On 23 May an East London Regional Court found Mongezi Tennyson NGCABA (22) of Duncan Village not guilty under the Unlawful Organisations Act and he was discharged.
The state alleged that Ngcaba had possessed or displayed documents relating to an unlawful organisation - the Black Peoples Convention and/or the African National Congress. Two documents carrying the words "Amandla Matla" were found under a mattress in Ngcaba's room. Fingerprint evidence was also adduced but the magistrate found the evidence inadequate and ordered an acquittal.
On 25 May in East London Regional Court a second man was found not guilty of being a member of an unlawful organisation - the banned BPC and/or African National Congress.
Evidence was given that Penrose Mthuthuzeli PHOBANE (26) had possessed and lent to others books by Joe Slovo and Govan Mbeki (ANC leader serving life sentence on Robben Island) and had read a speech by Nelson Mandela.
Two witnesses who declined to give evidence were jailed for nine months; their names were given as Nkosohlanga Gladwin NKHONJWA (24) library assistant in Duncan Village and Andile VABAZA. Two other men, W.A. Nondzaba and M.G. Gogwana, gave evidence against Phobane, but he was acquitted.
Municipal worker Welamazwe BANGO (29) was found not guilty in Umtata Regional Court on 28 May under the Transkei Public Security Act after being charged with uttering words to subvert the authority of the state.
An African security policeman alleged that Bango had approached him outside a cafe on 1 February 1978 with his clenched fist raised, and had shouted "Amandla! Where are men like Mandela and Sobukwe? These are real leaders fighting for the nation on Robben Island!" He went on to call Chief Matanzima "a dog", the Transkei homeland in which he could not stay because he wanted his freedom, and Police Minister Kruger "a murderer".
Bango told the court that he had been at home on the day in question.
On 13 July Mrs Ethel WAUCHOPE (52) and Washington MLAUZI (36) were both acquitted on Terrorism Act charges in Johannesburg Regional Court. A cheering crowd welcomed their release after 10 months in custody.
Mrs Wauchope was described as a member of the "Women for Peace" movement and Mr Mlauzi as a Soweto undertaker. They were charged with assisting eight others to go for military training.
