During July and August there were wide-ranging detentions and several people appeared in trials related to the protests. Twelve people and a minor were charged with public violence in the Walvis Bay Magistrates' Court in mid-July, relating to a schools boycott in Kuisebmond in June. They were granted bail of R300 each on condition that they reported to the police daily. They were also prohibited from leaving the Walvis Bay magisterial area.
In the Rundu area of the Kavango bantustan 13 people appeared in court for the second time on 18 July charged with public violence. Their trial was postponed until 9 August. A further eleven students appeared in court following fresh boycott-related arrests. One trial involved Martin KUTENDA who was released from detention in mid-July. He was immediately re-arrested and charged with public violence in late July along with Josef BERNADHINO. Both were released on bail.
Scores of people were detained as boycotts mounted following the re-opening of schools on 19 July.
In late August the authorities began to use the new Protection of Fundamental Rights Act. By early September at least 50 school students were known to have been charged under the Act. One case involved 11 minors aged between 11 and 19 from Katutura who appeared in the Windhoek Magistrates' Court on 1 September. They were charged in terms of Section 2 of the Act (which outlaws school boycotts) and trespass and public violence. The case was postponed until 4 October and the detainees were released into the custody of their parents. Earlier, parents had alleged that their children were being tortured. They had been forced to do physical exercises while naked and wet and some had been assaulted.
In a second case, 37 Academy students, detained during the clashes on the campus, were released on bail on 24 August after appearing in the same court charged under the Act. The case was postponed until 15 September. Among those charged was Ignatius SHIH-WAAMENI who was detained on a previous occasion in June.
Joseph HENDRIKS (19) a student at Andreas Shipena Secondary School, was refused bail when he was charged under the Act in the Windhoek Magistrates' Court on 16 August, following his detention two weeks previously. His case was postponed until 20 October and transferred to the Supreme Court.
