| List of deaths in detention: | |||
| Name / Age / Affiliation | Date | Place detained / died | Official / Alleged Cause |
A |
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AGGETT, Dr Neil Hudson, 28, African Food and Canning Workers Union |
1982/2/5 | Pretoria Central; Johannesburg John Vorster Square | Suicide by hanging |
B |
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| BANI, Nobandla, 56 | 1987/7/29 |
Port Elizabeth, North End Cells |
Natural causes, a stroke |
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BIKO, Steve Bantu, 31, BC, BPC |
1977/9/12 | Port Elizabeth, died in Pretoria | Brain injury sustained during torture |
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BOTHA, George, 30, ANC |
1976/12/15 |
Port Elizabeth, Sanlam Bldg. |
Suicide - jumped/fell six floors down stairwell |
C |
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CELE, Edwin, 22, Lamontville Youth Congress |
1987/7/9 | Durban | Shot by police while allegedly trying to pull the pin from a hand grenade |
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CUTSHELA/CUTHSELA, Mthayeni, APDUSA |
1971/1/21 |
Pondoland. Death occurred at Umtata Hospital, Transkei |
Natural causes/ brain haemorrhage |
D |
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| DAKUSE, Patrick, 36 | 1989/1/23 | Khayelitsha |
Shot dead by police after he allegedly tried to prime a hand grenade from an arms cache to which he had led the police |
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DIPALE, Ernest Moabi, 21, ANC |
1982/7/8/8 | Johannesburg, John Vorster Square | Suicide by hanging |
E |
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F |
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G |
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GAGA, Nengeni / Negeni, 19 |
1965/5/7 | Transkei | Natural causes |
H |
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HAFFEJEE, Dr Hoosen Mia, 26 ANC |
1977/8/3 |
Brighton Beach Police Station, Durban |
Suicide by hanging |
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HAMAKWAYO, James |
1966/8 | Pretoria Prison | Suicide by hanging |
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HARON, Imam Abdullah, 45, Cape Muslim leader |
1969/9/27 | Cape Town, Maitland Police Station | Natural causes/ heart trouble caused by fall down stairs |
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HOYE, Pongoloshe |
1965/5/8/9 | Transkei | Natural causes |
I |
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J |
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JACOBS, Xoliso, 20 |
1986/10/22 | Upington | Suicide by hanging |
K |
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| KGOATHE, Nicodemus, Bakwena-ba Mokgopa tribesman | 1969/2/5 |
Pretoria, Silverton Police Stat; Death occurred at HF Verwoerd Hospital, Pretoria
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Bronchial pneumonia, following head injuries sustained after a fall in the shower |
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KHOZA, Aaron, 35 |
1977/3/26 |
Krugersdorp, then transferred to Pietermaritzburg where he died
|
Suicide by hanging |
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KHOZA, Amos, 18 |
1988/12/1 | Johannesburg |
Fell seven storeys from a flat where he was allegedly escorting police to identify the place where he had made contact with an ANC member |
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KOBE, Andile, 22 |
1988/3/20 | Sandkraal |
Beaten for at least 30 minutes by police in front of eyewitnesses |
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KOROTSOANE, Tatlheho, 28 |
late 1984/85 | Vereeniging |
Reported to have been in security detention but police denied this/ Undisclosed |
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KRIEL, Ashley, 20, Bontheuvel student activist |
1987/7/9 | Athlone | Police allege that victim was killed during an arrest scuffle, but post-mortem indicated victim was shot in the back at point-blank range |
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KUTUMELA, Lucky, 25, Journalist / AZAPO / MWASA |
1986/4/5 | Mahwelereng, Lebowa | Found dead in police cell with more than forty sjambok weals |
L |
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LENKOE, James |
1969/3/10 | Pretoria | Suicide by hanging |
M |
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MABELANE, Matthews, 23, member of Soweto SRC |
