Five men, including the brother of an executed ANC combatant, were sentenced in the Pretoria Regional Court on 22 March for their part in armed attacks on police in Mamelodi in 1986 and 1987. Samuel MOKUBELA (29), Thekiso Aaron MOGOERANE (31), Conrad LEKHUMBI (28) and Sello KHOTA (34) were alleged to be members of the African National Congress and to have undergone military training. Motshele Edwin MAKWELA (35) was said to have allowed his house in Mamelodi to be used for sheltering recruits, holding meetings and imparting military training. At their first reported court appearance in August 1988, Neo MOERANE (26) and Lucas MABE (26) appeared with them but their trial was later separated.
The men faced charges of 'terrorism', attempted murder and possession of arms and ammunition. It was alleged they used hand grenades and AK47 rifles to attack the homes of Warrant Officer S Setole and Detective Sergeant J Hlongwane on 17 February 1986 and 19 July 1987 respectively.
Mokubela and Mogoerane were detained in September 1987 (FOCUS 74 p.5) while Lekhumbi was arrested by members of the South African Defence Force in February 1988. He told the court he was held overnight at an army camp, forced to stand in a hole throughout, and then handed over to the Security Branch. He was then assaulted and forced to make a statement admitting having undergone military training. Mogoerane is the elder brother of Thelle Simon Mogoerane, an ANC combatant who was executed by the regime in June 1983.
Four of the men were convicted on two counts of 'terrorism' under the Internal Security Act while Makwela was convicted of only one. Mokubela, Mogoerane and Lekhumbi were each sentenced to an effective 15 years while Khota received 10 years. Lekhumbi was found to have planned, but not physically participated in, the attacks. Makwela will serve five years.
