EPISCOPAL CHU~I-IMEN for SOUTH Room 1005 • 853. Broadway, New York, N. Y.l0003 • Phone: (212) 477-0066 - For A Free Soutllem AlricfI- CHRISTMAS 1979 D EAT H Another young South African has been sentenced to death. Mncedisi Daniel James Mange, 24, was condemned to hang for treason in a Pietermaritzburg court on 15 November. This is the first death sentence handed down in South Africa for a political crime not involving a killing since World War II. The trial revives the use of treason as a charge - rather than sole reliance on the Pretoria regime's many selective repressive acts peculiar to South Africa. James Mange and 11 other members of the African National Congress, banned in South Africa since 1960, were also charged with sabotage and various acts of terrorism. The State claimed they received military training in Angola, Libya r the Soviet Union and East Germany. Most are in their mid­ or late-twent1es, and like Solomon Mahlangu - the patriot who was hanged despite world outcry in April - are 'graduates' of the June 1976 uprising which began in Soweto. James Mange, obvious leader of the Pietermaritzburg 12, was singled out to die. When the judge ordered the trial to be he~d in camera. they dismissed their defense attorney and defied the court. They sang freedom songs and on the day of sentencing displayed placards in their specially-constructed dock reading: 'Apartheid is a crime against humanity', 'Apartheid is high treason', and 'Never on 9ur knees'. James Mange's comrades are: John Sekete, 24 Tladitsgas Molefe, 23 Jefferey Legoabe, 30 Taibe Ngbeni, 27 Andrew Mapheto, 20 Bennet Komane, 46 Titis Maleka, 25 Sydney Choma, 23 Mandlenkosi Hadebe, 27 Mandala Mthetwa, 22 Vusumuzi Zulu, 28 They received sentences from 13 to 16 years in prison. THE VOICE of Soweto quotes Ms Dipuo Pauline Moerane 20 Mange's fiancee Just.ate: f h.er.release from nearly a year in detent1on:! , 'Oh God, please , let Mnced1s1 11ve for our three-year-old son's sake. Lehlohonolo Prince has not seen him for a year now, and misses his father a lot. He's always asking for him. ' When Solomon Mahlangu was hanged last spring, President Carter at the last minute appealed for his life. This time we must get him to act sooner. Send your messages to: President Jimmy Carter The White House Washington, DC 20500 Urge him to appeal for clemency to: State President Marais Viljoen Pretoria, South Africa Divided and forgotten, the illegal squatter ca~np which was the rallying point of anti.Apartheid in South Africa now faces closure. OLIVER PALGRAVE reports. 1.~inal instalment of Crossroads? EARLIER THIS YEAR many Having deprived blaaks simply cannot and will him he would be the first nice to you. Eventuall)' yoU tums his. hack 00 us he will people in South Africa and Crossroads of the external flot obey. Worse still, it hit ~(inister to be responsible for are so relie\'~ with the man make his G"vernment a liar. els"where breathed a sigh of assistance upon Which it now the international hcadNnes a demolitinn on his first day being nice to you that you Koornhof is really tryinlt to relief and joyoosly hailed a dE!!Pends, his task shOUld be the second t.he authorities Of oUice. don't have to fight with him, help us. Why can't people r"prieve for Crossroads, t'lMl simple. The 18.000 victims threatened to bulldoze it. Anxinus to avoid an unne· and you somehow try to see believe that?" illegal squatter camp Wlhich bave been divided by hiS Following the mohmsation ce!ssary uproar, and doubtless his point of vie-w. The W'bole But wbat neither she nor bad been threatened witb diplomacy and forgollen by of anti·apa·rtheid groups eager to protect his tiberal thing is hrilllant." anybody else in Crossroads demolition by Government the world, throughout the w 0 rid. reputation, Koornhof decided Once Koornhof had made realised was that Koornhof bulldozers. The victory, Cros.sroads came into being Crossroads soon r"placed to negotiate. An elected dele­ It clear that there would be had simultaneously conceded however, was a strange one. as a makeshift bome for over S()weto as a synononym for gatinn of seven members no discussion of the propo­ to Right'WlDg pressure to 'rhe euphoria came almost 20,OCO people as a re'ult of oppression in Soulh Afri'ea. from Crossroads, two com· sals, some felt there was raise the penalties for exclusively from tbe ~ple the chronic housing shortage Its fate came to be seen as munity workers, and three little point in continuing willi employers of iIIcJ.:al workers. and organisations who had in the' official black town· a critical te"t case for the external advisers were chosen the talks. This position was As a result. thousanrts in the campaigned on behalf of the ships, a.