'Five hundred restricted since 1986'
The South African regime is making increasing use of emergency powers to silence activists by restricting them. Although the government has been forced by national and international protest to release detainees, it has continued its repressive activities against them by other means, including restrictions.
In January, the Human Rights Commission estimated that 500 people had been restricted since the declaration of a State of Emergency in June 1986.
A high proportion of those restricted were ex-detainees, served with orders immediately on their release. The Minister of Law and Order has said that during 1988 135 ex-detainees were restricted. The Detainees' Parents Support Committee said that the year before the figure was 69. Most of the detainees released following hunger strikes in the first months of 1989 were restricted. Exact numbers of restricted people are not known as the Minister of Law and Order is not obliged to name those affected or to give details of the orders.
The procedure for restricting individuals under the emergency regulations by-passes the courts. The Minister of Law and Order determines who is to be restricted and applications to have orders withdrawn or their terms relaxed are made to him. Generally, he has been unresponsive to such appeals.
Restrictions differ in detail from case to case. But the orders often limit a person to a particular magisterial district; prohibit participation in the activities of specified organisations and communication with the media; and impose dusk-to-dawn house arrest. Inevitably the orders have a dramatic effect.
For some people, like Gugile NKWINTI and Joyce MASHAMBA, their restrictions prevent them living at home. Nkwinti's home is in Port Alfred, but he is restricted to Port Elizabeth. Mashamba has not lived with her husband George since 1976 when they were both imprisoned for ANC activities. She was released in 1981 but by the time his sentence expired in 1986 she had been detained under the Emergency. When freed in January 1989 she was restricted and required to report daily to the police in Mankweng, northern Transvaal, although her husband now lives and works in Johannesburg.
For others, the restrictions effectively prevent them returning to their previous employment. For example, Zwelakhe SISULU, former editor of New Nation is prohibited from preparing any material for publication, Joyce MABUDAFHASI, who prior to her detention was a librarian at the University of the North, may not enter educational premises.
Restrictions Additional to previous Focus lists: March 1988 MACHITJE, Zachius Rathanda CA MALEBO, Gregory East Rand UDF MAPHEKULA, Vulindlela KwaThema YCO MOKONE, Andrew KwaThema YCO RADEBE, John Duduza CA June 1988 LEBESE, Sandy Mamelodi YCO/CA SELOANE, Michael Mamelodi YCO/CA July 1988 DAMANE, Themba AZAYO/SM JACOBS, Whitey Mzonke Cape YCO KHUMALO, Pule AZAYO/SM MAGWAZA, Oupa AZAYO/SM MANUEL, Trevor Secretary UDF MODISANE, Sello AZAYO/SM MOFOKENG, Glad AZAYO/SM MONTOEDI, Spencer AZAYO/SM MTHEMBU, Phillip AZAYO/SM PHILLIMON, Leonard AZAYO/SM QUMBELA, Mountain UDF W Cape Exec RASSOOL, Ebrahim UDF W Cape Exec SITHOLE, Dumile AZAYO/SM ZAMA, George AZAYO/SM
Abbreviations: AZAYO/SM — Azanian Youth Organisation and Azanian Students' Movement; RA — Residents' Association; UDF — United Democratic Front; YCO — Youth Congress.
