When the trial of Chief Sabata DALINDYEBO of the Transkei resumed in March the defence asked for a postponement as the senior lawyer Mr I. Mohammed is suffering from exhaustion. In his absence Dalindyebo was unanimously re-elected leader of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP); Mrs Florence Mancotywa, also on trial, was re-elected publicity secretary. The remaining office-holders were detained a month after being elected.
On 23 January four people appeared in Umtata Magistrates Court on charges under the Transkei Public Security Act connected with Chief Dalindyebo's trial. They were S.W. NELANI (40) Chief Counsellor; Patrick DALINDYEBO (21) Sabata's son; T.H. MAGINGXA (26) and T.L. VA (24) both government clerks. Charges against two students Sabelo Dywili and Mseleki Mgudlwa were withdrawn. Patrick Dalindyebo was released on bail; the others were remanded in custody to 11 February.
The charges relate to pamphlets distributed calling for the charges against Chief Sabata to be dropped. It was reported at the beginning of February that ten detained members of the Democratic Progressive Party would soon be charged. Names given by the Transkei Commissioner of Police included Caledon MDA - DPP deputy leader, Babini PIKASHE - national organiser, S.A. XOBOLLOLO - treasurer, J. HATI - executive member, Ezra MTSHONTSHI - SRC chairman, Transkei University College, Zola DUNYWA, Mazwi YAKO, Ndime SALIWA, Mzwandile MBETE and Mlungisi MTSHOTANANA - DPP Youth League executive members.
Four young men from Sebokeng, Vereeniging, who were convicted of sabotage in May 1978 were in February 1980 reconvicted and imprisoned by Vereeniging Regional Court. The four are: Ariel S. HLANYANE (21), T. Andrew RATSOMO (21) both sentenced to four years (two years suspended) for conspiracy to commit sabotage, A.S. THINANE (45) and Solomon MPHOFU (25) both sentenced to five years to run concurrently with the 8-year sentences they are now serving for another sabotage offence. Hlanyane and Ratsomo were released in December 1979 after the successful appeal by E.J. Mabaso when their sentences were set aside and a re-trial ordered. Both were re-arrested within days and appeared in court on 6 December. It is believed that Mabaso was also due to be re-tried but he has not been seen since his release. When the case came to court on 20 December, Thinane and Mphofu were also charged. All four pleaded guilty. Charges related to the burning of two schools in November 1977. The sixth person convicted with them on the original charges was Johannes Matsobane, who died on Robben Island.
Two Soweto students accused under the Terrorism Act re-appeared in Johannesburg Regional Court on 14 January on charges relating to recruiting others to go abroad for military training. Evidence was given by other youths of conversations with the accused, who were detained in Brits in mid-1979 on a routine pass book check. The case was remanded to 14 April.
The trial of Bingo Mbonjeni BENTLEY and Archibald Monti MZINYATHI, accused under the Terrorism Act resumed in Johannesburg Regional Court in February when the defence applied for evidence to be taken from witnesses in Lesotho on commission.
The trial of four Soweto Students League members continued in Kempton Park Circuit Court in February when the defence contested the admissibility of a confession made by one of the accused. Kedibone Christopher MATHABE (21) Colin Makgalo KOTU (23) Simon MASHIGO (19) and Elias MODIGA (19) have all pleaded not guilty to charges under the Terrorism Act and alternatively sabotage, arson, attempted murder, malicious damage and public violence. Mathabe told the court he was arrested on 2 February and assaulted by police at Protea police station. Amongst other things a wet canvas bag was put over his head and he was hit until he lost consciousness. The same day he was taken to Vereeniging where, 'exhausted and confused', he made a statement. On 3 February Mathabe was seen by a police doctor and a magistrate, who saw marks on his back.
Seven young men from Durban accused under the Terrorism Act on charges of attempting to go for military training and inciting others to do so between July 1978 and August 1979 re-appeared in Durban Regional Court on 14 January. The accused are Njengabantu SITHOLE (21) Mandla James SIBISI (20) Ramatloto MOSES (21) Christopher Sitembiso NZUZA (20) and three minors whose names were given in one press report as Stanley Thabane MAJOLA, Kaywood Dumisani DAMOYI and Thembu Stanley MTHEMBU. Because of their age the trial is to be held in camera. All have pleaded not guilty.
In January Sepenane Isaiah SEGONE (21) was charged in Johannesburg Magistrates Court under the Internal Security Act with membership of the ANC and ANC activities. An unidentified witness told the court of Segone's visit to a music festival in Lesotho in August 1979 and his bringing into South Africa a copy of Nelson Mandela's "The Struggle Is My Life" (published by IDAF) and ANC pamphlets. Police alleged that Segone had made a verbal confession which was recorded and transcribed. Segone stated that he had been threatened with death in John Vorster Square Security Police headquarters in a room known as the 'waarkamer' (truth room). The court inspected this room, No 1022 on the 10th floor. Segone also said he had been stripped naked, bound hand and foot and hit by two policemen during interrogation. The case continued.
Five youths appeared in Odi Magistrates Court in December 1979 charged under Bophutha-Tswana security laws with membership of the ANC and possession of ANC literature. They were refused bail and remanded to 3 January. On 25 February they re-appeared when the case was remanded to 17 April. The names of the five are given as Alpheus MOTHIBE (variously MATHOJA) (23) Karabo MODIBE (18) Gerald SEABELO (20) Emmanuel MADIBE (29) and Alpheus KUNGWANE (20). The last named was not reported as appearing on 25 February so it is possible that charges against him have been dropped.
A 17-year-old youth from Soweto (whose name may be Adam MASAKE) appeared in Johannesburg Regional Court on 15 January charged under the Terrorism Act with receiving military training in Lesotho and recruiting another. Contradictory evidence was given by other young refugees and the case was remanded to 1 April.
The South African exile Zinjiva Winston NKONDO (37) (Victor Matlou) arrested in transit at Bloemfontein in December appeared in the Orange Free State Supreme Court on 10 March charged under the Terrorism Act, when the case was remanded to 4 June. Nkondo is accused of leaving South Africa in July 1977, of joining the ANC, of being trained as a journalist in the German Democratic Republic in 1978 on behalf of the ANC, of heading the internal propaganda section of the ANC Information and Publicity department in Lusaka and of travelling to Lesotho in December 1979 with the aim of establishing an ANC information unit there. He is also accused of undergoing military training in Angola during 1979.
Three young men from Soweto are facing Terrorism Act charges in the Transvaal Supreme Court relating to guerilla actions on behalf of the ANC and Umkonto we Sizwe (MK). Ally Kholisile LUMKWANE (22), David Dumisani MADUNA (20) and Bonginkosi Patrick MAISELA (24) are accused of having received military training and of having brought arms and ammunition into the country. Lumkwane is alleged to have left South Africa in September 1976 and to have recruited the others. He was arrested in Soweto on 28 June 1979 and revealed various arms caches. Between them the three accused were said to possess four time bombs, two grenades and two sub-machine guns plus ammunition.
