Connections · List of deaths in detention | South African History Online

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