ZAKHELE MDLALOSE
Imprisoned for Life
(Original biographical information included with his bracelet in 1985)
Zakhele Mdlalose 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.
Mdlalose was convicted and sentenced on July 25, 1977 to life imprisonment which he is serving on Robben Island.
During the trial, Mdlalose told the court that he had been interrogated standing, for three days and nights. Witnesses and other accused stated that they had been brutally tortured by the security police and described details. One of the people detained with Mdlalose, Joseph Mdluli, died in security police detention in March 1976, as a result of ‘force applied to his neck’ according to the post mortem.
Mdlalose was a former SACTU official in Durban. He had previously served an 11-year sentence on Robben Island for political offences.
In March 1978, Mdlalose and others convicted with him were given leave to appeal to the Appellate Division in Bloemfontein against conviction and sentence. The trial judge had refused leave to appeal.
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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.
Mdlalose was convicted and sentenced on July 25, 1977 to life imprisonment which he is serving on Robben Island.
During the trial, Mdlalose told the court that he had been interrogated standing, for three days and nights. Witnesses and other accused stated that they had been brutally tortured by the security police and described details. One of the people detained with Mdlalose, Joseph Mdluli, died in security police detention in March 1976, as a result of ‘force applied to his neck’ according to the post mortem.
Mdlalose was a former SACTU official in Durban. He had previously served an 11-year sentence on Robben Island for political offences.
In March 1978, Mdlalose and others convicted with him were given leave to appeal to the Appellate Division in Bloemfontein against conviction and sentence. 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.