Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- May–June 1983 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 newsletter (multi-page, printed text)
Context area
Name of creator
Repository
Archival history
Part of the IDAF’s primary newsletter archive documenting apartheid-era human rights violations.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
South African History Archive (SAHA)
Content and structure area
Scope and content
This issue covers the imposition of strict military censorship in Namibia by the SADF, the deaths of detainees including Kasire Thomas and Johannes Kakuva, mass arrests under Proclamation AG9, forced labour of prisoners, torture trials and revelations, and systemic suppression of opposition to apartheid-era constitutional reforms. It highlights SWAPO resistance, the banning of the Namibia Report by Archbishop Denis Hurley, police raids on churches, the Mawaala sabotage trial, and trials of numerous ANC activists. A statistical roundup of detentions and court cases also illustrates escalating state violence.
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 sequence within the 'Focus' newsletter 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 document; fully legible and machine-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 1–45, Kassinga Detainee Files, Namibia Torture Hearings, Ciskei NSA records, Mawaala Trial Documentation.
Publication note
Focus', Issue No. 46. International Defence and Aid Fund, May–June 1983.
Notes area
Note
Provides key evidence of Namibian occupation abuses, deaths in custody, censorship expansion, torture inquiries, and growing resistance through the UDF.
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
- Namibian censorship
- Kasire Thomas
- Johannes Kakuva
- Torture in custody
- Prison labour
- SWAPO
- Political trials
- Proclamation AG9
- ANC
- Trade union repression
- Ciskei NSA
- Constitutional resistance
- United Democratic Front (UDF)
- Internal Security Act
- Archbishop Denis Hurley
- Namibia Report banning
- Fort Hare trial
- Mawaala sabotage case
- Youth detentions
Name access points
- Johannes Kakuva (Subject)
- Kasire Thomas (Subject)
- Andries Jacobus van Rooyen (Subject)
- Frieda Williams (Subject)
- Canon John Collins (Subject)
- Archbishop Denis Hurley (Subject)
- Angula Mawaala (Subject)
- Barbara Hogan (Subject)
- Oscar Mpetha (Subject)
- Cedric Mayson (Subject)
- Lilian Keagile (Subject)
- Sister Bernard Ncube (Subject)
- Peter Mokaba (Subject)
- Lazarus Moledi (Subject)
- Nomakhephu Ntsatha (Subject)
- Mncekekeli Peter (Subject)
- Portia Nhlapo (Subject)
- Jerome Maake (Subject)
- Thabo Lerumo (Subject)
- Akile Mapheto (Subject)
- Patrick Maqubela (Subject)
- Mboniswa Maqhutyana (Subject)
- Seth Gaba (Subject)
- Joseph Gumbi (Subject)
- Bulelani Ngcuka (Subject)
- Siza Hlongwa (Subject)
- Tembuyise Mndawe (Subject)
- Charles Sebe (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
This issue is notable for exposing judicial resistance, forced prison labour, and the growing national opposition embodied in the newly formed United Democratic Front (UDF).