Frank Chikane details torture at John Vorster Square
African National Congress (ANC) veteran Frank Chikane says he was repeatedly tortured by police officials while in detention at the notorious John Vorster Square.
Chikane testified at the inquiry into the death of medical doctor and trade unionist Neil Aggett at the High Court in Johannesburg on Thursday morning.
READ: Barbara Hogan: Neil Aggett was an exceptional person
Aggett died in 1982 in a holding cell at John Vorster Square, now known as Johannesburg Central Police Station.
An apartheid-era inquiry concluded that Agget died as a result of suicide, despite doubts raised his family.
Chikane detailed the horrific events that occurred during his detention at the notorious police station.
“They bring a team that looks very friendly and try to encourage you to say you know and if you don’t talk, they say these bad guys will kill you, so you need to talk.
“Then if they feel like you aren’t talking, they will let these guys come and they were very violent.
“They interrogated me for 48 hours, and I stopped answering their questions and then I told them that I am no longer okay and then they unchained me, put me on leg irons.”