As the government came under attack for the scale of detentions in 1984 (at least 1,110 by 12 December) the Minister of Law and Order defended the use of detention without trial as a means of gathering information for use in political trials. Speaking at a police passing-out parade he said that it should be remembered 'evidence did not fall out of the air'. In cases where people would not reveal information freely to the police the 'steps provided by the legislature needed to be applied'.
Apart from detentions connected with the armed struggle, described below, over two hundred people were detained in the Transkei during January, and there were further detentions of COSAS members in Port Elizabeth in December.
Widespread involvement in activities connected with the armed struggle was revealed by a number of detentions in various parts of the country. Three people, including an alleged guerilla leader, were detained on 25 November in Vryburg in the Northern Cape after Bophuthatswana bantustan police obtained information that armed guerillas were in the area.
Subsequently, a man was killed and two policemen injured by a hand grenade when police raided a house in Huhudi outside Vryburg. The Huhudi community is resisting forced removal to the Bophuthatswana bantustan. The chief of the Security Branch alleged that the guerillas had come into the country from Botswana.
At least 12 people, including children and elderly women, were detained at a house in the White City, Jabavu, area of Soweto. Police reportedly found arms and ammunition when they raided the home of Elijah and Nokuthula Florence NGUBANE on 20 November. Everyone in the house was detained including members of a Mothers' Union prayer group who were praying for Nombulelo Xokwane, an elderly cripple. The Ngubane children, aged two and 13, were released the same day, the elderly women after two days. Also detained were Muzi Asington NKOSI, Sizwe Duma NKOSI, and Gatsha Harvey MVULA, the brother of Nokuthula Ngubane. In December it was reported that Elijah and Nokuthula Ngubane had been released.
A massive police and military operation took place during most of December in the Ingwavuma district of northern Natal. It involved the Security Branch, the SAP Special Task Force, SAP Counter Insurgency Unit and the Air Force, all following up information about alleged guerilla activity in the area. A statement released by Police Headquarters on 25 December gave only some details of the operation which was said to be continuing.
Four alleged guerillas and six alleged guerilla supporters were detained. The statement claimed that two alleged guerillas had been killed in clashes with the armed forces: one was described as 'highly trained'. At least one security policeman was wounded in the operation. Police said they had recovered a large quantity of arms including grenades, missiles, land mines, weapons and ammunition. No names or exact locations were revealed. In January an arms cache was reportedly found after a shootout in Nongoma in which one policeman and three unnamed men were killed. Gatsha Buthelezi stated that KwaZulu bantustan police had provided the information which enabled the security police to act.
RELEASES
The following people whose detentions were reported in previous issues of FOCUS have been released: Paul MOKOENA, Rita NDZANGA, Solomon PHOLOTO (October); John CAMPBELL, Joyce Dubane TSOTETSI (November); Siseko LUTYWANTSI, Thandisa MAQUNQO, Andile MNTUSHE, Sandi (Sipho) SOKUTU and Mpumelelo VETO (in Port Elizabeth, 7 December); Obed BAPELA, Guy BERGER, Piroshaw CAMAY, Chris DLAMINI, Jethro DLALISA, Victor KGOBE, Bangalizwe SOLO (in Johannesburg, 7 December); Patrick 'Terror' LEKOTA, Popo MOLEFE, Muntu MYEZA, Haroon PATEL, Rashid SALOOJEE
