Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- November–December 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 newsletter series documenting systemic political repression and legal persecution under apartheid.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
South African History Archive (SAHA)
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Issue 49 focuses on violent repression of SWAPO activism in Namibia during the UN Secretary-General’s visit, the ongoing arrests and torture of activists, and bans on key political figures. It includes detailed lists of restricted and detained persons, coverage of constitutional resistance through the UDF’s launch, and increasing detentions of students and trade unionists in South Africa. It also highlights the torture of detainees, psychiatric abuse, and the use of treason trials to suppress dissent. The issue documents major political trials, mass protests, state censorship, and population clearances in the Kavango region of Namibia.
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 within the IDAF Focus series.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open 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 scanned, complete, legible.
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 1–48, UN Namibia files, UDF launch documentation, Kavango torture investigations, SWAPO trial records.
Publication note
Focus', Issue No. 49. International Defence and Aid Fund, November–December 1983.
Notes area
Note
This issue provides one of the most detailed records of detentions, trials, forced removals, and political mobilization of the period.
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Nelson Mandela (Subject)
- Nathaniel Maxuilili (Subject)
- Hendrik Witbooi (Subject)
- Nico Bessinger (Subject)
- Daniel Tjongarero (Subject)
- Johannes Kakuva (Subject)
- Anton Lubowski (Subject)
- Oscar Mpetha (Subject)
- Siphiwe Makhathini (Subject)
- Peter Mokaba (Subject)
- Jerome Maake (Subject)
- Sister Bernard Ncube (Subject)
- Carl Niehaus (Subject)
- Albertina Sisulu (Subject)
- Ruth Gerhardt (Subject)
- Dieter Gerhardt (Subject)
- Amanda Kwadi (Subject)
- George Moilwa (Subject)
- Rev. Samuel Tsele (Subject)
- Johannes Kasamba (Subject)
- Hans Rohr (Subject)
- Mpazi Sitentu (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
An especially comprehensive issue, detailing new waves of torture, increased youth detentions, SWAPO suppression, UDF mobilization, and violent enforcement of state security laws in Namibia and South Africa.