Minister of Police and Prisons announces that twenty-one trade unionists have been detained

Updated: 30 Sep 2019

Louis Ie Grange, Minister of Police and Prisons, stated in the House of Assembly that twenty-one trade unionists have been detained since the beginning of 1981. Ten of the detainees have been released without charge and the other ten are still being held. le Grange’s statement came three days after the Minister of Manpower Utilisation, Fanie Botha warned that the government was planning to take tougher l measures to curb the rapidly expanding and increasingly militant black trade unions. He also warned that the newly established industrial court may be used to discipline certain unions.

How we know this

01O’Malley, P., ‘1982’, from Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory and Dialog, [online], Available at www.nelsonmandela.org.za [Accessed: 11 January 2013]
02SAHO, ‘General South African History Timeline: 1900s’, from South African History Online, [online], Available at www.sahistory.org.za [Accessed: 11 January 2013]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2013, February 20). Minister of Police and Prisons announces that twenty-one trade unionists have been detained. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0094896

South African History Online (2013) 'Minister of Police and Prisons announces that twenty-one trade unionists have been detained', South African History Online, 20 February. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0094896 (Accessed: 7 October 2026).

South African History Online, Minister of Police and Prisons announces that twenty-one trade unionists have been detained [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0094896, (accessed 7 October 2026).

"Minister of Police and Prisons announces that twenty-one trade unionists have been detained." South African History Online, 20 Feb. 2013, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0094896. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

South African History Online. "Minister of Police and Prisons announces that twenty-one trade unionists have been detained." South African History Online. February 20, 2013. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0094896.