Political Prisoners of South Africa Documentation Project
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JOHN NENE
Imprisoned for Life
(Original biographical information included with his bracelet in 1985)

            John Nene was charged with nine others in the Pietermaritzburg Supreme Court in May 1976 under the Terrorism and Suppression of Communism Acts, for membership in the ANC (African National Congress), recruiting for military or political training, and attempting to overthrow the government by force.

            Nene was convicted and sentenced on July 25, 1977 to life imprisonment which he is serving on Robben Island.

            During the trial, witnesses and the accused stated that they had been brutally tortured by the security police and described details.  One of the people detained with Nene, Joseph Mdluli, died in security police detention in March 1976, as a result of ‘force applied to his neck’ according to the post mortem.

            After the sentence, the nine men stood up in the dock, gave the clenched fist ANC salute and sang ‘Nkosi Sikelele Afrika’ and were joined in the singing by spectators.

            Nene had previously spent seven years on Robben Island for a political offence.  He was also detained in December, 1975.

            Nene was former vice-chairman of the Transport and General Workers’ Union in Natal.

            In March 1978, Nene and the others convicted with him were given leave to appeal to the Appellate Division.  The trial judge had refused leave to appeal.

__________
The source of this biographical information is International Defence and Aid Fund’s book, Prisoners of Apartheid, 1978.  We appreciate their permission to use this material.

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