R v Molapo (CRI/T 1 of 1997) [1998] LSCA 56 (12 June 1998)

CRI/T/1/1997 IN T HE H I GH C O U RT OF L E S O T HO In the m a t t er b e t w e en R EX and L E P O QO S E O E H LA M O L A PO A c c u s ed J U D G M E NT D e l i v e r ed by the H o n o u r a b le M r. Justice M . M. R a m o d i b e di On t he 1 2 th d ay of J u ne 1 9 98 T he a c c u s ed a nd three ( 3) o t h e rs n a m e ly M a t s o so J o hn B o l o f o, L e l i n g o a na D a v id J o n a t h an a nd M a k a ra S e k a u tu h a ve a p p e a r ed b e f o re me c h a r g ed w i th h i gh treason, alternatively sedition a nd further in the alternative w i th c o n t r a v e n t i on of S e c t i on 7 of t he Internal S e c u r i ty ( G e n e r a l) A ct N o. 24 of 1 9 84 (Internal Security A c t ). T he w h o le c h a r ge w h i ch is quite f o r m i d a b le i n d e ed r e a ds as f o l l o w s: " C o u nt 1 - H i gh T r e a s on T h at the said a c c u s ed a re guilty of H i gh T r e a s on in that: W H E R E AS d u r i ng the w h o le p e r i od c o v e r ed by this i n d i c t m e nt all the said a c c u s ed o w ed allegiance to the K i n g d om of L e s o t ho (hereinafter referred to as the State) u p on or a b o ut the dates a nd at or the p l a c es hereinafter set o u t, the said a c c u s e d, e a ch or the other or all of t h e m, despite s u ch allegiance, did u n l a w f u l ly a nd w i th hostile intent a nd w i th the intention of c o e r c i ng by force or o v e r t h r o w i ng the g o v e r n m e nt of the State c o m m it o ne or m o re or all of the f o l l o w i ng hostile acts:- A. On or a b o ut the 9th d ay of J a n u a r y, 1 9 9 6, at O ld E u r o p a, in the M a s e ru R e s e r v e, district of M a s e r u, the s e c o n d, third a nd fourth a c c u s ed did u n l a w f u l ly c o m b i ne a nd c o n s p i re w i th o ne a n o t h er a nd w i th o t h er p e r s o ns to m a ke preparations for the o v e r t h r ow of the g o v e r n m e nt of the State a nd did at the m e e t i ng t h ey h e ld on or a b o ut the 9th J a n u a r y, 1 9 96 aforesaid d e c i de that they w e re g o i ng to a n n o u n ce the o v e r t h r ow of the g o v e r n m e nt o v er R a d io L e s o t ho on the 10th J a n u a r y, 1 9 96 a nd thereafter t a ke control of the g o v e r n m e n t. B. P u r s u a nt to a nd in furtherance of s u ch c o n s p i r a cy - (i) A c c u s ed N o .2 a nd a c c u s ed N o .4 w e re a s s i g n ed to m e et an a r my offer k n o wn to t h em w ho w o u ld facilitate the a c c u s e d 's c o n t e m p l a t ed objective of o v e r t h r o w i ng t he g o v e r n m e n t. (ii) H a v i ng failed to g et a s s u r a n ce that t h ey ( a c c u s ed N o . 2, N o .3 a nd N o . 4) w o u ld be p r o v i d ed w i th s e c u re t r a n s p o rt a nd a c c e ss to R a d io L e s o t ho p r e m i s es on the 1 0 th J a n u a r y, 1 9 9 6, t he said 3 a c c u s ed a nd their co-conspirators d e c i d ed to a b a n d on p r o c e e d i ng w i th their intention to o v e r t h r ow g o v e r n m e nt on t he 1 0 th J a n u a r y, 1 9 9 6. T h ey d e c i d ed to d e f er c a r r y i ng o ut their i n t e n d ed objective of o v e r t h r o w i ng g o v e r n m e nt to s o me o t h er d a y. (iii) A c c u s ed N o . l, N o .2 N o .3 a nd N o .4 s u b s e q u e n t ly m et at L i t h a b a n e ng on or a b o ut the 3 rd F e b r u a r y, 1 9 96 to d e c i de on h ow to a p p r o a ch t he c o m m a n d er of t he L e s o t ho D e f e n ce ( L D F) w i th a v i ew to soliciting his s u p p o rt for the a c c u s e d 's i n t e n d ed objective of o v e r t h r o w i ng t he g o v e r n m e n t. A c c u s ed N o. 1 a g r e ed to a p p r o a ch t he c o m m a n d er of L DF w i th a v i ew to a s k i ng h im to s u p p o rt t h em in their i n t e n d ed objective. (iv) A c c u s ed N o .l s o me t i me in F e b r u a r y, 1 9 96 (the e x a ct d a te to the p r o s e c u t or u n k n o w n) a p p r o a c h ed t he c o m m a n d er of L DF a nd t he director of t he N a t i o n al S e c u r i ty S e r v i ce ( N S S) to a sk for their assistance a nd c o o p e r a t i on so as to e n s u re that their c o n s p i r a cy s u c c e e d e d. ( v) A c c u s ed N o . l, N o . 2, N o . 3, N o .4 a nd o t h er c o- c o n s p i r a t o rs m et at M a s e ru on t he 2 9 th F e b r u a r y, 1 9 96 to m a ke final p r e p a r a t i o ns c o n c e r n i ng the m a k i ng of the a n n o u n c e m e nt of t he o v e r t h r ow of the g o v e r n m e nt o v er R a d io L e s o t h o. C. P u r s u a nt to a nd in f u r t h e r a n ce of t he c o n s p i r a c y, a c c u s ed N o. 1 a nd N o .2 t o g e t h er w i th a n o t h er c o n s p i r a t or p r o c e e d ed to the R a d io L e s o t ho p r e m i s es on t he 2 9 th F e b r u a r y, 1 9 9 6, w h e re t h ey g a i n ed e n t ry to the s t u d io r o o m s; h e ld t he w o r k e rs at R a d io L e s o t ho c a p t i ve by f o r ce so as to e n a b le a c c u s ed N o .l to a n n o u n c e, w i t h o ut h i n d r a n ce or interference t he o v e r t h r ow of t he g o v e r n m e n t. D. P u r s u a nt to a nd in f u r t h e r a n ce the c o n s p i r a c y, (sic) w h i le a c c u s ed N o .2 h e ld t he w o r k e rs of R a d io L e s o t ho c o n f i n ed in a r o o m, a c c u s ed N o. 1 b r o a d c a st o v er R a d io L e s o t ho that int he n a me of l e a d e rs of political parties, traditional l e a d e rs a nd t he B a s o t ho n a t i on he h ad d i s s o l v ed g o v e r n m e nt a nd p a r l i a m e n t; that he h ad s u s p e n d ed the 1 9 93 Constitution of L e s o t h o; that he w as a s k i ng for g o od c o o p e r a t i on f r om g o v e r n m e nt d e p a r t m e n t s; a nd that g o v e r n m e nt d e p a r t m e n ts s h o u ld a w a it f u r t h er a n n o u n c e m e n ts f r om t i me to t i m e. A l t e r n a t i v e ly C o u nt 2 - S e d i t i on T h at t he a c c u s ed a re guilty of t he c r i me of S e d i t i o n. In that, u p on or a b o ut t he 2 8 th d ay of F e b r u a r y, 1 9 9 6, a nd at or n e ar M a s e r u, in t he district of M a s e r u, t he s a id a c c u s e d, e a ch or the o t h er or all of t h e m, d id u n l a w f u l ly a nd w i th seditious intent participate in a g a t h e r i ng of a n u m b er of p e o p le w h i ch g a t h e r i ng h ad intent u n l a w f u l ly to d e fy a nd s u b v e rt t he a u t h o r i ty of t he G o v e r n m e nt of t he K i n g d om of L e s o t ho a nd m a k i ng an u n a u t h o r i s ed b r o a d c a st o v er R a d io L e s o t ho that H is M a j e s t y 's G o v e r n m e n t, t he G o v e r n m e nt of t he K i n g d om , h ad b e en destabilising t he c o u n t ry a nd u n d e r m i n i ng p e a ce s i n ce t he 1 9 93 g e n e r al elections:- 1. By c a u s i ng disunity a nd d i s s e n t i on in t he a r m y, t he p o l i ce a nd p r i s on w a r d e r s, resulting in d e a t hs of B a s o t ho c h i l d r e n, a nd also h u m i l i a t i ng these forces in t he N a t i o n al A s s e m b l y. 2. By illegally b r i n g i ng into t he c o u n t ry d a n g e r o us w e a p o ns of w as t h r o u gh s o me of t he p a r l i a m e n t a r i a n s. 3. By p a r l i a m e n t a r i a ns m i s u s i ng p u b l ic f u n ds for t he benefits of t he B a s o t o l a nd C o n g r e ss P a r ty ( B C P) 4. By inviting foreign a r m i es to c o me a nd attack a nd d i s s o l ve t he l a w f u l ly constituted a r my of t he K i n g d om of L e s o t ho a nd t h e r e f o re (the G o v e r n m e n t) t h e r e by s u b v e r t i ng t he C o n s t i t u t i on ( 1 9 93 C o n s t i t u t i on of L e s o t h o ). 5. By c a u s i ng disaffection a m o ng t e a c h e r s' o r g a n i z a t i o ns a nd c a u s i ng disunity a m o ng c h u r c h es a nd a l so by n ot r e s o l v i ng t he i m p a s se c o n c e r n i ng t e a c h e rs salaries w h e r e as G o v e r n m e nt c o n t i n u ed to p ay p a r l i a m e n t a r i a ns w ho h ad r un a w ay f r om t he c o u n t r y. 6. By e m b a r k i ng on registration of v o t e rs for the 1 9 98 g e n e r al elections w i t h o ut a ny c o n s u l t a t i o ns w i th political parties. 7. By deliberately a nd m a l i c i o u s ly i g n o r i ng constituting a c o m m i s s i on of e n q u i ry into t he d e a th of H is M a j e s ty K i ng M o s h o e s h oe II. P u r s u a nt to a nd in f u r t h e r a n ce of a c o n s p i r a cy to d e fy a nd s u b v e rt t he authority of t he G o v e r n m e nt of the K i n g d o m, t he a c c u s ed further a n n o u n c ed that as a c o n s e q u e n ce of of (sic) t he a f o r e s a id a c c u s a t i o ns w h i ch t h ey h ad levelled a g a i n st t he G o v e r n m e nt of t he K i n g d om of the K i n g d o m, (sic) t h ey h ad d i s s o l v ed t he G o v e r n m e nt a nd the P a r l i a m e nt of the K i n g d o m; t h ey a n n o u n c ed further they h ad s u s p e n d ed t he 1 9 93 Constitution of L e s o t h o; t h ey further a s k ed for c o o p e r a t i on f r om t he a r m ed (security) f o r c es so that their t a k e o v er of t he G o v e r n m e nt c o u ld p r o c e ed s m o o t h ly a nd p e a c e f u l l y; a nd lastly t h ey a n n o u n c ed that t h ey s o u g ht c o o p e r a t i on f r om all G o v e r n m e nt d e p a r t m e n ts a nd that s u ch G o v e r n m e nt d e p a r t m e n ts s h o u ld a w a it further a n n o u n c e m e n ts f r om t i me to t i m e. A l t e r n a t i v e ly C o u nt 3 - C o n t r a v e n t i on of S e c t i on 7 of t he I n t e r n al S e c u r i ty ( G e n e r a l) A c t, N o . 24 of 1 9 84 ( I n t e r n al S e c u r i ty A c t ). T h at the a c c u s ed are guilty of c o n t r a v e n i ng s e c t i on 7 of the Internal Security A ct In that, u p on or a b o ut the 2 8 th or the 2 9 th of F e b r u a r y, 1 9 9 6, a nd at or n e ar M a s e r u, the a c c u s e d, d id u n l a w f u l ly a nd w i th s u b v e r s i ve intent m a ke an a n n o u n c e m e nt o v er R a d io L e s o t ho that w as i n t e n d e d: ( a) to p r e j u d i ce p u b l ic o r d er a n d / or t he security of L e s o t h o; a n d / or ( b) c o u n s e l l i ng d e f i a n ce to the l aw or l a w f ul authority; a n d / or ( c) U n d e r m i ne or o v e r t h r ow or c a u se t he d o w n f a ll of the G o v e r n m e n t, by a n n o u n c i ng that t h ey h ad d i s s o l v ed t he G o v e r n m e nt a nd the P a r l i a m e nt of L e s o t h o; a n n o u n c i ng that t h ey h ad s u s p e n d ed the 1 9 93 C o n s t i t u t i on of L e s o t h o; calling u p on the security ( a r m e d) forces to c o o p e r a te w i th t h em a nd s u p p o rt t h em in their p u r p o r t ed t a k e o v er of G o v e r n m e nt o t h er t h an by constitutional m e a n s; a nd s e e k i ng c o o p e r a t i on f r om all g o v e r n m e nt d e p a r t m e n ts in o r d er to e n s u re that their p r o c l a i m ed u n l a w f ul a nd constitional (sic) t a k e o v er of g o v e r n m e nt s u c c e e d e d. A l t e r n a t i v e ly C o u rt 4 - K i d n a p p i ng T h at t he a c c u s ed a re g u i l ty of K i d n a p p i ng In that, u p on or a b o ut the 2 8 th or 2 9 th F e b r u a r y, 1 9 9 6, a nd at or n e ar M a s e ru in t he district of M a s e r u, t he said a c c u s e d, d id u n l a w f u l ly a nd intentionally d e p r i ve a n u m b er of R a d io L e s o t ho e m p l o y e e s, all of t h em adults, of their liberty by h o l d i ng t h em captive by force in a r o om at R a d io L e s o t ho p r e m i s es w h e re t h ey r e m a i n ed until t h ey w e re s u b s e q u e n t ly f r e ed by the security f o r c e s ." I s h o u ld m e n t i on that after the c h a r ge h ad b e en r e ad to t h em t he p r e s e nt a c c u s ed p l e a d ed n ot guilty w h i le his c o - a c c u s ed p l e a d ed guilty to t he c r i me of sedition. T he latter p l ea w as a c c e p t ed by t he L e a r n ed D i r e c t or of P u b l ic P r o s e c u t i o ns M r. M d h l u li h e n ce a s e p a r a t i on of trials w as o r d e r e d. I t u rn t h en to t he facts of t he c a se as t h ey relate to t he a c c u s ed in the aforesaid c h a r ge of h i gh treason alternatively sedition a nd further alternatively C o n t r a v e n t i on of S e c t i on 7 of t he Internal Security A ct 1 9 8 4. T he C r o wn called 9 w i t n e s s es n a m e ly P W1 M a s u p ha M o l a p o, P W2 L e n n ox N t e n te S e s i o a o a, P W3 F r a n c is R a m a t o na M a s e e l a, P W4 ' M a l i k e t so N a t h a l ia M a s u p h a, P W5 ' M a m o s i li N t e n e, P W6 T e fo ' M u s i, P W7 B a s ia M a r a i s a n e, P W8 T h a b i so S e p h e l a ne a nd P W9 P r i v a te N o. 7 6 80 R a s u p u. P V V1 M a s u p ha M o l a po g a ve e v i d e n ce as an a c c o m p l i c e. It w as his e v i d e n ce that he k n o ws t he a c c u s e d. T h ey w o r k ed t o g e t h er at F a h h i da C a sh a nd C a r ry in M a s e r u. T he w i t n e ss w as b o th s u p e r v i s or a nd security officer. T he a c c u s ed w as also e n g a g ed in security w o rk as w e ll as o t h er j o b s. He h as k n o wn the a c c u s ed for m o re t h an t w e n ty ( 20 years. In fact t h ey a re related to o ne a n o t h er by birth. I n d e ed this is c o m m on c a u s e. T h ey h a ve b e en on g o od t e r ms a d d i ng " we n e v er fight." O n ce m o re there is no d i s p u te a b o ut this. P W1 c o n f i r m ed that he k n o ws the c o - a c c u s ed in the m a t t er a d d i ng "I h ad an association w i th these m e n ." He a d m i ts that he w as i n v o l v ed in politics s o m e t i me in 1 9 96 up to F e b r u a ry of the s a me year. He b e l o n gs to a political party called the B a s o t ho N a t i o n al Party ( B M P ). As a m e m b er of the B NP he c a me to k n ow o ne M a k a ra S e k a u tu ( o ne of the c o - a c c u s e d ). T he latter o n ce arrived at the witness's w o rk place at F a h h i da C a sh a nd C a r ry in 1 9 9 6. T he witness received a report f r om the a c c u s ed that M a k a ra S e k a u tu w o u ld like to see t h em both c o n c e r n i ng s o me "serious n e w s" w h i ch he w a n t ed to tell t h e m. He is i n d e ed u n c h a l l e n g ed on this version. A c c o r d i ng to P W1 this M a k a ra S e k a u tu b e l o n g ed to a nd w as a leader of a certain small political party "although he u s ed to attend o ur B NP rallies." It is the evidence of P W1 that he a nd the a c c u s ed ultimately m et M a k a ra S e k a u tu at O ld E u r o pa at the h o me of o ne K h e t h i sa p er a r r a n g e m e n t. T he a c c u s ed w as present a nd in fact he w a l k ed in the c o m p a ny of P W1 to this place. P W1 a nd the a c c u s ed waited at Khethisa's h o me until M a k a ra S e k a u tu arrived alone. He w as on foot. M a k a ra S e k a u tu t h en left b o th P W1 a nd the a c c u s ed s a y i ng he w as g o i ng to fetch other people. On his return he w as a c c o m p a n i ed by P W2 L e n n ox N t e n te Sesioana. It is P W l 's e v i d e n ce that " L e l i n g o a na ( o ne of t he c o - a c c u s e d) arrived at l o ng last." He a l r e a dy k n ew L e l i n g o a na b e c a u se t h ey h ad w o r k ed t o g e t h er as soldiers at R L DF ( R o y al L e s o t ho D e f e n ce F o r c e ). U n d er c r o ss e x a m i n a t i on P W1 told the C o u rt that he r o se to t he r a nk of c o r p o r al in t he a r m y. 1] A c c o r d i ng to P W1 t h o se p r e s e nt at the m e e t i ng in q u e s t i on i n c l u d i ng t he a c c u s ed w e re all participating in t he d i s c u s s i o ns a l t h o u gh he c a n 't recall t he e x a ct w o r ds e x p r e s s ed by e a ch of t h e m. T h ey h o w e v er s h o w ed that t h ey h ad p r o b l e ms c o n c e r n i ng t r a n s p o rt a nd so t h ey failed to go to R a d io L e s o t ho a d d i ng " o ur desire in g o i ng to R a d io L e s o t ho w as to go a nd t o p p le t he G o v e r n m e n t ." He w as learning a b o ut the o b j e c t i ve to t o p p le t he G o v e r n m e nt f or t he first t i me at this m e e t i n g. P W1 testifies that the w h o le s c h e me a b o r t ed that d ay b e c a u se there w as no transport a nd the p e r s on w ho w as to be a crucial link in the s c h e me h ad n ot yet t u r n ed u p. P W1 c o n t i n u es that after a c o u p le of d a ys M a k a ra S e k a u tu c a me b a ck to the p l a ce w h e re t he w i t n e ss a nd t he a c c u s ed w o r k e d. He w a n t ed to m e et t h em a g a i n. T h ey all a g r e ed that t h ey w o u ld go a nd m e et at the a c c u s e d 's p l a ce at L i t h a b a n e n g. T he a c c u s ed w as p r e s e nt w h en this a g r e e m e nt w as m a d e. I n d e ed w h en the d a te of t he m e e t i ng a r r i v ed t he f o l l o w i ng p e o p le m et at t he a c c u s e d 's p l a ce n a m e l y; ( 1) t he a c c u s ed ( 2) M a t s o so B o l o fo ( 3) M a k a ra S e k a u tu ( 4) L e l i n g o a na a nd ( 5) S e s i o a na ( P W 2 ). P W1 w as m e e t i ng M a t s o so B o l o fo for the first t i me at this m e e t i n g. He w as i n t r o d u c ed to t he latter by M a k a ra S e k a u t u. As he h ad a r r i v ed late at t he m e e t i ng he w as t h en s h o wn a draft or p l an s h o w i ng that " we s h o u ld p r o c e ed w i th o ur m i s s i on of t o p p l i ng t he G o v e r n m e n t ." It also s h o w ed t he portfolios e a ch w o u ld o c c u p y. T h e re w o u ld be C o u n c i l l o rs w ho w o u ld be a b o ve m i n i s t e rs of G o v e r n m e n t. O t h er political l e a d e rs w o u ld be m i n i s t e r s. A c c o r d i ng to P W1 t he n e xt m e e t i ng w as s c h e d u l ed for F e b r u a ry 1 9 9 6. He h o w e v e r, d id n ot attend b e c a u se "they (the c o n s p i r a t o r s) h ad f o o l ed us for quite a l o ng t i me by n ot fulfilling