-.d because the wives policy towa'rds urban blacks, t represent the camp. hotly contpJ;ted by their camp would lose their jobs camp but not from and children of miRrant The Government, conscious senior advisor, a proCessor and thus become Ineligi'ble From the start. the nel:otia­ from the University oC Cape Crossroads itself. workers found tbe forced of the erratie manoeuvrings tlpns were one-sided. Dele. for places in the new town· Whilst cape Town reporters separation from their men· of Its crilics, responded by glites were sworn to secrecy. Town. who convinced them I ship which the)' bad been wrote of .. tears of joy" in folk financially and emo­ favourahle deal might still be promised. stalling. tbus preventing accoun­ reached. the camp, otbers found tionally intolerable. The bulldozers were set tability to !!Jeir constituency. This duplicity has aroused anger. confusion and Internal In defiance of the over­ aside and a less spectacular and the original requests of Soon Koornhof and the aca· little indignation from the hostility tbat had not pre­ crowded. crime·ridden town­ course of action was adopted the camp - above all that demic were meeting dail,y for usual critics. and contrary to Viously been· awarent. Over­ ships, not to mention lhe - intimidation. Throughout tl,e community should not be breakfast. and with \'he the chairwoman's belief, ni~ht, the coorageous unity pOI'erty of the Transkcl, 1978 pressure on t·he camp s~lit up - were thrown out. assistance of the camp's legal oohody . has denounced the which had done much to cap· apparently because they advisor. a rehousine plan was CrI""oads evolved Into a was stepped up with a view formilla.ted. South African Government as tnre the acclaim and bac!<ing vlhr"nt, <\lperl>lr·run com· 10 ('victjn~ as mitny St')uHttllrs ,,'ould .. confuse the issue:' a liar. (l( intemational support munity. Schools, churches, as pOS'lible hefore demolition The dell'gates finally Koornhof's handling of the /(roups. collapsed. Whether Transcripts of !'he meetings agreed to Ihis the undcr· self·help schemes, home took I>la-ce. Night time" pass reveal Koornhors intriguing on whole aUair has been master· intentional or not, the plan industry, a medical dinie and raids" werc carried out with standing that mO!>t of the ful. Not only did he succeed put forward by Dr Pit shie oC dl plomae-y. Though com m U nity would he endless commIttees can all be devastating effect. Hund-r~ds he repl'atedly stressed the in disarming his critics but Koornbof. the Minister found Jx>hind the chaotic included. and presented their he actually employed them ­ responsible for black affairs, wcre arrested: bahks <lied n("ed for trust and coopera­ people with a fait accompli. sculpture of scrap wood and fro'ffi the effects of tear gas, tion, discussi,,"s or quesUnns In the case of the Cro'sroads to rehOUse most of the squat· corrugated iron. The response was none too advi,ors as unwitting ters, shattered their united and a man was shot dead. were barely tolerated. Fre· favourable. People were con· It may be a shanty tlYWn, During the day, Govern· qucnt references to his gui· instruments of his strategy. front.. fused hy the vagueness and With their assistance he Six months have nO'\\' but families have at least ment orricials would sur· dance from God impressed ambiguitv of the deal, and stayed together - albeit ille­ the h i g h 1y. reI i It i 0 u s manalled to tran,Corm a passl'd, and critics of aparth. r"und the camp, clltiing orr were furious that their highly-embarrassing issue illt~ cid have turned their backs I!slly - and a deJ;ree of access to water taps and pre­ Cros'roads representatives, so request to remain undivided autonomy has been aclNeved, a diplomatic triumph. and to on this community and venting people from leaving too did an intcresting game had been dismis.sed. The .merge as the torchbearer of sought out new issues with normally unheard of in tbe for work. A.s a rl'sult. jobs of charades in which he was rhairwoman of the women's a new philanthrnpy within which to embarrass the biac!< ghettos of South Africa. w("re lost. rent arrears actuallv reprimanded In front committee attempted to sct the NationaH,t Party. Government, but it now The existence -of the camp accrued, and the shacks of of them by another Minist"r their unpa~(' at rE"~t. "In fnr his soCtness and Crossroads we have had a hig The only people to remain seem.s that three-quarters of has long been a tborn in HIe thc penniless vit'toms were n G"vernment's side.