On August 17 student leader Paul Langa (28) alleged to have led a "suicide squad" of Soweto students, was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment by a circuit judge in Johannesburg on charges under the Terrorism Act. It was alleged during the trial that Langa was chairman of a sub-committee of the Soweto Students Representative Council (SSRC) which was known as the suicide squad.
He was convicted of causing explosions in the Jabulani Police Station, at the Pelican night-club and at a house, all in Soweto between August and December 1976. He was also found guilty of possessing explosives during the same period. No one was killed or seriously injured in any of the explosions.
Langa pleaded not guilty and said he had played no part in any of the alleged crimes, except for driving a car for SSRC members when two buildings were blown up.
A man who refused to testify against Langa was jailed for three years for this refusal by the trial judge on 5 August. Titi Mthenjane told the court his conscience directed him not to give evidence, after being warned by the judge that he could face 5 years' imprisonment. The judge then jailed him for 3 years in terms of the new Criminal Procedure Act.
