Students, teachers and UDF members detained in the Western Cape during election week staged a two-day hunger strike on 5 and 6 September. They were protesting at their own detention and at the transfer of detainees on hunger strike to Grootvlei Prison in Bloemfontein. Detainees from the Western Cape on hunger strike included a student, Gloria VEALE (18), detained on 18 July and transferred to Grootvlei Prison, and Willie HOFMEYR, a member of the UDF Western Cape executive. Gloria Veale was released on 16 September.
Hofmeyr, a lawyer, was released from six months solitary confinement under emergency regulations in October 1988, under tight restrictions. He was detained with Trevor MANUEL and Bulelani NGCUKA, both members of the regional UDF executive, and Tsidi MOAHLULI from Paarl. All four immediately began a hunger strike. Whilst Manuel, Ngcuka and Moahluli were transferred to Grootvlei, Hofmeyr was moved to Groote Schuur hospital on 29 August with stomach cramps and internal bleeding. He was placed under police guard, and chained to his bed. An interdict granted by the Supreme Court ruled that the police could only chain him to his bed at night. The other three suspended their hunger strike on 12 September — Ngcuka and Moahluli were released on 15 September, and Manuel later the same month. Hofmeyr, his condition 'extremely serious', was released on 22 September.
Two Eastern Cape clergymen, both members of the Standing for Truth Campaign, a national committee of religious representatives which played an active role in organising the defiance campaign, were detained under the emergency regulations on 2 September. They were Lulama NTSHINGWA of Stutterheim, and Zolile MKENTANE of Adelaide. Four other Adelaide residents were detained with Mkentane, two days before the funeral of a local youth allegedly shot by a policeman in August after a church service to launch the defiance campaign in the area. All five embarked on a hunger strike on 7 September. Priests from the Border Council of Churches (BCC) who marched through Stutterheim calling for their release were beaten by police and had their petition rejected. In Adelaide a similar march handed a petition to the police calling for Mkentane's release.