1977/2/15 | Johannesburg, John Vorster Square | Fell out of 10th floor window |
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MABIJA, Phakamile Harry, 27, Church warden of the Anglican parish of St James, Kimberley |
1977/7/7 | Transvaal Road Police Station, Kimberley | Suicide-jumped/fell from 6th floor window |
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MADIBA/MALIBA, Alpheus |
1967/9/9 | Namibia | Suicide by hanging |
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MADISHA, Donald Thabela, 30 |
1990/6/1 | Potgietersrus Police Station | Suicide by hanging |
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MAKALENG, Alfred, 27 |
1988/8/26 |
Nylstroom, died Johannesburg Hospital
|
Natural causes, fluid on brain |
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MALATJE, Pares Molefi, (Paris Malatji), 23, SA Youth Revolutionary Council |
1983/7/4 / 5 | Soweto; Protea Police Headquarters | Shot in forehead at point-blank range |
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MALAZA, Bonaventura Sipho, 18 |
1977/11/7 / 16 | Krugersdorp police cells | Suicide by hanging |
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MALELE, Elmon, 52 |
1977/1/20 |
Johannesburg, died at Princess Nursing Home |
Natural causes- cerebral haemorrhage after hitting head against desk during interrogation |
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MALINGA, Samuel, 45 |
1977/2/22 | Edendale Hospital |
Natural causes- Pietermaritzburg, died pulmonary embolism |
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MAMASHILA/MAMSILA, Ernest, 35 |
1976/11/18 / 19 | Balfour, Natal/Transvaal | Suicide by hanging |
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MAMPE, Bellington |
1963/9/1 | Worcester | Undisclosed causes |
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MAPUMOLO, Matthews, ANC |
1986/12/11 | Swaziland |
Abducted to SA by armed men who had shot and wounded him, he later died |
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MARULE, Simon, 20 |
1986/12/23 |
Boksberg/Benoni Hospital
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Kidney failure Modder B Prison, died |
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MARUME, Ndiko |
1987/11/4 | Sasolburg |
Died inside a police van while being transported to Sasolburg police station |
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MASEKO, Samson, 19 |
1984/11/11 / 19 | Katlehong |
Died of injuries after being in police custody |
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MASHABANE, Zungwane Jacob, 22, Student Univ of Zululand |
1976/10/5 | Johannesburg Fort | Suicide by hanging |
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MASHEGO, Johannes |
1986/4/19 | Parys |
Police state he collapsed during interrogation, but relatives reported extensive bruising and swollen face upon identifying victim’s body |
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MASHOKE, Benedict, 20 |
19987/3/26 |
Burgersfort Police Station
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Suicide by hanging |
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MASUNYANE, Anthony |
1984/11/5 / 7 | Katlehong | Undisclosed |
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MATALASI, Sifundile, 27 |
1980/12/10 / 20 | Umtata, Transkei | Suicide by strangulation |
| 1969/6/1 |
Port Elizabeth police cells
|
Natural causes not specified | |
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MAZWEMBE, Luke, 32, Western Province Workers' Advice Bureau & SASO |
1976/9/2 | Cape Town, Caledon Square Police Station | Suicide by hanging |
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MBATHA, Dumisani, 16, Soweto student |
1976/9/25 |
Johannesburg, Modder B Prison. Death occurred at Far East Rand Hospital
|
Natural causes/ heart related |
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MBETHENI, Dinana, 21 |
1989/4/21 | Alice |
Found in cell hanging from an electric wire tied to a bar |
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MBOTYA, Mbuyiselo, 35, KWT Youth League/UDF |
1985/9/21 | Kingwilliam’s Town | Head injuries while in custody |
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MDLULI, Joseph, 50, ANC |
1976/3/19 | Durban, Security HQ |
Injury to neck after application of force or falling against chair |
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MGQWETO, Manana, 60 Transkei Opposition Democratic Progressive Party |
