The recent killing of trade unionists and anti-apartheid activists, and the poisoning of Frank CHIKANE, General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches (SACC), as well as numerous other threats and attempts on the lives of restricted activists have further highlighted the use of extra-legal violence against anti-apartheid groups.
On 21 May unknown assassins fired into the house of Jabu Ndlovu, a shop steward of the National Union of Metal Workers of South Africa (NUMSA) in the Pietermaritzburg area, injuring her and killing her husband, Jabulani, also a member of the union, and her daughter before setting the house alight. Jabu Ndlovu died later in hospital.
Lawyers representing the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) were investigating claims that people associated with the Kwazulu bantustan organisation Inkatha were involved, including one who featured prominently in a COSATU dossier on police complicity with Inkatha. Ndlovu had been involved in a campaign to discourage Imbali residents from attending an Inkatha rally.
Jabu Ndlovu's death angered the labour movement and increased demands for a public inquiry into the activities of death squads and the assassination of anti-apartheid leaders. COSATU called for a three-day peaceful protest over the period 5-7 June to demand an end to the killings, and the lifting of all restrictions both on funerals and on individuals. The police imposed restrictions on Ndlovu's funeral an hour before it started, and clashes ensued as they attempted to prevent people from attending. Some mourners were assaulted, including Harry Gwala who had been recently freed from imprisonment on Robben Island.
The murder of Ndlovu falls within a pattern of attacks on trade union officials and their property. In February, Elias BANDA, a national organiser of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers Union of South Africa (ACTWUSA) and 13 union members were physically attacked in Durban by officials of the United Workers Union of South Africa (UWUSA) which is linked to Inkatha. The union obtained a court injunction preventing UWUSA from engaging in such acts against ACTWUSA.
Offices of the Food and Allied Workers Union (FAWU), the South African Chemical Industrial Workers Union (SACIWU) and ACTWUSA in East London were gutted by fire in January. Most of the union files were destroyed. On 30 March shots were fired at the offices of the Black and Allied Workers Union of South Africa (BAWUSA) and the Mulweli Counselling Centre in Louis Trichardt, shattering glass doors. SACIWU reported that on 1 June two union members, Joseph KUBHEKA of Natal-spruit and Lucas MASEKO of Katlehong, who were on strike at the Plascon Company, had their houses fired at from a moving vehicle.
An insecticide which has similar effects on humans as nerve gas was found during May in the clothes of Frank CHIKANE, the General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches (SACC). At the time he was part of a delegation of church leaders visiting the United States at the invitation of President Bush. He fell ill, stopped breathing and had to be put on an artificial respiratory system. He had experienced a similar illness while on a visit to Namibia in April, and maintained that his luggage had not been handled after the trip to Namibia until his visit to the United States. This strengthened the belief of doctors attending him in the United States that a chemical substance had been put on his clothes. Allan Boesak, who was also on the delegation said evidence pointed to deliberate poisoning and described the incident as a sophisticated attempt on Chikane's life. Toxic chemicals of the same kind were widely used against guerrillas in the struggle for independence in Rhodesia.
A similar substance was used in June in a number of churches and a house in Pietermaritzburg where Archbishop Tutu was due to eat. On 16 June, before a memorial service for the Soweto uprising, a chemical substance was spread at the Regina Mundi church. On 28 June toxic acid was spread at St Barnabas' Chapel in Bosmont where the SACC was holding its annual conference. Over 40 people were taken to hospital for treatment after contact with the acid. The fire department in Johannesburg described the substance as pertanoic acid a 'highly corrosive, flammable acid which burns the skin and could damage the eyes'.
During the first six months of 1989 there were many attacks on officials of organisations affiliated to the restricted South African Youth Congress (SAYCO). Violent attacks on people under restriction orders and on their property increased during May and June, confirming fears expressed by independent groups monitoring repression that restricted people are most vulnerable to such attacks.
On 27 February, Sithembiso and Siphephelo DLAMINI, of the Clermont Youth League, were killed by unknown assassins at Sithengele High School.
Pamela MAJODINA (19), a member of the Soweto Students Congress (SOSCO) said that on 21 May she was apprehended by men in two minibuses who attempted to force her into one of the vehicles at gun point, but she managed to escape. She was on her way from the Meadowlands police station where she has to report daily in terms of her restriction order which place her under house arrest between 4.00 pm and 6.00 am each day. Madojina had been threatened at the police station earlier in May by a policeman who told her she would be 'shot dead'. In view of the threats she notified the police that she could not fulfill the requirement of her restriction order to report to the police station.
Blessing Sibusiso Victor NDLOVU, a member of SOSCO and a student at Mokgome High School, was followed by suspicious looking people three weeks after receiving a threatening note. He claimed that he had constantly been followed by suspicious people, in some cases in a car without numberplates. He was later detained.
On 22 May the house of Lorraine MOKGOSI, the women's organiser of the Vaal Youth Congress (VAYCO) who is under restriction orders, had its front windows smashed in an attack by unknown people. Mokgosi, whose fiance Stanza BOPAPE went missing last year while in detention, has suffered repeated attempts on her life. Although she is particularly vulnerable because of the restrictions imposed on her, other VAYCO officials have also been attacked. Samuel MOEPADIRA, treasurer of the organisation and Phineas MOTHIBE the cultural officer, have both had their homes stoned.
On 4 July 1989 in Grahamstown, the home of Gugile NKWINTI, the restricted chairperson of the Port Alfred Residents Civic Association (PARCA), was petrol bombed. The attack slightly damaged his car and a neighbour's house, but nobody was injured.
In Uitenhage, on 27 May, the organising secretary of the Uitenhage Youth Congress (UYCO), Patrick STALI, was attacked by about 10 people thought to be members of the Ama-Afrika vigilante group who were armed with stones and pick handles. He was admitted to hospital with serious injuries. On 28 May Mz'uvumile VAMBE (17), a member of a Kwanobuhle street committee, escaped an attack by vigilantes wielding sjamboks.
