18 November 1979
Hardly eight months have passed since Solomon Mahlangu was murdered by the fascist regime in our country, South Africa; the same bloodstained butchers have now sentenced Comrade James Mange (24) to death and other eleven of his comrades to long term imprisonment ranging from 14 to 19 years.
This criminal act of the fascist regime despite strong international protests once more exposes not only the violent nature of the Pretoria regime but its intransigence.
The very supreme secrecy of the trial and its classification as a treason trial was pre-planned to create conditions for the imposition of heavy sentences, including death.
The common practice of these secret trials in our country of late is intended to intimidate and terrorise the entire population - typical of all racist regimes. An era of inquisitions reminiscent of fascist Spain has thus begun in South Africa. And as our fighting masses increase their strides towards victory, such secret trials will inevitably multiply.
The death sentence imposed on Comrade Mange as a political opponent to the apartheid regime that has brought such gross general suffering, oppression and exploitation in our country is not the first of its kind. Only in recent years - in the sixties - stalwarts of our peoples cause, Comrades Vuyisile Mini, Mkhaba and Khayinga were executed for their political convictions and actions.
The death sentence and long years of imprisonment imposed by the apartheid regime on comrade James Mange and his compatriots indicates in no uncertain terms the validity of the United Nations unanimous declaration that apartheid is a crime against humanity.
The African National Congress, the spear and shield of the oppressed and struggling masses of our country, calls on all progressive forces all overthe word loc, to exert maximum pressure on their governments to save the life of our comrade, James Mange. We call upon the United Nations to strive to save the life of James Mange and to convene a Special Session of the Security Council to decide on the imposition of comprehensive sanctions against the blood-dripping criminal regime of P. W. Botha.
The Pietermaritzburg Twelve are soldiers of the `people engaged in a just war to rid the world of the scourge of apartheid. Progressive mankind must demand that they be accorded prisoner of war status under the relevant Geneva Convention.
Above all, maximum support must be given to the just struggle of our people led by the African National Congress in order to hasten the approaching end of racism, as laid down by our people in their Freedom Charter.
Amandla ngawethu!
Matla kea Rona!
Power to the People!
signed: T. T. Nkobi
Treasurer-General
for the National Executive Committee
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