1981/9/17 | Engcobo, Transkei | Undisclosed |
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MNDAWE, Tembuyise Simon, ANC |
1983/ 3 / 5 / 8 | Nelspruit Prison | Suicide by hanging |
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MNTONGA, Eric, 35, IDASA / SAAWU |
1987/7/24 | Mdantsane | Killed by 6 Ciskei security officers at police cells |
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MODIPANE, Soloman, Bakwena-ba Mokgopa tribesman |
1969/2/28 |
Pretoria, Silverton Police Stat. Death occurred at HF Verwoerd Hospital, Pretoria
|
Natural causes after slipping on a piece of soap/ fatal injury |
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MOGALE, Meshack, 16 |
1985/11/17 | Mamelodi East |
Allegedly kicked and sjambokked by police after arrest at a night vigil for unrest victim |
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MOGATUSI, Fenuel, 22, Soweto student |
1976/9/28 | Johannesburg Fort | Natural causes/ suffocation during epileptic fit |
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MOGOTSI, Joseph, Teacher |
1986/12/13 | Pretoria |
Assaulted after police forced his car off the road |
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MOHAPI, Mapetla, 25, former official of SASO & the BPC |
1976/7/15 1976/8/5 | East London, Kei Road Jail | Suicide by hanging |
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MOKOENA, Sonnyboy, 24 |
1985/8/16 | Pilgrim’s Rest | Found hanging in his cell |
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MOLELEKE, Jacob, 16 |
1984/9/29 | Sebokeng | Shot in police van during altercation |
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MONAKGOTLA, Jacob |
1969/9/10 | Pretoria Prison | Natural causes/ thrombosis |
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MOSALA, Thabo, over 60, chairman of tribal council of Chief Neo Sibi and leader of Sotho minority in Transkei |
1976/11/25 / 26 | Butterworth Prison, Transkei | Natural causes-internal bleeding from ulcer |
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MTHETHWA, Ephraim Thamsanqa, 22 |
1984/8/25 | Durban Central Prison | Suicide by hanging |
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MUGGELS, Mzwandile, 20, Karoo Youth Congress |
1985/7/3 | Steytlerville | Gunshot wounds sustained during arrest at memorial service |
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MUTSI, Sipho, 20, COSAS |
1985/5/5 | Odendaalsrus |
Head injuries sustained while in custody |
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MVULANE, Bheki, 18 |
1985/3/29 | Katlehong |
Brain injuries sustained during torture |
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MZIZI, Bayempin, 62 |
1977/8/13 / 15 |
Brighton Beach Police Station, Durban
|
Suicide by hanging |
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MZOLO, Edward, 40 |
1976/10/9 | Johannesburg Fort | Causes undisclosed |
N |
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NCHABELENG, Peter, 59, President of Northern Transvaal UDF |
1986/4/11 | Schoonoord, Lebowa | Allegedly tortured by police |
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NDONDO, Batandwa, 22, SRC, UNITRA |
1985/9/24 | Cala, Transkei | Allegedly shot several times by police on the outskirts of Cala |
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NDZANDZE, Loyiso, 20, KWT Youth League |
1985/8/18 / 19 | Kingwilliam’s Town | Wounds sustained during torture |
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NDZANGA, Lawrence, 52, former sec of SARHWU and Nat Exec Comm member of SACTU |
1977/1/8 / 9 | Johannesburg Fort | Natural causes-heart attack |
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NDZUMO, Saul, former Minister of the Interior, Transkei |
1980/9/9 / 10 | Umtata, Transkei | Natural causes/heart trouble, diabetes, blood pressure |
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NGALO, Johannes, 26 |
1984/7/15 | Parys |
Found dead in cell due to serious internal injuries |
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NGOMANE, Eric, 22, Student |
1986/4/12 | KaNgwane |
Police claim he was shot dead while trying to escape |
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NGWENYA, Abel, 31 |
1984/11/22 | Daveyton |
Natural causes-epileptic fit, but pathologist indicated violence |
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NOBHADULA, Mzukisi |
