Two self-confessed members of the Pan-Africanist Congress of Azania were sentenced to twelve years' imprisonment each in the Kenton-on-Sea Regional Court on 11 March after being convicted of 'terrorism' under the Internal Security Act and other charges under the Arms and Ammunition Act. A third man detained with them on 28 July 1987 was imprisoned for five years and six months.
Milton Bayi JOYI (29) and Mkeli Sabelo WILLIAMS (23) both admitted leaving the country and undergoing military training. Joyi left in 1977 and was trained in Yugoslavia, while Williams left in 1985 and went to Libya. Both returned to South Africa with Scorpion machine-guns, hand-grenades and ammunition. They were detained before they had carried out any armed actions.
Tamsanqa Forcus DUMA (31) was convicted of 'terrorism' for hiding suitcases containing weapons at his Fort Beaufort home. They had been given to him by Williams.
Sipho Nhlanhla MAPHUMULO (25) was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment by the Durban Regional Court on 12 February after being convicted of 'terrorism' for acting as a recruiter and courier for the ANC. Following a tip-off, Maphumulo was detained in Umlazi in February 1987 allegedly in possession of an AK47 rifle, ammunition and explosives. He was said to have recently returned to South Africa.
Two witnesses, both unnamed, gave evidence against Maphumulo. Witness A was an accomplice of Andrew Zondo who was executed in September 1986 for a limpet mine explosion at the Amanzimtoti shopping centre in December 1985.
Witness B was a policeman who claimed to have infiltrated ANC training camps in Angola after entering a Botswana refugee camp using a false identity document provided by the South African government. He claimed he could identify 600-800 ANC members he had trained with who were now operating in the country. He identified Maphumulo as one of these. Maphumulo was subsequently convicted of undergoing military training sometime between 1984 and 1987.
A trial in the Humansdorp Regional Court ended on 18 February with the imprisonment of a playwright, a teacher and a schoolboy. Maboy Colin NDEVU (25), Walter Mvuleni NONGENA (30) and Vuyo Mzimkhulu Felix NONGENA (19) first appeared in court in Port Elizabeth in September to face a charge of 'terrorism' and eleven counts related to furthering the aims of the ANC. All the offences were allegedly committed between 1980 and 1987.
The full extent of the state's evidence was not reported in the press but it included statements made by Ndevu and Walter Nongena after their arrest. Both were convicted of 'terrorism' for participating in activities aimed at bringing about political change by violent means.
Ndevu, a Cape Town playwright and former COSAS member, received military and political training in Botswana, Angola and the German Democratic Republic. He left the country after the 1980 schools boycott. On his return to South Africa he operated from De Aar where he bought a vehicle with ANC funds for ferrying firearms and prospective ANC members. He sent four people out of the country for military training. He was also said to have organised street committees in De Aar and photographed a number of strategic buildings including the municipal police offices, the military base and the sports complex. In addition he was convicted of ANC membership and the illegal possession of a Makarov pistol plus ammunition. He was sentenced to fourteen years' imprisonment.
Walter Nongena, a teacher, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for what the magistrate described as his 'minor' role in 'terrorism'. He was also convicted of being an ANC member, carrying out an 'errand' outside the country for the organisation and receiving training in the handling of a Makarov pistol.
Vuyo Nongena received an effective two-year prison sentence for the illegal possession of a pistol and ammunition between January 1980 and 31 March 1987. Nongena, a school student from Kwazakhele, was only 11 years old in 1980. He was also said to have assisted Ndevu by hiding clothes. All the accused shouted defiant ANC slogans when sentenced.
