Torture has been used as punishment throughout history to coerce or extracts information. UNCAT define torture as sever physical or mental pain or suffering intentionally inflicted by or either instigation or with the acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity to intimidate, coerce, punish or extract information from a person. The ANC had first hand experience of this horror during apartheid and many of its cadres were tortured to death.