Item PWPFOCI049 - Focus on Political Repression in Southern Africa - Issue 49

1 newsletter (multi-page, printed text)

Part of the IDAF newsletter series documenting systemic political repression and legal persecution under apartheid.

South African History Archive (SAHA)

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.

Retained permanently for historical research on Southern African political repression and human rights violations.

No further accruals expected.

Chronological within the IDAF Focus series.

Open to researchers and the public.

Reproduction allowed with proper citation of IDAF as source.

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OCR scanned, complete, legible.

Originals held by the South African History Archives.

Digital copy available through the PWP projects and other Archives.

Issues 1–48, UN Namibia files, UDF launch documentation, Kavango torture investigations, SWAPO trial records.

Focus', Issue No. 49. International Defence and Aid Fund, November–December 1983.

This issue provides one of the most detailed records of detentions, trials, forced removals, and political mobilization of the period.

ISAD(G): General International Standard Archival Description, Second Edition

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.