their m i s s i o n ." N e v e r t h e l e ss t he a c c u s ed i n f o r m ed h im w h i le t h ey w e re on d u ty that t he m e e t i ng in q u e s t i on w as d u ly c o n d u c t ed " a nd that t h ey h ad c h o s en the 2 9 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 96 b e i ng t he d a te on w h i ch t he B NP m e m b e rs w o u ld be h o l d i ng a rally (pitso)." T he w i t n e ss d id attend this rally on that d a y. It is his e v i d e n ce that t h ey (the c o n s p i r a t o r s) h ad a g r e ed that they w o u ld start at the rally a nd f r om there t h ey w o u ld p r o c e ed to R a d io L e s o t h o. A c c o r d i ng to h im these p e o p le (the c o n s p i r a t o r s) i n c l u d ed t he a c c u s ed a nd P W2 P W1 further testifies that he k n o ws P W3 F r a n c is R a m a t o na M a s e e la w ho w as h is c o - w o r k e r. T he latter o n ce a r r i v ed at a m e e t i ng h e ld at L i t h a b a n e ng in 1 9 9 6. P r e s e nt w e re t he w i t n e ss h i m s e l f, t he a c c u s e d, M a k a ra S e k a u t u, M a t s o so B o l o fo a nd L e l i n g o a n a. As P W3 h e a rd t he d i s c u s s i o ns g o i ng on he w a r n ed the participants to s t op that " b u s i n e ss of t o p p l i ng t he G o v e r n m e n t ." As earlier stated P W1 a t t e n d ed t he B NP rally on the 2 9 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 9 6. He w e nt to w h e re M a t s o so B o l o f o 's vehicle w as p a r k e d. He f o u nd t he latter w i th the a c c u s e d. M a k a ra S e k a u tu w as also present. P W1 i n q u i r ed w hy t h ey w e re n ot p r o c e e d i ng to t he rally itself to w h i ch M a t s o so B o l o fo replied that they w e re still writing d o wn their discussions. P W1 t h en p r o c e e d ed to t he rally. A f t er t he rally h ad d i s p e r s ed t h e re w as a p r o c e s s i on l e a d i ng to t he N a t i o n al A s s e m b l y. It w as h e re that P Wl f o u nd M a t s o so B o l o f o, P W 2, L e l i n g o a na a nd t he a c c u s e d. T h ey w e re o u t s i de t he g a te " o p p o s i te R a d io L e s o t ho gate." A certain lady a p p r o a c h ed t h em f r om R a d io L e s o t ho p r e m i s e s. S he w as m et by M a t s o so B o l o fo a nd L e l i n g o a n a. A f t er a short d i s c u s s i on t he t wo g e n t l e m en w e nt t o g e t h er w i th t he l a dy inside R a d io L e s o t ho f o l l o w ed by the rest of the party. It is P W l 's e v i d e n ce that " t he a c c u s ed w as p r e s e nt a l s o ." P W l, h o w e v er r e m a i n ed at the g a te w h e re there w as a r a d io p l a y i n g. W h i l st listening to t he r a d io P Wl realised that " t he p e r s on r e a d i ng 1 o ' c l o ck n e ws s t o p p e d. T he national a n t h em w as t h en s u n g ." T h e r e a f t er M a t s o so B o l o fo " a n n o u n c ed w h at w as w r i t t en on that d o c u m e nt c o n c e r n i ng the toppling of the G o v e r n m e n t ." A f t er the r e a d i ng of the " n e w s" P W1 left. P W1 is a d a m a nt that their intention w as to go a nd a n n o u n ce that they h ad t o p p l ed the G o v e r n m e n t. T h is w as p er a g r e e m e nt of the conspirators including the a c c u s e d. In fact the latter h ad told h im "the decision w as that at m i d d ay at 1 o'clock o ur a n n o u n c e m e nt w as g o i ng to be r e ad o v er R a d io L e s o t ho - the n e ws o v er the toppling of the G o v e r n m e nt a nd that m e m b e rs f r om the d e f e n ce force a nd the police w o u ld arrive to protect u s" a d d i ng "this is w h at I got f r om the a c c u s e d ." It is P W l 's e v i d e n ce that after M a t s o so B o l o fo h ad r e ad the a n n o u n c e m e nt o v er R a d io L e s o t ho he ( P W 1) r e m a r k ed s a y i ng " y es t h ey h a ve s u c c e e d e d !" A s k ed w h at the attitude of the a c c u s ed w as d u r i ng the discussions to topple the G o v e r n m e nt P W1 told the C o u rt that all the p e o p le w ho w e re there w e re h a p py a b o ut "the discussion that we w e re g o i ng to topple the G o v e r n m e n t ." P Wl w as " a m a z e d" by the " s i m p le w ay of t o p p l i ng the G o v e r n m e nt u n a r m e d ." A l t h o u gh they h ad not d e c i d ed on w ho w o u ld a s s u me the c h a i r m a n s h ip of the Councillors b e t w e en M a t s o so B o l o fo a nd M a k a ra S e k a u tu he t h o u g ht that a n y o ne of the t wo w o u ld well be o ne since he h ad seen the soldiers do the s a me j ob w h i ch is not difficult. A c c o r d i ng to P Wl the a c c u s ed w as g o i ng to be o ne of the C o u n c i l l o rs It is further the e v i d e n ce of P W1 that he h ad b e en i n f o r m ed by t he a c c u s ed that a p p r o a c h es h ad b e en m a de to t he a r m ed forces. U n d er c r o ss e x a m i n a t i on P W1 told t he C o u rt that he left t he a r my in 1 9 8 4. He insisted that M a k a ra S e k a u tu m et the a c c u s ed first a nd the latter told h im that he ( M a k a ra S e k a u t u) w as p r e s e nt outside. He d e n i ed that he a nd t he a c c u s ed h ad a l r e a dy p l a n n ed to go to K h e t h i s a 's p l a ce w h e t h er or n ot M a k a ra S e k a u tu c a me a d d i ng " t he a c c u s ed w e nt there b e c a u se we told S e k a u tu t he nearest p l a ce he w o u ld find us w as at that place." He told the latter h ow to get there. He a g r e es it w as "a c o m m on t h i ng to visit K h e t h i s a 's p l a c e ." P W1 h ad n ot a s k ed M a k a ra S e k a u tu w h at t he m e e t i ng at K h e t h i s a 's p l a ce w as a b o ut b e c a u se he k n ew that he w as a politician. He t h o u g ht his m i s s i on w as b a s ed on politics. T h ey u s ed to be w i th h im in B NP rallies a nd he ( M a k a ra S e k a u t u) u s ed to be g i v en a c h a n ce to s p e a k. A c c o r d i ng to P W1 t h ey d id m e et at K h e t h i s a 's p l a ce in t he e v e n i n g. M a k a ra S e k a u tu arrived w i th S e s i o a na ( P W 2) a nd L e l i n g o a n a. He a d ds "their s t a t e m e nt w as that at d a wn we a re g o i ng to R a d io L e s o t ho a nd a n n o u n ce we h ad t o p p l ed the G o v e r n m e n t ." It is M a k a ra S e k a u tu w ho m a de t he s t a t e m e n t. P W1 r e m e m b e rs a s k i ng M a k a ra S e k a u tu h ow t h ey w o u ld get to R a d io L e s o t ho since there w as no transport a nd further h ow w as it he c o u l d n 't c o me w i th " o ne of t h o se w ho w o u ld s u p p o rt u s ." M a k a ra S e k a u tu t h en left w i th L e l i n g o a na to go a nd l o ok for transport " a nd to c o me w i th o ne of t h o se p e o p le w ho w o u ld assist u s ." It is t he e v i d e n ce of P W1 that for the first t i me he w a n t ed M a k a ra S e k a u tu to c o me w i th o ne m e m b er of the a r m ed f o r c e s. H is a g r e e m e nt to b e c o me part of the c o n s p i r a cy w o u ld h a ve b e en c o n d i t i o n al on s u ch a p e r s on b e i ng available as w e ll as transport. A s k ed w h e t h er the a c c u s ed a g r e ed to the c o n s p i r a cy P W1 told t he C o u rt that he c a n n ot be sure w h e t h er he a g r e ed or n ot b e c a u se he ( P W 1) left d ue to the fact that transport w as n ot available. M r. P h o o f o lo for the a c c u s ed t h en p ut t he f o l l o w i ng q u e s t i o ns to P W 1: " Q: W o u ld y ou a g r ee y ou didn't a g r ee ( w i th t he c o n s p i r a c y) A: Q: A: b e c a u se y ou s aw this as a childish p l a n? I didn't r e g a rd it " as c h i l d i s h" as y ou say. D id y ou r e g a rd it as s a f e? I r e g a r d ed it as s o m e t h i ng that c an be d o ne if t h e re is transport. We h ad b e en told that t h e re w o u ld be transport. It w as s a fe if there w as transport." It w as t h en p ut to P W 1: " Q: T he a c c u s ed s a ys he d i s a g r e ed to be a p a r ty to that b e c a u se a m o n g st o t h er t h i n gs it w as childish. A: I didn't k n ow h ow he r e g a r d ed it." P W1 a g r e ed w i th M r. P h o o f o lo for the a c c u s ed that S e k a u t u, L e l i n g o a na a nd S e s i o a na ( P W 2) a r r i v ed at K h e t h i s a 's p l a ce f i n d i ng b o th P W1 a nd t he a c c u s ed a l r e a dy there. He d e n i es the s u g g e s t i on that t he a c c u s ed d id n ot e x p e ct t h o se o t h er p e o p le at K h e t h i s a 's p l a c e. T he a c c u s ed w as e x p e c t i ng M a k a ra S e k a u tu there s i n ce t h ey w e re g o i ng to m e et h im at that p l a c e. He a d m i ts that t he a c c u s ed w as s e e i ng S e s i o a na ( P W 2) for t he first t i me there. P W1 f u r t h er a g r e ed w i th M r. P h o o f o lo for t he a c c u s ed that t he latter k n ew M a k a ra S e k a u tu a nd L e l i n g o a n a. P W1 w as t h en a s k ed t he f o l l o w i ng r e v e a l i ng q u e s t i o ns by M r. P h o o f o l o: " Q: A nd S e k a u tu o p e n ed (the m e e t i n g) by s a y i ng t h ey h ad m et s o me political leaders. A: I c a n 't recall all w h at w as d i s c u s s ed that d a y. I h a ve r e m e m b e r ed all that I h a ve said t o d a y. P e r h a ps it is w h at w as said at the d i s c u s s i o n. Q: He w e nt further to s ay he w as h e re in their n a me - in t he A: Q: n a me of t he l e a d e rs of t he political parties? 1 d o n 't r e m e m b er h im s a y i ng that on that d a y. T he political leaders a nd h i m s e lf h ad d e c i d ed that this G o v e r n m e nt be o v e r t h r o w n. A: In my i m a g i n a t i on he n e v er s p o ke of political l e a d e rs e x c e pt h i m s e lf c o n c e r n i ng t he m a t t er of t o p p l i ng t he G o v e r n m e n t. Q: A nd that he w as in this r e g a rd a s k i ng y ou to p l ay t he part of g o i ng to t he R a d io L e s o t ho w i th t h em to m a ke t he A: Q: a n n o u n c e m e n t. Y es he said so. He (the a c c u s e d) will tell his L o r d s h ip that he f o r m ed an i m p r e s s i on that there h ad a l r e a dy b e en a c o n s p i r a cy a nd y ou w e re just b e i ng c o o p t e d. A: Y es that is so. Q: He ( M a k a ra S e k a u t u) said he w a n t ed t he a n n o u n c e m e nt to be m a de that n i g ht or at d a w n. A: I k n ow at d a w n ." It w as t h en s u g g e s t ed that b o th P W1 a nd the a c c u s ed i m m e d i a t e ly refused to be part of t he c o n s p i r a cy to w h i ch P W1 replied "I r e m e m b er quite well I refused." He c a n n ot r e m e m b er exactly w h at t he a c c u s ed said b e c a u se e a ch a nd e v e r y o ne w as s p e a k i n g. T he f o l l o w i ng q u e s t i o ns w e re t h en p ut to P W1 by M r. P h o o f o lo : " Q: He (the a c c u s e d) s a ys he r e f u s ed to be a party to this t h i ng that he t h o u g ht w as foolish. A: B ut he did n ot tell m e. Q: He s a ys he refused for other r e a s o ns that he w as fully a w a re that in t he light of d e m o c r a t ic d i s p e n s a t i on a nd s u p p o rt of n e i g h b o u r i ng countries to L e s o t ho a g a i n st o v e r t h r o w i ng of g o v e r n m e n ts that will n e v er w o r k. A: B ut we e n d ed up g o i ng to R a d io L e s o t h o. Q: He will s ay he b e l i e v es in d e m o c r a cy - d e m o c r a t i c a l ly elected g o v e r n m e n t. A: B ut we did go w i th h im to t he R a d i o. I didn't h e ar h im s ay he b e l i e v ed in d e m o c r a c y ." P W1 testified further u n d er c r o ss e x a m i n a t i on that he h i m s e lf b e l i e v es in d e m o c r a c y. He w as t h en a s k ed t he inevitable q u e s t i o n: " Q: If y ou believe in d e m o c r a cy w h at w as p u s h i ng y ou to a t t e m pt o v e r t h r o w i ng of t he G o v e r n m e n t? A: It's b e c a u se this d e m o c r a t i c a l ly elected G o v e r n m e nt b e l o n gs to B CP so I b e l o ng to B N P. As a m e m b er of B NP I d id n ot like B CP G o v e r n m e n t ." He e l a b o r a t ed further that b e c a u se he is a m e m b er of t he B NP party it w as e a sy for h im to a g r ee w h en it w as said t h ey m u st go a nd t o p p le t he B CP G o v e r n m e n t. A s k ed w h at the a c c u s e d 's r e a s on for toppling the g o v e r n m e nt w as P W1 replied that the a c c u s ed a nd h i m s e lf b e l o ng to t he s a me party. He h o w e v er c a n n ot recall t he latter's e x a ct w o r d s, a d d i ng " b ut we a g r e ed to t h o se p e o p le w h en t h ey m e n t i o n ed their m i s s i on of t o p p l i ng t he B CP G o v e r n m e n t ." By " w e" he m e a nt h i m s e lf a nd the a c c u s e d. O ne of the r e a s o ns m e n t i o n ed by t he a c c u s ed for t o p p l i ng the G o v e r n m e nt " w as that he said t h e re w as no justice in t he ruling G o v e r n m e n t ." P r e s s ed further to s ay in w h at w ay w as there no justice P W1 replied that he d id n ot a sk m a ny q u e s t i o ns " b e c a u se I w as n ot a g a i n st this m i s s i o n ." He didn't r e g a rd the m i s s i on of t o p p l i ng the G o v e r n m e nt as d a n g e r o us a c c o r d i ng to the e x p l a n a t i on by M a k a ra S e k a u tu to the effect that he h ad a s s i s t a n ce f r om b o th t he a r m ed f o r c es a nd t he p o l i ce a d d i ng "that m a de me to b e l i e ve or a g r e e ." At the m e e t i ng at a c c u s e d 's p l a ce P W1 w as s h o wn a w r i t t en d o c u m e nt "that s h o w ed o ur p o s i t i o ns w h en we h ad s u c c e e d ed o v e r t h r o w i ng the G o v e r n m e n t ." It is M a t s o so B o l o fo w ho g a ve h im t he p a p e r. M r. P h o o f o lo t h en significantly p ut t he f o l l o w i ng q u e s t i on to P W 1: " Q: T he a c c u s ed will s ay that at the v e ry first m e e t i ng at K h e t h i s a 's p l a ce M a k a ra S e k a u tu m e n t i o n ed a G o v e r n m e nt of N a t i o n al U n i ty by all parties. A: I said b e c a u se this h a p p e n ed a l o ng t i me a go I c a n n ot recall exactly w h at w as said by S e k a u tu in this r e g a r d. Q: He will s ay there w as no q u e s t i on of a t h i ng called C o u n c i l l o r s. A: It w as d i s c u s s ed in t he s e c o nd m e e t i n g ." P W1 further testified u n d er c r o ss e x a m i n a t i on that t he a c c u s ed a c c e p t ed t he p o s i t i on of a C o u n c i l l or e v en e n c o u r a g i ng t he w i t n e ss h i m s e lf to a c c e pt that position as well. T he a c c u s ed d id n ot raise a ny q u e r y. Significantly P W1 w as n ot c h a l l e n g ed on this d a m n i ng e v i d e n c e. A f t er t he m e e t i ng at O ld E u r o pa P W1 a nd t he a c c u s ed m et M a k a ra S e k a u fu at t he f o r m e r 's w o rk at F a h h i da C a sh a nd C a r r y. T he t h r ee of t h em a g r e ed to go a nd m e et at t he a c c u s e d 's h o me at L i t h a b a n e ng on t he f o l l o w i ng S u n d a y. I n d e ed it is n ot seriously d i s p u t ed that t he parties d id m e et on t he d ay in q u e s t i on at t he a c c u s e d 's h o me at L i t h a b a n e n g. P W1 categorically d e n i ed that at a ny m e e t i n gs that w e re h e ld t h e re w as a ny discussion to a p p r o a ch the M a j or G e n e r al for his s u p p o rt in t he p r o p o s ed o v e r t h r o w i ng of t he G o v e r n m e n t. T he w i t n e ss recalls a b o ut t h r ee ( 3) s u ch m e e t i n g s. He certainly d id n ot attend t he last m e e t i ng w h i ch a c c o r d i ng to t he d e f e n ce w as t he fifth m e e t i n g. P W1 is a d a m a nt that t he d ay on w h i ch t h ey w e nt to a n n o u n ce t he o v e r t h r ow of t he G o v e r n m e nt o v er R a d io L e s o t ho h ad b e en c h o s en at t he m e e t i n gs a d d i ng "that d ay w as f u l f i l m e nt d a y. T he p l a ns w e re a l r e a dy m a de w h en we p r o c e e d ed to R a d io L e s o t h o ." T he issue of t he o v e r t h r ow of t he G o v e r n m e nt w as d i s c u s s ed in all t he m e e t i n g s. I n d e ed he is u n c h a l l e n g ed on his v e r s i on that the a g e n da at all the m e e t i n gs h e ld w as to go to R a d io L e s o t ho a nd a n n o u n ce t he o v e r t h r ow of t he G o v e r n m e n t. It w as p ut to P W1 by M r. P h o o f o lo w h e t h er he g ot to k n ow w h at w as d i s c u s s ed at the last m e e t i ng w h i ch t he w i t n e ss d id n ot attend. T h is q u e s t i on elicited t he f o l l o w i ng a n s w e r: " A l t h o u gh n ot all I w as i n f o r m ed by a c c u s ed it w as w h en he told me a b o ut the c h o s en d a te on w h i ch to p r o c e ed to R a d io L e s o t ho to a n n o u n ce that we h ad o v e r t h r o wn t he G o v e r n m e n t ." T he d a te in q u e s t i on w as the 2 9 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 9 6. It is P W l 's e v i d e n ce that he m et the a c c u s ed w i th M a k a ra S e k a u t u, P W2 a nd M a t s o so B o l o fo at t he B NP rally at ' M a n t h a b i s e ng on t he 2 9 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 9 6. P Wl f o u nd t h em in t he latter's m o t or vehicle. He left t h em there a nd w e nt to the rally. T h ey told P Wl he w o u ld find t h em at R a d io L e s o t ho after t he rally a nd t he s u b s e q u e nt p r o c e s s i on to t he N a t i o n al A s s e m b ly a d d i ng "I w o u ld l e a ve the p r o c e s s i on a nd go to R a d io L e s o t h o ." M r. P h o o f o lo t h en p ut the f o l l o w i ng q u e s t i o ns to P Wl w h i ch clearly s u g g e st that it is n ot seriously d i s p u t ed that t he a c c u s ed d id g et to R a d io L e s o t ho a l t h o u gh he alleges it w as after t he a n n o u n c e m e nt to t o p p le t he G o v e r n m e n t: " Q: T he a c c u s ed will s ay he didn't go to R a d io L e s o t ho w i th A: Q: L e l i n g o a n a, B o l o fo a nd yourself. I f o u nd t h em in R a d io L e s o t