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47-639: John Vorster Square was officially opened on the 23 August 1968 by John Vorster , then the prime minister of the Republic of South Africa . It was a 10 storey, blue-coloured cement building. The ninth and tenth floors were occupied by the Security Branch of the South African Police , while the detainees cells were on the lower floors of the building. In September 1997, John Vorster Square was renamed Johannesburg Central Police Station, and

94-456: A "communist plot." These deaths spurred the protest poem 'In Detention' to be written by Chris van Wyk . Even when the reported cause of death was corroborated by an official inquest, civil society largely mistrusted the police's accounts of the deaths. At the Truth and Reconciliation Commission , police officers and activists testified extensively about the use of torture in detention, and three of

141-697: A German victory. Vorster dedicated himself to an anti-British, pro-Nazi organisation called the Ossewabrandwag ( Ox-wagon Sentinel ), founded in 1938 in celebration of the centenary of the Great Trek . Under the leadership of Johannes Van Rensburg , the Ossewabrandwag conducted many acts of sabotage against South Africa during World War II to limit its war effort. Vorster, who was interned for his activities, which included helping previously interned fugitives, claimed not to have participated in

188-668: A country where blacks outnumbered whites. In September 1976, under pressure from US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger , he pressured Ian Smith , the Rhodesian Prime Minister , to accept in principle that white minority rule could not continue indefinitely. Smith and moderate black nationalist leaders signed the Internal Settlement in March 1978, and in June 1979, following multiracial elections , Rhodesia

235-512: A diplomat" and to adhere to the department's social media policy, and concern about her views was expressed by former president Thabo Mbeki , and her views were described as hate speech by ANC veteran Mavuso Msimang , while her opinions drew support from the EFF and the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal Sihle Zikalala . Her tweets came close to the end of her four-year term as ambassador to Denmark. At

282-515: A month later, on 15 February 1977, Matthews Mabelane plunged to his death from the 10th floor after having been detained. The police claimed that he had climbed out of the window onto a ledge in an attempt to escape and had slipped and fallen to his death. An inquest in April 1977 found the cause of death to be "Accidental". His family said that he had written a message to them on the lining of his trousers: "Brother Lasch, inform mom and other brothers that

329-678: A stand-in First Lady of South Africa from 1996 to 1998. Her collection of poems, Black As I Am , was published in 1978, with photographs by Peter Magubane . Zindzi Mandela was born on 23 December 1960 in Soweto , in what was then the Union of South Africa , to Nelson and Winnie Mandela. The year of her birth was also the year that the African National Congress (ANC) launched its armed wing. Her parents were wanted by

376-428: A successful sheep farmer , Willem Carel Vorster and his wife, Elizabeth Sophia Vorster (née Wagenaar). He attended primary school there. After Vorster entered Stellenbosch University , he involved himself in student politics becoming the chairman of the debating society, deputy chairman of the student council and leader of the junior National Party . In 1938, Vorster graduated to become a registrar (judge's clerk) to

423-575: The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Julius Malema . While being investigated by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) for breaching their social media policy , Mandela remained defiant, tweeting that "I am not accountable to any white man or woman for my personal views. No missus or baas here. Get over yourselves #OurLand". She was ordered by foreign minister Naledi Pandor to "conduct herself as

470-605: The National Party , which began implementing the policy of apartheid in 1948. Although racial discrimination in favour of whites had long been a crucial fact of South African politics and society, formal restrictions were loosening and the National Party institutionalised racism in a new way and on a massive scale through its “apartheid” legislation. In 1953, Vorster was elected to the House of Assembly representing

517-646: The Portuguese colonial empire . Shortly after the 1978 Internal Settlement in Rhodesia , in which he was instrumental, he was implicated in the Muldergate Scandal . He resigned the premiership in favour of the ceremonial state presidency, from which he was forced out as well eight months later. Vorster was born in 1915 in Jamestown , Cape Province , Union of South Africa , the fifteenth child of

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564-536: The South African Department of Foreign Affairs lodged a complaint with the US network. The newspaper claimed that the documentary-makers constructed a narrative to make it appear that Miss Botha and Miss Mandela "lived on separate planets." She served as a stand-in First Lady of South Africa from 1996 until 1998, between her parents' divorce and her father's remarriage, to Graça Machel . Zindzi

611-530: The University of Cape Town , where she earned a BA in 1985. In 1987, she participated in the CBS documentary, Children of Apartheid , by Walter Cronkite , who profiled young South Africans, including Mandela and P.W. Botha's daughter, Rozanne Botha . Die Burger , an Afrikaans pro-government newspaper, ran a front-page report, alleging the younger Botha had been "misused" in the documentary. In response,

