Two aspects of detention have been noted in recent issues of FOCUS: the accumulating evidence of systematic torture and abuse of detainees and the large number of detentions which go unreported. More evidence of ill-treatment was provided in a detailed memorandum submitted to the government in September by the Detainees Parents Support Committee (DPSC). The inquest into the death of Neil AGGETT finished hearing evidence and was adjourned to 20 December 1982 for judgement. In November Louis Le Grange, the Minister of Law and Order, stated that 305 people had been held in detention. This is almost a hundred more than have been reported in the press and therefore in FOCUS.
UNIVERSITY BOYCOTT On 12 October 1982 police detained two students at the University of the North (Turfloop). Makhosazana NHLAPO was taken from the female hostel at 3 am and some hours later Benedicta MONAMA was detained while attending a class. Both students come from Soweto and are officials of the Azanian Students Organisation (AZASO). The Students Representative Council led a boycott of all lectures for a week in protest at the detentions.
On 8 November police confirmed the detention of a third person — Macmillan Morokoe LETSOALO, a former Turfloop student working for the Lebowa bantustan.
THE CISKEI BANTUSTAN There continued to be reports of harrassment and detention in the Ciskei bantustan. A spokesman for SAAWU reported a number of detentions made during the funeral of a certain Thami Deliwe. Four van loads of police attended the funeral on 17 October 1982. Godfrey SHIBA was detained after being accused of giving a clenched fist salute at the beginning of his speech. Colonel Nhonhonho of the Ciskei Central Intelligence Services (CCIS) claimed the salute is banned in the Ciskei. Two other people were also reportedly detained, one of whom was released two days later.
On 12 November the Rev Themba SIBEKO was detained at his home at Lovedale. He was taken away wearing only pyjamas and three days later his wife reported that she had been unable to find out where he was detained in order to take him clothes and tablets required for a blood pressure complaint.
Police had previously searched a room in the house occupied by former Fort Hare students and confiscated books and documents. Themba Sibeko works for Shade, a self-help organisation based in Johannesburg, and had returned from a three-week visit to Cape Town shortly before his detention.
RELEASES William QWATI was released from detention in the Ciskei bantustan on 15 September 1982 at the end of the trial of Nondula and Msana. Qwati, who is 73 years old, had been held since March but was not called as a witness. His son, Vuyani QWATI, whose detention was reported at the same time, was one of a number of witnesses charged with perjury in September and released on bail. William Qwati was resettled in Mdantsane from his home in Port Elizabeth after serving a three year sentence for ANC activities during the 1960s.
It was reported in October 1982 that 15 Kimberley schoolchildren held since early 1981 as potential state witnesses in the trial of MOTLHABAKWE and OTHERS had been released. Four of them, Conrad DISEKO, Benjamin SWARTZ, Lucky MOKUBUNG and Arthur THUNTSI were subsequently charged with perjury after giving evidence for the defence.
On 7 September 1982 Gabula NDAMSE of Umtata was released from detention in Durban where he had been held since 24 November 1981. This is the first report of his detention in FOCUS.
SIPHIWO MTIMKULU Mystery surrounded the whereabouts of Siphiwo MTIMKULU. Mtimkulu, a member of the executive of the Congress of South African Students (COSAS) in Port Elizabeth, was detained for five months during 1981. On his release he required extensive hospital treatment for thallium poisoning. He lost his hair and was unable to walk. He began proceedings against the police for R150,000 damages for assault during his detention.
On 14 April 1982 Mtimkulu was driven by a friend, Topsy MADAKA, to a hospital appointment at Livingstone Hospital, Port Elizabeth. He was unable to walk without assistance and was dressed in light clothes and carpet slippers. The two friends disappeared from the hospital before Mtimkulu had completed treatment or collected his medicine.
Despite extensive publicity of his disappearance by church groups, the DPSC and opposition party officials, no further information was obtained.
DEATH FOLLOWING DETENTION On 22 September 1982 Linda DLODLO, an 18-year-old school student from Soweto, died following a severe asthma attack two weeks after being released from detention.
Initial reports indicated that Johannesburg' senior district surgeon had charged certain security policemen with assault arising out of Dlodlo's treatment in detention. Police later denied this report saying only that he allegations of assault had been noted by the district surgeon after a customary medical examination of the detainee. The file on Dlodlo including this document was passed to the Attorney-General to consider action.