h o. He will s ay that he o n ly g ot to R a d io L e s o t ho after t he r e a d i ng of the a n n o u n c e m e nt by B o l o fo o v er t he r a d i o. A: 1 f o u nd a c c u s ed at R a d io L e s o t ho b e f o re t he a n n o u n c e m e nt c o u ld be m a d e ." T he m e e t i ng at O ld E u r o pa w as finally c o n c e d ed by M r. P h o o f o lo in t he f o l l o w i ng q u e s t i on he p ut to P W 1: " Q: F i n a l ly the a c c u s ed will i n f o rm his L o r d s h ip that he w as p r e s e nt at t he m e e t i ng h e ld at O ld E u r o p a. A: He will be telling t he truth." T he m e e t i ng at t he a c c u s e d 's h o me at L i t h a b a n e ng w as also c o n c e d ed by t he d e f e n ce u n d er c r o ss e x a m i n a t i o n. I p a u se h e re to e x a m i ne the legal principles i n v o l v ed in t he e v i d e n ce of an a c c o m p l i c e. In R v N c a n a na 1 9 48 S . A. 3 99 AD at 4 0 5 -6 S c h r e i n er JA stated the principle in the f o l l o w i ng w o r d s: " T he c a u t i o us C o u rt or j u ry will o f t en p r o p e r ly a c q u it in t he a b s e n ce of other e v i d e n ce c o n n e c t i ng the a c c u s ed w i th t he c r i m e, b ut no rule of l aw or practice r e q u i r es it to do so W h at is required is that the trier of fact s h o u ld w a rn h i m s e lf or, if t he trier is a j u r y, that it s h o u ld be w a r n e d, of t he special d a n g er of c o n v i c t i ng on the e v i d e n ce of an a c c o m p l i c e; for an a c c o m p l i ce is n ot m e r e ly a w i t n e ss w i th a possible m o t i ve to tell lies a b o ut an i n n o c e nt a c c u s ed b ut is s u ch a w i t n e ss peculiarly e q u i p p e d, by r e a s on of his inside k n o w l e d ge of the c r i m e, to c o n v i n ce the u n w a ry that his lies are the truth. T h is special d a n g er is n ot m et by c o r r o b o r a t i on of the a c c o m p l i ce in m a t e r i al respects n ot i m p l i c a t i ng the a c c u s e d, or by p r o of aliunde that the c r i me c h a r g ed w as c o m m i t t ed by s o m e o n e; so that satisfaction of the r e q u i r e m e n ts of sec. 2 85 d o es n ot sufficiently protect t he a c c u s ed against the risk of false incrimination by an a c c o m p l i c e. T he risk that he m ay be c o n v i c t ed w r o n g ly a l t h o u gh sec. 2 85 h as b e en satisfied will be r e d u c e d, a nd in the m o st satisfactory w a y, if there is c o r r o b o r a t i on i m p l i c a t i ng the a c c u s e d. B ut it will also be r e d u c ed if the a c c u s ed s h o ws h i m s e lf to be a lying w i t n e ss or if he d o es n ot g i ve e v i d e n ce to contradict or e x p l a in that of the a c c o m p l i c e. A nd it will also be r e d u c e d, e v en in the a b s e n ce of these features, if t he trier of fact u n d e r s t a n ds t he peculiar d a n g er inherent in a c c o m p l i ce e v i d e n ce a nd appreciates that a c c e p t a n ce of t he a c c o m p l i ce a nd rejection of the a c c u s ed is, in s u ch c i r c u m s t a n c e s, only permissible w h e re the merits of the f o r m er as a w i t n e ss a nd the d e m e r i ts of the latter are b e y o nd q u e s t i o n ." I n d e ed H o l m es JA e x p r e s s ed h i m s e lf in the s a me v e in in S v H l a p e z u la a nd others 1 9 65 (4) S. A. 4 39 at 4 40 w h en he stated as f o l l o w s: "It is w e ll settled that t he t e s t i m o ny of an a c c o m p l i ce r e q u i r es particular scrutiny b e c a u se of t he c u m u l a t i ve effect of t he f o l l o w i ng factors. First, he is a s e l f - c o n f e s s ed c r i m i n a l. S e c o n d, v a r i o us c o n s i d e r a t i o ns m ay l e ad h im falsely to i m p l i c a te t he a c c u s e d, for e x a m p l e, a desire to shield a culprit o r, particularly w h e re he h as n ot b e en s e n t e n c e d, t he h o pe of c l e m e n c y. T h i r d, by r e a s on of his inside k n o w l e d g e, he h as a d e c e p t i ve facility for c o n v i n c i ng description - his o n ly fiction b e i ng t he substitution of the a c c u s ed for t he culprit. A c c o r d i n g l y, e v en w h e re sec. 2 57 of the C o de h as b e en satisfied, t h e re h as g r o wn up a c a u t i o n a ry rule of practice r e q u i r i ng ( a) r e c o g n i t i on by t he trial C o u rt of t he f o r e g o i ng d a n g e r s, a nd ( b) t he s a f e g u a rd of s o me factor r e d u c i ng the risk of a w r o ng c o n v i c t i o n, s u ch as c o r r o b o r a t i on i m p l i c a t i ng t he a c c u s ed in t he c o m m i s s i on of t he o f f e n c e, or t he a b s e n ce of g a i n s a y i ng e v i d e n ce f r om h i m, or his m e n d a c i ty as a w i t n e s s, or t he i m p l i c a t i on by t he a c c o m p l i ce of s o m e o ne n e ar a nd d e ar to h i m; s ee in particular R. V. N c a n a n a, 1 9 48 ( 4) S . A. 3 99 ( A D .) At p p. 4 0 5 - 6; R . v. G u m e d e, 1 9 49 ( 3) S . A. 7 49 ( A . D .) at p. 7 5 8; R. V. N q a m t w e ni a nd A n o t h e r, 1 9 59 ( 1) S . A. 8 94 ( A . D .) At p p. 8 9 7 G - 8 9 8 D. Satisfaction of t he c a u t i o n a ry rule d o es n ot necessarily w a r r a nt a c o n v i c t i o n, for t he u l t i m a te r e q u i r e m e nt is p r o of b e y o nd r e a s o n a b le d o u b t, a nd this d e p e n ds u p on an a p p r a i s al of all t he e v i d e n ce a nd t he d e g r ee of t he s a f e g u a rd a f o r e m e n t i o n e d ." I am in respectful a g r e e m e nt w i th t he principles as stated by t he L e a r n ed j u d g es of a p p e a l. I h a ve b o r ne t h em in m i nd in d e a l i ng w i th this m a t t e r. In particular I c o n s i d er that t he fact that P W1 is related to t he a c c u s ed by birth a nd that t h ey a re o b v i o u s ly on g o od t e r ms as w e ll as t he fact that he w as n ot seriously c h a l l e n g ed in m a t e r i al r e s p e c ts go a l o ng w ay t o w a r ds r e d u c i ng t he d a n g e rs i n h e r e nt in t he e v i d e n ce of a c c o m p l i ce w i t n e ss P W l. T he C r o wn relies u p on t he e v i d e n ce of P W2 L e n n ox N t e n te S e s i o a na as p r o v i d i ng c o r r o b o r a t i on to the e v i d e n ce of P W l. S i n ce P W2 is h i m s e lf a l so an a c c o m p l i ce I shall b e ar the a b o ve m e n t i o n ed c a u t i o n a ry rule as e n u n c i a t ed by t he l e a r n ed J u d g es of a p p e al in a p p r o a c h i ng h is e v i d e n ce as w e l l. M r. Phoofolo relies heavily on t he f o l l o w i ng p a s s a ge by S c h r i n er JA in L e t h o la a nd o t h e rs v R 1 9 6 3 - 66 H C T LR 12 at 1 6: "A plurality of a c c o m p l i c es d o es n ot in itself constitute c o r r o b o r a t i on for the p u r p o se of t he c a u t i o n a ry rule, s i n ce s e v e r al a c c o m p l i c es are just as likely as o ne to i m p l i c a te i n n o c e nt p e r s o ns falsely B ut s u ch a plurality p r o v i d es m a t e r i al for c h e c k i ng truthfulness a nd m ay in s o me c a s es be i m p o r t a n t .' W h i le I a g r ee w i th the principle stated in this p a s s a ge I do n ot h o w e v er u n d e r s t a nd t he p a s s a ge to m e an that t h e re c an be no c o r r o b o r a t i ve e v i d e n ce of an a c c o m p l i ce f r om a n o t h er a c c o m p l i c e. T he l aw as I h a ve a l w a ys p e r c e i v ed it to be is that there is no rule of l aw that p r e v e n ts a C o u rt f r om finding c o r r o b o r a t i on in t he e v i d e n ce of a n o t h er a c c o m p l i c e. In this r e g a rd I respectfully a g r ee w i th the f o l l o w i ng r e m a r ks of B o t ha JA in S v A v on B o t t le S t o re ( P t y) Ltd. A nd o t h e rs 1 9 63 ( 2 ) S . A. 3 89 at 3 9 3: " T he i n d e p e n d e nt t e s t i m o ny of an a c c o m p l i ce is c o m p e t e nt e v i d e n c e, a nd I c an s ee no r e a s on w hy c o r r o b o r a t i on of o ne a c c o m p l i ce by a n o t h er i m p l i c a t i ng t he a c c u s ed c a n n o t, if t he latter is reliable, r e d u ce the risk of false i n c r i m i n a t i o n. W h e t h er or n ot that risk h as b e en satisfactorily r e d u c ed will o b v i o u s ly d e p e nd on t he c i r c u m s t a n c e s ." T h is v i ew w as a d o p t ed w i th a p p r o v al by H o l m es JA in S v H l a p e z u la a nd o t h e rs ( s u p r a) at 4 40 in t he f o l l o w i ng w o r d s: " W h e re c o r r o b o r a t i ve e v i d e n ce i m p l i c a t i ng t he a c c u s ed in t he c o m m i s s i on of t he c r i me is g i v en by a n o t h er a c c o m p l i c e, t he latter's e v i d e n c e, if r e g a r d ed as reliable, m a y, d e p e n d i ng on t he c i r c u m s t a n c e s, satisfactorily r e d u ce t he risk of a w r o ng c o n v i c t i o n. T h is w as t he v i ew of B o t ha JA g i v i ng t he j u d g m e nt of this C o u rt in S v A v on B o t t le S t o re ( P t y) L t d. a nd o t h e rs 1 9 63 ( 2) S . A. 3 89 A D. at p. 3 93 H a nd I a g r ee w i th it." I s h o u ld a dd for c o m p l e t e n e ss that in t e r ms of S e c t i on 2 39 of t he C r i m i n al P r o c e d u re a nd E v i d e n ce A ct 1 9 81 it is perfectly c o m p e t e nt for a ny C o u rt to c o n v i ct on t he single e v i d e n ce of a ny a c c o m p l i ce p r o v i d ed t he c o m m i s s i on of t he o f f e n ce h as b e en p r o v ed by e v i d e n ce a l i u n d e. T he S e c t i on r e a d s: " 2 39 A ny C o u rt m ay c o n v i ct a ny p e r s on of a ny o f f e n ce a l l e g ed a g a i n st h im in t he c h a r ge on t he single e v i d e n ce of a ny a c c o m p l i c e, p r o v i d ed t he o f f e n ce h a s, by c o m p e t e nt e v i d e n ce o t h er t h an the single a nd u n c o n f i r m ed e v i d e n ce of the a c c o m p l i c e, b e en p r o v ed to the satisfaction of t he c o u rt to h a ve b e en actually c o m m i t t e d ." To t he e x t e nt that t he c h a r ge in t he instant c a se relates to h i gh t r e a s on it is n e c e s s a ry also to b e ar in m i nd the p r o v i s i o ns of S e c t i on 2 38 ( 2) ( b) w h i ch p r o v i d es as f o l l o w s: " 2 38 ( 2) No C o u rt shall - ( b) c o n v i ct a ny p e r s on of t r e a s on e x c e pt u p on t he e v i d e n ce of t wo w i t n e s s es w h e re o ne o v e rt act is c h a r g e d, u p on the e v i d e n ce of o ne w i t n e ss to e a ch s u ch o v e rt act." I p r o c e ed t h en to e x a m i ne t he e v i d e n ce of t he o t h er a c c o m p l i ce P W2 L e n n ox N t e n te S e s i o a n a. He is a f a r m er a g ed 74 y e a r s. He w e nt as far as M a t r ic at W i t w a t e r s r a nd T e c h n i c al C o l l e ge in 1 9 4 6. He w o r k ed in the C ID in the R e p u b l ic of S o u th A f r i ca for 9 y e a rs 9 m o n t hs l e a v i ng the force in 1 9 5 5. He t h en b e c a me a b u s i n e s s m an f r om 1 9 56 to 1 9 74 w h en he t o ok to f a r m i n g. I s h o u ld m e n t i on at the o u t s et that this w i t n e ss g a ve his e v i d e n ce in i m p e c c a b le E n g l i s h. It w as a p l e a s u re to listen to h i m. He m a i n t a i n ed his c o m p o s u re e v en u n d er e x t r e me p r e s s u re f r om c r o ss e x a m i n a t i o n. He a l w a ys w o re a s m i l e. Of c o u r s e, as earlier stated, I shall b e ar in m i nd that he is an a c c o m p l i ce a nd that t he d a n g e rs as fully set o ut a b o ve a re i n h e r e nt in t he e v i d e n ce of an a c c o m p l i ce witness. I n d e ed the c o m p o s u re a nd s m i le that P W2 e x h i b i t ed t h r o u g h o ut his e v i d e n ce do n ot necessarily l e s s en t he d a n g e rs in q u e s t i o n. It is P W 2 's e v i d e n ce that he m et the a c c u s ed for t he first t i me on t he 9 th J a n u a ry 1 9 96 at O ld E u r o p a. T he a c c u s ed w as i n t r o d u c ed to h im by M a k a ra S e k a u t u. He m et M a t s o so J o hn B o l o fo for t he first t i me on t he 4 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 96 at L i t h a b a n e ng at t he a c c u s e d 's p l a ce a d d i ng " we w e re in a m e e t i n g ." It w as on a S u n d a y. I n d e ed I o b s e r ve f r om t he 1 9 96 c a l e n d er that t he 4 th F e b r u a ry in 1 9 96 w as a S u n d a y. He ( P W 2) k n ew D a v id L e l i n g o a na f r om t he 9 th J a n u a ry 1 9 96 at O ld E u r o pa a nd a g a in on the 4 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 96 at L i t h a b a n e ng at t he h o me of t he a c c u s e d. M a k a ra S e k a u tu w as a l so present. He h as k n o wn t he latter for a l o ng t i m e. In fact t h ey a re f r om the s a me village as w e ll as f r om t he s a me political party. It is P W 2 's e v i d e n ce that on the 2 9 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 96 M a t s o so B o l o f o, L e l i n g o a na J o n a t h a n, the a c c u s ed a nd t he w i t n e ss h i m s e lf w e re at R a d io L e s o t ho a d d i ng " we w e re g o i ng to c l a im that we h ad o v e r t h r o wn the G o v e r n m e n t ." It is his e v i d e n ce that he d id n ot like t he B CP G o v e r n m e n t. A c c o r d i ng to P W2 t h ey h ad a l r e a dy m et on t he 9 th J a n u a ry 1 9 96 at a certain p l a ce at O ld E u r o p a. T h o se p r e s e nt at the m e e t i ng w e re the w i t n e ss h i m s e l f, P W l, M a k a ra S e k a u t u, L e l i n g o a na J o n a t h an a nd the a c c u s e d. He t h us c o r r o b o r a t es P Wl in this respect. T h ey m et in a flat b ut he d o es n ot k n ow t he o w n er t h e r e of He w as there f r om 8 p . m. until 6 a . m. T h ey w e re discussing "serious n e w s ." T he w i t n e ss c a me to this h o u se in the c o m p a ny of M a k a ra S e k a u t u. T h ey f o u nd t he o t h e rs a l r e a dy in t he h o u s e. P W2 t h en first i n t r o d u c ed h i m s e lf to the others a nd e a ch s t o od up a nd g r e e t ed h i m. T h en M a k a ra S e k a u tu m a de the f o l l o w i ng s t a t e m e n t: " My c o u n t ry m e n, I h a ve b r o u g ht y ou N t a te S e s i o a na the m an I t a l k ed a b o ut often to y o u. He is to a d v i se us in o ur m i s s i o n. I h o pe y ou will w e l c o me h i m ." T h en the m e e t i ng started w i th a p r a y er a d d i ng " M a k a ra led us in p r a y e r ." It is P W 2 's e v i d e n ce that he w as c h o s en b e c a u se M a k a ra S e k a u tu k n ew h im very well. A f t er the p r a y er M a k a ra S e k a u tu s p o ke a nd said t he f o l l o w i ng m o r n i ng at 4 a . m. "It w as the t i me we w e re to o v e r t h r ow t he G o v e r n m e n t ." P W2 testifies that t h o se p r e s e nt all " d e m a n d ed to k n ow h ow we a re g o i ng to l e a ve O ld E u r o p a" a d d i ng " t h ey w e l c o m ed t he s u g g e s t i on b ut w a n t ed to k n ow the m e a ns of transport. A s k ed w h e t h er t he a c c u s ed w e l c o m ed this m i s s i on P W2 testified that "it w as u n a n i m o u s ly w e l c o m e d ." He t h us c o r r o b o r a t ed PW1. P W2 w as n ot a r m ed b e c a u se a c c o r d i ng to h im t h ey h ad b e en a s s u r ed assistance f r om m e m b e rs of t he a r m ed forces. T h ey h ad a l so b e en p r o m i s ed security f r om R a d io L e s o t ho to t he G o v e r n m e nt C o m p l ex to " g et h o ld of G o v e r n m e nt offices" after p r o c l a i m i ng t he o v e r t h r ow of G o v e r n m e n t. B ut in o r d er to be certain of this t he m e e t i ng s e nt M a k a ra S e k a u tu to m e et t he soldiers a nd " m a ke a better a r r a n g e m e n t" M a k a ra S e k a u tu left at 2 a . m. a nd returned at 4 . 