South Africa Clears 12 of Treason : Charges Against Most Prominent Foes of Apartheid Dropped

The government withdrew treason charges today against 12 of South Africa’s most prominent apartheid foes who had been accused of supporting the aims of the banned African National Congress guerrilla group.

Natal Province Atty. Gen. Michael Imber announced in Natal Province Supreme Court that charges were dropped against the defendants in South Africa’s most important treason trial in more than 20 years. Imber said the trial will continue for four other defendants in the case.

Government spokesmen did not say why the charges were dropped, but Priscilla Jana, a defense attorney, said: “The state’s case was so weak it just had to collapse.”

The move resulted in wild scenes of jubilation outside the court in Pietermaritzburg, where relatives and friends hugged and kissed the 12. Mewa Ramgobin, 52, said: “Our acquittal is an indictment of security police methods. We have been vindicated. The struggle will continue.”

Members of Front

All 12 are members of the United Democratic Front, a nationwide, multiracial anti-apartheid alliance that claims 2 million members.

“While there’s no doubt we were on trial, apartheid was also on trial, and the methods of our struggle . . . were held in question. Now we have been vindicated. We hope the rulers of the country come to their senses,” Ramgobin said.

Charges were dropped against Ramgobin; George Sewpershad, 43; M. J. Naidoo, 53; Dr. Essop Jassat, 52; Aubrey Mokoena, 52; Curtis Mkondo, 56; lawyer Archie Gumede, 70; Paul David, 40; Albertina Sisulu, 66; the Rev. Frank Chikane, 34; social worker Cassim Salojee, 49, and teacher Ismail Mohammed, 54.

Life Sentence

Sisulu is president of the UDF and her husband, Walter, is a former ANC leader serving a life sentence for trying to overthrow the white-led government.

Gumede, Naidoo, Ramgobin and Sewpershad were among six men who sought refuge in the British consulate in Durban more than a year ago, and spent weeks inside to escape arrest for their anti-apartheid activities.

The trial of the 16 began in May, after they had been granted bail.

The state had prepared 600-page indictments and said it would call more than 120 witnesses in a trial expected to last 18 months. The defendants faced a possible death penalty.

The four still on trial in Pietermaritzburg are trade unionists Sisa Njikaleni, 29; Sam Kikine, 36; Isaac Ngcobo, 36; and Thozamile Gqweta.

Important Trial

The Pietermaritzburg trial was seen as the most important since the 1961 trial in which Sisulu and ANC military leader Nelson Mandela were convicted and jailed for life.

The U.N. Security Council in March condemned the government of President Pieter W. Botha for trying the 16, and called for their release. South African authorities replied that the trial was not political but resulted from criminal activities of defendants who broke security laws.