FBIS3-471 "drafr045_c_94029"
FBIS-AFR-94-045 Document Type:Daily Report 8 Mar 1994
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

Further on Human Rights Report

MB0803074394 Johannesburg SAPA in English 2226 GMT 7 Mar 94 MB0803074394 Johannesburg SAPA Language: English Article Type:BFN ["Summary Report" issued by the Human Rights Commission] [Text]
Main Events and Trends in February
Peace initiatives in the PWV [Pretoria, Witwatersrand, Vereeniging] region are succeeding in returning violence levels to the manageable proportions of a year ago. Natal is now strongly centre-stage in the political violence with 66 percent of countrywide deaths in February; this is clearly where maximum effort needs to be concentrated. Two major massacres were recorded in the Midlands sub-region of Natal. Women and children accounted for 18 percent of all deaths in February. Amongst February victims were 9 commuters, 20 women, 25 children and 6 security force members; reports identified 70 ANC [African National Congress] supporters and 31 IFP [Inkatha Freedom Party] supporters amongst the dead. Detention without trial continues unbridled with Sections 29 and Section 50 of the ISA [Internal Security Act] in constant use. A. Statistical summary Form of Feb 1994 Total Year 1994 Monthly 1993 Monthly Repression to Date Average Average Formal Repression Detentions 72 129 64.5 60.6 Without Trial Deaths in Police 3 7 3.5 3.2 Custody Political 87 204 102.0 428.7 Arrests Deaths Sentences 4 5 2.5 4.5 Political Violence Incidents: 361 870 435.0 463.5 Deaths: PWV 69 211 105.5 166.8 Natal 161 333 166.5 167.4 Elsewhere 15 29 14.5 32.3 Total Deaths: 245 573 286.5 366.5 Injuries: 302 571 285.5 361.6
Formal Repression
Legislation
No unrest areas were declared or withdrawn during February, and at the end of the month 14 such areas were in effect, all in the Eastern Cape. By the end of February, legislation assented to last December which would repeal Section 29 of the ISA, had still not been brought into effect. Detention Without Trial During February extensive use was made of detention powers under the ISA, using both Section 29 (on 54 persons) and Section 50 (on 18 persons). At month end, 30 persons were still being held in detention without trial.
Deaths in Police Custody
During February, 3 deaths in police custody were reported.
Political Trials
During February, another 13 political trials were completed, none resulting in jail sentences. At month end, 55 trials were ongoing involving 548 accused, nearly half of them in Bophuthatswana
Death Row
Four persons were given death sentences in February. Death row now has 330 occupants.
Repression of Gatherings and Political Activity
Extensive interference in political activity related to the forthcoming elections was perpetrated by Bophuthatswana security forces. An ANC march in Standerton was banned and broken up see HRC [Human Rights Commission] Election Watch No.2 for interference in freedom of political activity in February.
Political Violence
General Comment
February recorded the seventh successive month of decline in political violence as measured by deathtoll. Average daily death toll dipped below 9 this month and seems head back to the level of 6 per day which was prevalent this time last year, and a far cry from the level of 20 per day during last July.
Incidents of Violence
During February, HRC recorded 361 incidents of political violence, appreciably down from the 509 of January and from the 464 average of last year.
Deaths and Injuries
The February deathtoll of 245 is significantly down from the January figure of 328 and reconfirms the strong downward trend in political violence. There has been a 60 percent drop since the July peak. The injury count for February was 302, higher than January, but below last year's average.
Major Massacres
Two major massacres (10 or more deaths) were recorded in February, both of them in the Midlands sub-region of Natal: On the 6th February, 12 ANC supporters were killed at Masunkazane (Richmond) On the 18th February, 15 ANC supporters were killed at Mahlele (Creighton) Regional Analysis The PWV deathtoll recorded a dramatic drop to 69 in February, compared with 142 in January and vindicated the replacement of the Internal Stability Unit of the SAP [South African Police] by units of the SA Defence Force as the primary peacekeeping force in the area. The PWV region seems now to be well on its way to being stabilised, but sub regions which are still unsettled are West Rand, Alexandra, Vaal and of course the East Rand which accounted for 62 percent of PWV deaths in February. Natal is now strongly centre-stage in the political violence with 66 percent of the countrywide deaths in February. The provisional figure of 161 deaths is nevertheless a little lower than any figure during the last eight months. Other regions accounted for 15 deaths, or 6 percent of national total.
Some Components of the Violence
Security force actions resulted in fewer deaths in February (7 against 11 in January) but in the high number of 105 injuries due to the use of rubber bullets and birdshot during incidents at Standerton and Primrose gold mine. Attacks on security forces declined noticeably in February, result in 6 deaths and 16 injuries in the course of 30 incidents. Right wing activity continues to mount and was responsible for 2 deaths and 17 injuries in 31 incidents. Taxi conflict claimed 5 lives in February. A number of incidents of industrial and education conflict occurred, but caused no loss of life. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |Incidents |Deaths |Injuries | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |General Incidents |253 |225 |148 | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Security Force Ac-|26 |7 |105 | |tion | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Attacks Against S-|30 |6 |16 | |ecurity Forces | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Hit Squad Activity|1 |-- |-- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Right Wing Activi-|31 |2 |17 | |ty | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Taxi Conflict |12 |5 |15 | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Industrial Confli-|6 |-- |1 | |ct | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Educational Confl-|2 |-- |-- | |ict | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |Total |361 |245 |302 | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some Victims of the Violence
Commuters suffered 9 deaths and 2 injuries in February. Women and children figured very prominently. Deaths: 20 women and 25 children (combined 18 percent of all deaths) Security force members - see above. No white civilians were killed, but 11 were injured. Political affiliation of the victims was reported in about 40 percent of deaths during February. ANC: 70 killed and 112 injured IFP: 31 killed and 35 injured