30 a m. on the 1 0 th J a n u a ry 1 9 9 6. He f o u nd his c o - c o n s p i r a t o rs " s l u m b e r i n g ." M a k a ra S e k a u t u 's report d id n ot satisfy his c o - c o n s p i r a t o rs in as m u ch as it m e r e ly said it w as "all a r r a n g ed a nd we c o u ld go to R a d io L e s o t ho on foot safely." T h at w as u n a c c e p t a b le to P W2 a nd t h ey all a g r e ed that they m u st p o s t p o ne the m a t t er until better a r r a n g e m e n ts h ad b e en m a d e. T h ey d i s p e r s ed at 6 a . m. P W2 c o r r o b o r a t es P Wl that " t he a c c u s ed w as p r e s e nt all this t i m e" a d d i ng " he w as still n o r m a l ." P W2 left the m e e t i ng at O ld E u r o pa in the c o m p a ny of M a k a ra S e k a u t u. On t he w ay the latter told h im that there w as a certain m an by t he n a me of M a t s o so B o l o fo w ho c o u ld c o n n e ct t h em directly w i th t he M a j or G e n e r al a d d i ng " n ot this circuitous w ay of g o i ng t h r o u gh the ' B a s h a n y a n a '" m e a n i ng the soldiers. A c c o r d i ng to P W 2, on or a b o ut the 2 7 th J a n u a ry 1 9 96 M a k a ra S e k a u tu c a me to h im at his h o me at M o k e ma a nd told h im that he h ad m et M a t s o so B o l o fo a nd that the latter w as interested to h e lp a nd c o u ld c o n n e ct t h em directly to t he M a j or G e n e r a l. He also i n f o r m ed P W2 that there w o u ld be a m e e t i ng on S u n d ay t he 4 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 96 at a p l a ce n e ar L e f i k e ng at L i t h a b a n e ng a d d i ng " he m e n t i o n ed that it w as at a c c u s e d 's p l a c e ." I n d e ed on the 4 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 96 P W2 a nd M a k a ra S e k a u tu left t o g e t h er f r om M o k e ma to L i t h a b a n e ng in t he m o r n i ng at 7 a . m. At L i t h a b a n e ng t h ey m et M a t s o so B o l o fo a l o ng the r o a d. A f t er t he latter h ad i n t r o d u c ed h i m s e lf to P W2 he " a p o l o g i s ed that he w as g o i ng to deliver his w i fe at h o me a nd w o u ld c o me b a c k ." It is P W 2 's e v i d e n ce that they s aw the a c c u s ed s t a n d i ng n e xt to t he r o ad a d d i ng " we w e nt to h i m. We all w a i t ed for B o l o fo to c o m e. As he arrived on the r o ad side the a c c u s ed t o ok us to his h o m e ." T h e re w e re f o ur ( 4) of t h em n a m e ly P W2 h i m s e l f, the a c c u s e d, M a t s o so B o l o fo a nd M a k a ra S e k a u t u. T h ey w a i t ed for L e l i n g o a na a nd P W1 at the a c c u s e d 's place. It w as at 11 a . m. T h ey w a i t ed "until a b o ut 12 o ' c l o ck m i d d ay w h en L e l i n g o a na a nd P W1 arrived." M a k a ra S e k a u tu i n t r o d u c ed M a t s o so B o l o fo to L e l i n g o a na a nd P W1 after w h i ch he " p r e s e n t ed B o l o fo to us all as t he m an w ho w o u ld assist us a nd w o u ld be able to m e et the M a j or G e n e r al directly." It is P W 2 's e v i d e n ce that M a t s o so B o l o fo r e p o r t ed to t h o se at the m e e t i ng that he h ad a l r e a dy s e en the M a j or G e n e r al a nd that t he latter w a n t ed to see the g r i e v a n c es for t o p p l i ng t he G o v e r n m e nt a d d i ng " t h en we a r r a n g ed to c o m p i le o ur r e a s o ns in a written f o rm a nd s e nd t h em to t he L DF G e n e r a l ." T h o se g r i e v a n c es w e re s i m i l ar to t he o n es actually r e ad by M a t s o so Bolofo o v er R a d io L e s o t ho on t he 2 9 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 9 6. P W2 is a d a m a nt t h ey d i s c u s s ed the r e a s o ns t o g e t h er a d d i ng " t he a c c u s ed w as i n v o l v ed in the d i s c u s s i o n s ." T he g r i e v a n c es w e re h a n d ed to M a t s o so Bolofo to p r e s e nt to t he M a j or G e n e r a l. P W2 testifies that " d u r i ng all this t i me t he a c c u s ed w as p r e s e n t ." D e t a i ls c o n c e r n i ng the b a c k g r o u nd of M a t s o so Bolofo a nd L e l i n g o a na h ad b e en g i v en to P W 2. T he f o r m er w as w o r k i ng as a security officer s o m e w h e re in the b a n k. He h ad p r e v i o u s ly b e en a p o l i ce officer. T he latter ( L e l i n g o a n a) w as f o r m e r ly a d e f e n ce f o r ce m a n. P W2 testifies that t h ey p r o c e e d ed w i th their d i s c u s s i on " a b o ut t he a p p r o a ch to o v e r t h r ow t he G o v e r n m e n t ." T h ey w e re g o i ng to do it by p e a c e f ul m e a ns a d d i ng " we d e c i d ed to m a r ch p e a c e f u l ly a c c o m p a n y i ng political party rally a nd w h en we r e a c h ed P a r l i a m e nt t he w h o le of u s, six of u s, w o u ld go a nd p r o c e ed to R a d io L e s o t h o. We d id n ot c a re for t he constitutional principles of the ballot b o x. We o b s e r v ed that B CP w as n ot d o i ng d e m o c r a cy a n y m o r e ." A s k ed w h at t h ey w o u ld do if there w as resistance P W2 testified that t h ey w o u ld be " h e l p ed by the a r m ed f o r c es to r e b ut that." He a d m i ts that this w o u ld entail f o r ce a nd that t h ey actually d i s c u s s ed this. T he d i s c u s s i o ns w e re c l o s ed "late in t he a f t e r n o o n" w h en M a t s o so Bolofo w as instructed by the m e e t i ng to go a nd m e et the M a j or G e n e r al " a nd r e p o rt b a ck d u r i ng t he w e e k ." It is P W 2 's e v i d e n ce that he h ad m u ch c o n f i d e n ce in M a t s o so Bolofo. On the 8 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 96 P W2 w as i n f o r m ed by M a k a ra S e k a u tu that there w o u ld be a n o t h er m e e t i ng at the a c c u s e d 's p l a ce on t he 1 0 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 96 at a b o ut 2 p . m. T h en at a b o ut 2 p . m. on t he d a te in q u e s t i on P W2 a nd M a k a ra S e k a u tu left M o k e ma for the m e e t i ng at L i t h a b a n e n g. T h ey arrived at the a c c u s e d 's p l a ce at a b o ut 2 p . m. A s k ed to clarify w h at t i me t h ey left M o k e ma P W2 c o r r e c t ed h i m s e lf to s ay it w as b e t w e en 9 a . m. a nd 10 a . m. T h ey w e re travelling by b u s. It w as on S a t u r d a y. O n ce m o re I o b s e r ve f r om the 1 9 96 c a l e n d er that t he 1 0 th F e b r u a ry t h e r e of w as i n d e ed a S a t u r d a y. It is the e v i d e n ce of P W2 that M a t s o so Bolofo c a me late w h i le the m e e t i ng w as a l r e a dy in p r o g r e s s. L e l i n g o a na also arrived. " P W1 w as a l so there" as w e ll as t he a c c u s e d. A c c o r d i ng to P W2 t h ey h ad " s o me d i s c u s s i on b e f o re Bolofo a r r i v e d" as t h o se p r e s e nt w a n t ed to k n ow w h at w o u ld be their future w h en t h ey later h a n d ed o v er t he G o v e r n m e nt to political p a r ty m e m b e r s. T he m e e t i ng a g r e ed that after o v e r t h r o w i ng t he G o v e r n m e nt t h ey w o u ld h a nd it o v er to political party leaders. P W2 testifies that t he m e e t i ng h ad "a m i nd that we m u st h a ve a c h a i r m a n ." He w as a s k ed by t he c o - c o n s p i r a t o rs to h e lp t h em a p p o i nt a cabinet a nd he a g r e ed to assist t h e m. At the t op w o u ld be a C o u n c il of R u l e rs c o m p r i s i ng of t he c o - c o n s p i r a t o r s. T h en b e l ow this w o u ld be a C o u n c il of M i n i s t e r s. It is P W 2 's e v i d e n ce that he a d v i s ed t he c o - c o n s p i r a t o rs to h a ve t wo ( 2) divisions " so that t h ey c o u ld h a ve a role in t he G o v e r n m e n t ." He is a d a m a nt that t he C o u n c il of R u l e rs w o u ld i n c l u de M a t s o so Bolofo, M a k a ra S e k a u t u, t he w i t n e ss h i m s e lf ( P W 2) the a c c u s e d, P W1 a nd L e l i n g o a n a. A c c o r d i ng to P W2 the C o u n c il of M i n i s t e rs w o u ld be a p p o i n t ed on t he 2 9 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 96 " w h en we h ad t he p o w e r ." M e a n w h i le M a t s o so Bolofo m a de a n o t h er report to t he effect that t he M a j or G e n e r al w as satisfied w i th t he r e a s o ns for t o p p l i ng t he G o v e r n m e n t. T h is w as on the 10th F e b r u a ry 1 9 9 6. T he M a j or G e n e r al w o u ld h o w e v er w a nt to m e et M a t s o so Bolofo a nd M a k a ra S e k a u t u. T h o se at t he m e e t i ng t h en instructed the t wo g e n t l e m en in q u e s t i on to go a nd s ee t he M a j or G e n e r a l. It is the e v i d e n ce of P W2 that "in c o n t r i b u t i ng t h e se a d v i c es a nd hints we all t o ok part - that is all of u s ." A s k ed w h e t h er this i n c l u d ed t he a c c u s ed P W2 categorically testified that " t he a c c u s ed w as there a nd he c o n t r i b u t e d ." A c c o r d i ng to P W2 the c o n s p i r a t o rs w a n t ed to " c o n v i n ce the M a j or G e n e r al that o ur c o u r se w as right." T he m e e t i ng w as c l o s ed at a b o ut 7 p . m. h a v i ng a g r e ed that M a t s o so Bolofo a nd M a k a ra S e k a u tu m u st report " i m m e d i a t e l y" a b o ut the m e e t i ng w i th M a j or G e n e r a l. On the 2 4 th or 2 7 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 96 M a k a ra S e k a u tu c a me to P W2 at his place a nd told h im that there w o u ld be a n o t h er m e e t i ng on the 2 8 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 96 near the S p e e dy C o m p l ex in M a s e ru n e ar the Traffic Circle n ot far f r om the Cathedral. T h en on the date in question (the 2 8 th F e b r u a r y) P W2 left M o k e ma in the c o m p a ny of M a k a ra S e k a u t u. T h ey w e re travelling by b u s. T he latter told h im that they h ad appointed a Secretary by the n a me of M o r e na R a n t h o m e ng M a t e te w h om P W2 k n ew as a B NP m e m b e r. M o r e na R a n t h o m e ng M a t e te w o u ld be Secretary "for o ur C o u n c il of R u l e r s ." P W2 a nd M a k a ra S e k a u tu arrived at the S p e e dy C o m p l ex w h e re they f o u nd M a t s o so Bolofo. Later L e l i n g o a na also arrived. T he latter told t h em he h ad to collect p a p e rs to be t y p ed f r om a certain lady a M i ss M a s u p ha ( no d o u bt P W 4) at the S p e e dy C o m p l e x. L e l i n g o a na then left b ut c a me b a ck later s a y i ng the lady h ad n ot yet finished typing the p a p e r s. At this stage L e l i n g o a na m a de another report that the typing to s o me of the p a p e rs h ad n ot yet b e en finished by M o r e na R a n t h o m e ng M a t e te b e c a u se he w as t oo b u sy with chieftainship matters. T h o se present left the S p e e dy C o m p l ex a nd w e nt to wait at the Cathedral. T h ey w a i t ed there for the p a p e rs in q u e s t i on until 4 p . m. w h en P W2 left for his h o me at M o k e m a. T he p a p e rs w e re still not ready. It w as a g r e ed that the n e xt m e e t i ng w o u ld be on the 2 9 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 96 at a b o ut 8 a.m. at ' M a n t h a b i s e ng A r e a. It is P W 2 's e v i d e n ce that " we w o u ld m e et there a nd finalise o ur plot." A s k ed w h at plot he testified that it w as the plot of o v e r t h r o w i ng the G o v e r n m e n t. On the 2 9 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 96 P W2 arrived at ' M a n t h a b i s e ng at a b o ut 8 a . m. T h e re he first m et t he a c c u s ed w ho r e p o r t ed to h im "that t h ey h ad a m e e t i ng last night w h e re Bolofo w as a p p o i n t ed C h a i r m an of R u l e r s" a d d i ng " a nd he further told me that M a k a ra d i s p u t ed v e h e m e n t ly a b o ut t he a p p o i n t m e nt of Bolofo as C h a i r m a n ." It is further P W 2 's e v i d e n ce that t he a c c u s ed told h im that M a k a ra said he w o u ld spoil e v e r y t h i ng if Bolofo b e c a me C h a i r m an a nd that t he m a t t er of t he a p p o i n t m e nt in q u e s t i on w as p o s t p o n ed until t he arrival of P W 2. P W2 further testifies that the a c c u s ed told h im t he a p p o i n t m e nt in q u e s t i on " w o u ld w a it for v o t e s ." T he a c c u s ed t h en left s a y i ng he w as g o i ng to s ee s o m e o ne s o m e w h e r e. At this s t a ge M a t s o so Bolofo arrived a nd m a de a report t oo that t he p r e v i o us n i g ht t h ey h e ld a m e e t i ng w h e re he w as a p p o i n t ed C h a i r m an of t he C o u n c il of R u l e rs a nd that M a k a ra d i s p u t ed it s a y i ng he w o u ld spoil e v e r y t h i n g. M a t s o so Bolofo t h en left s a y i ng he w as in a h u r ry to m e et t he M a j or G e n e r a l. A c c o r d i ng to P W2 M a k a ra S e k a u tu also r e p o r t ed to h im that he d i s p u t ed the a p p o i n t m e nt of M a t s o so Bolofo as C h a i r m an c l a i m i ng he w as a p p o i n t ed in his a b s e n c e. P W2 t h en g a ve M a k a ra S e k a u tu "a stern w a r n i n g" that t h e re w as no w ay b a c k" a nd that if he w as to be f o l l o w ed he m u st also f o l l ow others. A l t h o u gh M a k a ra S e k a u tu w as " v e ry g r o s s" he p r o m i s ed to follow P W 2 's advice. A f t er s o m e t i me all the c o n s p i r a t o rs c a me o ne by o ne at ' M a n t h a b i s e ng B us S t op n a m e ly M a t s o so Bolofo, t he a c c u s e d, P W l, L e l i n g o a n a, P W2 h i m s e lf a nd M a k a ra S e k a u t u. It w as still on t he 2 9 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 9 6. It is t he e v i d e n ce of P W2 that at that t i me M a t s o so Bolofo a nd t he a c c u s ed h ad to " s h o r t en t he w r i t t en s t a t e m e nt that Bolofo h ad to a n n o u n ce o v er the radio." T h at is to a b b r e v i a te it. A c c o r d i ng to t he e v i d e n ce of P W2 M a t s o so Bolofo w as dictating w h i le t he a c c u s ed w as w r i t i n g. M e a n w h i le a d i s t a n ce further up t he political rally w as starting to g et r e a dy for a m a r ch to P a r l i a m e nt H o u s e. P W2 d e s c r i b es t he m a r ch as a "toyi t o y i ." A c c o r d i ng to P W2 all the conspirators later m et e x c e pt L e l i n g o a na w ho h ad a l r e a dy p r o c e e d ed to the radio station " to e x a m i ne t he p o s i t i o n, s u r v e y i ng w h e t h er we w o u ld be alright." T he c o n s p i r a t o rs t h en j o i n ed t he rally or " d e m o n s t r a t i o n" d o wn to P a r l i a m e nt H o u s e. P W2 reiterates that their " p l a n" w as that w h en t h ey r e a c h ed p a r l i a m e nt t h ey w o u ld b r e ak a w ay f r om t he "toyi toyi" a nd go to t he R a d io S t a t i on w h e re t h ey w o u ld g a in e n t ry a nd " a n n o u n ce o ur t a k e o v er of G o v e r n m e n t ." T h is i n d e ed is n ot d i s p u t e d. W h en t he p r o c e s s i on r e a c h ed t he Traffic C i r c le P W2 felt he c o u ld n ot c o pe w i th t he "toyi toyi" as t h ey w e re j u m p i n g. He b r o ke o ff a nd f o l l o w ed K i n g s w ay R o ad h e a d i ng for the R a d io Station. T h o se w ho c o n t i n u ed w i th t he p r o c e s s i on w e re P W 1, M a k a ra S e k a u tu a nd t he a c c u s e d. M a t s o so Bolofo d r o ve in his car. P W2 f o u nd t he latter o u t s i de t he r a d io y a rd in t he street s t a n d i ng w i th L e l i n g o a n a. He j o i n ed t h e m. L a t er t he a c c u s ed a r r i v ed f o l l o w ed by P W 1. S e k a u tu didn't a p p e a r. It w as b e t w e en 12 o ' c l o ck m i d d ay a nd 1 p . m. a nd the c o n s p i r a t o rs w a i t ed there until a certain l a dy p a s s e d. S he w as called by L e l i n g o a na a nd t h ey t a l k ed a s i de after w h i ch L e l i n g o a na called t he c o - c o n s p i r a t o rs a nd t h ey all m o v ed inside the y a r d. A c c o r d i ng to t he e v i d e n ce of P W2 " we h ad in m i nd that n ow we a re r e a dy to p r o c e ed w i th o ur m i s s i o n ." A s t a t e m e nt h ad by t h en b e en p r e p a r ed a nd h a n d ed o v er to M a t s o so Bolofo to r e ad in the studio. A f ew y a r ds f r om the g a te P W2 t u r n ed b a ck to go a nd c l o se t he d o or of M a t s o so Bolofo's c ar as he h ad left his b e l o n g i n gs in there. T h e re w e re soldiers at the g a te b ut t h ey d id n ot intercept t he c o n s p i r a t o r s. It is P W 2 's e v i d e n ce that he w as " e x c i t e d" at this s t a ge a d d i ng " t he o t h e rs l o o k ed a l so excited." As P W2 w as d e l a y ed w h i le returning to M a t s o so Bolofo's c ar he f o u nd the others already inside the studio w h en he c a me b a c k. He h e a rd m u s ic - t he N a t i o n al A n t h em p l a y i ng o v er the r a d io a nd a s k ed a certain lady he m et w h e re the r o om w as w h e re the m u s ic w as playing. T he lady p o i n t ed the d o or for h im a nd he e n t e r ed t he studio r o om w h e re he f o u nd L e l i n g o a na a nd M a t s o so Bolofo. T he latter w as seated n e xt to a m i c r o p h o n e. L e l i n g o a na w as w a l k i ng d o wn " n e ar p e o p le lying d o wn on t he floor." P W2 d id n ot s ee P W1 a nd t he a c c u s ed "that t i m e ". He w as instructed by L e l i n g o a na to w a t ch o v er t h o se p e o p le lying d o wn on the floor. L e l i n g o a na w as a r m ed w i th a s m a ll g un - "it w as like a pistol." He w as h o l d i ng it in his h a nd " w a l k i ng a r o u nd in t h e r e ." He d i s a p p e a r ed in the o t h er c o m er a nd c a me b a ck w i th three m o re p e o p le w h om he o r d e r ed to lie d o w n. P W2 s u b s e q u e n t ly h e a rd L e l i n g o a na s ay " p l e a se S e o e h la close that d o o r ." It is P W 2 's e v i d e n ce that it w as t h en that S e o e h la (the a c c u s e d) e m e r g ed f r om the c o m er a nd c l o s ed the d o o r. T h e re w e re m a ny p e o p le lying d o wn - m en a nd w o m e n. T h ey w e re quiet. A s k ed w h e t h er the a c c u s ed w as a r m ed P W2 testified that he w as n ot a r m ed as he s aw h i m. A c c o r d i ng to P W2 the a c c u s ed t h en " w e nt p a s s ed t o w a r ds t he d o o r. He n e v er c a me b a c k ." At this stage L e l i n g o a na instructed all t h o se p e o p le lying d o wn on the floor to " p r e ss the k n o b s ." O ne m an s t o od up a nd d id as o r d e r e d. P W2 t h en h e a rd M a t s o so Bolofo s p e ak on the m i c r o p h o ne " a nd he r e ad the m e m o r a n d um - the s t a t e m e nt a d d i ng " he w as a n n o u n c i ng to t he radio station that the G o v e r n m e nt is b e i ng o v e r t h r o wn a nd p e o p le m u st c o m p l y ." T he s t a t e m e nt h ad six ( 6) points w hy the G o v e r n m e nt w as b e i ng toppled. P W2 t h en h e a rd footsteps a nd as he p e e p ed f r om w h e re he s t o od he s aw t wo ( 2) soldiers c o m i n g. T h ey w e re a r m e d. In his o wn w o r ds P W2 testifies "I t h o u g ht t h ey w e re o ur security w ho w o u ld c o n v ey us to t he ( G o v e r n m e n t) C o m p l e x" a d d i ng "I later realised that we w e re arrested w h en t h ey said " w h at do y ou w a nt h e re h o ld up y o ur a r m s ." T h ey c o m p l i e d. In P W 2 's o wn w o r ds "it w as a s h o c k ." T h ey w e re o r d e r ed to lie d o wn against t he w a ll a nd face the wall a nd t h ey w e re s e a r c h ed a d d i ng " t he a c c u s ed h ad v a n i s h e d ." T he three m en n a m e ly M a t s o so Bolofo, L e l i n g o a na a nd P W2 h i m s e lf w e re t h en arrested a nd e s c o r t ed to a certain r o om at t he g a te w h e re t h ey w e re " i n t e r v i e w e d" by m a ny p e o p le a nd p h o t o g r a p hs t a k en of t h e m. T he p a p er that M a t s o so Bolofo h ad b e en r e a d i ng o v er t he r a d io w as a l so t a k en a w a y. P W2 testifies that " we w e re n ow a s h a m e d" a d d i ng "I w as n ot afraid b ut e m b a r r a s s e d ." T h ey w e re l o c k ed up in t he p o l i ce cells n e a r b y. M e a n w h i le " t he a c c u s ed h ad v a n i s h ed into thin air." It is the e v i d e n ce of P W2 that he w as n e v