A further sharp increase in emergency detentions during July and August, reflected the regime's repressive response to both educational protests and the mass defiance campaign.
At least 250 people were taken into emergency detention between 1 August and 6 September, 20 of them under 18 years old. This does not include 'independent' bantustans or detentions under the Internal Security Act.
Detentions of UDF national officers and regional leaders began shortly before the sixth anniversary of the UDF, due to be marked by organisations and individuals declaring themselves 'unbanned'. Mohammed Valli MOOSA, the acting general secretary, was detained from 18 August until 29 September. Also detained were Titus MAFOLO, Curnick NDLOVU, who chairs the national executive, and Mandla DLAMINI, the regional UDF organiser in Johannesburg. Mafolo, an executive committee member, was detained on 13 September after addressing a meeting at Witwatersrand University. Ndlovu, who was detained on 31 August, and Dlamini were reported to be in solitary confinement, which is unusual for emergency detainees. Dlamini was detained with Amos MASONDO, an education officer for COSATU, whilst reporting to police in compliance with restriction orders.
In the Northern Transvaal the UDF regional president, Louis MNGUNI, was detained on 15 August, as was the secretary, Joyce MABUDUFHASI, who is also a member of the executive of the National Education Crisis Committee (NECC) and is restricted under the emergency regulations — Mabudafhasi was released on 9 September. Their detention related to the situation at the University of the North, whose temporary closure was precipitated by a police raid on the campus on 10 August. Students had been boycotting classes and food in protest over the detention of SRC members and assaults by police.
Others detained in the Transvaal included the Western Transvaal regional secretary of COSATU, Zwelinzima VAVI, detained on 1 September. Obed BAPELA and Paul TSHABALALA, acquitted of treason five months ago, were detained in September and began a hunger strike in police cells in the Orange Free State. They were released after one week.
In Natal another COSATU organiser, Sipho CELE, the regional secretary for northern Natal, was detained on 30 August. On the same day three leading members of the United Committee of Concern (UCC), an organisation which represents residents of the Coloured townships around Durban, were also detained.
Detentions of UDF and community leaders in the Western Cape are reported below in connection with hunger-strikes. Another focus of emergency detentions in the Western Cape were pupils and students, who have played a major role in recent popular resistance to apartheid as well as protests over education. At least 56 pupils, three teachers and one academic were reported detained during August.
