Since the last issue of FOCUS no new major security trials have commenced. However, newspaper reports in December indicated that a series of major trials were expected to commence early in 1982. It was claimed that the authorities were preparing for several major trials in which a number of people in detention would feature. The Minister of Police, Louis le Grange, confirmed at the end of December that 'within months' a number of detainees would be charged with 'serious offences'.
The head of the Security Branch, Lieutenant-General Johann Coetzee, said that charges facing trade unionists and labour leaders in detention could include terrorism and furthering the aims of the African National Congress. Sources described as 'closely involved in security affairs' were reported as saying that the authorities were preparing for a major trial attempting to link a number of activities - sabotage, consumer boycotts, anti-Republic Day protests and trade union activity - into a single conspiracy. A single large trial could be used by the state to attempt to justify its severe repressive measures, which are subject to constant condemnation from a number of organisations, both in South Africa and internationally. The Minister of Police however said that he could not say whether there would be one major trial or a series of trials.
