EXTERNAL (for general distribution)AI Index: AFR 53/06/95

Distr: UA/SC

15 March 1995

Further information on UA 385/94 (AFR 53/34/94, 26 October 1994) - and follow-up: AFR 53/02/95, 25 January 1995 - Death threats / Extrajudicial Executions

SOUTH AFRICA:Beauty MKHIZE, Chairperson of South African Rural Women's Movement, field worker for Transvaal Rural Action Committee, Driefontein, Eastern Transvaal Province

Yunus CAJEE, Member of the African National Congress (ANC), shopkeeper, Driefontein

Amnesty International welcomes further positive steps which the Eastern Transvaal authorities have taken to address the concerns of the Driefontein community. Since late January 1995 responsibility for investigating killings and harassment of Driefontein activists has been passed to a special investigation team which is working under the direct supervision of the Eastern Transvaal Provincial Minister for Safety and Security and working jointly with an investigating officer from Volksrust police station. Driefontein residents see that the investigators are active in their area, and posters offering a police reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Hendrietta Nkabinde's killers are now on display. The police investigators have been providing regular feedback to the community.

No further action by Urgent Action participants is requested. Amnesty International remains concerned, however, that the perpetrators of past human rights abuses in Driefontein be brought to justice in due course, and will continue to follow the situation there closely. Driefontein residents have asked for their thanks and appreciation to be passed to all who wrote letters in support of them.