Two members of SWAPO's military wing (PLAN), JOHANNES ALFONS PANDENI (28) and PETRUS NANGOLA IILONGA (25), were each sentenced on 15 November to 18 years imprisonment on conviction under the Terrorism Act. A third man, WILLEM BIWA (26), a married man with 5 children, was sentenced to 6 years imprisonment for having harboured and abetted Pandeni and Lilonga during May and June 1978. The two men were found guilty of the sabotage of a road bridge near Keetmanshoop, and the blowing up of a rail bridge near Karibib, resulting in a train derailment. Passing sentence in the Windhoek Supreme Court, Mr. Justice Badenhorst said that he had seriously considered imposing the death sentence.
A fourth man, known only as ALFEUS and aged about 18, who was arrested with the three accused in Namaland in August, subsequently turned State witness.
Police used batons to repel a crowd of SWAPO supporters demonstrating outside the courtroom as sentence was passed, and one man was arrested. Police in riot vehicles then followed the protesters as they marched to Katutura township. (WA 3/16.11.78; RDM 16.11.78; WO 18.11.78; see FOCUS 19 p.15)
