On 26 February Rev. David Russell of Wynberg was convicted in Parow Regional Court of contravening his ban, and sentence to 12 months in prison, plus 3½ years suspended. Russell pleaded guilty to 11 counts. On 3 March he was freed on bail pending an appeal against sentence. The charges related to Russell leaving the magisterial district of Wynberg to attend the Anglican Church Synod at Grahamstown in December 1979. He also attended a social gathering in Grahamstown and failed to report to the police as required by his ban.
In court Russell said the ban severely restricted his Christian ministry. He decided before God that as an elected delegate it was his moral and religious duty to attend the synod. He had informed the Minister of Justice of his intention. Having decided to go to the synod he also decided to participate in all its events. He did not feel that "in this instance the State had the right to give or not to give permission to me to fulfil a religious duty".
The State contended that as well as attending the synod, Russell had tabled a motion which "constituted high treason" advocating the eradication of exploitation and racist attitudes and the overthrow of the Nationalist government.
