Volume 24, Number 14 · September 15, 1977
South African Justice
By Martin Garbus
I would like to comment on some of the developments following my article, 'South Africa: The Death of Justice,' in the August 4 issue. Contrary to the predictions of most of the observers I talked to in Johannesburg, Breyten Breytenbach was acquitted by the judge on the main charges of terrorism that had been made against him. Mr. Breytenbach has been returned to prison to serve the remainder of the nine-year sentence he was given in 1975. Nine of the twelve black members of the African National Congress charged with terrorism, however, were convicted, and five were given life sentences, probably to be served in the bleak isolation of Robbins Island. Breytenbach's acquittal received widespread publicity. The ANC convictions and sentences were hardly noticed in the American press. Other trials for terrorism and for violation of the passbook laws continue as the political situation becomes more tense.
Feature, 1002 words
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