A liaison officer of the Directorate of Justice announced in mid-August 1983 that the names of those who had been executed would in future be withheld from the press to avoid 'giving prominence' to the event and to protect the next of kin and the families of the condemned person. Confirmation that an execution had taken place could be obtained from the Deputy Sheriff, the officer announced.
The making known of the names of prisoners who had been executed was introduced in the early 1950s to counter rumours that executions were not taking place.
The anti-apartheid Black Sash organisation sees this change in policy as an attempt by the authorities to eradicate protests against the hanging of guerillas sentenced to death for armed attacks against the regime. As no announcements will be made when a hanging has taken place there can be no announcements when a hanging is due to take place.
In addition, the Black Sash suspects that the move is intended to remove from public attention the large number of hangings that take place annually in South Africa. In August 1983 there were 175 prisoners due to be executed. Only nine of these were white.
