African Alleges Torture

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32385, 26 August 1970, Page 13

African Alleges Torture

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) PRETORIA, August 25. An African on trial in Pretoria for alleged terrorism yesterday claimed that he had been illegally arrested and assaulted by Rhodesian troops—then handed over to South African secret police who tortured him mercilessly.

Benjamin Sello Ramotse—listed “accused number one” —told his story to a crowded . Pretoria Supreme Court . where he and 19 other Afrii cans—five of them women—- . are standing trial charged ; with plotting the violent overthrow of the white South Afri i can Government. As the trial of the 20 longi detained Africans finally got ■ under way, the defence couni sei submitted Ramotse’s pres- . ence in Court as a violation of international law, because he had been arrested while travelling in Botswana and forcibly brought to South Africa. Mr Sidney Kentridge—a noted defender of African nationalists brought to trial in South Africa and in Rhodesia i —also branded the actions of officers investigating the case , “so gross a departure from ’ the established rules as to render a fair trial on the present charges impossible.” Speaking for the other 19 accused, Mr Kentridge submitted that they had already been acquitted of the charges for which they were once more being brought to Court. This was a reference to trial of 22 Africans last year under the Suppression of Communism Act In February this year they were all finally acquitted—to be immediately taken back into custody, without charge, by security police. Ramotse’s story of his ar-

rest, contained in an affidavit presented to the Court, told of how his car stalled in deep sand while he was travelling across rough Botswana roads.

He decided to walk on to a settlement he knew lay ahead. But while he was walking a Rhodesian patrol overpowered him, took him to Rhodesia and later handed him over to South African police. At Security Police headquarters in Pretoria, Ramotse claimed he was “mercilessly tortured.” He was given electric shock treatment and suspended upside down. Ramotse, who claimed Zambian citizenship, said: “All this was done during my interrogation to make me talk.”