In August, two youth activists, Petronella MENTOR (24) and Freddie Mpifikile VANGA (22), appeared on charges of possessing banned literature. Mentor, who pleaded guilty, was given a wholly suspended sentence of nine months. Vanga was acquitted. However, they were detained under emergency regulations immediately after the completion of their trial on 5 August. The detentions were condemned by the South Transvaal Youth Congress which said that they were part of a government campaign to immobilize youth leaders and hamper opposition to the October municipal elections.
A university student who was jailed for a year in February by a Wynberg magistrate had his sentence reduced and suspended in the Cape Town Supreme Court in August. Andrew BROWN's sentence was amended to two six-month suspended terms. He was also ordered to perform 400 hours' community service.
Brown's conviction arose from two stoning incidents during campus demonstrations at the University of Cape Town in April 1987. Brown hit no-one with the four stones he threw at the police. He explained that he was angered by the police presence on campus and the arrest and assault of fellow students. In spite of a social worker's report proposing community service, the magistrate had decided against it. In the Supreme Court, however, Justice Williamson said that community service was a 'fundamentally important' alternative to prison.
