Ciskei National Security Decree No 19 promulgated

The government of Ciskei introduced the National Security Decree No 19 as an attempt to curb the pressure of the increasing calls for the end of the Ciskei homeland and its integration into the rest of South Africa. The decree provided for indefinite detention without trial or interrogation, and stipulated that any meeting of more than 20 people was unlawful unless the written permission of a magistrate has been obtained. These powers were very similar to those contained in the South African Internal Security Act, which was used to crush resistance against the Apartheid government Click here for a broader chronology of apartheid legislation. Click here to read a Human Rights Watch report on the former homeland of Ciskei.