er t a k en to p r i s o n. T h ey w e re i n t e r r o g a t ed a d d i ng "I t a l k ed t he truth." He told t he p o l i ce all that he k n e w. A s k ed in retrospect a b o ut h ow he feels a b o ut t he c o n s p i r a cy P W2 told t he C o u rt that he is n ot a s h a m ed b e c a u se t h ey w e re fighting for t he right c o u r s e. T h ey w a n t ed a s h o rt c ut a nd t h ey felt it w as n ot n e c e s s a ry to go t h r o u gh elections a d d i ng " we i n t e n d ed to ride r o u gh s h od o v er t he constitution." U n d er c r o ss e x a m i n a t i on by M r. Phoofolo P W2 w as t a k en to t a sk for h a v i ng earlier said that t h ey w e re a s h a m ed w h en t h ey w e re arrested b ut his reply w as that t h ey w e re a s h a m ed b e c a u se " t he p r o m i s es w e re n ot fulfilled." He is n ot a s h a m ed of " t he attitude we t o o k ." A s k ed if it o c c u r r ed to h im he c o u ld go to p r i s on P W2 replied that "I felt it w as rightful if I w e nt to p r i s o n. I still feel so e v en n o w ." T he f o l l o w i ng q u e s t i on w as t h en p ut to P W 2: " Q: Y ou are sitting there as a w i t n e ss b e c a u se y ou are h o p i ng A: Q: for c l e m e n c y? N o. Y ou w o u ld obtain c l e m e n cy if y ou c an assist the C r o wn to o b t a in c o n v i c t i on against the a c c u s e d. A: N o. I am just telling t he C o u rt t he truth of w h at h a p p e n ed n ot to c o n v i n ce the C o u rt I n e ed c l e m e n c y ." He w as t h en a s k e d: " Q: Y ou w o u l d n 't think y ou w e re n ot r e m a n d ed in c u s t o dy b e c a u se there w as no c a se against y o u? A: N o. I h ad already b e en w a r n ed that I w o u ld be a c c u s ed of h i gh treason w h en I a p p e a r ed b e f o re a M a g i s t r a t e. W h en I w as released I realised that my truthfulness h ad h e l p ed me n ot to be a c c u s e d. Y o ur truthfulness g ot y ou o u t? My truthfulness h ad m a de me w h at I a m. Q: A: Q: W h at a re y o u? A: An a c c o m p l i c e ." F or my part I s h o u ld m e n t i on at this stage that as I w a t c h ed the w i t n e ss ( P W 2) giving e v i d e n ce I h ad no d o u bt that he w as n ot d a u n t ed by t he t h o u g ht of i m p r i s o n m e n t. I g ot the i m p r e s s i on that he w as spilling the b i ns a nd m a k i ng a c l e an breast of the true facts of the c a se regardless of the c o n s e q u e n c e s. P W2 further testified u n d er c r o ss e x a m i n a t i on that he w as b om on t he 15th April, 1 9 2 3. He j o i n ed t he S o u th A f r i c an P o l i ce in 1 9 4 6. He reiterated that he left the police force 9 y e a rs 9 m o n t hs later that is to s ay in 1 9 5 5. He left on his o wn to start a b u s i n e ss of a g e n e r al dealer. He d e n i ed C o u n s e l 's s u g g e s t i on that b e i ng a c o n s p i r a t or is an a c h i e v e m e n t. If t h ey h ad s u c c e e d ed he w o u ld call it a d e v o t i on to fight for his rights. P W2 a g r e ed that the d e c i s i on to t o p p le t he G o v e r n m e nt w as m a de on t he 9 th J a n u a ry 1 9 96 at a certain h o u se at O ld E u r o p a. T h is w as said by M a k a ra S e k a u tu w h en t he m e e t i ng started. M r. P h o o f o lo t h en p ut t he f o l l o w i ng significant q u e s t i o ns to P W 2: " Q: A nd w h at d id he s a y? A: He said early in the m o r n i ng of that d a te it's t he d ay for t he o v e r t h r o w i ng of t he G o v e r n m e n t. By w h o m? By t he m en I f o u nd in t he h o u se that n i g ht b e i ng w i th t he Q: A: h e lp of the a r m ed forces. C o u r t: W ho w e re t h e se m e n? A: A c c u s e d, L e l i n g o a n a, P W l, M a k a r a ." P W2 further testified that he w as told by M a k a ra S e k a u tu that " a l t o g e t h er they h ad a p l an to o v e r t h r ow the G o v e r n m e n t ." A s k ed w h at he w as to do s i n ce t he p l an h ad a l r e a dy b e en h a t c h ed P W 2 's reply w as t he f o l l o w i ng a nd I q u o t e: " To a d v i se t h em in certain instances; h ow t h ey s h o u ld go on a nd after. He e l a b o r a t ed that the c o - c o n s p i r a t o rs h ad a p l an to o v e r t h r ow the G o v e r n m e nt so t h ey n e e d ed a d v i ce on h ow to go a b o ut w i th t he p l an a nd after." P W2 w as t h en a s k ed to reveal w h at M a k a ra S e k a u tu said t he p l an w a s. T he w i t n e ss replied as f o l l o ws a nd I q u o t e: " He said they w o u ld w a lk to t he R a d io Station a nd a n n o u n ce that the G o v e r n m e nt h ad b e en o v e r t h r o w n. T he a r m ed f o r c es w o u ld h e lp - they w o u ld be e s c o r t ed to ( G o v e r n m e n t) C o m p l e x, he told me that w as t he p l a n ." It w as P W 2 's i m p r e s s i on that the c o n s p i r a cy to o v e r t h r ow the G o v e r n m e nt h ad a l r e a dy b e en h a t c h ed b e f o re t he 9 th J a n u a ry 1 9 96 b e c a u se at t he m e e t i ng at O ld E u r o pa M a k a ra S e k a u tu i n t r o d u c ed h im to t he c o- c o n s p i r a t o rs in the f o l l o w i ng w o r d s: " Y ou g e n t l e m en y ou r e m e m b er that in the m o r n i ng we a re g o i ng to o v e r t h r ow the G o v e r n m e n t. I h a ve b r o u g ht y ou an a d v i s o r ." M r. P h o o f o lo t h en p ut t he f o l l o w i ng r e v e a l i ng q u e s t i on to P W 2: " Q: B ut a c c o r d i ng to my instructions I t e nd to a g r ee w i th y ou that this ( c o n s p i r a c y) w as h a t c h ed a l o ng t i me b e f o re t he 9 th J a n u a ry 1 9 9 6. A: I believe so. Q: A: Q: B ut that it w as n ot h a t c h ed by a c c u s ed a nd others. I d o n 't k n o w. We will b r i ng e v i d e n ce b e f o re the C o u rt w h i ch will s h ow that M a t s o so Bolofo i n f o r m ed t he a c c u s ed that the decision, the plot to o v e r t h r ow the G o v e r n m e nt h ad c o me f r om the G o v e r n m e nt itself. A: I w as n ot there w h en Bolofo told S e o e h la (the a c c u s e d) a b o ut it. C o u r t: M r. Phoofolo, w h i ch G o v e r n m e n t, the B CP G o v e r n m e n t? Y es my L o r d. He will i n f o rm his L o r d s h ip that M a j or G e n e r al M o s a k e ng told h im the P r i me M i n i s t er w a n t ed t he G o v e r n m e nt to be o v e r t h r o w n. I d o n 't k n o w. B e c a u se t he p r o b l em of w o r k i ng h a nd in h a nd w i th h is A: Q: A: Q: C a b i n et h ad a l r e a dy started. A: I can't r e m e m b er that. C o u r t: Do y ou k n ow a n y t h i ng a b o ut it? A: I k n ow n o t h i n g ." C o r r o b o r a t i ng t he e v i d e n ce of P W1 a nd P W2 M r. Phoofolo t h en p ut to t he latter w i t n e ss that t he a c c u s ed a d m i t t ed a t t e n d i ng t he m e e t i ng of t he 9 th J a n u a ry 1 9 96 at O ld E u r o p a. He significantly w e nt further to p ut the f o l l o w i ng q u e s t i on to P W2 in an a t t e m pt to d i s c l o se w h at M a k a ra S e k a u tu said at t he m e e t i ng in q u e s t i o n: " Q: A nd that he S e k a u tu h ad c o me to a sk t h em (the c o n s p i r a t o r s) to a c c o m p a ny h im to R a d io L e s o t ho to a n n o u n ce t he o v e r t h r ow of t he G o v e r n m e n t. A: I d o n 't r e m e m b er h im s a y i ng that a d d i ng " I o n ly h e a rd h im s a y i ng ' g e n t l e m e n, y ou k n ow that at 4 a m. this m o r n i ng we a re g o i ng to t he R a d io S t a t i on a nd o v e r t h r ow the G o v e r n m e n t . ' "" P W2 is a d a m a nt that a c c o r d i ng to t he i n t r o d u c t i on by M a k a ra S e k a u tu at the m e e t i ng of t he 9 th J a n u a ry 1 9 96 t he c o - c o n s p i r a t o rs a l r e a dy k n ew that in t he m o r n i ng of t he 1 0 th J a n u a ry 1 9 96 t he G o v e r n m e nt w o u ld be o v e r t h r o w n. M a k a ra S e k a u tu w as therefore m e r e ly r e m i n d i ng t h e m. It w as t h en p ut to P W2 that the a c c u s ed s a ys he n e v er a p p o i n t ed h im his advisor. P W 2 's reply w as that the a c c u s ed " c o n c u r r e d" w h en he w as i n t r o d u c ed to t he c o - c o n s p i r a t o rs as their a d v i s o r. T h ey a c c e p t ed h i m. A c c o r d i ng to P W2 he a d v i s ed that t he p l an to o v e r t h r ow t he G o v e r n m e nt w as not w e ll p l a n n ed a nd that it s h o u ld be p o s t p o n ed "until s u ch t i me as w h en it w as w e ll p l a n n e d ." It h ad l o o p h o l e s. A s k ed further a b o ut the m e e t i ng of t he 9 th J a n u a ry 1 9 96 at O ld E u r o pa P W2 testified that t he a c c u s ed w as sitting n e xt to h im a nd that t he c o n s p i r a t o rs w e re "sitting a r o u nd a table." He d e n i ed that t he a c c u s ed left l o ng b e f o re 2 a . m. To t he s u g g e s t i on that t he a c c u s ed d id n ot a s s o c i a te h i m s e lf w i th t he c o n s p i r a cy P W 2 's r e p ly w as t he f o l l o w i ng a nd I q u o t e: "I d o n 't k n ow h ow he w as n ot a s s o c i a t ed y et he w as t h e re a nd d i s c u s s ed t o g e t h e r ." He d e n i es that t he a c c u s ed is t he o n ly p e r s on w ho raised t he q u e s t i on of security n e c e s s a ry to o v e r t h r ow t he G o v e r n m e n t. AH t he c o - c o n s p i r a t o rs r a i s ed this issue. N o b o dy a s k ed a b o ut w h e t h er t he a r ms w e re a v a i l a b le b e c a u se " we h ad p e o p le to s u p p o rt u s. We h ad a r m s" n a m e ly t he a r m ed forces a d d i ng " we w e re told that t h ey w o u ld be b e h i nd u s ." It is P W 2 's e v i d e n ce that t h ey p o s t p o n ed t he m e e t i ng of t he 9 th J a n u a ry 1 9 96 b e c a u se t he a r r a n g e m e n ts w e re n ot satisfactory. A s k ed w h e t h er security w as there on t he 2 9 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 96 w h en t h ey w e nt to R a d io L e s o t ho P W2 replied that t h ey h ad b e en p r o m i s ed "better security." T h ey p r o c e e d ed thereto this t i me b e c a u se it w as d a y t i me w h i le in J a n u a ry w h en t h ey refused it w as n i g ht t i m e. He w as t h en a s k ed by t he C o u r t: " C o u r t: So w h at difference did it m a ke on he 2 9 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 9 6? A: We w e re c o n v i n c ed that security w o u ld c o me at that stage. Q: A: W h at do y ou m e a n? 1 m e an w h en we w e re b r o a d c a s t i ng we w e re a s s u r ed security w o u ld c o m e. Q: W h at c o n v i n c ed y o u? A: B e c a u se Bolofo told us he h ad m a de full a r r a n g e m e n t s ." P W2 categorically d e n i ed the s u g g e s t i on p ut to h im u n d er cross e x a m i n a t i on that on the 9 th J a n u a ry 1 9 96 a nd at t he m e e t i ng at O ld E u r o pa he already k n ew a b o ut the c o n s p i r a cy to o v e r t h r ow the G o v e r n m e n t. A s k ed w h at special qualities he h ad to w a r r a nt b e i ng a p p o i n t ed a d v i s or of the conspirators P W2 replied that M a k a ra S e k a u tu c o u ld k n ow the r e a s on as he personally did not k n ow a d d i ng h o w e v er that he is " an e x p e r i e n c ed m an in politics." I n d e ed I o b s e r ve that he w as n ot seriously t a k en to task on this a nd I h a ve no r e a s on to d o u bt his e x p e r i e n ce in politics - after all it is n ot disputed that he w as a m e m b er of "political staff" w h en attached to the Special B r a n ch of the C ID in J o h a n n e s b u r g. It is his e v i d e n ce that as s u ch he attended political m e e t i n gs a nd also t o ok m i n u t es to s e nd to the office. E x p l a i n i ng his role P W2 further e x p l a i n ed that he h e a rd later that his a d v i ce w as n e e d ed for o v e r t h r o w i ng the G o v e r n m e n t, that is to say, h ow to p r o c e ed w i th the exercise. He a d ds "they ( the co-conspirators) a s k ed me w h at t h ey s h o u ld do if t h ey h ad o v e r t h r o wn the G o v e r n m e n t. I s a id t h ey m u st m a ke a N a t i o n al G o v e r n m e n t ." P W2 further testifies that the c o - c o n s p i r a t o rs a s k ed h im a d v i ce on w h at their positions w o u ld be in t he N a t i o n al G o v e r n m e nt a nd he a d v i s ed that there w o u ld be a S e n i or C o u n c il a b o ve that of C a b i n et M i n i s t e r s. T h is latter a d v i ce w as d i s c u s s ed at t he m e e t i ng at L i t h a b a n e ng at t he a c c u s e d 's h o m e. A s k ed a b o ut t he d a te of t he first m e e t i ng at t he a c c u s e d 's p l a ce P W2 told the C o u rt that a l t h o u gh he d id n ot quite r e m e m b er t he d a te it w as r o u nd a b o ut t he 3 rd or 4 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 9 6. R e s p o n d i ng to M r. Phoofolo's invitation to d i v u l ge t he c o n t e n ts of t he report m a de by M a t s o so Bolofo P W2 told t he C o u rt that t he latter r e p o r t ed to t he c o n s p i r a t o rs i n c l u d i ng t he a c c u s ed that he h ad m et t he M a j or G e n e r al of t he D e f e n ce F o r ce a nd t he M a j or G e n e r al s a id he w a n t ed to s ee t he c o n s p i r a t o r s' c o m p l a i n ts for o v e r t h r o w i ng t he G o v e r n m e nt a d d i ng " we sat d o wn all of us a nd d i s c u s s ed t he g r i e v a n c es w h i ch w e re w r i t t en by Bolofo." P W2 reiterates that at ' M a n t h a b i s e ng B us S t op the a c c u s ed a nd M a t s o so Bolofo w e re " s h o r t e n i ng s t a t e m e nt f r om t he b ig r e p o rt r e g a r d i ng t he c o n s p i r a t o r s' g r i e v a n c e s" a d d i ng "I s aw t h em w r i t i n g. T h ey r e ad it after Bolofo r e ad all t he m i n u t es that w e re written by t he a c c u s ed to us all." He reiterates that Bolofo w as dictating w h i le t he a c c u s ed w as writing. A s k ed further a b o ut t he p r o c e s s i on to P a r l i a m e nt P W2 testified that t he c o n s p i r a t o rs i n c l u d i ng t he a c c u s ed d e c i d ed to " m i x" w i th t he rally to P a r l i a m e nt h o u se a nd f r om there t h ey w o u ld all six of t h em p r o c e ed to t he R a d io Station to do " t he w o r k" of o v e r t h r o w i ng t he G o v e r n m e n t. A c c o r d i ng to t he e v i d e n ce of P W2 t he six c o n s p i r a t o rs w e re M a t s o so Bolofo, M a k a ra S e k a u t u, t he a c c u s ed h i m s e l f, L e l i n g o a na J o n a t h a n, P W1 a nd t he w i t n e ss ( P W 2) h i m s e l f. M r. Phoofolo t h en p ut t he f o l l o w i ng s u g g e s t i on (or w as it a p r o t e s t) to P W 2: " Q: I notice y ou n e v er s t op m i x i ng t he a c c u s ed w i th m e e t i n g s. A: I n e v er said he w as there at S p e e dy C o m p l e x ." I n d e ed I o b s e r ve that P W2 is correct on this p o i n t. He n e v er s o u g ht to p l a ce t he a c c u s ed at t he S p e e dy C o m p l e x. A s k ed further a b o ut t he s t a t e m e nt that w as e v e n t u a l ly r e ad o v er R a d io L e s o t ho P W2 testified that " t he s t a t e m e nt w as officially h a n d ed to Bolofo by all of us b ut that s t a t e m e nt w as written by t he a c c u s ed w h i le Bolofo dictated." I p a u se h e re to m e n t i o n ed that I w as i m p r e s s ed w i th t he w i t n e s s 's c o n s i s t e n cy in reply to this q u e s t i on w h i ch w as i n d e ed raised r e p e a t e d l y. I n d e ed the w i t n e ss r e m a i n ed u n s h a k en t h r o u g h o ut a l o ng t a x i ng c r o ss e x a m i n a t i o n. I b e l i e ve that he w as telling t he truth in t he c i r c u m s t a n c e s. P W2 further repeated his e v i d e n ce u n d er c r o ss e x a m i n a t i on that he s aw t he a c c u s ed " e m e r g i ng f r om a c o m er w h en a s k ed by L e l i n g o a na to go a nd c l o se t he d o o r" at t he t i me w h en the a n n o u n c e m e nt to o v e r t h r ow t he G o v e r n m e nt w as b e i ng r e ad by M a t s o so Bolofo. T h at w as t he last t i me he s aw h i m. T h e re is t h en the e v i d e n ce of P W3 F r a n c is R a m a t o na M a s e e la to t he effect that he k n o ws the a c c u s ed as they w o r k ed t o g e t h er at F a h h i da C a sh a nd C a r r y. He h as k n o wn h im for a b o ut a y e ar or s o. T he a c c u s ed arrived at F a h h i da C a sh a nd C a r ry in b e t w e en 1 9 94 a nd 1 9 95 finding the w i t n e ss a l r e a dy w o r k i ng there. He c o n f i r ms that t he a c c u s ed w as e m p l o y ed as security w h i le the w i t n e ss w as H u m an R e s o u r c es M a n a g er a nd A s s i s t a nt G e n e r al M a n a g er - He is a qualified t e a c h er by p r o f e s s i on b e i ng in p o s s e s s i on of PH Certificate. P W3 also k n o ws P W1 a nd he c o n f i r ms that the latter w as also e m p l o y ed at F a h h i da C a sh a nd C a r ry as a security officer. He further k n o ws L e l i n g o a na J o n a t h a n, M a k a ra S e k a u tu a nd P W 2. He also k n o ws M a t s o so Bolofo " f or quite a short t i m e ." It is the e v i d e n ce of P W3 that a b o ut a y e ar b e f o re 1 9 97 w h en he g a ve e v i d e n ce in this m a t t er that is to s ay in 1 9 96 he w e nt to L i t h a b a n e ng l o o k i ng for P W 1. He g ot to the h o me of t he a c c u s ed a nd f o u nd t he latter o u t s i de his h o me f e e d i ng his d o g s. T he a c c u s ed told h im P W1 w as inside t he h o u s e. I n d e ed u p on e n t e r i ng the h o u se P W3 f o u nd P W1 " p r e s e nt w i th o t h er p e o p le inside the h o u s e ." A m o n g st t h em w e re L e l i n g o a na J o n a t h an a nd M a k a ra S e k a u t u. P W3 testifies that he t h en called P W1 o u t s i de a nd g a ve h im an instruction c o n c e r n i ng w o rk as he ( P W 3) w o u ld be a t t e n d i ng a W o r k s h op at L e s o t ho S un t he f o l l o w i ng d a y. T h e r e a f t er t h ey d e p a r t e d. It b