Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- May–June 1979 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 newsletter (multi-page, printed text)
Context area
Name of creator
Repository
Archival history
Preserved as part of the IDAF Focus series on apartheid-era political trials, executions, and resistance in Southern Africa.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
South African History Archive (SAHA)
Content and structure area
Scope and content
This issue reports on the execution of Solomon Mahlangu, Soweto student trials (Soweto Eleven), new political trial convictions including Mzilikazi Khumalo and Norman Ngwenya, and ongoing PAC and ANC-related legal cases. It covers the death in detention of Mputie Matsobane on Robben Island, detention statistics, banning orders, and claims for damages by families of detainees like Steve Biko and Joseph Mdluli. Zimbabwe elections, martial law, and South African collaboration with the Rhodesian regime are also addressed. Further topics include press censorship, guerrilla detentions, and the militarization of the border zones.
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
Filed as Issue 22 in the chronological IDAF 'Focus' series.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Available for public consultation and academic research.
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 scan from original print; legible and formatted.
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 1–21; trial documentation for Solomon Mahlangu, Mothopeng 18, and Biko family case.
Publication note
Focus', Issue No. 22. International Defence and Aid Fund, May–June 1979.
Notes area
Note
Contains critical reporting on new legal limitations, political executions, guerrilla detentions, censorship laws, and regional destabilization efforts by South Africa and Rhodesia.
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Solomon Mahlangu (Subject)
- Sechaba Montsitsi (Subject)
- Mzilikazi Khumalo (Subject)
- Joseph Mdluli (Subject)
- Mputie Matsobane (Subject)
- Steve Biko (Subject)
- Gladys Manzi (Subject)
- Priscilla Jana (Subject)
- Curtis Nkondo (Subject)
- Nthatho Motlana (Subject)
- Zephania Mothopeng (Subject)
- Joshua Nkomo (Subject)
- Kenneth Kaunda (Subject)
- P.W. Botha (Subject)
- Pik Botha (Subject)
- Ian Smith (Subject)
- Martha Mahlangu (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
Based on OCR content of Focus Issue 22. Documents execution fallout, banning trends, apartheid-era legal developments, and transnational state violence.