658-403: The "diabolical" and "frightening" Verwoerd. His supporters held him in great affection for his eccentricities. Examples of this were the occasion when he briefed the opposition in his private chambers, his allowing pictures of himself to be taken in often precarious situations and then to be distributed publicly as well as his welcoming of foreigners, in his words, to "the happiest police state in

705-634: The Truth and Reconciliation Commission, police officers testified that Bopape had died of a heart attack after being subjected to repeated electric shocks during interrogation. His body was dumped in the Nkomati River. The last death recorded at John Vorster Square was that of 20-year old Clayton Sithole, who was father of Zindzi Mandela 's child and Nelson Mandela 's grandchild. He had been arrested on suspicion of belonging to an African National Congress cell implicated in several murders. Police said he

752-413: The acts of war attributed to the group. He described himself as anti-British, not pro-Nazi, and said his internment was for anti-British agitation. Vorster rose rapidly through the ranks of the Ossewabrandwag becoming a general in its paramilitary wing. His involvement with this group led to his detention at Koffiefontein in 1942. Following his release from custody in 1944, Vorster became active in

799-514: The adoption of his policy of letting Black African diplomats live in white areas in South Africa. He unofficially supported, but refused officially to recognise, the neighbouring state of Rhodesia , whose predominantly white minority government had unilaterally declared independence (UDI) from the UK in 1965. Vorster followed white public opinion in South Africa by supporting Rhodesia publicly, but

846-440: The auditor general made a critical report, a scandal broke out, ultimately leading to the resignation of Vorster. This scandal was colloquially known to some as "South African Watergate". Vorster resigned as Prime Minister in 1978, after twelve years in office. He was succeeded by P. W. Botha , a hardliner who nevertheless began the first reforms to moderate the apartheid system. Following his resignation as Prime Minister, Vorster

893-605: The building built there after B.J. Vorster, an alumnus and chancellor of the university. It was renamed in the 1990s. Johannesburg Central Police Station was formerly called John Vorster Square, and was the home of South Africa's Special Branch during the apartheid era. He is depicted on the obverses of the following coins of the South African rand ; 1982 1/2 Cent to 1 Rand. Zindzi Mandela Zindziswa "Zindzi" Mandela (23 December 1960 – 13 July 2020), also known as Zindzi Mandela-Hlongwane ,

940-405: The confession he had made to police about his involvement in several murders. 26°12′23″S 28°1′53″E  /  26.20639°S 28.03139°E  / -26.20639; 28.03139 John Vorster Balthazar Johannes " B. J. " Vorster ( Afrikaans pronunciation: [ˈbaltɑːzar juəˈhanəs ˈfɔrstər] ; 13 December 1915 – 10 September 1983), better known as John Vorster ,

987-533: The corruption and had tolerated it. He resigned from the state presidency in disgrace. In 1982, John Vorster supported the Conservative Party of Andries Treurnicht at its founding congress. He died in 1983, aged 67 years. Using the Group Areas Act , Stellenbosch University dispossessed coloured residents of central Stellenbosch of their land in order to expand the university. They named

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1034-786: The decorative bust of Vorster was removed. It now houses the South African Police Service . During apartheid , the station was a notorious site of interrogation, torture and abuse by the South African Security Police of anti-apartheid activists, many of whom, after 1982, were held under the Internal Security Act . John Vorster Square was also used as a detention centre mostly for political activists; those sent into "detention" were not allowed to have any contact with family members, lawyers or any outside help; they were cut off from

1081-495: The government. Zindzi was 18 months old when her father was sent to prison. During her youth she was often left in the care of her older sister Zenani Mandela when her mother was imprisoned for months at a time. In 1977, when her mother was banished to the Orange Free State , Zindzi went to live with her there. Zindzi was not able to complete her education until she was sent to Swaziland . Eventually, her mother

1128-590: The inquests into deaths at John Vorster have since been reopened. Five of the deaths at John Vorster were recorded as suicides, on which the Commission concluded the following: [G]iven the extensive evidence of physical as well as psychological torture, suicides under conditions of detention should be regarded as induced suicide for which the security forces and the former government are accountable. The first detainee to die in John Vorster Square

