RECALLING HISTORY – "PRO FRELIMO RALLY DETAINEES STILL HELD IN DETENTION FOR NEARLY A YEAR AFTER BEING ARRESTED ON SEPTEMBER 25 1974 AND THE DAYS AND NIGHTS THEREAFTER"

 

 

 

On September 25 1974 leaders of the South African Students Organisation (SASO) and the Black Peoples Convention (BPC) planned to host a rally at Currie’s Fountain in Durban to celebrate the victory of Frelimo in Mozambique. Mozambique was a Portuguese colony for decades before Frelimo led a liberation struggle against the colonisers.

The South African Government and its security branch police carried out a massive campaign against the organisers and arrested more than 33 SASO/BPC leaders.

Nearly one year after the ill-fated rally, the security police were still holding the SASO/BPC leaders. I covered the story before and after the scheduled rally on September 25 1974 for the Daily News situated at 85 Field Street in Durban.

On September 17 1975 I wrote a lengthy article about the violation of the rights of the detainees who had been held for nearly a year without being charged in a court of law or told what they were being detained for.

The article was published under the headline: “LOST: one year of their lives” and with the following introduction:

“The security police have held the ‘pro-Frelimo’ detainees for nearly a year. How much longer to they need, asks Daily News staff writer Marimuthu Subramoney.”

 

 

The story read:

Seven days from today the Rev Mashwabada Mayatula, 48-year-old father of five, will begin his second year in imprisonment without ever being brought to trial or knowing what he is being imprisoned for.

Mr Mayatula, chairman of the BPC and a final year student at the Lutheran Theological College in Maphumulo, is one of the first batch of SASO/BPC/Black Allied Workers Union/and Theatre Council of Natal members who were arrested the night after the “Pro-Frelimo rally” at Currie’s Fountain on September 25 1974.

Today it is exactly 356 days that Mr Mayatula has been in detention with some 32 others, who are known to be still in prison, has practically vanished from the face of the earth.

The whereabouts of Mr Mayatula and the other detainees are not known but it is believed all of them are being held incommunicado in Pretoria.

According to Section 6(1) of the Terrorism Act (No 83 of 1967) people may be held in detention until the Commissioner of Police is satisfied they have replied adequately to questions or until no useful purpose is served by their further detention, or until the Minister of Police orders their release.

Although most of the top leaders of SASO/BPC/BAWU/TECON are presently facing charges under Section 6 (1) of the Terrorism Act (No 83 of 1967), the future looks bleak for Mr Mayatula and Mr Yugen Naidoo, a BPC member who was also arrested on September 25 1974.

On that evening and during the ensuing months, the security police arrested almost all SASO/BPC/BAWU leaders and their known sympathisers. Security police also raided SASO/BPC/BAWU offices throughout the country and confiscated typewriters, duplicating machines, documents and other material.

In all they arrested more than 60 people and to date only about 18 are known to have been released. Among the detainees, 13 were originally charged under Section 6 (1) of the Terrorism Act but later charges against two detainees were withdrawn and the trials of another two were separated.

The nine detainees who are presently facing charges under Section 6(1) of the Terrorism Act are Mr Saths Cooper, banned former public relations officer of BPC; Mr Muntu Myeza, secretary-general of SASO; Mr Patrick Lekota, permanent organiser of SASO; Dr Aubrey Mokoape, senior member of BPC; Mr Vincent Nkomo, national organiser of BPC; Mr Pandelani Nefolovhodwe, president of SASO; Mr Strini Moodley, banned former editor of SASO publications; Mr Zitulele Cindi, BPC secretary-general; and Mr Gilbert Sedibe, University of the North SRC president.

The charges against Mr Sivalingam Moodley, brother of Mr Strini Moodley, and Mr Sulayman Ismail, BPC member of Lenasia, were withdrawn and they were released after being in detention for more than 134 days.

Mr Rubin Hare, vice-president of SASO, whose trial with Mr Sadique Variava, chairman of the Peoples’ Experimental Theatre, was separated from the others, is still being held incommunicado. Mr Variava was released a week ago on bail of R5 000 after being in detention for more than seven months.

Some of the known 18 detainees who have been released so far were in detention for as long as nine months. Mrs Vino Cooper, wife of Mrs Saths Cooper, who was arrested at Currie’s Fountain on the day of the “Pro-Frelimo” rally, is out on bail.

Of the 32 people who are still believed to be in detention, Mr Harry Singh, a former Public Relations Officer of BPC, and Mr Ahmed Bawa, a member of BPC, have been subpoenaed by the State as witnesses in the trial against Mr Cooper and the others.

Besides Mr Mayatula and Mr Naidoo, the black consciousness leaders still believed to be in detention are Mr Ben Langa, banned former secretary general; Mr Danile Landilwe; Mr Mahlomola Skosana; Mr Buma Bukwe; Mr Cyril Ramaphosa; Mr Johnny Issel; Mr Rubin Hare; Mr Steven Carolus; Mr Harold Dixon; Mr Johnny Dixon; Mr Nicky Titus; Mr Albert Beukes; Mr Vivien Pillay; Mr Sadecque Variava; Mr Trevor Bloem; Mr Hector Mbau; Mr Barnard Williams; Mr Raymond Burgers; Mr Chris Goddard; Mr Basil Lenkoe; Mr Patrick MacGluwa; Mr Wiseman Hamilton; Mr Johnny Ramrock; Mr Molefe Phetoe; Mr Mather Diseko; Mr Eric Moloi; Mr Xosa Nuse; and Mr Monamadi Radebe.

