ADMINISTRATION OF SECURITY LEGISLATION (FROM A SURVEY OF RACE RELATIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA, 1977, BY LORAINE GORDON ET AL)

• NCJ Number: 48611
• Author(s): L GORDON; S BLIGNAUT; S MORONEY; C COOPER
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 51 pages
• Corporate Author: P O Box 97
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: South Africa

Annotation

DURING 1977, THE INTERNAL SECURITY ACT WAS USED TO DETAIN AND PROSECUTE NUMEROUS PERSONS, BAN ORGANIZATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS, PROHIBIT OPEN-AIR MEETINGS, AND ISSUE BANNING ORDERS. THE ACT AND ACTUAL CASES ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

IN AUGUST OF 1977, THE MINISTER OF POLICE IN SOUTH AFRICA EXTENDED THE APPLICATION OF THE DETENTION CLAUSES OF THE INTERNAL SECURITY ACT. EMERGENCY REGULATIONS WERE PROCLAIMED FOR THREE AREAS, ALLOWING DETENTION WITHOUT TRIAL, PROHIBITION OF MEETINGS, AND RESTRICTION OF MOVEMENT. OUTDOOR MEETINGS, EXCEPT SPORTING EVENTS, WERE BANNED DURING THE YEAR, AND VARIOUS INDIVIDUAL INDOOR MEETINGS WERE ALSO FORBIDDEN. MANY RESTRICTION ORDERS FOR PRISONS WERE RENEWED. PROSECUTION IN TERMS OF BANNING ORDERS IS DISCUSSED TWO REMOVAL ORDERS AND ONE BANISHMENT WERE REPORTED FOR THE YEAR. STATISTICS ARE PROVIDED CONCERNING TRAVEL DOCUMENTS ISSUED DURING THE YEAR; CASES OF REFUSAL AND RESTRICTION ARE DISCUSSED. FIGURES ARE GIVEN FOR THE NUMBER OF EXILES ESTIMATED TO HAVE LEFT THE COUNTRY FOR POLITICAL REASONS AND FOR THE NUMBERS OF SECURITY TRIALS WHICH WERE HELD DURING 1976 AND 1977. INDIVIDUAL SECURITY TRIALS ARE CONSIDERED IN DETAIL. STATISTICS ARE GIVEN FOR THE NUMBER OF PERSONS HELD IN DETENTION FOR PERIODS VARYING FROM 6 TO 139 DAYS. DETENTION CASES ARE DISCUSSED IN DETAIL IN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES: (1) STUDENTS; (2) BLACK CONSCIOUSNESS LEADERS; (3) JOURNALISTS; (4) CHURCHMEN; AND (5) OTHER DETENTIONS. FROM MARCH 1976 TO NOVEMBER 1977, 19 PERSONS DIED WHILE IN DETENTION; THE INDIVIDUAL INCIDENTS ARE DESCRIBED. THE FREQUENT OCCURRENCE OF SUICIDES COMMITTED WHILE PRISONERS ARE DETAINED IS DISCUSSED. THERE ARE CHARGES FROM VARIOUS SOURCES THAT THE INTERROGATION PROCESS IS SO EXTREME AND CRUEL THAT SUICIDE IS THE RESULT. DETENTION WITHOUT TRIAL IS ALSO DISCUSSED. IN OCTOBER, 18 ORGANIZATIONS WERE BANNED, 17 OF WHICH WERE BLACK CONSCIOUSNESS ORGANIZATIONS, AND PUBLICATION OF 3 NEWSPAPERS WAS PROHIBITED. THE BUREAU OF STATE SECURITY AND THE SECURITY POLICE FORCE ARE BRIEFLY DESCRIBED. A REVIEW OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE AND SABOTAGE IS PRESENTED FOR THE YEAR, FOLLOWED BY A DISCUSSION OF RIGHT-WING INTIMIDATORY ACTION. TABULAR DATA AND NOTES ARE PROVIDED. (DAG)