Member-only story

An Account of Confinement and Interrogation Under the South African 90-Day Detention Law

Stanley Bell

·17k Followers· Follow

Published in 117 Days: An Account Of Confinement And Interrogation Under The South African 90 Day Detention Law (Penguin Classics)

4 min read · 2 weeks before

933 View Claps

84 Respond

Save

Listen

By [Author's Name]

117 Days: An Account of Confinement and Interrogation Under the South African 90-Day Detention Law (Penguin Classics)

by Ruth First

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	785 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	160 pages

In the dark days of apartheid South Africa, the government wielded a fearsome weapon against its political opponents: the 90-day detention law. This draconian law allowed the government to hold individuals without charge or trial for up to 90 days, during which time they could be subjected to interrogation and torture.

I was one of the many who were detained under this law. I was arrested in 1986 and held for 72 days. During that time, I was interrogated relentlessly and subjected to various forms of torture, including sleep deprivation, solitary confinement, and beatings.

I was eventually released without charge, but the experience of detention and interrogation left an indelible mark on my life. I have never forgotten the horrors that I witnessed and experienced, and I have never stopped fighting against the injustices of apartheid.

The 90-Day Detention Law

The 90-day detention law was enacted in 1963 as part of the government's efforts to suppress the growing anti-apartheid movement. The law allowed the government to detain individuals without charge or trial for up to 90 days, renewable indefinitely.

The law was used extensively against political activists, trade unionists, and other opponents of apartheid. By 1986, over 30,000 people had been detained under the law.

Conditions of Detention

Conditions in detention were harsh and often brutal. Detainees were held in solitary confinement, often in small, dark cells. They were denied access to legal counsel, medical care, and contact with the outside world.

Detainees were subjected to various forms of torture, including sleep deprivation, solitary confinement, beatings, and electric shocks. The aim of this torture was to break the detainees' will and force them to provide information or confessions.

Interrogation

Interrogation was a central part of the detention process. Detainees were interrogated relentlessly, often for hours on end. The interrogators used a variety of techniques to extract information or confessions, including threats, intimidation, and torture.

I was interrogated on numerous occasions. The interrogators were relentless in their pursuit of information. They threatened me with violence, solitary confinement, and even death. They tried to trick me into making false confessions. But I refused to give them the satisfaction.

My Release

After 72 days of detention, I was finally released without charge. I was fortunate to be released, but many others were not so lucky. Some detainees were held for months or even years without ever being charged with a crime.

My release was a victory for the anti-apartheid movement. It showed that the government could not break the spirit of those who opposed apartheid. It also helped to raise awareness of the horrors of detention and interrogation under the 90-day law.

The Legacy of the 90-Day Detention Law

The 90-day detention law was a dark chapter in South Africa's history. It was a tool of oppression and terror that was used to silence the voices of dissent.

The law was eventually repealed in 1990, as part of the negotiations that led to the end of apartheid. But the legacy of the 90-day detention law lives on. It is a reminder of the horrors that can be perpetrated when governments are given unchecked power.

We must never forget the victims of the 90-day detention law. We must fight to ensure that such abuses never happen again.

117 Days: An Account of Confinement and Interrogation Under the South African 90-Day Detention Law (Penguin Classics)

by Ruth First

4.8 out of 5