/ 12 June 1997

2 267 children died in apartheid political violence

THURSDAY, 3.30PM

THE Human Rights Committee on Thursday told the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that between 1960 and 1989, at least 1 750 children died in political violence in SA, and another 517 were killed between 1990 and April 1994.

Addressing special commission hearings on child and youth victims in Johannesburg, the committee added that between 1960 and 1989, at least six children had died while in police custody in “political circumstances”.

The HRC said about 5 000 children were injured in political unrest between 1960 and 1989. About 20 000 were detained without trial and about one in four was tortured in detention. About 30 000 children were jailed for political offences.