Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- September–October 1983 (Creation)
Level of description
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.
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
Subject access points
- ANC
- SWAPO
- Treason trials
- Death penalty
- Banning orders
- Internal Security Act
- Mdantsane massacre
- Transport boycott
- Rent boycott
- Youth protests
- State torture
- Political funerals
- Armed struggle
- UN Namibian Conference
- Press censorship
- Police brutality
- Forced removals
- Soweto uprisings
- Media repression
- Political detentions
Place access points
Name access points
- Malisela Moloise (Subject)
- Marcus Motaung (Subject)
- Winnie Mandela (Subject)
- Albertina Sisulu (Subject)
- Zwelakhe Sisulu (Subject)
- Fatima Meer (Subject)
- Oscar Mpetha (Subject)
- Isaac Genu (Subject)
- Sister Bernard Ncube (Subject)
- Headley King (Subject)
- Peter Mokaba (Subject)
- Jerome Maake (Subject)
- Portia Nhlapo (Subject)
- Moses Langa (Subject)
- Erick Binga (Subject)
- Gwen Lister (Subject)
- Denis Hurley (Subject)
- Dieter Gerhardt (Subject)
- Ruth Gerhardt (Subject)
- Siphiwe Makhathini (Subject)
- Charles Sebe (Subject)
- Lennox Sebe (Subject)
- Angula Mwaala (Subject)
- Modika Tsatsa (Subject)
- Joe Seoka (Subject)
- Steven Montjane (Subject)
- Saleem Badat (Subject)
- Sisa Njikelana (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 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.