1175-914: The judge president of the Cape Provincial Division of the Supreme Court of South Africa but he did not remain in this post for long, setting up his first law practice in Port Elizabeth and his second in the Witwatersrand town of Brakpan . From 1939, Vorster attracted attention by strongly opposing South Africa's intervention on the side of the Allies and their former foe the United Kingdom , in World War II . Many Nationalists enthusiastically hoped for

1222-468: The police are going to push me from the 10th floor and I am bidding you goodbye forever." Having been arrested in November 1981, Neil Aggett was found hanging dead in his cell 70 days later on 5 February 1982. He was one of many trade union organisers detained during that period whom the apartheid regime regarded as a threat. Although a high profile court case showed how Aggett's 80-hour interrogation on

1269-465: The police of any wrongdoing." Elmon Malele was arrested on 10 January 1977 and died 10 days later of a brain haemorrhage at a nursing home in Johannesburg where he had been taken after he had allegedly lost his balance after standing for six hours (a standard torture technique) and hit his head on the corner of a table. An official inquest found that his death was due to natural causes. Less than

1316-521: The repealing of legislation prohibiting multi-racial sports teams in order to allow for South Africa to compete at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico. Despite Vorster's efforts, protests by numerous African nations meant that the IOC refused permission for South Africa's proposed team to compete. As a personal figure, Vorster was described as "flesh and blood" by Progressive MP Helen Suzman in contrast to

1363-505: The ruling of the 1971 inquest, and found that Timol had indeed been murdered by the security police. The second detainee to die in John Vorster Square was Wellington Tshazibane. On 11 December 1976 he was found hanging dead in his cell. He had been arrested four days earlier for alleged complicity in an explosion at the Carlton Centre in Johannesburg. "An official inquest, much like the previous inquest into Timol's death, exonerated

1410-468: The seat of Nigel in the Transvaal . He was appointed as Deputy Minister in 1958. He was an MP during the terms of prime ministers D.F. Malan , J.G. Strijdom and Hendrik Verwoerd . Vorster's wartime anti-British activities came back to haunt him. Vorster answered his critics by saying that he had now "come to believe in" the parliamentary system. A leader of the right wing of the National Party, he

1457-592: The time of her death in Johannesburg , she was designated to take up a post as ambassador to Liberia, a posting described by family members as a "punishment" for her controversial tweets the previous year. Zindzi was married twice and had four children - daughter Zoleka (1980–2023) with Oupa Seakamela and sons Zondwa (b. 1983) with a Mbuyiselo Mboya, Bambatha (b. 1989) with Sizwe Clayton Sithole and Zwelabo (b. 1992) with her first husband, Zwelibanzi Hlongwane. She married her second husband, Molapo Motlhajwa, who

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1504-457: The weekend before his death had led to his emotional collapse, the security police were cleared of any wrongdoing. Ernest Dipale was detained at the same time as Aggett in November 1981 and was released three-and-a half months later. He had made a statement to a magistrate complaining of assault and torture by electric shock but nothing came of his complaints. He was detained again on 5 August 1982 and held at John Vorster Square. Three days later he

1551-525: The world". This new outlook in the leadership of South Africa was dubbed "billikheid" or "sweet reasonableness". He alienated an extremist faction of his National Party when it accepted the presence of Māori players and spectators during the tour of the New Zealand national rugby union team in South Africa in 1970. Vorster was more pragmatic than his predecessors when it came to foreign policy. He improved relations with other African nations, such as by

1598-405: The world. Detention could last for a few hours to a few months, depending on the police. Of the 73 known deaths of political activists in police custody in South Africa between 1963 and 1990, eight (11 percent) were at John Vorster Square. Government and police officials claimed that the large number of deaths were due to politically motivated suicides, in the words of one police official as part of

1645-648: Was Ahmed Timol , a 30 year old teacher and political activist and an underground member of the South African Communist Party and Umkhonto we Sizwe , the military wing of the African National Congress . On 27 October 1971, Ahmed Timol plunged to his death from the 10th floor five days after his arrest. The police claimed that he had committed suicide and an official inquest into his death in 1972 backed up this claim, despite evidence that he had been subjected to severe torture before his death. A subsequent inquest into Timol's death in 2017 overturned

1692-415: Was a South African diplomat and poet, and the daughter of anti- apartheid activists and politicians Nelson Mandela and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela . Zindzi was the youngest and third of Nelson Mandela's three daughters, including sister Zenani Mandela . She had served as her country's ambassador to Denmark, until her death in 2020, and was due to take up a post as ambassador to Liberia . She served as

