The Terrorism Act No 83 of 1967 (commenced 27 June) allowed the
detention of an individual by a policeman of rank lieutenant-
colonel or greater. Terrorism was very broadly defined in the
Act and included most common criminal behaviour. People could be
held indefinitely since the act allowed detention until all
questions were satisfactorily answered or until no further
useful purpose would be achieved by keeping the person in
detention. Those held under the act were only permitted to be
visited by a magistrate one every two weeks. No one else was
allowed access (except the police and security services, of
course). Unlike the previous 90-day (General Law Amendment Act
No 37 of 1963) and 180-day (Criminal Procedure Amendment Act No
96 of 1965) detention laws the public was not entitled to
information about people held, including their identity this
meant that people could effectively 'disappear' for official
legal reasons. In order to cover those arrested for the Rivonia
trial and for anti-Apartheid acts in both