It’s D-DAY for the Delmas treason trialists.
At 10am today, the Appeal Court in Bloemfontein will give judgement on their case — and optimistic lawyers believe there is a better than even chance the five political leader will be released.
This will mean a boost for the UDF, which saw three key leaders — general secretary Pope Molefe, publicity secretary Patrick ‘Terror†Lekota and Pretoria activist Moss Chikane — jailed when the trial concluded last year. The other two trialists who received prison sentences were SA Council of Church’s stalwart Tom Manthata and Vaal activist Gcinamuzi Malindi.
Six other Vaal activists were given suspended sentences with heavy conditions, limiting their movement and political activities for five years.
The judgement could lay to rest the country’s longest political trial, and one its most controversial. The point at issue is whether Justice K van Dijkhorst acted correctly in firing assessor Professor Willem Joubert.