1739-488: Was a South African politician who served as the prime minister of South Africa from 1966 to 1978 and the fourth state president of South Africa from 1978 to 1979. Known as B. J. Vorster during much of his career, he came to prefer the anglicized name John in the 1970s. Vorster strongly adhered to his country's policy of apartheid , overseeing (as Minister of Justice) the Rivonia Trial , in which Nelson Mandela

1786-513: Was a member of the South African National Defence Force , in March 2013. Mandela-Hlongwane was said to have agreed to arrange a boxing match between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao to coincide with her father's birthday in 2011. The match did not take place and the boxing promoter Duane Moody sued successfully for a US court to order that she pay US$ 4.7m, plus costs, in damages to Moody. Mandela-Hlongwane

1833-722: Was allowed to move back to Soweto . Zindzi's father was offered a conditional release in 1985 by the then- State President , P. W. Botha . Her father's reply could not be delivered by either one of her parents. Consequently, Zindzi was chosen to read his refusal at a public meeting on 10 February 1985. Her poetry was published in 1978 in the book Black as I Am , with photographs by Peter Magubane , and has also appeared in publications including Somehow We Survive: An Anthology of South African Writing , edited by Sterling Plumpp (1982), and Daughters of Africa: An International Anthology of Words and Writings by Women of African Descent , edited by Margaret Busby (1992). Zindzi studied law at

1880-655: Was appointed Minister of Justice in 1961 by prime minister Verwoerd, an outspoken mentor and idol of Vorster. He combined that with the Minister of Police and Prisons in 1966. Upon Verwoerd's assassination in 1966, Vorster was elected by the National Party to succeed him, and continued Verwoerd's implementation of apartheid legislation, including the 1968 abolition of the last four parliamentary seats that had been reserved for white representatives of Coloured (mixed race) voters (realised in 1970). Despite this, Vorster's rule oversaw several other such proposed bills dropped, as well

1927-608: Was appointed South Africa's ambassador to Denmark in 2014. She first arrived in Denmark in June 2015. In June 2019, while Ambassador to Denmark, Mandela's Twitter account sent a series of increasingly strongly worded tweets, where she discussed "trembling white cowards who are the thieving rapist descendants of Van Riebeck [sic]", and "uninvited visitors who don't want to leave" that caused significant controversy. Mandela-Hlongwane had previously that month expressed her "deep, pure unconditional love and respect" for "CIC" (leader) of

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1974-556: Was elected to the largely honorary position of State President . His tenure in his new office, however, was short-lived. In what came to be known as the Muldergate Scandal so named after Dr Connie Mulder , the Cabinet minister at its centre, Vorster was implicated in the use of a secret slush fund to establish The Citizen , the only major English-language newspaper that was favourable to the National Party. A commission of inquiry concluded in mid-1979 that Vorster "knew everything" about

2021-414: Was found ''hanging from a shower pipe at police cells'' in a presumed suicide on 30 January 1990, only 11 days before Mandela was released from prison. President F.W. de Klerk appointed a judicial commission of inquiry, the first ever in such a case, to investigate his death. The commission was chaired by Richard Goldstone and confirmed that Sithole had committed suicide, presumably for reasons relating to

2068-430: Was found hanging dead in his cell. An inquest in June 1983 found no-one criminally liable for his death. Stanza Bopape was arrested on 10 June 1988 and went missing thereafter. The police said that he had escaped during transit while officers were changing a tyre. As late as 1990, government officials claimed to be investigating his whereabouts and said that he had been seen at the scene of a terror attack in April 1989. At

2115-537: Was reconstituted under black majority rule as Zimbabwe Rhodesia which, in this form, also lacked any international recognition. After the Soweto Uprising in 1976, as Prime Minister, Vorster encouraged the Department of Information to engage in clandestine activities in and outside South Africa. Vorster did not inform his cabinet of these activities and financed them through a secret defence account. When

2162-591: Was sentenced to life imprisonment for sabotage, (as Prime Minister) the Terrorism Act , the complete abolition of non-white political representation , the Soweto Riots and the Steve Biko crisis. He conducted a more pragmatic foreign policy than his predecessors, in an effort to improve relations between the white minority government and South Africa's neighbours, particularly after the break-up of

2209-548: Was unwilling to alienate important political allies in the United States by extending diplomatic recognition to Rhodesia. The collapse of Portuguese rule in Angola and Mozambique in 1975 left South Africa and Rhodesia as the sole outposts of white minority rule on the continent: while Vorster was unwilling to make any concessions to his country's majority population, he soon realised that white rule would be untenable in

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