In the early months of 1982 fewer new detentions were recorded than in previous months, but there was increasing information on the conditions under which detainees are held. In particular there was concern about what was happening to people while held in solitary confinement, after a number of detainees were transferred to hospitals for psychiatric treatment.
It became clear as trials came to court and detainees were redetained under different laws that many initial detentions had gone unreported. Names of some such detainees appear in the current list. Many detainees kept as potential witnesses under Section 12 of the Internal Security Act are held for long periods until trials come to court. The Minister of Justice reported that 19 people detained under this law on 30 March 1981, were still in detention a year later.
CAPE TOWN DETENTIONS
Charles and Marieta CLAIMS and their two young children were detained on 8 January at the Mafikeng border post while returning from a holiday in Zimbabwe to their home in Cape Town. Marieta Claims that who was released on 22 January told reporters that while in Zimbabwe she had bumped into Frank ANTHONY, Roger GALANT, Julian SAULS, Benjamin JULIUS, Lionel SCHOLTZ, Johannes MANNEL and Frederick HENDRICKS. These seven men whose detention was reported in Focus 39 were redetained under the Terrorism Act at the end of February.
POTENTIAL WITNESSES
In January the East London security police redetained 13 students and workers under Section 12B of the Internal Security Act which allows for the detention of prospective state witnesses. Those whose original detentions were not reported in FOCUS appear in the current list. Others redetained were William MOSES, Malusi KUNENE, Nomtandazo BOOI, Bulelani DYANI, Nelson MGIJIMA (probably Monwabisi MGIJIMA), Ntombomzi BOOI, Mzimasi VENKILE, Mncedi MAKALIMA and Thobile MANINJWA.
STUDENT INJURED
Police detained an 18 year old student, Zandisile MUSI, who survived an explosion at a disused mine building outside Krugersdorp on 16 February. Three other students including a member of COSAS and the Young Christian Workers were killed in the blast. Mourners at their funeral carried the flag of the African National Congress. Maria Musi said that her son suffered a broken leg and deafness in one ear in the blast.
SOWETO DETENTIONS
Two Senaoane residents were detained in Soweto on 15 February after police raids in the middle of the night during which their houses were searched. Mthuthuzeli MADALANI was brought to his house shackled in leg irons and 20 police searched the house. Mrs Sannah RADEBE was detained after a hooded and shackled youth was brought to her house at 3 am but failed to identify her. She was released on 17 March and instructed her lawyers to sue the police for alleged assault whilst in detention. Mrs Radebe is the aunt of Jabu NGWENYA who was detained in November 1981 and was still in detention under Section 6 of the Terrorism Act in March.
AGGETT ASSAULT
The inquest on Neil AGGETT was opened in the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court on 3 March and adjourned to 13 April. Lawyers for Aggett's family requested the adjournment to enable them to seek the appearance of detainees as witnesses.
On 16 February Helen SUZMAN read out in Parliament a letter from an unnamed detainee alleging that Aggett was assaulted during his detention. It said he was stripped naked, forced to do press-ups interspersed with running on the spot with arms outstretched. Throughout he was beaten with a rolled up newspaper.
Mass protest greeted the news of Aggett's death. The African Food and Canning Workers Union, of which Aggett was Transvaal secretary, called for a national half-hour strike on 11 February which was answered by over 85,000 workers.
RELEASES AND REDETENTIONS
- In February police reported that two of the ANC men abducted from Matola in January 1981 had been released. Police said that David NTOMBELA was still in detention under Section 6 of the Terrorism Act but Selby MAVUSO and Mothidi NTSHEKANG had been freed. Neither their lawyers nor in Ntshekang's case, his family, could confirm the release.
- Five trade unionists were released from detention in Port Elizabeth on 17 February. They were MACWUSA officials, Mxolisi DIDIZA, Dumile MAKHANDA, Maxwell MADLINGOZI, Zandile MTUZA (MJUZA) and Sipho PITYANA.
- Three Durban detainees, Philip MATHEWS, Simon NTOMBELA and Sipho GUMEDE were released in January. Philip Mathews said that security police questioned him about his past membership of the ANC and the African Youth Congress of which he is President. He refused to become a state witness.
- By the end of February the majority of detainees in the Venda bantustan were released. Rev. Muen-danvi MAHAMBA and Ramano TSHIKORORO were first charged with murder alongside Revs. Phosiwa and Phaswane. Charges were dropped and they were redetained under Section 12B of the Internal Security Act in February. Dean T. Farisani was also redetained under Section 12B in February.
- Zwelakhe SISULU was released on 25 February without being called as a witness in the Seatlholo and Loate terrorism trial.
- Johannesburg detainees Nicholas HAYSON, Debbie ELKON, Liz FLOYD, Colin PURKEY and Morris SMITHERS, Clive van HEERDEN and Keith COLEMAN were released on 26 March. Renee ROUX was released from hospital and detention on 27 March. The Commissioner of Police was reported as saying they would appear as state witnesses in the case of HOGAN, MAYSON and FINE.
- Auret van Heerden, Han-chen KOORNHOF, Monty NARSOO and Lilian KEAGILE (no other details) were redetained under Section 12B of the Internal Security Act.
- The following detainees were also released: Charles BILL on 2 November; Alfred KGAMARE by February; Patience BOKALA at the end of January; Ralph WORTLEY and Esther LEVITAN on 4 March; Thozamile GQWETA on 3 March.
