Fonds AL2933 - 1981 Detainees Oral History Project

Identity area

Reference code

ZA SAHA AL2933

Title

1981 Detainees Oral History Project

Date(s)

  • 2002-2003 (Accumulation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

17 audio recordings and 17 transcripts

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

The South African History Archive (SAHA) was established by anti-apartheid activists in the 1980s, and was closely connected in its formative years to the United Democratic Front, the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the African National Congress. It is an independent human rights archive dedicated to documenting, supporting and promoting greater awareness of past and contemporary struggles for justice through archival practices and outreach, and the utilisation of access to information laws.

Archival history

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

The South African History Archive (SAHA) and Historical Papers were approached by thirty seven people, who were imprisoned on 22 September 1981 and detained for anything from fourteen days to just under one year, to document and preserve their stories. The interviewees are: Cedric de Beer, Hannchen Koornhof, Maurice Smithers, Prema Naidoo, Norman Manoim, Caroline Cullinan, Emma Mashinini, Merle Favis, Pravin Gordhan, Audrey Coleman, Gavin Anderson, Barbara Klugman, Cedric Maysom, Kathy Satchwell, Alan Fine, Monty Narsoo and Joanne Yawitch. A number of the detainees (Rob Adam, Barbara Hogan, Alan Fine, Hannchen Koornhof, Prema Naidoo and Shireesh Nanabhai) went on trial and, in the case of Hogan and Adam, were jailed until the release of political prisoners in 1990. Neil Aggett died while in detention. Whilst other people were detained during this period, the detainees listed here were picked for their links to one another.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

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Conditions governing access

The collection is open for Research

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Status

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Dates of creation revision deletion

20111102

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