Bethal 18

Explanation
In 1977, 86 PAC members were arrested on various charges related to furthering the aims of the PAC and 'fomenting revolution'. Eighteen accused, including PAC leader Zephaniah Mothopeng, were convicted of these charges in 1978. The trial was held in the small rural town of Bethal, Tvl, in order to isolate the accused and reduce media coverage. It was also held in camera. By the time the trial opened, four of those detained in connection with the trial had died in detention. It is alleged that all the accused had been severely tortured while awaiting trial.

TV Series Hearing Transcripts TRC Final Report TRC Victims

MOTHOPENG, Zephaniah

in August 1976 and severely tortured, spending three years in prison prior to his conviction in 1979 on terrorism charges in the `Bethal Trial`. See Bethal 18. He then served nine years of a 15-year prison term, being released in November 1988 due to serious illness. He died in October ...

/victims/mothopeng_zephaniah.htm

MDINISO, Mafika David

An ANCYL supporter who was detained in Bethal, Transvaal, on 14 January 1991 and tortured by named members of the SAP at Bethal, Ermelo and Davel police stations and at a shooting range. He was reportedly one of a group of young people detained and assaulted after police raided the homes of ...

/victims/mdiniso_mafika_david.htm

MALINGA, Samuel Julie

died in detention in Pietermaritzburg on 31 January 1977. He had been a founder member of PAC in the region, and had been arrested because of his political activities. He is one of four PAC members who died in detention while awaiting the `Bethal trial`. See Bethal 18.

/victims/malinga_samuel_julie.htm

NTSHUNTSHA, Naboath Mandaluhlwile

A PAC branch chairman who is alleged to have committed suicide while in police custody at Protea, Soweto, Johannesburg, on 9 January 1977. He had been detained for 26 days, and is one of four who died in detention while awaiting the ‘Bethal trial’. See Bethal 18.

/victims/ntshuntsha_naboath_mandaluhlwile.htm

SIMELANE, Nokuthula Aurelia (aka ‘Sibongile’)

A courier for MK from Bethal, Transvaal , who was abducted f rom the Carlton Centre in Johannesburg by members of the Soweto Security Branch on 8 September 1983 and held initially at the Norwood Police flats. She was later taken to a farm near Thabazimbi, Transvaal , and held for several weeks, ...

/victims/simelane_nokuthula_aurelia_aka_sibongile.htm

LANDINGWE, Danile Julius

... shocks. He was one of the accused in the ‘Bethal trial’ in which he was sentenced to an eight-year prison term. He was released in 1986. See Bethal ...

/victims/landingwe_danile_julius.htm

VILAKAZI, Patrick

Was attacked by a member of the IFP during political violence at Davula, Bethal, Transvaal, during 1991. One perpetrator was granted amnesty (AC/1999/0332).

/victims/vilakazi_patrick.htm

MAHLANGU, Mbhutini

An ANC supporter who was abducted, tortured, severely beaten, tear-gassed and imprisoned after members of the SAP opened fire on his house in Mzinoni, Bethal, Transvaal, in June 1989 while searching for weapons.

/victims/mahlangu_mbhutini.htm

YENDE, Elson

Was severely beaten by members of the SAP in Emzinoni, near Bethal, Transvaal, during the funeral in 1983 of community leader Saul Mkhize who had been killed by a policeman.

/victims/yende_elson.htm

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