Item PWPFOCI056 - Focus on Political Repression in Southern Africa - Issue 56

1 newsletter (multi-page, printed text)

Archived as part of the IDAF Focus newsletter collection in human rights and anti-apartheid archival repositories.

South African History Archive (SAHA)

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.

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

No further accruals expected.

Chronologically arranged within the Focus newsletter series.

Open for public and scholarly access.

Reproduction allowed with proper citation of IDAF as source.

• inglês

OCR scanned and fully machine-readable.

Originals held by the South African History Archives.

Digital copy available through the PWP projects and other Archives.

Issues 1–55, COSAS and AZASM activity records, Section 29 detentions, SADF Sebokeng operation files, End Conscription Campaign documentation.

Focus', Issue No. 56. International Defence and Aid Fund, January–February 1985.

Notable for its extensive timeline, comprehensive listing of detainees, details of youth activism, military invasions of townships, and repression in Namibia.

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

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.