e c a me clear to t he C o u rt at this s t a ge that t he w i t n e ss w as reluctant to c o me up w i th t he story that t he C r o wn e x p e c t ed h im to g i v e. A f t er he w as a l l o w ed to refresh his m e m o ry f r om t he w r i t t en s t a t e m e nt he h ad m a de to t he police he w as p r e p a r ed to relate " e v e r y t h i ng that I r e m e m b e r" to t he C o u r t. He t h en told t he C o u rt that in J a n u a ry 1 9 96 he h e a rd that there w as a c o n s p i r a cy a nd that there w e re p e o p le " a t t e n d i ng secret m e e t i n g s ." He h e a rd that a m o ng t h e se p e o p le w e re his co w o r k e rs P W1 a nd t he a c c u s e d. To d e t e r m i ne the truth of this allegation he called u p on b o th P W1 a nd the a c c u s ed a nd c o n f r o n t ed t h em w i th the c o n s p i r a cy allegation. He w a r n ed t h em " to s t op f o r t h w i t h" e v en t h o u gh they d id n ot o wn up to t he c o n s p i r a c y. P Wl h o w e v er s u b s e q u e n t ly a d m i t t ed t he m e e t i n gs in q u e s t i o n. It is t he e v i d e n ce of P W3 that thereafter he g ot to t he h o me of t he a c c u s ed at L i t h a b a n e ng as earlier stated. He reiterates that he f o u nd t he a c c u s ed o u t s i de a nd u p on e n t e r i ng t he h o u se P W3 f o u nd P W l, L e l i n g o a na J o n a t h an a nd M a k a ra S e k a u tu inside. He c a n n ot recall if M a t s o so Bolofo w as there. It is his e v i d e n ce that t he p e o p le inside " w e re s e a t ed i n s i de t he h o u s e. T h ey l o o k ed like p e o p le w ho w e re c o n v e n i ng a m e e t i n g ." I n d e ed t he w i t n e ss w as n ot c h a l l e n g ed on this version. I n s t e ad t he q u e s t i on that w as p ut to h im by M r. Phoofolo a p p e a r ed to c o n c e de t he m e e t i ng in q u e s t i o n. T h is is t he q u e s t i o n: " Q: A c c u s ed will s ay that i n d e ed y ou w e nt to his h o u se a nd i n d e ed y ou f o u nd h im outside. M a s u p ha ( P W 1) w as in his h o u s e. S e k a u tu w as in his h o u s e. S e s i o a na a nd L e l i n g o a na w e re a l so in his h o u s e, so w as Bolofo. T h ey w e re n ot d i s c u s s i ng the o v e r t h r ow of G o v e r n m e n t. A: I w o n 't a g r ee that S e s i o a na w as in that h o u s e ." It w as clear to the C o u rt h o w e v er that P W3 w as n ot quite s u re w h e t h er the p e r s on at t he m e e t i ng w as M a t s o so Bolofo or P W2 b e c a u se in his o wn w o r ds he said "there w as o ne p e r s on sitting. I t h o u g ht he w as Bolofo." It is c o m m on c a u se that P W2 w as at t he m e e t i n g. It is P W 3 's e v i d e n ce that he e n t e r ed the h o u se w i th the a c c u s e d. He t h en h e a rd a d i s c u s s i on led by M a k a ra S e k a u tu on w h at w as to be d o ne a d d i ng "they w e re d i s c u s s i ng steps to be t a k en a b o ut o v e r t h r o w i ng t he G o v e r n m e n t. He w as talking to the p e o p le inside the h o u s e ." He is a d a m a nt that " as M a k a ra w as talking to t h e se p e o p le a c c u s ed w as a l r e a dy there." O n ce m o re I o b s e r v ed that t he w i t n e ss w as n ot c h a l l e n g ed on this v e r s i o n. P W3 g o es further to testify that b e f o re l e a v i ng the a c c u s e d 's p l a ce he w a r n ed all t h o se p e o p le in the latter's h o u se i n c l u d i ng the a c c u s ed h i m s e lf that "it's better that t h ey s t op this c o n s p i r a cy of theirs." N o b o dy r e s p o n d e d. O n ce m o re he is u n c h a l l e n g ed on this v e r s i o n. I p a u se h e re to o b s e r ve that this w as an ideal o p p o r t u n i ty for t he a c c u s ed to dissociate h i m s e lf f r om t he c o n s p i r a c y, y et t he e v i d e n ce of P W3 p o i n ts to t he contrary. M o re a b o ut this later. U n d er c r o ss e x a m i n a t i on P W3 w as a s k ed the f o l l o w i ng q u e s t i on by M r. P h o o f o l o" " Q: Is it my u n d e r s t a n d i ng that there w as a c o n s p i r a cy to o v e r t h r ow t he G o v e r n m e n t; is that w h at y ou h e a r d? A: Q: A: T h at is s o. f r om w h o m? By o ne M a k a ra S e k a u t u. C o u r t: Is he o ne of t he c o - c o n s p i r a t o r s? A: Y e s" As a p a r t i ng s h ot P W3 testified that he h ad no r e a s on to i m p l i c a te t he a c c u s e d. I n d e ed I o b s e r ve that n o ne w as s u g g e s t ed by t he d e f e n c e. On t he c o n t r a ry the a c c u s ed a d m i t t ed u n d er c r o ss e x a m i n a t i on by t he L e a r n ed D i r e c t or of P r o s e c u t i o ns M r. M d h l u li that P W3 w as " q u i te f r i e n d l y" to h im a nd P W 1. In particular I attach d ue w e i g ht to the f o l l o w i ng q u e s t i on p ut to t he a c c u s ed a nd t he latter's r e p ly w h i ch clearly s a ys it all: " Q: A nd he ( P W 3) is t he t y pe of m an w ho w o u ld rather be p r o t e c t i ve to y ou rather t h an e x p o se y o u? A: I d o n 't b e l i e ve that he c an i m p l i c a te u s ." As earlier stated P W3 w as initially a reluctant w i t n e s s. T he C o u rt m u st therefore a p p r o a ch his e v i d e n ce w i th d ue caution. I o b s e r ve h o w e v er that this reluctance w as a i m ed at p r o t e c t i ng the a c c u s e d. I w as h o w e v er i m p r e s s ed by the w i t n e s s 's overall e v i d e n c e. As I w a t c h ed h im g i ve e v i d e n ce I g a i n ed t he i m p r e s s i on that he w as telling the truth. He r e m a i n ed u n c h a l l e n g ed in m a t e r i al respects particularly in c o r r o b o r a t i ng t he e v i d e n ce of P W1 a nd P W2 on t he e x i s t e n ce of a c o n s p i r a cy to o v e r t h r ow t he G o v e r n m e nt a nd t he p a r t i c i p a t i on of t he a c c u s ed therein as e v i d e n c ed by t he m e e t i ng of t he c o n s p i r a t o rs at t he latter's h o me at L i t h a b a n e n g. T he e v i d e n ce of P W4 ' M a l i k e t so N a t h a l ia M a s u p ha is briefly to t he effect that s he is a secretary w h o se j ob entails, a m o n g st o t h er t h i n g s, m a k i ng p h o t o c o p i e s. S he k n o ws the c o - a c c u s ed L e l i n g o a na J o n a t h a n. S he h as k n o wn h im for a b o ut 2 -3 y e a r s. S he a l so k n o ws P W1 b ut d o es n ot k n ow P W2 a nd the a c c u s e d. It is the e v i d e n ce of P W4 that on the 2 9 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 96 s he h e a rd o v er the r a d io that the G o v e r n m e nt h ad b e en t o p p l e d. T h is r e m i n d ed h er that t he p r e v i o us d ay n a m e ly the 2 8 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 96 L e l i n g o a na J o n a t h an c a me to h er office a l o ne a nd r e q u e s t ed h er to t y pe certain p a p e rs for h i m. S he a g r e e d. L e l i n g o a na J o n a t h an t h en left the m a n u s c r i pt w i th her. T h o se p a p e rs " w e re s h o w i ng that t h ey w e re g o i ng to o v e r t h r ow the G o v e r n m e n t ." S he h a n d ed in t he d o c u m e nt that s he t y p ed as EX " A" w h i ch c o m p r i s es a w h o le r a n ge of c o m p l a i n ts a g a i n st the G o v e r n m e n t. It is p e r h a ps a p p r o p r i a te to q u o te s o me of the c o n c l u d i ng r e m a r ks c o n t a i n ed in EX " A ": " t he G o v e r n m e nt a nd B CP G o v e r n m e nt w i th its iron h a nd on t he n a t i on is b e i ng d i s s o l v ed a nd t he reconciliation G o v e r n m e nt will be p ut in o p e r a t i o n. T he reconciliation G o v e r n m e nt is b e i ng i m p l e m e n t ed that c o m p r i s es of g r o u ps of political parties a nd others. O t h er steps b e s i d es this will be i m p l e m e n t ed that is Reconciliation C o u n c il to w a t ch o v er the reconciliation a c t i on as w e ll as p r e p a r a t i on of elections that will be h e ld in 1 9 98 u n d er I n d e p e n d e nt Electoral C o m m i s s i o n. S o me of the p e o p le w ho w e re in the ruling G o v e r n m e nt will be p ut b e f o re c o u r ts of l aw b e c a u se of t he c r i me t h ey h a ve c o m m i t t ed so as to g i ve a c h a n ce to t h e se c h a n g es to be i m p l e m e n t ed p e a c e f u l l y ." It is P W 4 's e v i d e n ce further that L e l i n g o a na J o n a t h an a l so g a ve h er a n o t h er d o c u m e nt w h i ch s he a l so t y p e d. S he h a n d ed in the t y p ed v e r s i on as EX " B ". It is h e a d ed " T he C o u n c il of R e c o n c i l i a t i on O f f i c e r s" as w e ll as " C o u n c il of M i n i s t e r s" a nd " M i n i s t e rs of State." T he d o c u m e nt t h en spells o ut different portfolios u n d er e a ch h e a d i n g. P W4 testified that L e l i n g o a na J o n a t h an collected t he t y p ed d o c u m e n ts t he s a me d ay n a m e ly t he 2 8 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 96 p r o m i s i ng to p ay for t h em t he f o l l o w i ng d a y. He n e v er did. S he testifies that L e l i n g o a na " d i d n 't l o ok serious. He said he h ad b r o u g ht a m i x t u re of 'triviality.'" It is significant that t he e v i d e n ce of this w i t n e ss ( P W 4) w e nt in c o m p l e t e ly u n c h a l l e n g e d. I h a ve no hesitation therefore in a c c e p t i ng that t he e v i d e n ce is the truth of w h at t r a n s p i r ed on t he 2 8 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 96 a nd that b o th EX " A" a nd EX " B" e m a n a t ed f r om t he c o - c o n s p i r a t or L e l i n g o a na J o n a t h a n. T he e v i d e n ce of P W5 ' M a m o s i li N t e n e, P W6 T e fo ' M u s i, P W7 B a s ia M a r a i s a ne a nd P W8 T h a b i so S e p h e l a ne is briefly to the effect that on the 2 9 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 96 w h i le t h ey w e re all at w o rk at R a d io L e s o t ho t h ey a nd their c o l l e a g u es w e re r o u n d ed up at g un p o i nt by s o me m en w ho t u r n ed o ut to be L e l i n g o a na J o n a t h a n, M a t s o so Bolofo a nd P W 2. P W7 a l so m a k es m e n t i on of yet a n o t h er m an l u r k i ng at t he d o o r w ay - in c o r r o b o r a t i on to P W 2 's e v i d e n ce that the a c c u s ed w as also present. H a v i ng b e en r o u n d ed up the v i c t i ms w e re h e r d ed into a certain r o o m, m a de to lie d o wn a nd h e ld c a p t i ve until t h ey w e re r e l e a s ed by t he soldiers on g u a rd at the p r e m i s es i n c l u d i ng P W9 P r i v a te R a s u p u. T h r ee of t he attackers, or shall we call t h em culprits w e re arrested n a m e ly M a t s o so Bolofo, L e l i n g o a na J o n a t h an a nd P W 2. M r. P h o o f o lo for t he a c c u s ed t h en m a de t he f o l l o w i ng significant a d m i s s i on n a m e ly that on t he 2 9 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 96 M a t s o so Bolofo r e ad a s t a t e m e nt o v er R a d io L e s o t ho b e i ng E x h i b it " C 1" ( S e s o t ho v e r s i o n) or E x h i b it " C 2" (the E n g l i sh v e r s i o n ). He also m a de a f o r m al a d m i s s i on that t he w o r k e rs of R a d io L e s o t ho w e re i n d e ed h e r d ed into t he s t u d io c o n t r ol r o o ms a nd h e ld c a p t i ve there. It is no d o u bt c o n v e n i e nt a nd i n d e ed a p p r o p r i a te to r e p r o d u ce EX " C 2" w h i ch r e a ds as f o l l o w s: "In the n a me of leaders of political parties, traditional l e a d e rs a nd the B a s o t ho nation, I h e r e by m a ke t he f o l l o w i ng a n n o u n c e m e n t :- F or t he f o l l o w i ng r e a s o n s: T he G o v e r n m e nt of L e s o t ho h as b e en destablising t he c o u n t ry a nd u n d e r m i n i ng p e a ce s i n ce t he 1 9 93 g e n e r al elections- 1. By c a u s i ng disunity a nd d i s s e n t i on in t he a r m y, t he p o l i ce a nd p r i s on w a r d e rs resulting in d e a t hs of B a s o t ho c h i l d r e n; a nd a l so h u m u l i a t i ng t h e se f o r c es in t he N a t i o n al A s s e m b l y. 2. By illegally b r i n g i ng into t he c o u n t ry d a n g e r o us w e a p o ns of w ar t h r o u gh t he (sic) s o me of t he p a r l i a m e n t a r i a n s. 3. By p a r l i a m e n t a r i a ns m i s u s i ng p u b l ic f u n ds for t he b e n e f it of t he B C P. 4. By inviting f o r e i gn a r m i es to c o me a nd a t t a ck a nd d i s s o l ve the l a w f u l ly constituted a r my of L e s o t ho a nd t h e r e f o re G o v e r n m e nt s u b v e r t i ng t he C o n s t i t u t i o n. 5. By c a u s i ng disaffection a m o ng t e a c h e r s' o r g a n i z a t i o ns a nd c a u s i ng disunity a m o ng c h u r c h es a nd a l so by n ot r e s o l v i ng the i m p a s se c o n c e r n i ng t e a c h e r 's salaries w h e r e as G o v e r n m e nt c o n t i n u ed to p ay p a r l i a m e n t a r i a ns w ho h ad r un a w ay f r om t he c o u n t r y. 6. By e m b a r k i ng on registration of v o t e rs for t he 1 9 98 g e n e r al elections w i t h o ut a ny c o n s u l t a t i o ns w i th political parties. 7. By deliberately a nd m a l i c i o u s ly i g n o r i ng constituting a c o m m i s s i on of i n q u i ry into t he d e a th of H is M a j e s ty K i ng M o s h o e s h oe II. F or the a f o r e g o i ng r e a s o ns a nd o t h e rs I a n n o u n ce that I h a ve d i s s o l v ed the G o v e r n m e nt a nd its p a r l i a m e n t. I a n n o u n ce that t he 1 9 93 C o n s t i t u t i on is s u s p e n d e d. A ll trips outside the c o u n t ry t a k en by G o v e r n m e nt vehicles s h o u ld c e a se until a further a n n o u n c e m e n t. I a sk for g o od c o o p e r a t i on f r om the a r m ed f o r c es so that all t h e se s t e ps c an be a c h i e v ed w i th p e a c e. C o o p e r a t i on is also s o u g ht f r om all G o v e r n m e nt d e p a r t m e n ts a nd that t h ey s h o u ld a w a it further a n n o u n c e m e n ts f r om t i me to t i m e. P E A CE - R A IN - P R O S P E R I T Y ." I o b s e r ve that EX " C 2" is i n d e ed t he s h o r t e n ed v e r s i on of EX " A ". T h is in my v i ew c o r r o b o r a t es t he e v i d e n ce of P W2 that it w as d e c i d ed to s h o r t en EX " A" as it w as t oo l o n g. T h at c o m p l e t ed t he C r o wn c a s e. T he a c c u s ed g a ve e v i d e n ce as D W 1. He is a f o r m er m e m b er of R o y al L e s o t ho D e f e n ce F o r ce ( R L D F ). He c o n f i r ms that at the m a t e r i al t i me he w as w o r k i ng at F a h h i da C a sh & C a r ry w i th P W1 a nd P W 3. He c o n f i r ms that the f o r m er is his relative referring to h im as his " b r o t h e r ." I o b s e r ve at the outset that the a c c u s ed w as v e ry e v a s i ve in his e v i d e n ce as will b e c o me a p p a r e nt in the c o u r se of this j u d g m e n t. F or an e x a m p le he w as a s k ed by his o wn attorney M r. P h o o f o lo v e ry early in his e v i d e n ce in c h i ef the f o l l o w i ng q u e s t i o n: " Q: It is c o m m on c a u se that there w as a m e e t i ng h e ld at o ne K h e t h i sa M o l a po at O ld E u r o p a; A: Y es I h e a rd that o ne S e s i o a na a nd S e k a u tu arrived t h e r e ." Y et it transpired that the a c c u s ed d id n ot d i s p u te his p r e s e n ce at t he m e e t i ng in question. H ow t h en he s h o u ld c l a im to h a ve " h e a r d" a nd n ot s e en the p r e s e n ce of S e s i o a na a nd S e k a u tu at the m e e t i ng c an o n ly be attributed to e v a s i v e n e ss on his part no d o u bt initially a i m ed at t r y i ng to dissociate h i m s e lf f r om t he m e e t i n g. T he a c c u s ed d e n i es that he m et M a k a ra S e k a u tu at F a h h i da C a sh a nd C a r ry prior to the m e e t i ng at O ld E u r o p a. T h is d e s p i te t he fact that P W1 w as n ot c h a l l e n g ed on that v e r s i o n. He c o n f i r m ed that there w as in fact a m e e t i ng h e ld at O ld E u r o pa on t he 9 th J a n u a ry 1 9 96 at the h o me of h is " b r o t h e r" K h e t h i sa M o l a po w ho w as a w ay in L e r i b e. He w as in c h a r ge of t he latter's h o u se at O ld E u r o pa in t he latter's a b s e n c e. T he a c c u s ed c o r r o b o r a t es t he e v i d e n ce of P W1 a nd P W2 that t he m e e t i ng at O ld E u r o pa w as a t t e n d ed by t he a c c u s ed h i m s e l f, P W 1, P W 2, M a k a ra S e k a u tu a nd L e l i n g o a na J o n a t h a n. C o r r o b o r a t i ng P W1 a nd P W2 it is t he e v i d e n ce of t he a c c u s ed that " S e k a u tu told us that he h ad c o me to let us k n ow that he a nd all political l e a d e rs in L e s o t ho a nd traditional l e a d e r s, L e s o t ho a r m ed f o r c e s, L e s o t ho P o l i ce O f f i c e rs a nd N SS S e c u r i ty of L e s o t ho r e a c h ed a c o n c l u s i on that at d a wn of that d ay he will be a n n o u n c i ng at R a d io L e s o t ho that L e s o t ho G o v e r n m e nt h ad b e en o v e r t h r o wn a nd that thereafter t he G o v e r n m e nt of N a t i o n al U n i ty will be in p l a c e. So he h ad c o me to invite us to a c c o m p a ny h im to R a d io L e s o t h o ." A c c o r d i ng to t he a c c u s ed all t h o se at t he m e e t i ng i n c l u d i ng h i m s e l f, P W1 a nd P W2 t h en participated in a d i s c u s s i on that f o l l o w ed on issues s u ch as security a nd t he m o de of transport. He testifies that t he d e c i s i on w as that t h ey w e re n ot a c c o m p a n y i ng M a k a ra S e k a u tu to R a d io L e s o t ho b e c a u se he f o u nd it " u n n e c e s s a ry to i n v o l ve m y s e lf in s u ch m a t t e r s ." He d e n i es that he w as part of the c o n s p i r a cy to go to R a d io L e s o t ho a d d i ng r a t h er s t r a n g e ly " we s a v ed the G o v e r n m e nt that d a y" P e r h a ps this is a r e f e r e