Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- January–February 1982 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 newsletter (multi-page, printed text)
Context area
Name of creator
Repository
Archival history
Filed and preserved as part of the IDAF political repression documentation series.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
South African History Archive (SAHA)
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Issue 38 centers on the politically motivated assassination of anti-apartheid lawyer Griffiths Mxenge, as well as widespread detentions of students, trade unionists, and church workers. It documents deaths in detention (e.g., Tshifhiwa Muofhe, Manana Mgoweto), ongoing trials (e.g., Oscar Mpetha case), censorship, new security legislation in Namibia, and the continued militarization of Angola and Namibia. Coverage includes Operation Protea aftermath, juvenile political trials, the rise of civil disobedience by churches, bans and passport seizures, attacks on the South African Council of Churches, and the Red Cross involvement in prisoner welfare.
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
Chronological order within the IDAF Focus newsletter series.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open access to 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 scan of printed material; fully legible and searchable.
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 1–37, Operation Protea reports, Namibia detainee files, ANC treason trials, SACC conflict records.
Publication note
Focus', Issue No. 38. International Defence and Aid Fund, January–February 1982.
Notes area
Note
This issue is notable for its coverage of the assassination of Griffiths Mxenge, legal repression of juveniles, and tightening of security laws in Namibia under South African occupation.
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
- Griffiths Mxenge assassination
- Political detentions
- Juveniles in political trials
- Namibia security legislation
- Church-state conflict
- Operation Protea
- ANC treason trials
- Press censorship
- Banning orders
- Red Cross interventions
- Robben Island
- Disappearances
- Torture
- South African Defence Force
- Trade unions
- SWAPO
- SAAWU
- COSAS
Place access points
Name access points
- Griffiths Mxenge (Subject)
- Nonyamezelo Mxenge (Subject)
- Tshifhiwa Muofhe (Subject)
- Manana Mgoweto (Subject)
- Ida Jimmy (Subject)
- Oscar Mpetha (Subject)
- Thandi Modise (Subject)
- Auret van Heerden (Subject)
- Desmond Tutu (Subject)
- Renfrew Christie (Subject)
- Sibusiso Mabaso (Subject)
- Anthony Tsotsobe (Subject)
- David Moise (Subject)
- Johannes Shabangu (Subject)
- Patrick Maqubela (Subject)
- Rita Ndzanga (Subject)
- Frank Chikane (Subject)
- Prema Naidoo (Subject)
- Phillip Mathews (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
A critical issue documenting the lethal extent of apartheid repression, institutional response by churches and legal advocates, and the systemic abuse of security laws against youth and civil society leaders.