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Darkest Before Dawn Published online by Cambridge University Press: 17 April 2025
Case No. L.173/60
Date: 4/4/1960
In the Magistrate's Court for the Regional Division of South Transvaal, held at Johannesburg
Before: Mr. J. de K. Du Plessis
REGINA versus:
1. ROBERT (Mangaliso) SOBUKWE
2. KITCHENER LEBALLO (Potlako)
3. JACOB NYAOSA
4. SEPHANIA MOTHOPENG
5. SELBY NGENDANE (Themba)
6. LENNOX MLONZI
7. ROSETTE NDZIBA
8. JOHN WALAZA
9. DANIEL KHUNOU
10. WELLINGTON RANGAKA
11. JOSIAS MADZUNYA
12. SOLOMON MATHOPA
13. ZACHARIA MTUNZI
14. ABRAM MOGALE
15. ABE KGARE
16. JAMES THAMAE
17. JOHANNES PHASHE
18. LUCAS MATLOU
19. GEORGE NDHLOVU
20. JOSHUA MACHABA
21. GEORGE SIWISA
22. LANCELOT MAKGOTI
23. JOHN MAKGETE
Charge: As per Charge Sheet attached.
Plea: All the Accused REFUSED TO PLEAD.
For the Crown: Mr. J. Robinson.
For the Defence: All the Accused – IN PERSON.
Transcribers: Mesdames: McKenzie, Kuhn, Sykes & Vos.
Interpreter: Douglas Rasmen.
[…]
Cross-examination of Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe
The Court. You are the Accused No. 1 in this case?
Sobukwe. Yes, Your Worship.
The Court. Yes – you may carry on now.
Sobukwe. I am president of the Pan-Africanist Congress, elected to that position unanimously at the inaugural convention of the Pan-Africanist Congress … For the same reason, thinking on a continental level, we stand for government of the Africans, by the Africans, for the Africans, with everybody who owes his only allegiance to the Continent of Africa and is prepared to accept the democratic rule of an African majority being regarded as an African. Our analysis of the South African situation has led us to the conclusion that we can best achieve our objectives by clearly defining our ultimate goals and drawing up a programme of action which we shall faithfully pursue instead of reacting to the legislation of the White Parliament as it flows from that Parliament. We decided to bring about the immediate abolition of the Pass Laws because that was the immediate needs of the African people. That was their demand. Before I proceed with the present case, Your Worship, I would like to give a picture of the structure of our organisation. Right at the bottom of the organisation, forming the nucleus so to speak of the organisation, are the general members of the Pan-Africanist Congress, fifteen or more of them constituting a branch. Each branch elects a Branch Executive.
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