PRISONS Hunger strike by prisoners Seven prisoners in Wellington Prison in the Transkei bantustan began a hunger strike on 18 February in protest at their conditions.
In a letter which reached the press they said that after making complaints about their food they were assaulted and 'locked in the cells without food and forced to starve'. They also demanded better medical and sleeping facilities, access to newspapers and radio, official acknowledgement of their complaints and permission to inform the Commissioner of Prisons about them. They also called for the International Committee of the Red Cross to be granted access to the bantustan's prisons.
The demands of the hunger strikers echoed many of those made in a current court case challenging conditions in the prison initiated by five inmates in September.
At least five of those on hunger strike are political prisoners. One of them, Marelane KOPMAN (38), was involved in the legal challenge. Of the others, Thandisile JADA (21) was jailed for five years after being convicted of sabotage on 4 June 1987, Sindiso SIGU (23) and Mcebisi WAQU (29) were sentenced to five years on 17 July 1987 on charges of sabotage and Noble Kamohelo NTUNYA (26) was jailed for eight years and six months on 16 September 1987 for possessing explosives. Also on hunger strike was Ernest SOTSU who stood trial during 1988 on charges of 'terrorism' and Mahlubi MNDUZULWANA, reported to be a political prisoner.
In response to sustained protest by prisoners, the bantustan leader General Holomisa and other officials inspected the Transkei's 26 prisons at the end of January. They confirmed the 'unhygenic and overcrowded' condition of Wellington Prison, said a budget for renovation would be provided and that the release of inmates over 60 and those due for parole would be reviewed. Further details about the conditions in the bantustan prisons were contained in letters received by the lawyers of 16 awaiting-trial prisoners. One of them was from a woman, Nomthandazo LUSIZI, whose complaints had led to her being put in solitary confinement. Lusizi first appeared in court in December 1986, charged with furthering the aims of the PAC.
Mandela isolated At the end of January, the Minister of Information, Stoffel van der Merwe, said Nelson Mandela's freedom 'could not be promised this year' because the government envisaged 'violent repercussions'.
He said the government was talking to Mandela, but refused to confirm an earlier statement that 'the situation that could lead to [his] release is being discussed with him'.
Mandela remained confined within Victor Verster Prison, with his visits subject to the authorities' approval. In December four of Mandela's co-defendants — Walter Sisulu, Ahmed Kathrada, Andrew Mlangeni and Raymond Mhlaba — were taken from Pollsmoor Prison to visit Mandela. At the beginning of February, however, former Robben Island prisoner Govan Mbeki was refused permission, a decision which Abdullah Omar, the Western Cape President of the National Association of Democratic Lawyers (NADEL) said 'refutes all the government claims of privileges Mandela is supposed to enjoy.'
Releases Successful appeals * In November two men sentenced to prison in March 1988 by a Ciskei bantustan court were freed on appeal. Mzwandile MAMPUNYE (36) was jailed for two years for harbouring a guerrilla and taking part in ANC activities, and Xolani NGUDLE (22) was sentenced to seven years, for 'terrorism', membership of a banned organisation and possession of arms. A third man, Xolile MATABESE (29) had his sentence reduced from 12 years, but the new sentence was not reported.
- In February Mongezi TSHONGWENI (25) and Vusi THABETHE (25) each had sentences of four years and six months reduced to six months when the Appeal Court ruled that the trial court was mistaken in not taking into account why they had joined the ANC. They had been convicted of leaving the country illegally and joining the ANC. They were released as they had already served six months.
- Abdul Aziz KADER (27) had his conviction and sentence set aside on appeal. He had been sentenced to two years for refusing to testify in a trial of people charged with involvement with the PAC. The appeal judge ruled that it was possible that he had been forced to testify, having spent nine weeks in solitary confinement which had left him suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome.
Completed sentences * In November, Joseph Boitumelo LEEPILE (29) was released from Robben Island on completion of a three-year sentence. He was convicted of treason for undergoing military training with the ANC between 1976 and 1984. On his release, Leepile spoke of the imposition of new restrictions on Robben Island prisoners, the censorship of letters to his lawyer, and the poor health of Rivonia triallist Elias Motsoaledi.
- Three women prisoners have recently been released on completion of sentence. Thandi MODISE (29), the first woman known to be imprisoned for participation in the ANC's armed struggle as a trained combatant, was released in November having served an eight-year sentence. Modise pleaded guilty in the Kempton Park Regional Court to three charges of 'terrorism': undergoing military training between 1976 and 1978, possessing arms, ammunition and explosives and placing explosives in two department stores in Johannesburg. Modise was initially imprisoned in, and finally released from, Pretoria Prison but reports indicated that she had also been held in Kroonstad and Klerksdorp prisons.
In January, Greta APELGREN (30) completed a 21-month sentence imposed under the Internal Security Act for assisting in the release of captured ANC combatant, Gordon Webster, from Endale hospital in May 1986, and for reconnoitring targets. On her release Apelgren said she would continue 'working for political change' and intended to campaign against the death sentence imposed on her co-defendant Robert McBride.
Farieda KHAN (28) was released from Pollsmoor Prison on 7 December and placed under a restriction order after completing a six-month sentence under the Internal Security Act for membership of the ANC.
Early releases * On 15 November four prisoners were released from Robben Island before completion of sentence. Themba KHUMALO, (29), Isaac Sithemlaiso ZIMU (31) and Veli Sandie MTHEMBA (33), were released having served 11 years of the 13-year imposed by the Pietermaritzburg Supreme Court under the Terrorism Act. They were sentenced for attempting to leave the country for military training and for inciting others to do so.
- Siza Michael HLONGWA served seven years and six months of a nine-year sentence imposed in May 1982 on charges of 'terrorism' for possession of arms and ammunition, recruitment, and conspiracy with the ANC.
- Having served 12 years of a 16-year sentence, mostly on Robben Island, Simon NKOSI (52), was released on parole from Ermelo Prison on 18 February. For the duration of his sentence Nkosi remains under the control of the head of Ermelo Prison, who can change the conditions of his parole. His residence is restricted to Breyten, he is prevented from changing his home or work address without approval, he must report to the police, and he is liable to complete the sentence in prison if he commits any 'offence' or 'misconduct'. Nkosi, who was first imprisoned in 1963 for 12 years as a PAC member, was imprisoned in February 1977 on charges of sabotage.
