Item PWPFOCI048 - Focus on Political Repression in Southern Africa - Issue 48

Open original Digital object

Identity area

Reference code

US UK-PWP01 PWPFOC001-PWPFOCI048

Title

Focus on Political Repression in Southern Africa - Issue 48

Date(s)

  • September–October 1983 (Creation)

Level of description

Item

Extent and medium

1 newsletter (multi-page, printed text)

Context area

Name of creator

Repository

Archival history

Held in the IDAF series documenting ongoing political repression and civil resistance in apartheid-era Southern Africa.

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

South African History Archive (SAHA)

Content and structure area

Scope and content

This issue highlights post-execution protests, a new death sentence, eleven treason charges in the Eastern Cape, renewed banning orders, and worsening prison conditions for political detainees. It covers township protests in Soweto and East London, police repression of rent and transport protests, numerous detentions including youth activists and clergy, and the extensive use of Section 50 of the Internal Security Act. Reports include detailed updates on treason trials, executions, state witness manipulations, prison deaths, media censorship in Namibia, the banning of Archbishop Denis Hurley's statements, and mass grave discoveries. Notably, the issue records a police massacre during a transport boycott in Mdantsane.

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 ordered within the IDAF Focus newsletter series.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Open access.

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 and fully 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 1–47, Mdantsane Massacre records, Namibia press censorship files, ANC treason trial archives.

    Related descriptions

    Publication note

    Focus', Issue No. 48. International Defence and Aid Fund, September–October 1983.

    Notes area

    Note

    Key resource documenting both individual human rights abuses and systemic repression mechanisms, including new court censorship practices and increased restrictions on public dissent.

    Alternative identifier(s)

    Access points

    Name access points

    Genre access points

    Description control area

    Description identifier

    ISADG-IDAF-Focus-48

    Institution identifier

    IDAF-Archive

    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 captures the rising tide of civil resistance and government backlash in 1983. Special attention is given to legal repression, executions, township uprisings, and international reactions to apartheid.

        Digital object (Master) rights area

        Digital object (Reference) rights area

        Digital object (Thumbnail) rights area

        Accession area