n ce to t he fact that t he a n n o u n c e m e nt to o v e r t h r ow t he G o v e r n m e nt w as n ot m a de on he 1 0 th J a n u a ry 1 9 96 as earlier p l a n n ed b ut w as actually m a de on t he 2 9 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 9 6. T he a c c u s ed c o n c e d ed that t he m e e t i ng at O ld E u r o pa t o ok p l a ce for "a l o ng t i m e ." At first he s a ys he left the m e e t i ng at 11 p . m. b ut later c o n t r a d i c ts h i m s e lf to s ay he left at 12 o ' c l o ck m i d n i g h t. T h is d e s p i te t he fact that P W2 w as n ot c h a l l e n g ed on his v e r s i on that t he m e e t i ng b r o ke o ff at 6 a . m. on t he m o r n i ng of t he 1 0 th J a n u a ry 1 9 9 6. In a ny e v e nt I find it h a rd to b e l i e ve that b e i ng in c h a r ge of K h e t h i s a 's h o u se as t he a c c u s ed a d m i t t e d ly w as that he c o u ld l e a ve t he h o u se in t he o c c u p a t i on of t h e se o t h er c o n s p i r a t o rs in t he m i d d le of the night. I n d e ed e v en his o wn a t t o r n ey M r. P h o o f o lo w as p r o m p t ed to a sk in a p p a r e nt disbelief: " Q: I d o n 't u n d e r s t a nd - t h e se p e o p le y ou left t h em there w i t h o ut t he o w n er of t he h o u s e? A: T h at is s o ." It is further the a c c u s e d 's e v i d e n ce that at t he t i me of his d e p a r t u re f r om t he m e e t i ng at O ld E u r o pa he a s k ed M a k a ra S e k a u tu to go a nd s ee h im at w o rk "if he h as t i m e ." A s k ed w h at for, the a c c u s ed replied that he w a n t ed to p e r s u a de M a k a ra S e k a u tu to " l e a ve that c o n s p i r a c y, it's d a n g e r o u s ." He w as t h en a s k ed the inevitable q u e s t i on by t he C o u r t. " C o u r t: W hy d i d n 't y ou do so at t he m e e t i n g? A: I realised that he w o u ld n ot listen to m e ." T he a m a z i ng thing is that there is no e v i d e n ce that t he a c c u s ed e v er e v en tried to p e r s u a de M a k a ra S e k a u tu or i n d e ed a n y b o dy i n c l u d i ng his o wn relative P W1 at that m e e t i ng to d r op the conspiracy. Be that as it m ay the a c c u s ed told t he C o u rt that M a k a ra S e k a u tu c a me to h im a l o ne on a certain d a te in F e b r u a ry 1 9 9 6. T h ey h o w e v er failed to go on w i th their d i s c u s s i on b e c a u se the a c c u s ed w as b u sy a nd t h ey a g r e ed that M a k a ra S e k a u tu w o u ld "visit" t he a c c u s ed at the latter's h o u se on S u n d ay the 4 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 9 6. On the S u n d ay in q u e s t i on the a c c u s ed m et M a k a ra S e k a u tu at t he B us S t op p er a g r e e m e n t. T he latter w as a c c o m p a n i ed by P W 2. He left w i th t he latter to his h o me w h i le M a k a ra S e k a u tu w a i t ed f or M a t s o so B o l o fo w ho h ad just p a s s ed by a nd h ad p r o m i s ed to c o me b a c k. A c c o r d i ng to t he a c c u s ed M a k a ra S e k a u tu a nd M a t s o so B o l o fo d id arrive at his p l a ce after a f ew m i n u t e s. M a k a ra S e k a u tu t h en told t he a c c u s ed that he w as n ot g o i ng to be a b le to go on w i th their d i s c u s s i o ns b e c a u se t he M a j or G e n e r al w a n t ed to s ee t h em ( S e k a u tu a nd B o l o f o ). P W1 t h en a r r i v ed a nd it is the e v i d e n ce of t he a c c u s ed that he w as e x p e c t i ng h im b e c a u se t he latter h ad p r o m i s ed to visit h i m. F or my part I s h o u ld s ay that I find it e x t r e m e ly h a rd to b e l i e ve that t he a c c u s ed c o u ld h a ve m a de an a p p o i n t m e nt w i th P W1 to visit h im on t he s a me d ay as M a k a ra S e k a u tu w as d ue to m e et h im b e a r i ng in m i nd t he a c c u s e d 's c l a im that he w a n t ed to m e et the latter a l o ne to p e r s u a de h im to d r op the c o n s p i r a cy to o v e r t h r ow the G o v e r n m e n t. My i m p r e s s i on is that t he a c c u s ed is trying to r un a w ay f r om t he fact that there w as a m e e t i ng h e ld at his p l a ce on t he 4 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 9 6. In this r e g a rd t he C o u rt h as n ot lost sight of t he f o l l o w i ng q u e s t i on p ut to P W1 by M r. Phoofolo: " Q: He (the a c c u s e d) will tell his L o r d s h ip that the o n ly m e e t i ng that he k n o ws of h e ld at his p l a ce w as that of t he 4 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 9 6. A: A l t h o u gh I c a n 't recall the d a te b ut I k n ow there w as o ne m e e t i ng that I d id n ot attend." It is t he e v i d e n ce of t he a c c u s ed that n o t h i ng h a p p e n ed until t he 1 0 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 96 w h en he r e a c h ed h o me f r om w o rk b e t w e en 4 . 30 p . m. a nd 5 p . m. He w as w i th P W 1. T h ey f o u nd M a k a ra S e k a u t u, P W2 a nd L e l i n g o a na J o n a t h an at t he a c c u s e d 's h o m e. He testifies that M a k a ra S e k a u tu told h im outside that he w a n t ed a m e e t i ng to be h e ld at the a c c u s e d 's p l a ce a nd that t he latter s h o u ld e x c u se h im for n ot h a v i ng i n f o r m ed h im in t i m e. T he a c c u s ed r e f u s ed to a l l ow t he m e e t i ng to be h e ld at his p l a c e. M a k a ra S e k a u tu t h en w e nt inside t he h o u se to i n f o rm t h o se w ho w e re w i th h i m. A s k ed to e x p l a in t he p r e s e n ce of P W1 t h e re t he a c c u s ed l o o k ed v e ry u n c o m f o r t a b le i n d e e d. He d id h o w e v er s ay that P W1 h ad just p a id h im a visit " as it w as his habit." T h en M a t s o so Bolofo also arrived. T he a c c u s ed h as n ot offered a ny e x p l a n a t i on w hy t he latter w o u ld also get to his h o u se u n l e ss t h e re w as a p r e - a r r a n g ed m e e t i ng there. T he a c c u s ed c o r r o b o r a t es P W3 that " as t h ey (the c o n s p i r a t o r s) w e re still m e e t i ng inside t he h o u s e" t he latter a r r i v ed at his p l a ce on t he 1 0 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 96 f i n d i ng t he a c c u s ed " s t a n d i n g" at his f o r e c o u r t, P W3 w as l o o k i ng f or P W1 w ho w as inside t he h o u s e. M a t s o so Bolofo h ad a l so g o ne inside t he h o u se d e s p i te t he fact that t he a c c u s ed h ad n ot a l l o w ed t he m e e t i n g. T he a c c u s ed testifies that he did n ot a t t e nd t he m e e t i ng h i m s e lf b e c a u se he w a n t ed t h o se p e o p le inside to leave. He c o r r o b o r a t es P W3 that t he latter a l so e n t e r ed the h o u se w h i le t he m e e t i ng w as o n. T he a c c u s ed w as t h en a s k ed t he f o l l o w i ng q u e s t i on by his a t t o r n ey M r. Phoofolo : " Q: T h is w as n ow t he s e c o nd t i me y ou p e o p le c o n v e r g ed at y o ur place. A: Yes. C o u r t: W h en w as the first t i m e? A: Q: A: 4 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 9 6. T he s e c o nd t i m e? 1 0 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 9 6. Q: Each time you converged was it the same number of people a nd the s a me p l a c e? A: On 4 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 96 L e l i n g o a na w as n ot p r e s e nt a nd M r. M a s e e l a. On 1 0 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 96 S e k a u tu w as there, P W 2, L e l i n g o a n a, P W1 a nd later P W 3 ." T he a c c u s ed testifies further that b e f o re e n t e r i ng t he h o u se he h e ld a discussion w i th M a t s o so Bolofo in w h i ch the latter told h im he h ad a m e e t i ng w i th the M a j or G e n e r al w ho in t u rn told h im the P r i me M i n i s t er M r. N t su M o k h e h le h ad requested h im to assist h im in the t o p p l i ng of the G o v e r n m e nt b e c a u se his m i n i s t e rs d id n ot listen to h im a nd he w as u n a b le to g o v e rn p r o p e r l y. T he a c c u s ed s a ys that a c c o r d i ng to M a t s o so Bolofo the M a j or G e n e r al h ad said he c o u l d n 't o v e r t h r ow the G o v e r n m e nt b e c a u se t h ey h ad s i g n ed an a g r e e m e nt w i th S A D CC countries that t h ey w o u ld n e v er o v e r t h r ow g o v e r n m e n t s. T he a c c u s ed c o r r o b o r a t es P Wl a nd P W2 that he d id attend the B NP rally on the 2 9 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 96 a nd that he j o i n ed the p r o c e s s i on to the p a r l i a m e nt b u i l d i ng a f t e r w a r d s. He d e n i es b e i ng a n y w h e re n e ar M a t s o so Bolofo's c ar w i th M a k a ra S e k a u t u. He d e n i es s h o r t e n i ng or w r i t i ng the s t a t e m e nt w i th M a t s o so Bolofo. He a d m i ts that he s aw M a k a ra S e k a u tu a nd P W2 at the rally. He w as t h en a s k e d: " Q: D id y ou t h en m e et the t wo y ou s a w? A: No we w e re just together. We didn't talk to e a ch o t h e r ." T h is is yet a n o t h er g l a r i ng e x a m p le of h ow e v a s i ve the a c c u s ed w as as a w i t n e s s. He clearly a v o i d ed a n s w e r i ng the q u e s t i on w h e t h er he d id m e et M a k a ra S e k a u tu a nd P W 2. T he a c c u s ed d e n i es that he g ot to R a d io L e s o t ho on the 2 9 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 9 6. T he nearest he c a me to R a d io L e s o t ho w as a b o ut 30 m e t r es that is to s ay f r om the P a r l i a m e nt building. He h e a rd the a n n o u n c e m e nt of the o v e r t h r ow of the G o v e r n m e nt o v er the r a d io w h i le he w as a l r e a dy at h o m e. U n d er c r o ss e x a m i n a t i on the a c c u s ed c o n c e d ed that he h ad "several m e e t i n g s" w i th the c o n s p i r a t o rs a nd that he m et t h em on the 2 9 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 9 6. I n d e ed he c o n c e d ed that these p e o p le w e re conspirators. He w as t h en a s k ed :- " Q: C an we m o ve f r om a c o m m on p r e m i se that the three p e o p le ( M a t s o so Bolofo, L e l i n g o a na J o n a t h an a nd P W 2) w e re conspirators b e nt on toppling the G o v e r n m e n t? A: Y es t h ey a g r e e d. Q: On h ow m a ny o c c a s i o ns did y ou m e et these p e o p le either at y o ur p l a ce or s o m e w h e re else? A: I m et s o me of t h em three t i m es a nd s o me w e nt to my p l a ce twice." In typical evasive fashion the a c c u s ed a n s w e r ed as f o l l o ws to a q u e s t i on p ut to h im u n d er cross e x a m i n a t i on :- " Q: A nd y ou as B NP y ou w e re n ot w e ll d i s p o s ed t o w a r ds the G o v e r n m e nt of B C P. A: N o, that is n ot so - the G o v e r n m e nt w as n ot B CP b ut G o v e r n m e nt of the B a s o t ho N a t i o n. Q: T h en the g o v e r n i ng party? A: B C P ." A s k ed w hy the conspirators s h o u ld c h o o se to h o ld s u ch d a n g e r o us m e e t i n gs at h is h o u se t he a c c u s ed c o u ld n ot offer a ny r e a s on e x c e pt to s ay it " s u r p r i s e d" h i m. He finally c o n c e d ed u n d er t he p r e s s u re of c r o ss e x a m i n a t i on that h is h o u se f o u nd f a v o ur w i th t he c o n s p i r a t o rs b e c a u se "it's a v e ry q u i et p l a c e ." He c o n c e d ed that M a k a ra S e k a u tu a l so " l o v e d" h i m. T he a c c u s ed c l a i ms to be a d e m o c r at a nd as s u ch he w o u l d n 't a g r ee w i th the c o n s p i r a cy to o v e r t h r ow t he G o v e r n m e nt by u n c o n s t i t u t i o n al m e a n s. As a result he r e f u s ed to go to R a d io L e s o t ho a nd he e v en d i s c o u r a g ed M a k a ra S e k a u t u. Y et as I recall t he e v i d e n ce he n e v er h ad an o p p o r t u n i ty to m e et t he latter a l o ne in o r d er to d i s c o u r a ge h im as alleged. A m a z i n g ly t he a c c u s ed later testified u n d er c r o ss e x a m i n a t i on that he w o u l d n 't be s a v i ng t he c o u n t ry by " g o i ng a w a y" f r om M a k a ra S e k a u t u. He w as t h en a s k e d: " Q: A f t er t he 9 th J a n u a ry 1 9 96 w hy d i d n 't y ou k e ep y o ur d i s t a n ce f r om this m a n? A: It's n ot w i se w h en o ne h as h e a rd a b o ut t he m i s s i on to t o p p le t he G o v e r n m e nt to d i s t a n ce o n e s e lf b e c a u se t h ey a re g o i ng to kill y o u ." He reiterates that he m et t he c o n s p i r a t o rs on t he 4 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 96 a nd 1 0 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 9 6. T he a c c u s ed further testified u n d er c r o ss e x a m i n a t i on that he is a soldier by p r o f e s s i on h a v i ng j o i n ed t he L e s o t ho a r my in 1 9 8 0. A s k ed w hy M a k a ra S e k a u tu w o u ld k e ep c o m i ng b a ck to h im e v en after he h ad d i s c o u r a g ed h im f r om the c o n s p i r a cy to o v e r t h r ow t he G o v e r n m e nt t he a c c u s ed c o u ld offer no reply. C o n f i r m i ng that he d id n ot d i s c o u r a ge t he c o n s p i r a t o rs f r om t he i d ea of t o p p l i ng the G o v e r n m e nt t he a c c u s ed a n s w e r ed as f o l l o ws to a q u e s t i on p ut to h im in c r o ss e x a m i n a t i o n: " Q: E v en at that t i me y ou w e re n ot inclined to tell t h e se p e o p le y ou w e re g o i ng to the authorities if t h ey d id n ot desist f r om the u n l a w f ul acts. A: N t a te y ou can't s ay that to p e o p le w ho w a nt to t o p p le t he G o v e r n m e n t. T h ey c an kill y o u ." T he a c c u s ed c o n c e d ed h o w e v er that M a t s o so Bolofo is " o l d" a nd that he is n ot afraid of h i m. A c c o r d i ng to h im M a k a ra S e k a u tu is d a n g e r o us b e c a u se " he is f a m i l i ar w i th d a n g e r o us p e o p le in t he a r m y ." P W1 is a l so d a n g e r o us b e c a u se he w as o n ce a soldier. Y et in t he s a me b r e a th he testifies that t he relations b e t w e en P W1 a nd h i m s e lf w e re friendly. In fact t h ey w e re relatives. I c a n n ot t h en s ee that a friendly w a r n i ng to P W1 w o u ld h a ve d o ne a ny h a r m. My i m p r e s s i on is that t he a c c u s ed w as n ot b e i ng c a n d id w i th t he C o u r t. R e g a r d i ng EX " A" the a c c u s ed d o es n ot d i s p u te that it w as p r e p a r ed by t he c o n s p i r a t o rs a nd that a lot of w o rk w e nt into the p r e p a r a t i on of this d o c u m e nt w h i ch e m b o d i es similar s e n t i m e n ts to t h o se w h i ch w e re e x p r e s s ed at the B MP rally on t he 2 9 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 9 6. A l m o st in the s a me b r e a th t he a c c u s ed i m m e d i a t e ly contradicts h i m s e lf to s ay that t he s e n t i m e n ts so e x p r e s s ed are n ot the s a me at all. W h i le the a c c u s ed a d m i ts w r i t i ng EX " D" w h i ch is a d o c u m e nt entitled " O ne d a y" he d e n i es that t he s h o r t e n ed s t a t e m e nt EX " C" w h i ch w as r e ad o v er R a d io L e s o t ho on t he 2 9 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 96 w as w r i t t en by h i m. He w as t h en a s k ed to c o m p a re t he h a n d w r i t i n gs on t he t wo d o c u m e n t s. H is e v i d e n ce w as that t h ey w e re different b ut he w as u n a b le to s h ow a ny differences. N or c o u ld his o wn a t t o r n ey M r. Phoofolo p o i nt a ny to t he C o u r t. F or my part I s h o u ld state that I o b s e r v ed that t he h a n d w r i t i ng on t he t wo d o c u m e n ts in q u e s t i on is so similar or i n d e ed so identical to t he n a k ed e ye that I do n ot e v en n e ed e x p e rt e v i d e n ce in t he m a t t e r. In d o i ng so I b e ar in m i nd of c o u r se t he d a n g er of r e l y i ng on o n e 's o wn o b s e r v a t i o ns in m a t t e rs s u ch as this. T h at h a v i ng b e en said I s h o u ld state h o w e v er that a C o u rt of l aw is n ot p r e c l u d ed f r om m a k i ng its o wn o b s e r v a t i o ns in t he a b s e n ce of e x p e rt e v i d e n c e. It d e p e n ds on t he c i r c u m s t a n c es of e a ch c a s e. EX " D" a nd " C 1" a re peculiarly similar a nd identical n ot o n ly in e v e ry letter t h e r e of b ut a l so in t he fact that all t he letters in b o th exhibits peculiarly tilt t o w a r ds t he left. I h a ve a l so attached d ue w e i g ht to the fact that this w as n ot a c a se of conflicting e v i d e n ce as s u ch on the h a n d w r i t i n gs on t he t wo d o c u m e n t s. As earlier stated the a c c u s ed c o u ld n ot p o i nt to a ny differences. I h a ve no d o u bt t h e r e f o re that EX " C l" w as w r i t t en by t he a c c u s ed as P W2 testified. Finally t he a c c u s ed a d m i t t ed that t he c o - c o n s p i r a t o rs c a me to his o wn h o u se a nd invited h im to j o in t h em in their m i s s i on of o v e r t h r o w i ng t he G o v e r n m e n t. He c o n c e d ed that t h ey w o u ld a p p r o a ch s o m e o ne t h ey h ad c o n f i d e n ce in. He c o r r o b o r a t es PW1 a nd P W2 that t he p u r p o se of g o i ng to R a d io L e s o t ho w as to a n n o u n ce t he o v e r t h r ow of t he G o v e r n m e nt o v er t he r a d i o. He c o n f i r ms that he k n ew a b o ut t he c o n s p i r a cy to o v e r t h r ow t he G o v e r n m e nt on t he 9 th J a n u a ry 1 9 9 6. H a v i ng s e en a nd h e a rd t he a c c u s ed g i ve e v i d e n ce b e f o re me I c an s ay w i th c o n f i d e n ce that he w as n ot o n ly e v a s i ve b ut he w as clearly a l y i ng w i t n e s s. In a nutshell t he a c c u s e d 's e x p l a n a t i on is that he d i s s o c i a t ed h i m s e lf f r om t he c o n s p i r a cy to o v e r t h r ow t he G o v e r n m e n t. N ow t he l aw as I h a ve a l w a ys p e r c e i v ed it to be