Definition:

The General Law Amendment Act No 37 of 1963 (commenced 2 May) allowed a police officer to detain without warrant a person suspected of a politically motivated crime to be held for 90 days without access to a lawyer. When used in practice, suspects were re-detained for another 90 day period immediately after release.

Act also introduced the Sobukwe Clause which allowed people already convicted of political offenses to be further detained (initially for twelve months).


Named the Sobukwe Clause because it was used to keep PAC leader Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe (who was originally arrested in 1960 and sentenced to three years) in Robben Island for an additional six years.

The act was amended by the General Law Amendment Act No 80 of 1964 which allowed the Minister of Justice to extend the Sobukwe Clause as desired.