Denis Hurley (bishop) - The Hurley Case

A lawsuit, known as The Hurley Case, managed to secure the release of a political opponent of the ruling National Party detained under Section 29 of the Internal Security Act. Hurley became actively involved, turning up in black communities the day they were due to be forcibly removed. On hearing that children had died shortly after one such removal, Hurley counted their graves and recorded their names and ages. Then he released the details to the press, much to the fury of the state. In response to the weak response of South Africa's churches to apartheid, Hurley founded an ecumenical agency, Diakonia, dedicated to social justice. Hurley said his greatest struggle was convincing South African Roman Catholics that social justice was integral to their faith rather than an optional extra. Hurley was nicknamed Mhlwemamba (Eyes of the Mamba) by appreciative Zulus.