The mailing discusses the growing unrest in South Africa. On February 19, police conducted pre-dawn raids on the homes of over 70 leading members of the United Democratic Front (UDF), South African Allied Workers Union (SAAWU),Transvaal Indian Congress (TIC), Natal Indian Congress (NIC), and the General and Allied Workers Union (GAWU). At least 13 people were detained, seven of whom were charged with "high treason": Albertina Sisulu, a UDF co-president and wife of imprisoned African National Congress leader Walter Sisulu; Cassim Saloojee, the UDF's national treasurer; Rev. Frank Chikane, Transvaal UDF vice president; Dr. Ishmael Mohamed, a Witwatersrand University lecturer and TIC leader; and...
The mailing discusses the growing unrest in South Africa. On February 19, police conducted pre-dawn raids on the homes of over 70 leading members of the United Democratic Front (UDF), South African Allied Workers Union (SAAWU),Transvaal Indian Congress (TIC), Natal Indian Congress (NIC), and the General and Allied Workers Union (GAWU). At least 13 people were detained, seven of whom were charged with "high treason": Albertina Sisulu, a UDF co-president and wife of imprisoned African National Congress leader Walter Sisulu; Cassim Saloojee, the UDF's national treasurer; Rev. Frank Chikane, Transvaal UDF vice president; Dr. Ishmael Mohamed, a Witwatersrand University lecturer and TIC leader; and three SAAWU officials, Sam Kikine, Isaac Ngcobo, and Sisa Njikelana. The mailing discusses UDF co-president Archie Gumede; NIC leaders Paul David, George Sewpersadh, M.J. Naidoo and Mewa Ramgobin; TIC leader Essop Jassat; and Release Mandela Committee officials Aubrey Mokoena and Curtis Nkondo. The mailing mentions the 1956 Treason Trial, the African National Congress (ANC), Pan African Congress (PAC), Nelson Mandela, and Walter Sisulu. It also discusses trade union repression, a mass stayaway strike, and the SASOL oil-from-coal plant. It mentions SAAWU president Thozamile Gqweta. The mailing reports that charges were dropped against Roman Catholic Archbishop Denis Hurley due to international pressure and the government's fears of disclosure of more police and military atrocities in Namibia. People are asked write to: State President P. W. Botha to protest continued repression and the recent "high treason" charges, to Secretary of State George Shultz to demand an end to the current U.S. policy of "constructive engagement," to members of Congress to urge their support of anti-apartheid sanctions legislation. People also are urged to join demonstrations in their community organized by the Free South Africa Movement and educate and mobilize others in their community, church, union and/or university.
