Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- January–February 1984 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 newsletter (multi-page, printed text)
Context area
Name of creator
Repository
Archival history
Archived as part of the IDAF Focus series on apartheid resistance and human rights documentation.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
South African History Archive (SAHA)
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Issue 50 covers the widespread rejection of South Africa’s new constitution by black communities, intensified state repression through arrests, treason trials, and censorship. It documents the brutal crackdown on the United Democratic Front (UDF), mass arrests in Namibia’s Kavango region, detentions of students and clergy, torture, trials under the Internal Security Act, and township resistance. The issue also includes coverage of Inkatha violence, the banning of political meetings, police shootings, and hanging secrecy policies. An obituary for Alex Hepple is included.
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 series.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open for public and scholarly use.
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 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 1–49, Kavango arrests records, UDF suppression files, COSAS student detention lists, Inkatha-related violence documentation.
Publication note
Focus', Issue No. 50. International Defence and Aid Fund, January–February 1984.
Notes area
Note
A critical issue providing extensive listings of detainees, accounts of torture, legal cases, township unrest, and detailed reports on banning orders and executions.
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
- United Democratic Front (UDF)
- Inkatha violence
- Kavango repression
- Treason trials
- Internal Security Act
- COSAS
- Township uprisings
- Forced removals
- Political detainees
- Ciskei
- Namibia
- Youth imprisonment
- ANC trials
- Banning orders
- Protest killings
- Detention conditions
- Hanging secrecy
- Apartheid resistance
- Alex Hepple obituary
Place access points
Name access points
- Nelson Mandela (Subject)
- Albertina Sisulu (Subject)
- Thami Mali (Subject)
- Carl Niehaus (Subject)
- Johanna Lourens (Subject)
- Malisela Moloise (Subject)
- Smangaliso Mkhatswa (Subject)
- Alex Hepple (Subject)
- Trevor Manuel (Subject)
- Patrick Lekota (Subject)
- Steve Tshwete (Subject)
- Amanda Kwadi (Subject)
- George Moiloa (Subject)
- Molefe Tsele (Subject)
- Alpheus Molotsi (Subject)
- Jacob Molefe (Subject)
- Catherine Hunter (Subject)
- Dieter Gerhardt (Subject)
- Ruth Gerhardt (Subject)
- Oscar Mpetha (Subject)
- Joe Thloloe (Subject)
- Ernest Baartman (Subject)
- Priscilla Maxongo (Subject)
- Godfrey Shiba (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 stands out for its extensive detainee documentation, evidence of police brutality and torture, and legal actions targeting opposition to the apartheid regime.