The 300 hunger-striking detainees are on the verge of a major victory. Church leaders emerged from a 50-minute meeting yesterday with Minister of Law and Order Adriaan Vlok and said that a "substantial number" of detainees would be released in the next fortnight.
They called on the hunger strikers – who had been demanding to be charged or released – to suspend their fast for that period. According to lawyers, 21 detainees are in hospital, though unofficial reports put the figure as high as 40. Already yesterday there were hints that Durban prisons were preparing to release up to 50 detainees within the next 24 hours. Diepkloof, Johannesburg prisoners yesterday released a statement saying they were eating again. "An important victory has been won," they said. Archbishop Desmond Tutu, one of the churchmen who met the minister, said: "We want to avoid using the language of victory. For us, the victory will come when all detainees are released." However, he added: "A very significant move has occurred through non violent action."
Vlok's representative, Brigadier Leon Mellet, said the victory had: been negotiation. However the outcome is described, it is clearly of major significance.