The trial of six men and one woman under the Terrorism Act in Durban Regional Court (see FOCUS 20 p.11) resumed in January with further evidence from fellow students and alleged accomplices.
The seven accused are Sithembiso NGOBESE (26) Themba NXUMALO (26) Nhlenla NGIDI (25) Eric MLABA (26) Penuel MADUNA (26) and Ms. Sibongile KUBHEKA (29) and they are charged with recruiting 75 people for military training abroad.
One witness, Caleb Mandla Mkize (21) described as 'the leader of the South African Students Movement (SASM)' said that he became interested in politics in 1977 after accused Mlaba had told him that the South African government was oppressing black people through its homelands policy. Mkize had been in detention since 1977 and told the court how he had been driven around town by the security police on one occasion. Another witness, a 19-year-old girl who gave evidence in camera, claimed that an offer of free education in Botswana turned out to be recruitment for military training.
The trial continues (RDM 23/26.1.79, 2.2.79)
