Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- January–February 1980 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 newsletter (multi-page, printed text)
Context area
Name of creator
Repository
Archival history
Retained as part of the IDAF archive's political repression and legal advocacy series documenting the anti-apartheid struggle.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
South African History Archive (SAHA)
Content and structure area
Scope and content
This issue opens with the dramatic prison escape of ANC activists Alexander Moumbaris, Timothy Jenkin, and Stephen Lee from Pretoria Central Prison. It covers bannings of released political prisoners including Andrew Mashaba, Robben Island conditions, the banning of Lizo Pityana, trials of Ford workers in Port Elizabeth, detentions in South Africa, Transkei and Namibia, the sentencing of ANC guerrillas including James Mange (to death), and mass detentions under AG26 in Namibia. Additional topics include the closure of Robben Island, censorship, church campaigns for prisoner support, and appeals in multiple political trials.
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 chronologically within the IDAF Focus bulletin series.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open access for researchers and the public.
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 scanned version; legible and structured.
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 1–25; case records of the Pietermaritzburg 12, Transkei opposition detentions, and Namibian detainee court filings.
Publication note
Focus', Issue No. 26. International Defence and Aid Fund, January–February 1980.
Notes area
Note
Documents high-profile prison escapes, deep repression across Southern Africa, and legal responses to apartheid abuses.
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Alexander Moumbaris (Subject)
- Stephen Lee (Subject)
- Timothy Jenkin (Subject)
- James Mange (Subject)
- Andrew Mashaba (Subject)
- Nelson Mandela (Subject)
- Priscilla Jana (Subject)
- Eddie Daniels (Subject)
- Lizo Pityana (Subject)
- Florence Mancotywa (Subject)
- Chief Dalindyebo (Subject)
- Hewat Beukes (Subject)
- Erica Beukes (Subject)
- Curtis Nkondo (Subject)
- Peter Moll (Subject)
- Ben Kies (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
Notable for its rare coverage of an ANC prison escape, execution sentencing, and mass political trials across Southern Africa. Drawn from full OCR extract.