The trial of Renfrew Leslie CHRISTIE (30) was due to take place in Pretoria Supreme Court from 19–30 May. Christie was detained in October 1979 and appeared in Pretoria Magistrates Court in April 1980 on seven Terrorism Act charges, alternatively with charges under the Internal Security, Atomic Energy and Theft Acts.
Christie is accused of intending to make available information on South Africa's energy position to the ANC, the International University Exchange Fund (IUEF), IUEF director Lars-Gunnar Eriksson, Dr Frene Ginwala (ANC) and Horst Kleinschmidt. The offences are alleged to have taken place in 1978 and 1979 in South Africa, Britain, Switzerland and West Germany. Information regarding the region where the South Africa Atomic Energy Board considered it seismologically safe to explode a nuclear device was allegedly conveyed to Eriksson by letter in February 1978. It is also alleged that Christie obtained a plan of the Koeberg power station and a report entitled "Public reaction to nuclear power and the influences of public relations techniques", and that he visited various power stations in South Africa.
The 17-year-old youth from Soweto (whose name may be Adam MASAKE) re-appeared in Johannesburg Regional Court on 1 April charged under the Terrorism Act with receiving military training in Lesotho between March 1978 and January 1979, with recruiting one other, and with returning to South Africa with intent to endanger law and order.
Nine men faced charges in Pretoria Magistrates Court on 14 April alleging that they were connected with the attacks on Silverton Volkskas bank and Soekmekaar police station earlier this year, as trained ANC guerillas. The nine accused are Johnson LUBISI (MUBISI) aged 28, Petrus MASHIGO (20) Naphtali MANANA (24) Moses MOLEBATSI (27) Hloilole Benjamin TAU (27) Grant SHEZI Jeremiah RADEBE (26) Johannes Boyce MOGALE (BOGALE) (26) and Thomas MNGADI (29). The case was remanded to Pretoria Supreme Court.
The trial of Bingo Mbonjeni BENTLEY and Archibald Monti MZINYATHI accused under the Terrorism Act continued during February before being postponed to May 6.
The case against Elias NKUMBI and a 17-year-old YOUTH (now reported as his brother) resumed on 14 April in Johannesburg Regional Court. Both are charged under the Terrorism Act with inciting others to undergo military training.
