Phindile Fethi was a former Trade Unionist with the National Union of Textile Workers and Secretary of International Aid Society (IAS). He was detained from 10 May 1976 to 16 May 1977 in terms of the Terrorism Act and then was restricted to Germiston, Transvaal (now Gauteng).
After his release, he was immediately served with a banning order restricting him to his house between 6pm and 6am. His banning, after a full year in detention, was widely condemned.
On 25 July, Fethi was deported to Butterworth in the Transkei (now Eastern Cape). His wife, two children and a nephew, none of whom were banned, were also deported. The Transkei government was reported to have co-operated in the implementation of his deportation.