The State has held them for nearly a year; how much longer does it need? Ends – Daily News Reporter Marimuthu Subramoney Sept 17 1975

 

BROTHER OF TERROR ACT ACCUSED IS ALSO BANNED

 

A week after the above article was published, the Pretoria regime continued with its repressive actions by banning some of those who had been released after their detentions for long periods.

I wrote a story about this and it was published under the headline: “Brother of Terror Act accused is also banned” on September 25 1975.

The story read:

Mr Revabalan Cooper, 23-year-old brother of Terrorism Act accused Saths Cooper, has been banned for three years in terms of the Suppression of Communism Act.

His brother, Saths Cooper, is also banned.

Mr Revabalan Cooper, a former public relations officer of BPC, was served with the banning order by two Indian security branch policemen on Friday at his flat in Himalaya House, Warwick Avenue, Durban.

He is the fourth SAS0/BPC to be banned within a week. The others are Mrs Brigitte Mabandla, Mr Mapetla Mohapi, permanent organiser of SASO, and Mr Steven Carolus, a BPC member in Cape Town.

Mr Cooper, who was arrested at Currie’s Fountain on the day of the “Frelimo rally” on September 25 last year, had been detained in Pretoria for more than six months.

The banning order, signed by the Minister of Justice, Mr J T Kruger, restricts him to the Magisterial district of Durban. He is prohibited from attending any social, political or student gathering and has to report to the Central Police Station every Monday between 6am and 6pm.

He is not allowed to enter any “Bantu” location or township, or any factory, school, university or college, harbour, railway area or courthouse. Ends – Daily News Reporter Sept 25 1975

 

BAN ORDERS CRUEL, SAYS DR MAASDORP

 

At the same time, I wrote another story about the inhuman banning and restriction of Lindeliwe Mabandla, his wife Brigitte, to the Transkei and Mapetla Mohapi to the Eastern Cape.

The story was published under the headline: “Ban orders cruel, says Dr Maasdorp” on September 24 1975

The story read:

The banning and restriction of Mr Lindeliwe Mabandla and his wife, Brigitte, to the Transkei and Mr Mapetla Mohapi to the Eastern Cape have been described as “a cruel form of punishment”.

Mr Mabandla, a son of the Transkei’s Minister of Agriculture, Mr Z M Mabandla, is the head of the Black Allied Workers’ Union in Durban. He was served at about noon yesterday with an order restricting him to the Tsolo district in the Transkei.

He was banned on November 13 1973 for five years until October 31 1978.

Mrs Brigitte Mabandla, a youth organiser at the Institute of Race Relations, was served with a three-year banning order at the offices of the Institute in Guildhall, Gardiner Street, Durban, yesterday.

The Mabandlas were arrested soon after the “Pro Frelimo” rally in Durban and detained incommunicado in Pretoria for more than six months. They were released on March 31.

                       REACTION

Mr Mohapi, who was recently elected permanent organiser of SASO, was served with a three-year banning order at the SASO offices in Beatrice Street, Durban, yesterday. He is restricted to the Zwelitsha and King William’s Town districts.

A Turfloop social science graduate, Mr Mohapi was also arrested after the “Pro-Frelimo” rally and held in Pretoria for 166 days until March 24.

Reacting to the banning of Mrs Mabandla, the chairman of the Natal region of the South African Institute of Race Relations, Dr Gavin Maasdorp, said the banning order had deprived the Institute of a capable and enthusiastic worker.

“The Institute views the banning and house arrest of Mrs Mabandla and her family to the Transkei as a cruel form of punishment.

“The Institute calls upon the Minister to test  Mrs Mabandla’s innocence or guilt in a court of law,” he said.

In terms of their banning orders, the Mabandlas are prohibited, among other things, from teaching at any school, college or university.

Being restricted to the small country district of Tsolo will mean that they will not be able to earn a livelihood.

Mr Mabandla, snr, the banned man’s father, said he would apply to the Government for the orders to be relaxed.

“My son must work and there is very little he can do in Tsolo. He was once a school teacher. I will try and get him a post but the best place is in Umtata, not Tsolo,” he said.

The secretary-general of SASO, Mr Thami Zami, said the banning and restriction of Mr Mohapi was another attempt “to silence those who are against the racist and oppressive laws of the country”.

Mr M J Naidoo, president of the Natal Indian Congress, said: “Bannings, detentions and restrictions in a democratic society are an infringement of the rule of natural justice.” Ends – Daily News Reporter Sept 24 1975

 

FORMER DETAINEES SUE JUSTICE MINISTER

 

On October 1 1975 I wrote a story about some former “Pro-Frelimo” rally detainees issuing orders against the Government for being tortured while in detention.

