Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- March–April 1984 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 newsletter (multi-page, printed text)
Context area
Name of creator
Repository
Archival history
Part of IDAF's main newsletter series held by human rights archives and anti-apartheid institutions.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
South African History Archive (SAHA)
Content and structure area
Scope and content
This issue details South Africa’s continued occupation and military offensive in southern Angola (Operation Askari), systematic torture of detainees in Namibia, SWAPO trials, and the expansion of South Africa’s armed forces. Key topics include Ida Jimmy’s reduced sentence, Kavango detainees' torture affidavits, political trials involving ANC and PAC members, censorship enforcement, and high-profile detentions. It also highlights poverty in Namibia, with case studies revealing the state’s discriminatory benefit policies and extreme deprivation. Notable incidents include the Robben Island protest for elderly detainee release, the ‘roasting’ torture case in Kavango, and multiple political trials including that of Sister Mary Bernard Ncube.
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 Focus series.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open access for 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 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 1–50, Angola conflict records, Kavango torture testimony, SWAPO trial documentation, Internal Security Act court proceedings.
Publication note
Focus', Issue No. 51. International Defence and Aid Fund, March–April 1984.
Notes area
Note
Rich in documentation of torture affidavits, child malnutrition, apartheid poverty, military escalation, and trials of political dissidents.
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
- Operation Askari
- Angola occupation
- Namibia detentions
- SWAPO
- Torture affidavits
- Internal Security Act
- Political trials
- ANC
- UDF
- Armed struggle
- Censorship
- Poverty in Namibia
- Food aid
- Kavango
- Youth detentions
- Prison conditions
- Political executions
- IDAF
- Military conscription
- SADF
- Koevoet
- Political demonstrations
Place access points
Name access points
- Ida Jimmy (Subject)
- Malisela Moloise (Subject)
- Heikki Ausiku (Subject)
- Gideon Nestor (Subject)
- Severinus Siteketa (Subject)
- Ndjaula Shaningwa (Subject)
- Herman Ja Toivo (Subject)
- Carl Niehaus (Subject)
- Ruth Gerhardt (Subject)
- Dieter Gerhardt (Subject)
- Sister Mary Bernard Ncube (Subject)
- Mathews Ntshiwa (Subject)
- Joe Thloloe (Subject)
- Allister Sparks (Subject)
- Susan Sparks (Subject)
- Ingoapele Madingoane (Subject)
- Duma Goubule (Subject)
- Cosmos Makanga (Subject)
- Ben Nomoyi (Subject)
- Ntombazana Botha (Subject)
- Zukusa Faku (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 expansive issue revealing South Africa's military escalation in Angola, systemic torture and repression in Namibia, and legal targeting of anti-apartheid figures in South Africa.