The trial of 18 alleged members of the Pan-Africanist Congress continues in Bethal Circuit Court; it has now been in progress for over a year. (see FOCUS 15–20 POLITICAL TRIALS)
The accused are Zephania MOTHOPENG (65) former president of the Transvaal Teachers' Association and founder member of the PAC, sentenced to two years in prison in 1961 and subsequently to three more years, being restricted on his release from jail; John GANYA (48), from Soweto, who previously served five years in jail as a PAC member; Mark SHINNERS (37) former PAC political prisoner who is accused of 'being the key PAC underground organiser in the Northern Transvaal and Pretoria area'; Hamilton KEKE (42) former PAC political prisoner sent to Robben Island with his brother for alleged involvement in Poqo activities in the Eastern Cape in the early 1960's. These four 'veterans' are accused of plotting to reorganize the PAC and recruit members - activities said to have taken place over the past 15 years since the four were in jail. ("South Africa's Secret Trial" by David Sibeko, Dec. 1978).
The other accused are Bennie NTOELE (38); Michael KHALA (24); Alfred NTSHALI-NTSHALI (47); Julius Daniel LANDINGWE (30) a former member of the Black Peoples Convention in the Western Cape (see FOCUS 2 p. 5, 7 p. 7 etc); Zolile NDINDWE (26); Moffat ZUNGU (28) photographer with the now-banned World newspaper, accused of distributing PAC funds; Johnson NYATHI (22) who was tortured and thrown out of a window during interrogation (see FOCUS 12 p. 12); Jerome KODISANG (26) former member of SASO, accused of having been trained in Libya and 'smuggled back' into South Africa; Themba HLATSHWAYO (21): Mothlagegi THLALE (22); Rodney TSOLETSANE (20); Daniel MATSOBANE (31) and Goodwill MONI (24).
Among those listed as co-conspirators in the case are four people who died in security police detention - Dr. N. Ntshuntsha, Samuel Malinga (see FOCUS 9 p. 8.) Aaron Khoza (FOCUS 10 p. 13) and Bonaventura Malaza (FOCUS 14 p. 11)
In the trial two of the younger accused, Themba Hlatshwayo and Mothlagegi Thlale, gave evidence about student activities in Krugersdorp. After the recess the trial resumed in February. Peter Jones, who was detained with Steve Biko, was released from detention (see under BANNINGS) and subpoenaed to give defence evidence, but did not do so. One of those who did give evidence was Lawrence Ntlokoa, Krugersdorp student held in detention in 1977 and 1978 and banned on release (see FOCUS 20 p. 8). He had told the court he had attended a meeting called by the Young African Christian Movement in March-April 1976, but said he knew of no link between this and the PAC. (Voice 15.2.79; RDM 15.11.78)
Accused Moffat Zungu, Goodwill Moni and Zolile Ndindwe gave evidence in their defence during February. Zungu told the court that his contacts with students had been established while in detention; he denied being a PAC member or supporter. Moni described student meetings at schools in the Cape Town area during 1976, and five trips he made to Swaziland in 1977. Ndindwe admitted in cross-examination that he had helped others to leave the country illegally.
The Bishop of Swaziland, Mandlenkhosi Zwane, also gave evidence, relating to an educational and refugee fund and school in Swaziland, run by a joint PAC-ANC committee, which were established to help the refugees from South Africa. (DD. 21.11.78; RDM 29.11.78, 15.1.79, 9/15/16/19/20/21/22/13.2.79)
The witness who denied the statement he was alleged to have made to the police and was threatened with prosecution for perjury (see FOCUS 20 p. 11) was apparently recalled the following day when he said he had lied to the court and asked to be forgiven. On 15 November Kagiso student Churchill Luvuno (22) denied the statement made in 1977 on the grounds that it had been compiled from other statements, but on 16 November he agreed with the judge that taken separately each paragraph was true and that he had lied to the court. (RDM 17.11.78)
On 19 February two of the accused, John Ganya (whom the judge suspects of suffering from mental disturbance) and Jerome Kodisang, discharged their attorney, Mr. Griffiths Mxenge. (RDM 20.2.79)
