A Sebokeng insurance agent, who had been a detective sergeant at the Sharpeville police station until he resigned in 1980, Thomas MASHABA (30), and an organiser of the Young Christian Workers of Sebokeng, Augustine Thabo LIBE (29), appeared in the Vereeniging Regional Court on 13 March on three charges under the Internal Security Act.
When the two appeared again in the Meyer-ton Regional Court on 3 June details of the charges were given. Both were charged with being members of the ANC and with having distributed and displayed ANC pamphlets and posters in January this year. Both pleaded not guilty.
State evidence claims that they plastered an ANC poster on the wall of the Vereeniging police station and several others at a shop, on poles near bus ranks, and at the Sebokeng hospital. It is also alleged that the fingerprints of Mashaba were found on one of the posters.
Mashaba denied the 'confessions' he had made during interrogation because he had made them after being threatened that he would be treated like Mapetla Mohapi, a detainee who died in detention in 1976. He was also afraid of having his head covered with bags, a method he had personally used to force suspects to talk when he was a policeman. He said police always denied using this method because they knew it was illegal. Judgement was due to be given on 28 July.
