal Pro- cedure Act. They included Themba DUZE, an organiser for the Motor Assembly and Com- ponent Workers Union (MACWUSA) and the General Workers Union (GWUSA) (S 15.10.81). He was the sixth MACWUSA official to be held but has since been released. On 16 October GWUSA officials reported that of 23 confirmed detentions nine unionists had by then appeared in court. The union was trying to discover further details of General Post Office workers who had been detained (RDM 17.10.81).
In East London SAAWU members Loyiso MAJEKA and Dumisani MANINJWA (FOCUS 37 p.3) were redetained under the Terrorism Act on 20 August 1981. They are both members of the works committee at Hoover. Two other SAAWU members, Mncedisi MAKALIMA and Monwabisi MGIJIMA were detained under the same law (see current list). A fifth worker Frank TONGA was released after two weeks detention in September (DD 30.9.81).
- Five COSAS detainees were released: Wantu ZENZILE, national president, M. YANTOLO, L. BANGANI and Siphiwo MTIMKULU (see FOCUS 36 p.6-7) were freed in October (Star 24.10.81). Mtimkulu, was shot in the arm in May 1981 when resisting arrest (Evening Post 2.6.81). Tsiliso MATONA (FOCUS 36 p.7) was freed after 143 days in detention and was charged with possessing banned literature (S 18.11.81).
- Three Johannesburg detainees Robin BLOCH, Morris SWITHERS and Gavin ANDERSON (FOCUS 37 p.2 & 3) were released on 5 October (Star 6.10.81). Auret van HEERDEN and Allan FINE have been re- detained under the Terrorism Act (RDM 7.10.81).
- The Soweto post office workers whose detention was first reported in FOCUS 34 (Ben RABOEANE, Alpheus KHUMALO, Bob MABASO, Elias MOSUNKUTU) were released from Norwood Police Station and resumed work (S 2.11.81).
- In the Ciskei the seven men detained for holding illegal meetings in Mgwali (FOCUS 37 p.2-3) were released after three weeks (RDM 12.11.81). Two other detainees listed in FOCUS 37, were also freed: Rufus RWEXU (DD 21.8.81) and Louis MTSHIZANA on 26 August (DD 28.8.81).
The following people were detained under Section 22 of the General Law Amendment Act between 20–27 November, after the list opposite was compiled: trade unionists Emma MASHININI, Sam KIKINE, Samson NDOU, Rita NDZANGA, Neil AGGUT and Mary NTSEKE; students Don SOCIKWA, K. CHETTY, Michael PACE, Movendri REDDY, Nicholas HAYSOM, Feroze CACHALIA, Debbie ELKON and Colin PURKEY; Natal Indian Congress executive Pravin GORDHAM and Yunus MAHOMED; lawyer Patrick MAQUBELA, Dr. Liz FLOYD, editor Merle FAVIS, Morris SWITHERS, Reverend Frank CHIKANE, Thandi MBATHA, Cedric MAYSON, Renee ROUX, and anti-SAIC campaigner Prema NAIDOO.
