POSSIBLE REMISSION FOR POLITICAL PRISONERS
On 16 March the Minister of Justice, Kobie Coetsee, confirmed that a new prisons board, headed by a judge, could pave the way for the review of sentences of political prisoners.
In terms of a new Prisons Amendment Bill an 'Advisory Release Board' is to be established to advise the government on the release of prisoners.
At present political prisoners do not receive any remission for their sentences but they are not specifically excluded from the powers of the new board.
CONDEMNED PRISONERS 'ON HUNGER STRIKE'
Five members of the African National Congress sentenced to death for treason are reported to have been refusing to eat food since 6 February.
Anthony Bobby TSOTSOBE, Johannes SHABANGU, David MOISE, Petrus MASHIGO and Naphtali MANANA are in the maximum security section of Pretoria Central Prison. They are all awaiting the outcome of appeals they have made against their sentences. Prisons department officials claim that they are not on hunger strike but are eating food supplied to them by relatives. Lawyers, however, are demanding a report on the medical condition of the men and that an independent doctor be allowed to see them.
