User:Laleeibssa/Delmas Treason Trial

The Delmas Treason Trial (1985–1988) in South Africa was the prosecution of 22 anti-apartheid activists under security laws, with the intention of suppressing the United Democratic Front (UDF). The defendants included three senior UDF leaders, Moses Chikane, Mosiuoa Lekota and Popo Molefe, known as the "Big Three". Just before the verdict, white supremacist spree killer Barend Strydom started to shoot people in the square outside the court. Eleven of those accused were found guilty; however, their sentences were overturned in 1989 after an appeal to the Supreme Court. The trial was the longest in South African history at the time.

Judge

Justice Kees van Dijkhorst

Defendants

• Thomas Madikwe Manthata
• Popo Simon Molefe
• Mosiuoa Gerard Patrick Lekota
• Moses Mabokela Chikane

Prosecution side

Prosecutors in the trail argued that the United Democratic Front was a cover-up for an internal wing of the African National Congress. The African National Congress had been outlawed by the government for over two decades during the trial. Therefore, by the prosecution linking the two groups together, the state could use that for grounds to criminalize any violent or non-violent protest activity initiated by the UDF. The trial mainly focused on the UDF's role in protesting and boycotting the Indian elections during South Africa's 1984 General Election.

Defense side

The defense rejected the fact that its clients had any plans or participated in overthrowing the state. It argued that the United Democratic Front was a non-violent organization. It brought up documents and meeting notes showing that the the African National Congress had long-standing grievances with the United Democratic Front on issues surrounding the Black comment. Additionally, the United Democratic Front provided witnesses that argued that the organization fought for a more united, non-racial South Africa; however, they did this through ensuring more political rights for Blacks rather than plotting to overthrow the government.

Verdict

In his ruling, the judge found that the dominant leadership of the United Democratic Front, Moses Chikane, Mosiuoa Lekota, and Popo Molefe were responsible for forming a revolutionary climate against the state. He stated that the group had popularized views made by the African National Congress and fueled hatred against the government. Then men were sentenced to 10 years in prison. However, on December 15, 1989, after being in jail for over four years, the United Democratic Front members won an appeal based on a technicality and were released from jail.