The story was published under the headline: “Former detainees sue Justice Minister”.

The story read:

Six former “Frelimo rally” detainees have issued summons against the Minister of Justice, Mr J T Kruger, claiming a total of R21 500 for allegedly being “assaulted and tortured” while in detention.

They are: Mr Lindeliwe Mabandla, head of the Black Allied Workers Union in Durban; his wife, Brigitte; Mr Barney Pityana, former president of SASO; Mr Revabalan Cooper, former public relations officer of BPC; Mr Mapetla Mohapi, secretary general of SASO; and Mr Mzikkhulu Gwentsha, former organiser of the National Youth Organisation.

The claim arises out of their arrests and detentions without trial following the “Pro-Frelimo” rallies at Durban’s Currie’s Fountain and the University of the North (Turfloop).

Mr Mabandla and his wife, Brigitte, who are both banned and restricted to the Tsolo district of the Transkei, had been detained incommunicado in Pretoria for 172 days and 171 days respectively. They are claiming R2 000 each.

Mr Pityana, a Port Elizabeth articled clerk who is also banned, had been detained for 100 days. He is claiming R3 000.

Mr Mohapi and Mr Cooper, who were served with three-year banning orders last week, had been in detention for 160 days and 189 days respectively.

Mr Mohapi, who is restricted to the Zwelitsha and King William’s Town districts of the Eastern Cape, is claiming R2 000 and Mr Cooper, who is restricted to the magisterial district of Durban, is claiming R6 000.

Mr Gwentshe of East London, who was in prison for 164 days, is suing the Minister for R6 500.

A Durban firm of attorneys is acting for the six people. Ends – Daily News Reporter October 1 1975

BANNED PAIR MAY HAVE FLED COUNTRY

 

Just about a week later I received information that the banned and restricted Mabandla couple may have skipped the country rather than move to the Transkei. I wrote the article and it was published under the headline: “Banned pair may have fled country” on October 10 1975.

The story read:

Mr Lindeliwe Mabandla and his wife, Brigitte, the Durban couple who have been banned and restricted to the Tsolo district in the Transkei, are believed to have fled the country.

They are said to have gone either to Swaziland or Botswana and are heading for Malawi, where one of Mrs Mabandla’s cousins is a top government official.

The Mabandlas were to have left Durban last Thursday for Tsolo but the Security Police, the local police at Tsolo and Mr Z M Mabandla, the Transkeian Minister of Agriculture, who is the father of Mr Mabandla, do not know their whereabouts.

It is thought that they secretly skipped the country sometime between September 30 and October 8 and not even their closest friends knew about their plans.

A few days after their banning and restriction, Mrs Mabandla telephoned the Durban office of the Security Police and asked what arrangements had been made for their accommodation in Tsolo.

When approached, Colonel F Steenkamp, head of the Security Police in Natal, told The Daily News: “I don’t know their whereabouts.” He refused to comment further.

The station commander at the Tsolo police station, Senior Sargeant M. Jumba, said: “I don’t where they are, because if they are here, I will know about it as I am responsible for the whole of the district of Tsolo.”

At the time of his restrictions to Tsolo, Mr Mabandla, jnr, was head of the Black Allied Workers’ Union in Durban. Ends – Daily News Reporter Oct 10 1975

 

BANNED COUPLE LIVING IN BOTSWANA

 

Early in December 1975 I received information that the Mabandlas now living in Botswana after skipping the country in October.

I wrote the story and it was published under the headline: “Banned couple living in Botswana” on December 11 1975.

The story read:

The banned couple, Mr Lindeliwe Mabandla and his wife, Brigitte, who skipped the country early in October are in Botswana.

It is reliably known that Mrs Mabandla, who worked as a youth organiser at the Durban offices of the Institute for Race Relations,  sent a brief note to a friend in Durban saying she and her husband were now in Botswana.

But Mr Z M Mabandla, the Transkei Minister of Agriculture who is the father of Lindeliwe, told The Daily News today from Umtata that he still did not know the whereabouts of his son and daughter-in-law.

He said he was concerned about their safety because they might be in danger even though they had left the country.

Mr Mabandla, jnr, and his wife were banned and restricted to the Tsolo district in the Transkei in September, but had their departure from Durban extended to October 9. He and his wife then disappeared from their Clermont home near Pinetown.

At that time it was believed they had fled to Swaziland.

Mr Mabandla, who was head of the Black Allied Workers’ Union in Durban, was previously banned on November 3 1973 for five years. Ends – Daily News Reporter December 11 1975  

 

 

FOOTNOTE:

Nine of the SASO and BPC leaders who were charged under the Terrorism Act in Pretoria were found guilty and sentenced to various terms of imprisonment on Robben Island in 1976. The  nine - Mr Saths Cooper, Mr Muntu Myeza,  Mr Patrick Lekota, Dr Aubrey Mokoape, Mr Vincent Nkomo, Mr Pandelani Nefolovhodwe,  Mr Strini Moodley, Mr Zitulele Cindi, and Mr Gilbert Sedibe served terms of between 10 years and five years. (Jan 28 2021)