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“ne iieek Vou oats Lo <9 “Face. G. Alexe
Extracts of a letter from Iirs.D.B. Alexander dated
July 7, 1964.
iT appeal to you on behalf of my son and Lo others
who have leave to appeal on certain portions of
their convi-tions .e....'
‘With this aim in view ve beg for assistance from
outside as our position is such that we cannot.do
anything .!..
'Please help us in collecting any funds possible.!
This poignant enpeal on behalf of Dr. Neville Alexander and ten of hig friends who are preparing to make their appeal to th e Bloemfontein Supreme court against their sentences of 10, 7. and five years in South Africa's notorious gaols, must surely stim everyone into action. Action to raise as much money as possible to send to 'Defence and Aid! for the appeale
The prisoners concerned are: Dr. Neville Alexander, a doctor of philosophy and high school teacher; his sister Dorothy; Don Davies, a minister; Marcus Solomons, a teacher; Elizabeth van der Heyden and her brother and sister Leslie and Dorothy; Fikele Bam, a law student; Lionel Davies,.a clerk; Gordon . -1 Hendriks and Dulcie September, a teacher.
Arrested in July 1963, thay were accused of having committed an unspecified number of acts of sabotage and detained in custody under the 90-day detention law. During their detention they were subjected to police brutality and torture. They were brought to trial on November 4, 1963, and chargd under article 76 of the Sabotage Act. This act makes every action directed against the racial policy of the government punishable. by a minimum of five years in prison.
The prosecution read “more than fifty documents" to the court as evidence that the defendants were guilty of sabotare. These included ‘Strategic Problems of the Anti-Japanese Guerilla War, by Mao Tse-—tung;'The Paris Commuine' by V.I.Lenin, and issues of 'Tiberation! organ of the National Liberation Pront. One prosecution witness, a paid police informer, Mr Cecil Dempster, admitted in-court on November 271 that he had not told the truth when giving his evidence, as he*had been instructed by the police to keep secret'certain facts,’ Three Africans, Cyril Jacobs, : Daniel Zwavel and Josef Iucas, refused to give evidence. Mr Jacobs was. warned that if he persisted in his refusal he would be regarded as an accomplice but would be'tabsolutvely free" if he did give evidence, For refusing to be intimidated the three
se
“he Week. VG. 20 1.0.9. Faze9. Doctor slexanders Flicht
in south Trica (Gontinuct).
witnesses were themselves charged under the Sabotage Act. Miss Dorothy Adams, who refused to testify against the defendants, was als9.arrested. Reginald Francke, another state witness, admitted that the police had offered to release him from the ninety day's detentien as soon as he made a satisfactory statement. On February 5, 1964, the defence claimed that "the basiex of a fair trial had collapsed." During the trial the prosecution never brought any proof that any of the defendants had committed one single act *f sabotage. Yet they were found guilty. Judge van Heerden admitted that no actual acts of sabotage had been committed, but said evidence existed of discussions on the “elimination of apartheid" and "plans to introduce the technique ef.. armed insurrection in the struggle." 0n May 27, 1964, Judge van Heerden refused the prisoners the right of appeal but allowed "snecial entries" tn be made in the record, of some paints made by the defence,
ae?
This means that the’ prisoners can now appeal to the Bloemfontein Supreme Court. Such an appeal will of course entail considerable expense. No campaign can be organised in South 2..."> Africa to help the defendants, as people participating in such activity csuld themselves be then charged under the Sabotage Act. At a meeting attended by 100 people in the Caxton Hall recently it was unanimously decided to set a target of £2,500 as the British contribution to the appeal fund. The British Alexander Defence Committee, cemposed of individuals and representatives from 'Defence and Aid - Christian Action! tAntiwApartheid', "South African Coloured people's Congress’, 'tafrican National Congress! 'NALSO', 'National Chemical Workers _Uniont! and other African and British organisations, will be pleased: tosend speakers to meetings or help in any way possible to raise this sum.. Postal Orders and Cheques should be made out te *Defence-and Aid, Alexander Appeal', and sent to ‘Christian Actiont, 2, Amen Court, London, EC4, or to Mrs. Connie Kirkby, 27, Thursley House, Holmewood Gardens, London,SWe.
It is hoped that the appeal trial will take place in November. THERE IS LITTLE TIME TO SPARE. v---% gag es