Two former members of the Sached Trust, a body furthering black education, Robert ADAM (26) and Mandla THEMBA (25), appeared in the Johannesburg Regional Court on 6 January on three counts of contravening the Terrorism Act and two of contravening the Internal Security Act.
They have been charged with allegedly obtaining information and taking photographs of the SABC television tower in Brixton, Johannesburg, in order to assist the ANC in attacking and destroying it. The charge sheet alleges that Adam drew up a report on reconnaissance of the tower and placed it with four photographs in a dustbin used as a 'dead letter box' in a Johannesburg park.
Adam is alleged to have started working for the ANC in November 1980 and is also accused of attempting to recruit a student of his to undergo military training last year. It is further alleged that he received and distributed ANC publications.
The two were remanded in custody and were due to appear again on 15 January in the Rand Supreme Court.
A 78-year-old businessman from Welkom, in the Orange Free State, Daniel Mashabela KHOABANE, was granted R10,000 bail in the Bophuthatswana Supreme Court in December last year.
He was detained in January 1981 for allegedly harbouring 'terrorists' on his farm. He is awaiting trial on charges under the Terrorism Act with six other men from Lesotho who were arrested on one of Khoabane's farms at Thaba 'Nchu.
An earlier bail application in July last year was turned down because it was feared that he might abscond to Lesotho.
Four students of the University of Witwatersrand appeared in the Johannesburg Regional Court on 25 November 1981 in connection with allegations that they contravened the Internal Security Act. The four, Elaine Rose MOHAMED (20), Leslie LAX (23), Michael YOUNG (20) (see CONVICTIONS & ACQUITTALS), were not asked to plead and were remanded in custody.
During the proceedings students from Wits, who were packed in the gallery, stood up and gave clenched fist salutes and shouted slogans. They were reprimanded by the magistrate for their behaviour.
Khotso Sydney SEATLHOLO (25), the former second president of the banned Soweto Students Representative Council (SSRC), and Masabata Mary LOATE (23) appeared in the Johannesburg Regional Court on 1 December 1981 in connection with two allegations of contravening the Terrorism Act.
The charge sheet alleged, amongst other things, that Seatlholo and Loate belonged to the banned SSRC; that Seatlholo formed the South African Youth Revolutionary Council (SAYRCO) outside South Africa and became its president. The aims of SAYRCO included undermining law and order in South Africa by using armed resistance; that they attempted to recruit others to SAYRCO to go for military training; that they attempted to make contact with certain organisations to further SAYRCO's aims; that they incited others to revolt against the government; that SAYRCO leaflets were distributed at a June 16 meeting in Soweto; that Loate arranged a meeting between Thami Mazwai, the Sowetan news editor, and Seatlholo and another (Mazai was himself detained on 17 June 1981); that Loate arranged accommodation for SAYRCO members in Soweto. Both were remanded in custody until 10 December 1981.
When the two appeared in court again on 10 December, Seatlholo was brought into court in leg irons amid tight police security.
The trial was set to begin in the Vanderbijlpark Regional Magistrates Court on 8 February.
The trial of Oscar MPETHA and 18 others continues in the Cape Town Supreme Court. The accused have pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and 'terrorism' relating to the deaths of two men who were killed in the demonstrations at Crossroads in August 1980.
The trial was adjourned in mid-December last year for the recess and was due to begin again on 9 February.
Allegations have been made by state witnesses of police intimidation throughout the trial. Several of the witnesses claimed that their statements were made under duress and that they had been subjected to police assault.
