List of deaths in detention

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Detaining and imprisoning those who went against the Apartheid state was one of the many weapons that the government used to quell resistance. As detention was a legal weapon that could see an individual, a group or even an entire community silenced it became more commonly used. As a result deaths in detention particularly during interrogation became more common. From Solwandle Looksmart Ngudle on 3 September 1963 to Alfred Mabake Makaleng on 26 August 1988 there were 67 acknowledged deaths.

Year

Name

Date died

Age

Place

Days held

Official/alleged cause

1963

1. Ngudle, Solwandle
2. Mampe, Bellington

05/09
??/09

41
?

Kompol, Pretoria
Worcester

17
140

Suicide by hanging
Undisclosed

1964

3. Tyita, James
4. Salojee, Suliman

24/01
09/09

?
28

Port Elizabeth
Johannesburg

?
65

Suicide by hanging
Suicide, jumped from the 7th floor

1965

5. Gaga, Ngeni
6. Hoye, Pongolosha

09/05
09/05

19
?

Transkei
Transkei

<1
<1

Natural causes
Natural causes

1966

7. Hamakwayo, James
8. Shonyeka, Hangula
9. Pin, Leong

09/10
09/10
19/11

?
?
?

Pretoria Prison
Pretoria Prison
Leeuwkop Prison, Pretoria

13
40
1

Suicide by hanging
Suicide
Sui

1967

10. Yan, Ah
11. Madiba, Alpheus

05/01
09/09

63
?

Silverton Police Sta.
Namibia

37
1

1968

12. Tubukwa, Jundea
13. Unknown Person

11/09
??/??

?
?

Pretoria Prison
?

1
?

1969

14. Kgoathe, Nicodemus

15. Modipane, Solomon

16. Lenkoe, James
17. Mayekiso, Caleb
18. Shivute, Michael
19. Monakgotla, Jacob
20. Haroon, Abdullah (Imam)

04/02

28/02

10/03
01/06
17/06
10/09
27/09

?

?

?
?
?
?
45

Held: Silverton Police Sta.
Died: HF Verwoerd Hospital
Held: Silverton Police Sta.
Died: HF Verwoerd Hospital
Pretoria Prison
Port Elizabeth police cells
Ondangwa police cells
Pretoria Prison
Maitland Police Sta., CT

85

3

5
18
<1
222
122

1971

21. Cuthsela, Mthayeni

22. Timol, Ahmed

21/01

27/10

?

30

Held: Pondoland
Died: Transkei Hospital
John Vorster Sq., Jhb

40

5

1976

23. Mdluli, Joseph
24. Tshwane, William
25. Mohapi, Mapetla
26. Mazwembe, Luke
27. Mbatha, Dumisani

28. Mogatusi, Fenuel
29. Mashabane, Jacob
30. Unknown man
31. Mzolo, Edward
32. Mamashila, Ernest
33. Mosala, Tbalo
34. Tshazibane, Wellington
35. Botha, George

19/03
25/07
05/08
02/09
25/09

28/09
05/10
05/10
09/10
19/11
26/11
11/12
15/12

50
?
25
32
16

22
22
?
40
35
60
30
30

Security HQ, Durban
Modderbee Prison, East Rand
Kei Road Jail, East London
Caledon Sq., Cape Town
Held:Modderbee Prison
Died: Far East Rand Hospital
Johannesburg Fort
Johhanesburg Fort
Carltonville police cells
Johannesburg Fort
Balfour, Transvaal
Butterworth, Transkei
John Vorster Sq., Jhb
Sanlam Building, Port Elizabeth

<1
<1
22
<1
9

70
4
?
8
3
87
2
5

1977

36. Ndzanga, Lawrence
37. Ntshuntsha, Nanaotha (Dr)
38. Malele, Elmon

39. Mabelane, Mathews
40. Joyi, Twasifeni
41. Malinga, Samuel

42. Khoza, Aaron
43. Mabija, Phakamile
44. Loza, Elijah

45. Haffejee, Hoosen (Dr)

46. Mzizi, Bayempin

47. Biko, Steve

48. Malaza, Sipho

08/01
09/01
20/01

15/02
15/02
22/02

26/03
07/07
01/08

03/08

13/08

12/09

16/11

53
43
61

23
?
45

35
27
59

26

62

31

18

Johannesburg Fort
Leslie Police Sta.
Held: John Vorster Sq.,
Johannesburg
Died: Nursing home
John Vorster Sq., Jhb
Idutywa, Transkei
Held: Pietermaritzburg
Died: Edendale Hospital
Pietermaritzburg Prison
Tvl Rd Police Sta. Kimberly
Held: Verster Prison, Paarl
Died: Tygerberg Hospital,
Cape Town
Brighton Beach Police Sta.,
Durban
Brighton Beach Police Sta.,
Durban
Held: Port Elizabeth
Died: Pretoria
Krugersdorp police cells

51
26
13

25
?
22

106
10
65

1

35

24

138

1978

49. Tabalaza, Lungile

10/07

19

Sanlam Building, Port Elizabeth

<1

1980

50. Ndzumo, Saul

10/09

58

Umtata, Transkei

9

1981

51. Mgqweto, Manana
52. Muofhe, Tshifhiwa

17/09
12/11

60
28

Engcobo, Transkei
Venda

?
2

1982

53. Aggett, Neil (Dr)
54. Dipale, Ernest

05/02
08/08

28
21

John Vorster Sq., Jhb
John Vorster Sq., Johannesburg

70
3

1983

55. Mndawe, Simon
56. Malatji, Paris

08/03
05/07

23
23

Nelspruit Prison
Protea Police Sta., Soweto

14
<1

1984

57. Tshikudo, Samuel

58. Sipele, Mxolisi
59. Mthethwa, Ephraim

20/01

??/06
25/08

50

?
22

Held: Venda
Died: Tshizidzini Hospital
Sulenkama Hospital, Transkei
Durban Central Prison

77

150
165

1985

60. Raditsela, Andries
61. Ndondo, Batandwa

06/05
24/09

29
22

Baragwanath Hospital
Cala, Transkei

2
<1

1986

62. Kutumela, Makompe
63. Nchabaleng, Peter
64. Jacobs, Xoliso
65. Marule, Simon

05/04
11/04
22/10
23/12

25
59
20
20

Lebowa
Lebowa
Upington
Held: Modderbee Prison
Died: Boksburg/Benoni Hospital

1
1
129
183

1987

66. Mashoke, Benedict
67. Mntonga, Eric
68. Bani, Nobandla

26/03
24/07
29/07

20
35
56

Burgersfort Police Sta.
Mdantsane Cells, Ciskei
North End Cells, Port Elizabeth

215
1
333

1988

69. Zokwe, Sithembele
70. Makaleng, Alfred

12/01
26/08

36
27

Butterworth, Transkei
Held: Nylstroom
Died: Johannesburg Hospital

1
804

1990

71. Sithole, Clayton Sizwe
72. Tlhotlhomisang, Lucas
73. Madisha, Donald Thabela

30/01
26/03
01/06

20
37
30

John Vorster Sq., Jhb
Klerksdorp
Potgietersrus police station

4
7
130

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