Death in Detention

According to the South African Police, Clayton Sizwe Sithole was found hanging by a belt and shoelaces from a water pipe in the shower soon after he had been heard joking with a policeman who had locked him in his cell. It remains unexplained where he got the shoelaces.

Source: Sunday Times Heritage Project

Death in Detention

According to the South African Police, Maisha "Stanza" Bopape, General secretary of the Mamelodi Civic Organisation, was arrested in Hillbrow on June 9, 1988 and "disappeared".

His death at John Vorster Square came to light only at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in March 1997, when 10 security policemen applied for amnesty for his death. Five said they had been involved in his torture, three said they had covered up the reasons for his death and two said they had disposed of his body. It was never found.

Source: Sunday Times Heritage Project

Death in Detention

According to the South African Police, Ernest Moabi Dipale hanged himself with a strip of blanket from a cell window three days after being detained.

Source: Synday Times Heritage Project

Death in Detention

According to the South African Police, Neil Aggett was found hanging in his cell after spending 70 days in detention. On the floor of his cell was a copy of Nikos Kazantzakis’s Zorba the Greek. The novel was open at page 246, which deals with the suicide of the young man whose passionate love for a widow had been rejected.

Source: Sunday Times Heritage Project

Death in Detention

According to the South African Police, Matthews Mojo Mabelanefell to his death from the 10th floor of John Vorster Square. Police said it was an escape attempt and that before they realised what was happening, he was "already halfway through an open window".

Source: Sunday Times Heritage Project

Death in Detention

According to the South African Police, Elmon Malele (Aged 61), had suddenly fallen down, unconscious, hitting his head on a table after being interrogated, in a standing position, from 9am to 3pm. He died a few days later in a nursing home, from a brain haemorrhage and hypertension.

Source: Synday Times Heritage Project

Death in Detention

According to the South African Police, Wellington Tshazibane was found hanging in his cell from a noose made of strips of blanket, two days after he was arrested.

Source: Sunday Times Heritage Project

Death in Detention

According to the South African Police, Ahmed Timol fell from the 10th-floor window of Room 1026 of John Vorster Square by rushing across the room, opening the window and "diving through it".

Source: Sunday Times Heritage Project