1977/12/20 |
North End Prison, Port Elizabeth
|
Undisclosed-natural causes |
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NTSHUNTSHA, Dr Naboath, 43, Soweto naturopath |
1977/1/8 / 9 | Leslie police cells | Suicide by hanging |
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NYOKA, Caiphus, Student leader |
1986/8/23 | Daveyton | Shot dead by police, execution style, while raiding his fathers home |
O |
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OLIFANT, Benji, 25 |
1986/12/15 | Klerksdorp | Shot while trying to escape |
P |
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PHOSHOKO, Joel, 28, CCAWUSA |
1986/4/1 | Pretoria | Allegedly assaulted by police during interrogation |
Q |
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R |
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RADITSELA, Andries, 29, COSATU/CWIU |
1985/5/6 | Tsakane | Head injuries sustained while in custody |
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RAMALEPE, Ngwako, President of SRC - Modjadji Teacher Training College |
1985/10/18 | Kgapane, Lebowa | Assaulted by police at station and later dumped along a road |
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RUITERS, Kevin, 22 |
1989/12/22 | Bellville South |
Mother found that his face had been badly bashed |
S |
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SALOOJEE, Suliman, 28 |
1964/9/9 | Johannesburg | Jumped/fell from 7th floor window |
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SHIVUTE, Michael |
1969/6/16 / 17 |
Ondangwa police cells
|
Suicide |
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SHONYEKA, Hangula |
1966/10/9 | Pretoria Prison | Suicide |
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SITHOLE, Clayton Sizwe, 20 |
1990/1/30 |
Johannesburg, John Vorster Square |
Suicide by hanging |
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SPOGTER, Johannes, 13 |
1985/7/5 | Steytlerville | Head injuries |
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STUURMAN, Mlungise, 18 |
1986/7/26 | Cradock |
Interrogated and then killed by 2 'unrest unit' members who were later sentenced to death for his murder |
T |
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TABALAZA, Lungile, 19 |
1978/7/10 |
Sanlam Bldg., Port Elizabeth |
Suicide-jumped/fell from 5th floor window |
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TIMOL, Ahmed, 30 |
1971/10/27 |
Johannesburg, John Vorster Square |
Suicide- jumped out of a 10th floor window |
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TLHOTLOMISANG, Lucas, 37 |
1990/3/26 | Klerksdorp | Police report, meningitis |
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TSHAZIBANE, Wellington Mlungisi, 30 |
1976/12/11 | Johannesburg, John Vorster Square | Suicide by hanging |
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TSHWANE, William, Soweto student |
1976 / 6 / 7 / 25 / 26 | Johannesburg, Modder B Prison | Gunshot wounds sustained while trying to escape / justifiable homocide |
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TUBAKWA / TUBAKWE, JB |
1968/9/11 | Pretoria Prison | Suicide by hanging |
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TYITYA / TYITA, James |
1964/1/24 | Port Elizabeth | Suicide by hanging |
U |
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Unknown youth, 17 |
1987/2/16 | Soweto |
Allegedly jumped from Casspir in an attempt to escape from custody |
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An unidentified man died at an undisclosed time of an undisclosed cause at an undisclosed place in late 1968 or early 1969. In answer to a question regarding the number of people who had died in detention, the Minister of Police stated in Parliament on 28 January 1969 that "an unknown man died on an unknown date of a cause unknown." |
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V |
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W |
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X |
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Y |
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YAN, Ah, 63 |
1967/1/5 |
Pretoria, Silverton Police Station
|
Suicide by hanging |
| YUN PIN, Leong | 1966/11/19 |
Pretoria, Leeuwkop Prison
|
Suicide by hanging |
Z |
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ZOKWE, Sithembele, 36 |
1988/1/12 | Butterworth, Transkei | Shot by police |