Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- January–February 1985 (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 newsletter collection in human rights and anti-apartheid archival repositories.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
South African History Archive (SAHA)
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Issue 56 documents an intensified wave of popular resistance and state repression in South Africa during the latter half of 1984, compared to the 1976 uprisings. It covers mass protests, rent boycotts, township uprisings, education strikes, and repression involving mass detentions, torture, and the militarization of civil areas. It includes resistance timelines, details of youth and trade unionist arrests, SWAPO resistance in Namibia, press censorship, and trials of political dissidents. Special attention is given to armed forces operations in Sebokeng, the rise of student activism through COSAS and AZASM, and censorship actions in 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
Chronologically arranged within the Focus newsletter series.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open for public and scholarly 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 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 1–55, COSAS and AZASM activity records, Section 29 detentions, SADF Sebokeng operation files, End Conscription Campaign documentation.
Publication note
Focus', Issue No. 56. International Defence and Aid Fund, January–February 1985.
Notes area
Note
Notable for its extensive timeline, comprehensive listing of detainees, details of youth activism, military invasions of townships, and repression in Namibia.
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
- Stay-away campaigns
- Education boycotts
- Rent resistance
- Mass detentions
- COSAS
- AZASM
- SWAPO
- Armed struggle
- SADF operations
- Police brutality
- Political trials
- UDF repression
- Banning orders
- Township uprisings
- Censorship
- Military occupation
- Youth movements
- Section 29 ISA detentions
- End Conscription Campaign
Name access points
- Matthew Goniwe (Subject)
- Fort Calata (Subject)
- Roland Hunter (Subject)
- Derek Hanekom (Subject)
- Patricia Hanekom (Subject)
- Solomon Sakoane (Subject)
- Amos Masondo (Subject)
- Rita Ndzanga (Subject)
- Sipho Gumede (Subject)
- Nicodemus Phake (Subject)
- Elias Dikhana (Subject)
- Barbara Hogan (Subject)
- Dorothy Nyembe (Subject)
- Peter Makgoba (Subject)
- Lulu Johnson (Subject)
- Chris Dlamini (Subject)
- Guy Berger (Subject)
- Themba Nontlantane (Subject)
- Babalazi Bulunga (Subject)
- Regan Ntombi Shope (Subject)
- Harold Twala (Subject)
- Frank Shongwe (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 intense issue capturing the crescendo of civil resistance and the state’s militarized response during a critical transition period in South Africa’s township revolt.