In April 1982 the Detainees Parents Support Committee (DPSC) submitted a memorandum to the Ministers of Law and Order and of Justice alleging systematic and widespread torture of detainees by security police.
In September the DPSC submitted a second memorandum together with over 70 statements from ex-detainees. FOCUS here reproduces extracts from the memorandum. When read in conjunction with earlier reports of torture in detention it is clear that systematic abuse and assault of detainees is becoming even more widespread and severe.
SOURCES OF STATEMENTS 'The allegations have been drawn from statements by former detainees, admissions by the State itself, court proceedings and actual court judgements. The majority of the allegations deal with the recent period 1981–1982 while some date back to 1978.
'The DPSC rejected a request from the authorities that any investigation should confine itself to the period from mid-1981. Firstly, many of the officers alleged to have participated in earlier incidents are still serving in the Security Police. Secondly, the DPSC can see no logical reason in drawing a distinction between alleged practices of torture in 1980 and 1981. Indeed the research and allegations reveal no marked difference between the pattern of abuses alleged to have been committed prior to July 1981 and abuse alleged to have been committed after this period.
'Furthermore, the allegations of malpractices are not confined to any particular centre. Places at which they are reported to have occurred include police stations at all the major centres in South Africa. The places most commonly cited in the most serious allegations are Protea (Soweto), Sanlam Building (Port Elizabeth), and John Vorster Square (Johannesburg). Included in the scores of Security Police named as being involved in these malpractices are at least 20 commissioned officers up to the rank of major. Some members were categorised as experts in, for example, electric shock torture.'
PHYSICAL ABUSE 'The statements contain numerous complaints of prolonged and intensive interrogation, sometimes by successive teams of interrogators and sometimes for a continuous period of several days. Alleged practices designed to reduce the detainee to a state of exhaustion and compliance with the interrogators' suggestions include the following:
- Deprivation of sleep in at least 20 cases, some for periods of many days and nights. * Deprivation of food and drink whilst being interrogated. * Deprivation of toilet facilities in 8 cases. * Enforced standing and arduous physical exercises in over 28 cases for long periods, sometimes days and nights. * Exposure to cold in 25 cases by being kept naked for long periods sometimes several days and nights. * Enforced suspension is reported in 11 cases. Most of these involve a method referred to by some Security Police as the 'Helicopter', in which the detainee is handcuffed at the wrists and at the ankles, and while in a crouching position, a pole is inserted through legs and arms. He is then suspended on the pole between a table and a chair, sometimes for hours on end, while being subject to a barrage of questions and sometimes blows. * In 54 cases, including 6 women, hitting with fists, slapping, kicking, beating with sticks, batons, hosepipe, gun butts and other objects, crushing of toes with chairs or bricks, dragging by hair, banging head on wall or table and throwing or pushing against a wall, are the more common forms of assault. Some of the injuries which have resulted are perforated eardrums, broken teeth, loss of sight in an eye, damaged kidneys and bladder, and permanent scarring. * Suffocation is reported in 25 cases, mostly by hooding with a bag made of canvas or plastic. Other forms of suffocation include the use of a wet towel, or choking by hand or cord. In many cases the detainees are alleged to have lost consciousness. * Electric shock is alleged in 22 instances. Shock torture was allegedly applied for projected periods in several instances, sometimes resulting in loss of consciousness. In one extreme case, the victim started to experience fits as a result of damage to his nervous system. He continued to have fits for three months after his release from detention.
'In one case two non-Security policemen were actually charged with hooding and administering electric shocks to a man in their custody. They pleaded guilty to common assault and were fined R50. The significance of these allegations, which were obviously accepted by the State, has not received the attention they deserve. What enquiries have been made as to the source of the electrical equipment and the hoods, who trained the policeman in the use of the equipment?
'Electric shocks appear to be administered by means of an apparatus which allows the interrogator to switch the current on and off causing the victim to scream and jerk involuntarily. * Attacks on genitals are reported in 14 cases.'
PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE 'Reports of psychological abuse contained in the statements fall into several categories, from the more subtle forms such as isolation, humiliation, and concern about loved ones, to the more obvious forms of intimidation and threats to life and limb. * Isolation. All detainees report being isolated in solitary confinement, as provided for by detention clauses of Security Legislation. The short-term and long-term effects of solitary confinement have been described by several authorities as more damaging to health than even many extreme forms of physical abuse. * Hooding. Another commonly reported practice (19 cases) is hooding, which apart from other purposes, produces disorientation and fear of the unknown. Detainees complained in several instances of being removed from the police cells and driven to isolated spots in the bush which also created a similar condition of disorientation and extreme fear. * Threats to life and limb. Allegations of death threats to 11 detainees are contained in the statements. In 13 statements, threats of torture and assault are reported. * Threat to loved ones. Threats relating to children, parents and wives and close friends are alleged in 6 statements.'
INDEFINITE DETENTION In addition to physical and psychological abuse the memorandum draws attention to abuses of the law where persons detained for interrogation are held for long periods without being questioned.
SAFEGUARDS FOR DETAINEES In the press release which accompanied the memorandum the DPSC stated: 'We are convinced that the modifications and safeguards introduced after the recommendations of the Rabie Commission afford no real protection for detainees caught up in the system of security detention.'
The memorandum details the limitations of such safeguards as a Code of Conduct for Interrogators, visits by Magistrates and the Inspector of Detainees, and health care under the district surgeon. The new guidelines announced by the Minister of Law and Order in November answered none of the criticisms and were denounced by the DPSC for failing to permit "independent monitoring of security police interrogation practices and behaviour".
THE DISTRICT SURGEON AND HEALTH CARE 'The most serious allegations concern the denial of access to further medical treatment by the police until the detainee has satisfied the police. The capacity in law and practice for police officers to overrule the decision of the District Surgeon on the medical treatment of a detainee is absolutely unacceptable.
'It appears that the District Surgeon in some cases is the doctor who cares for the police personnel in the area and may have a professional or personal relationship with the individual interrogators or Security Policemen.'
LAYING CHARGES The memorandum lists many difficulties in laying charges of assault against Security Police. There are extremely few cases where Security Policemen have been actually charged, and the DPSC knows of none where any have been convicted.
In conclusion they say: 'The DPSC has not been convinced by the Minister's denial that cruel or humiliating practices are perpetrated on detainees. Indeed the evidence reveals a clear picture of widespread systematic malpractices.'
