The trial of the leader of the Transkei Democratic Party, Hector NCOKAZI (see FOCUS 17 p.4) opened in Umtata Supreme Court in October. He is charged on two counts under the Transkei Public Security Act with subverting the authority of the state (Transkei) its constitutional independence and sovereignty.
It is alleged that at a Democratic Party congress at Engcobo on 31 December 1977, he uttered the following words:
> "I saw the dreams turn into nightmare when on October 26, 1976 the Transkei people braved the inclement weather and attended the celebration that marked the final sacrifice of their future and the future of their children on the altar of Pretoria's independence.
> "The Transkei people were victims of that political swindle at the hands of that racist white-minority Government of South Africa. During the last half of 1976 these people (the Transkei leaders) were trying to convince the world that Transkei independence was a progressive political venture in terms of black liberation politics. Their political statements were simply glosses of deceit lulling the people into acquiescence and servility...
> "With the backing of the OAU and the UN we shall fight the independent Bantustans. Now the SA Government in convínvania with the TNIP has limited our scope of political operation by legally forcing us to operate within an area bounded by the Umzimkulu and Kei Rivers. We don't want to swim with the whites on beaches; we want to swim with them in the legislative chambers of South Africa".
and:
> "These Transkei leaders are living in luxury, getting thousands of rands a month when the masses are floundering in poverty. They roam about under cover of darkness with women using government cars without public consent.
> "They are rich because they have unduly enriched themselves and when we ask them why they do these things they react by locking us up in their prisons. The Transkei people are cursed with the worst government in the history of mankind, a government that is scandalously corrupt and is prone to suppress the DP which always castigates them for their corrupt deeds.
> "They waste money on propaganda and on other trivial undertakings when people are smothering in poverty."
Evidence was given by a member of the Transkei security police who attended the meeting and handed his copy of Nkokazi's prepared statement to the police chief in Umtata.
Nkokazi was allowed R200 bail and the case was postponed. He has been detained three times since 1976 - firstly in July 1976, then in October 1977 and lastly from January to October 1978. (DD 4/24/26/28.10.78)
