Clenched fist salutes, cheers and singing marked the acquittal of 19 students of the University of Zululand on charges arising from demonstrations at the university in June last year at the Durban Supreme Court on 28 July 1977.
The students, including one woman, were all acquitted at the end of the State case. One other student had already been acquitted on 18 July. The students all pleaded not guilty to three counts of sabotage, one of arson, one of malicious damage to property and two counts of assault with intent to murder.
After closing the State case, the State prosecutor asked the court to come to a decision without further evidence being led. He said the State case rested substantially on the evidence of accomplices who had been students at the university. The prosecutor said he conceded these accomplices had not given satisfactory evidence from the State point of view.
