The Terrorism Act No 83 of 1967 was a law of the South African Apartheid regime until all except section 7 was repealed under the Internal Security and Intimidation Amendment Act 138 of 1991.
Section 6 of the Act allowed someone suspected of involvement in terrorism—which was very broadly defined as anything that might "endanger the maintenance of law and order"—to be detained for a 60-day period (which could be renewed) without trial on the authority of a senior police officer. Since there was no requirement to release information on who was being held, people subject to the Act tended to disappear.
The death of Steve Biko in police custody in 1977, while being detained under the Act, was a particular cause célèbre. It is estimated that approximately 80 people died while being detained under the Act.[1] The poem 'In Detention' was written by Chris van Wyk as a protest to the seemingly unexplainable deaths at the John Vorster Square, supposedly at the hands of police brutality.
Other provisions of the Act included the founding of the Bureau of State Security.
The full text of Terrorism Act, 1967 at Wikisource