Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- January 1978 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 newsletter (multi-page, printed text)
Context area
Name of creator
Repository
Archival history
Preserved within the IDAF archive series of 'Focus' newsletters detailing Southern African liberation struggles.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
South African History Archive (SAHA)
Content and structure area
Scope and content
This issue highlights torture and political repression in Namibia, including sworn affidavits of electric shock torture and abuse of detainees like Bernadus Petrus. It covers arrests of SWAPO leaders, police crackdowns on rallies, and controversial security laws such as AG9. South African topics include trials, bannings, deaths in detention (e.g., Steve Biko, Rick Turner), Goch Street shootings, and Spring Six sentencing. Other topics include educational repression, press censorship, Rhodesian executions, guerilla warfare, and the seizure of banned organisations’ assets.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Retained permanently for historical research on Southern African political repression and human rights violations.
Accruals
No further accruals expected.
System of arrangement
Chronologically organized within the IDAF Focus series.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open for research and academic use.
Conditions governing reproduction
Reproduction allowed with proper citation of IDAF as source.
Language of material
English
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
OCR text from original print bulletin; readable.
Finding aids
Uploaded finding aid
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Originals held by the South African History Archives.
Existence and location of copies
Digital copy available through the PWP projects and other Archives.
Related units of description
Issues 1–13; Steve Biko inquest; Pretoria 12 trial; SASO-BPC trial documentation.
Publication note
Focus', Issue No. 14. International Defence and Aid Fund, January 1978.
Notes area
Note
Rich in primary testimonies and photographs of torture. Includes a landmark legal account of Victor Nkandi's trial and forensic reports.
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Bernadus Petrus (Subject)
- Franciscus Petrus (Subject)
- Tauno Hatuikulipi (Subject)
- Justin Ellis (Subject)
- Daniel Tjongarero (Subject)
- Reinhold Ipinge (Subject)
- Raula Shimbode (Subject)
- Naftali Shigwedha (Subject)
- Victor Nkandi (Subject)
- Steve Biko (Subject)
- Rick Turner (Subject)
- Donald Woods (Subject)
- Mosima Gabriel Sexwale (Subject)
- Naledi Tsiki (Subject)
- Solomon Mahlangu (Subject)
- Patrick Mabinda (Subject)
- Joe Gqabi (Subject)
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
ISAD(G): General International Standard Archival Description, Second Edition
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
Script(s)
Sources
Archivist's note
OCR-based extraction from Focus Issue 14. Includes extensive legal affidavits, reports of police violence, and trial summaries.