The two members of the Young Christian Workers' Movement on trial in Kroonstad Regional Court were convicted at the beginning of February and sentenced to five years' imprisonment each for conspiracy to commit sabotage.
The two were Petrus Mpho MAKAE (27) and Jacob TLELIMA (23) brothers-in-law from Kroonstad; they were among a large number of YCW members detained by security police last June (see FOCUS 17 p. 6).
Evidence was given by fellow YCW detainees that the accused plotted to destroy a bottle store. They were also alleged to have planned to attack a power station, military camp, courtroom, police station and railway station in Kroonstad during a black workers' strike to commemorate the 16 June shootings. The state claimed that songs at the YCW national congress held at Brits early in 1978 incited young people to commit violence. The songs related to the death of Steve Biko, the banning of Winnie Mandela and the Minister of Police Jimmy Kruger (Voice 11.11.78; Star 10.2.79).