is n ot w h e t h er t he a c c u s e d 's e x p l a n a t i on is t r ue b ut w h e t h er it m ay p o s s i b ly r e a s o n a b ly be true. T h at is t he real test. C o n v e r s e ly t he test is n ot w h e t h er t he C o u rt s u b j e c t i v e ly disbelieves t he a c c u s e d. I n d e ed t he C o u rt d o es n ot e v en h a ve to reject t he c a se for the C r o wn in o r d er to a c q u it t he a c c u s e d. T h at r e m a i ns so e v en w h e re t he c a se for the C r o wn is o v e r w h e l m i ng against t he a c c u s e d. T he c o u rt m u st still d e t e r m i ne w h e t h er t he d e f e n ce c a se is so d e m o n s t r a b ly false or i n h e r e n t ly so i m p r o b a b le as to be rejected as false. It is a l so p e r t i n e nt to b e ar in m i nd that in e m b a r k i ng u p on this e x e r c i se it is a w r o ng a p p r o a ch to reject t he a c c u s e d 's e x p l a n a t i on m e r e ly b e c a u se t he C o u rt is satisfied as to t he reliability of t he w i t n e s s es for the C r o w n. It is o n ly after the m e r i ts a nd t he d e m e r i ts of t he t wo s i d es h a ve b e en a n a l y s ed a nd w e i g h ed t o g e t h er w i th t he probabilities of t he c a se that a C o u rt w o u ld be justified in r e a c h i ng a c o n c l u s i on o ne w ay or t he o t h er r e g a r d i ng the q u e s t i on w h e t h er t he C r o wn h as p r o v ed its c a se b e y o nd reasonable doubt. Authorities in this regard are indeed legion. See for example S v Singh 1975 (1) S. A. 227 AT 228 per Leon / ( n ow Judge of our Court of Appeal) S v Kubeka 1982 (1) S. A. 534 at 537 S v Jaffer 1988 (2) S. A. 84 S v Munyai 1986 (4) S. A. 712 at 714 Indeed in R v Difford 1937 AD 370 at 373 Watermeyer A JA succinctly stated the law in the following words: "It is equally clear that no onus rests on the accused to convince the Court of the truth of any explanation he gives. If he gives an explanation, even if that explanation be improbable, the Court is not entitled to convict unless it is satisfied, not only that the explanation is improbable, but that beyond any reasonable doubt it is false." Davies A JA reaffirmed the legal position in R v M 1946 AD 1023 at 1027 in the following words: "....the Court does not have to believe the defence story, still less does it have to believe it in all its details; it is sufficient if it thinks that there is a reasonable possibility that it m ay be substantially true." It is on t he b a s is of t he a b o ve m e n t i o n ed principles that I a p p r o a ch t he a c c u s e d 's e x p l a n a t i on in t he m a t t e r. B ut b e f o re d o i ng so it is n e c e s s a ry to e x a m i ne the e v i d e n ce of his w i t n e ss D W2 M a t s o so Bolofo as it w as t e n d e r ed to bolster this e x p l a n a t i o n. It will be recalled that M a t s o so Bolofo is o ne of t he l e a d i ng c o- c o n s p i r a t o rs in t he m a t t e r. He is t he v e ry p e r s on w ho actually m a de t he a n n o u n c e m e nt o v er R a d io L e s o t ho on t he 2 9 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 96 to t he effect that t he G o v e r n m e nt of L e s o t ho h ad b e en o v e r t h r o w n. As earlier stated he s u b s e q u e n t ly p l e a d ed guilty to the c r i me of sedition a nd w as s e n t e n c ed to f o ur ( 4) y e a rs i m p r i s o n m e nt h a lf of w h i ch w as s u s p e n d ed conditionally. He is t h us a c o n v i c t ed c r i m i n al a nd a c o - c o n s p i r a t or w h o se e v i d e n ce m u st be a p p r o a c h ed w i th d ue c a u t i on as stated a b o v e. T he d a n g er is that D W2 m ay w e ll be g i v i ng f a v o u r a b le e v i d e n ce to t he a c c u s ed s i m p ly in an a t t e m pt to shield h im f r om t he c o n s e q u e n c es of t he c a se he is f a c i n g. It is t he e v i d e n ce of D W2 that he is a g ed 60 y e a rs old. He lives at L o w er Seoli in M a s e r u. In F e b r u a ry 1 9 96 he w as e m p l o y ed as security officer at L e s o t ho B a n k. O t h e r w i se he is a retired p o l i ce officer h a v i ng retired in 1 9 87 as a M a j o r. He h ad j o i n ed t he p o l i ce f o r ce in 1 9 6 1. He c o n f i r ms that he is serving a t e rm of i m p r i s o n m e nt for sedition. He is s e r v i ng t o g e t h er w i th M a k a ra S e k a u tu a nd L e l i n g o a na J o n a t h a n. It is the e v i d e n ce of D W2 that he k n o ws P W2 w h om he first m et on t he T he 4 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 96 at L i t h a b a n e ng at t he h o me of t he a c c u s e d. He d o es n ot k n ow P W1 b ut qualifies this by stating "I d o n 't k n ow w h e t h er he ( P W 1) w as t he v e ry s a me p e r s on that I f o u nd there on t he 1 0 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 9 6 ." D W2 testifies further that he first s aw t he a c c u s ed at t he latter's p l a ce at L i t h a b a n e ng on t he T he 4 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 9 6. He s a ys that as he p a s s ed at a p l a ce called L e f i k e ng M a k a ra S e k a u tu s t o p p ed h i m. He told t he latter to w a it for h im as he w as g o i ng to d r op his w i fe at h o m e. On his return he f o u nd M a k a ra still w a i t i ng for h im there at the b us stop. He d e l i v e r ed a m e s s a ge to t he latter that t he M a j or G e n e r al w a n t ed to m e et h i m. D W2 h ad p r o m i s ed M a k a ra S e k a u tu that he w o u ld assist t he latter to m e et t he M a j or G e n e r al a b o ut t he instability in the c o u n t ry " c a u s ed by t he G o v e r n m e n t ." D W2 a nd the a c c u s ed t h en p r o c e e d ed to the latter's h o me after he ( D W 2) h ad told the a c c u s ed that he w as travelling w i th s o m e o ne w ho w as at a c c u s e d 's h o m e. A s k ed w h at he w as g o i ng to do at a c c u s e d 's h o me D W2 testified that M a k a ra S e k a u tu h ad a s k ed a lift f r om h i m. At t he a c c u s e d' h o u se D W2 f o u nd the a c c u s ed w i th P W 2. He s aw M a k a ra S e k a u tu d i s c u s s i ng w i th t he a c c u s ed inside t he h o u s e. I n d e ed I o b s e r ve that he contradicts the a c c u s ed w ho says that the d i s c u s s i on t o ok p l a ce outside. After t he discussion in q u e s t i on M a k a ra S e k a u tu a p p r o a c h ed D W2 a nd told h im t h ey " m ay n ow l e a v e ." A s k ed w h e t h er M a k a ra S e k a u tu talked w i th t he a c c u s ed in t he w i t n e s s 's p r e s e n ce D W2 i m m e d i a t e ly contradicted h i m s e lf a nd testified as f o l l o ws "I d id n ot s ee h im d i s c u ss in my p r e s e n c e" He w as t h en a s k e d: " C o u r t: Y ou s a id M a k a ra S e k a u tu d i s c u s s ed w i th t he a c c u s e d; h ow l o ng d id that t a k e? A: I didn't s ay he d i s c u s s ed w i th the a c c u s ed I said w i th N t e n t e ." W e ll t he r e c o rd will s h ow that D W2 w as plain lying on this aspect. D W2 further testifies that on the 7 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 96 M a k a ra S e k a u tu a nd h i m s e lf m et the M a j or G e n e r al w ho after h a v i ng b e en g i v en g r i e v a n c es against the G o v e r n m e nt by the f o r m er told t h em that t h o se g r i e v a n c es do n ot i n v o l ve the a r m ed forces a nd that t he p e r m i ts c o u ld be o b t a i n ed f r om t he police. T he M a j or G e n e r al r e f u s ed to h a ve a n y t h i ng to do w i th t he m a t t er e v en w h en M a k a ra S e k a u tu r e m i n d ed h im that he w as a m e m b er of the State C o u n c il a nd w as also the c u s t o d i an of t he C o n s t i t u t i o n. In fact t he M a j or G e n e r al c h a s ed a w ay t he t wo g e n t l e m en t he f o l l o w i ng d a y. A c c o r d i ng to D W2 he g ot to t he a c c u s e d 's h o u se a g a in on the 1 0 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 96 l o o k i ng for M a k a ra S e k a u t u. He f o u nd t he a c c u s ed s t a n d i ng o u t s i de h o l d i ng a d og so that it s h o u ld n ot attack h im a nd told h im M a k a ra S e k a u tu w as inside the h o u s e. As he e n t e r ed the h o u se he f o u nd t he latter w i th L e l i n g o a na J o n a t h an " a nd o ne o t h er g e n t l e m an w h om I s aw for the first t i m e ." A c c o r d i ng to D W2 t he a c c u s ed d id n ot enter t he h o u se until t h ey left. D W2 testifies that after e n t e r i ng t he a c c u s e d 's h o u se on t he 1 0 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 96 he h e a rd M a k a ra S e k a u tu r e p o r t i ng to " t h o se o t h er m en o ne L e l i n g o a na a nd o ne g e n t l e m an I d id n ot k n o w" that t he o w n er of the h o u se h ad n ot g i v en t h em p e r m i s s i on to h o ld a m e e t i ng in his h o u s e. D W2 h ad n ot g o ne there for a m e e t i n g. It is his e v i d e n ce that P W2 w as n ot p r e s e nt at this m e e t i n g. A s k ed by M r. Phoofolo f or t he a c c u s ed to c o n f i rm or d e ny w h e t h er on his arrival he r e p o r t ed that the M a j or G e n e r al h ad a g r e ed to t he t o p p l i ng of t he G o v e r n m e nt D W2 o n ce m o re b e c a me e v a s i ve a nd replied that "I h ad n ot g o ne to that p l a ce to deliver that s t a t e m e nt my L o r d ." On the 2 9 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 96 D W2 w e nt to t he B NP rally at ' M a n t h a b i s e ng B us S t op w h e re he m et M a k a ra S e k a u t u. He c o n f i r ms that he w as travelling in his m o t or vehicle. He a l so m et P W 2. He d id n ot s ee the a c c u s ed at all that d ay " up until we w e re arrested." He d e n i es that t he conspirators m et at ' M a n t h a b i s e n g. He further d e n i es that he e v er dictated a s t a t e m e nt to the a c c u s ed to write. A c c o r d i ng to D W2 " t h e re w as no s u ch thing. T he s t a t e m e nt that I w as g o i ng to r e ad at R a d io L e s o t ho w as t y p ed the p r e v i o us d a y. So n o t h i ng w as written that d a y ." W e ll for my part I s h o u ld s ay that I am n ot i m p r e s s ed w i th this s t a t e m e nt a nd I t h i nk o n ce m o re D W2 is plain lying b e c a u se t he s t a t e m e nt actually r e ad o v er R a d io L e s o t ho w as EX " C 1" w h i ch is clearly a s h o r t e n ed S e s o t ho v e r s i on of t he t y p ed s t a t e m e nt EX " A ". EX " C 1" is h a n d w r i t t en for that m a t t er w h i ch w o u ld s e em to c o r r o b o r a te P W2 that it w as h a n d w r i t t en at t he last m o m e nt b e f o re t he c o n s p i r a t o rs j o i n ed t he p r o c e s s i on to P a r l i a m e nt b u i l d i n g. D W2 c o n c e d es that he w e nt to R a d io L e s o t ho w i th P W2 in his car. He d id n ot s ee the a c c u s ed at that place. W h e r e as t h e re is u n c h a l l e n g ed e v i d e n ce w h i ch I a c c e pt that the conspirators f o l l o w ed a certain l a dy into R a d io L e s o t ho D W2 s a ys t h ey " f o l l o w ed n o b o d y ." O n ce m o re D W2 w as b e i ng p l a in u n t r u t h f u l. In a ny e v e nt D W2 i m m e d i a t e ly retracts f r om this s t a n ce a nd c o n c e d es that t h ey f o l l o w ed t he l a dy in q u e s t i on into the s t u d io r o o m s. A m a z i n g ly D W2 d e n i es the c o n s p i r a cy to o v e r t h r ow t he G o v e r n m e nt at a ny t i m e. He d o es n ot e x p l a in the effect of t he series of m e e t i n gs t he conspirators h ad a nd the fact that they ultimately w e nt to R a d io L e s o t ho w h e re he p e r s o n a l ly a n n o u n c ed t he o v e r t h r ow of t he G o v e r n m e n t. My i m p r e s s i on w as that D W2 w as a terrible liar. A s k ed by M r. Phoofolo to c o m m e nt on t he allegation that he w as detailed by the a c c u s e d, M a k a ra S e k a u tu a nd L e l i n g o a na J o n a t h an D W2 e v a d ed t he q u e s t i on in t he f o l l o w i ng w o r d s: "I said we w e nt to G e n e r al M o s a k e ng t w i ce o n ly a nd n ot w i th t he o t h e r s ." T he q u e s t i on w as inevitably r e p e a t ed a nd p r o d u c ed e x a c t ly t he s a me results - e v a s i v e n e s s: " Q: T he allegation is that t h ey detailed y o u; A: I h a ve m e n t i o n ed that I w e nt to M a j or G e n e r al M o s a k e ng f o l l o w i ng S e k a u t u 's r e q u e st that he w a n t ed to m e et t he M a j or G e n e r a l ." N or w as that t he e nd of D W 2 's b o u ts of e v a s i v e n e ss as he w as t h en a s k e d: " Q: It is a g a in a l l e g ed that y ou m et on t he 2 9 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 96 to o v e r t h r ow t he G o v e r n m e n t. A: I h a ve s h o wn the p e r s on I m et at t he g a t h e r i ng at L i t h a b a n e n g ." U n d er c r o ss e x a m i n a t i on D W2 fared e v en w o r s e. He w as m e r c i l e s s ly e x p o s ed for w h at he is - an u n r e p e n t a nt liar. F or e x a m p le he w as a s k e d: " Q: W h en y ou retired f r om t he force y ou w e re t h en a t t a c h ed to N SS ( N a t i o n al S e c u r i ty S e r v i c e ). A: N o. Q: W e re y ou at a ny stage a m e m b er attached to N S S? A: W h i le still at w o r k. Q: W h en w as that? A: I started in 1 9 6 4. Q: A: Q: Till w h e n? U n t il 1 9 8 7. So w hy d id y ou d e ny that w h en y ou retired y ou w e re in N S S? A: T h at is correct I w as still a t t a c h ed to N S S ." He e v a d ed this q u e s t i on b e c a u se he h ad b e en e x p o s ed as a liar. I s h o u ld also m e n t i on that I w as n ot i m p r e s s ed by t he d e m e a n or of D W2 w ho at t i m es w o u ld s i m p ly refuse to a n s w er q u e s t i o ns p ut to h im despite t he C o u r t 's w a r n i ng that he m u st a n s w er t h e m. D W2 c o r r o b o r a t es t he e v i d e n ce of P W1 a nd P W2 that he r e ad o v er R a d io L e s o t ho on the 2 9 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 96 that "I am t a k i ng o v er the g o v e r n m e nt a nd h e r e by a n n o u n ce that t he G o v e r n m e nt h as b e en d i s c h a r g e d. A nd I h a ve s u s p e n d ed the Constitution." A s k ed u n d er w h at p o w e rs he d id so D W2 arrogantly retorted " my o wn p o w e r s ." D W2 w as at p a i ns to s ay w h e t h er he read f r om the l o ng t y p ed s t a t e m e nt EX " A" w h en a n n o u n c i ng the o v e r t h r ow of the G o v e r n m e n t. He o n ly a d m i t t ed to h a v i ng r e ad f r om EX " A" after a l o ng hesitation a nd dilly dallying - o n ce m o re I h a ve no d o u bt that he w as b e i ng untruthful on this point. I accept that he r e ad f r om EX " C 1" b e i ng the s h o r t e n ed s t a t e m e n t. It w as t h en inevitably a nd correctly p ut to h i m: " Q: T h is s t a t e m e nt ( EX " C 1 ") w as a d m i t t ed in e v i d e n ce as t he s t a t e m e nt y ou r e ad o v er R a d io L e s o t ho on t he 2 9 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 9 6. A: It's n ot true." It is incredibly t he e v i d e n ce of D W2 that " t he intention w as n ot to o v e r t h r ow t he G o v e r n m e n t" b ut to m o b i l i se t he p e o p le y et in his o wn w o r ds as s h o wn a b o ve he h ad a n n o u n c ed that he w as t a k i ng o v er t he G o v e r n m e nt a nd a n n o u n c ed that t he G o v e r n m e nt h ad b e en dissolved. T he Constitution h ad also b e en s u s p e n d e d. I t h i nk t he truth m e a ns n o t h i ng to D W 2. D W2 s u b s e q u e n t ly testified u n d er c r o ss e x a m i n a t i on that it is M a k a ra S e k a u tu w ho dictated a nd EX " C 1" w as w r i t t en by o ne M a t e t e. Y et this w as n e v er p ut to the C r o wn w i t n e s s es particularly P W 2. B e c a u se this a s p e ct of t he e v i d e n ce w as g i v en in h a r d ly a u d i b le v o i ce (in u n d e r t o n es as if D W2 w as i n d e ed a s h a m ed of h i m s e l f) t he C o u rt w a r n ed the w i t n e ss to s p e ak a l o u d. D W2 a s s u r ed t he C o u rt " I d o n 't h a ve a ny p r o b l e m" b ut i m m e d i a t e ly c o n t r a d i c t ed h i m s e lf to s ay "I feel I am n ot in a p o s i t i on to g i ve e v i d e n c e ." A s k ed w h e t h er this w as d ue to t he p r e s s u re of c r o ss e x a m i n a t i on he replied " No my L o rd I am still suffering f r om heart attack." T h at i n d e ed precipitated a l o ng p o s t p o n e m e nt until the w i t n e ss w as a b le to c o n t i n ue w i th his e v i d e n c e. At the r e s u m ed h e a r i ng D W2 o n ce m o re c o n t r a d i c t ed h i m s e lf a nd n ow c o n c e d ed that they d id n ot intend to r e ad f r om the l o ng s t a t e m e nt EX " A ". He n ow c o r r o b o r a t ed P W2 that the shorter s t a t e m e nt EX " C 1" w as r e ad o v er R a d io L e s o t ho on the 2 9 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 9 6. He m a i n t a i n ed that it w as p r e p a r ed by h im at ' M a n t h a b i s e n g. He c l a i m ed t he h a n d w r i t i ng to be his y et it will be recalled that he h ad earlier attributed t he h a n d w r i t i ng to o ne M a t e t e. My i m p r e s s i on w as that D W2 n e v er s t o p p ed lying u n a s h a m e d l y. D W2 further testified that their intention of g o i ng to R a d io L e s o t ho w as to " m o b i l i s e" the p e o p le to " o u st the G o v e r n m e nt if t h ey so w i s h e d ." A c c o r d i ng to h im the d a te on w h i ch to go to R a d io L e s o t ho w as c h o s en by M a k a ra S e k a u tu a nd t he co-conspirators i n c l u d i ng h i m s e lf d id n ot a g r ee w i th it. He w as t h en a s k e d: Q: A: Q: A, A nd y ou just w e nt a l o ng w i th that? Y e s. H ow c o m es y ou r e ad the s t a t e m e n t? B e c a u se he ( M a k a ra S e k a u t u) said he w as g o i ng to j o in t he rally of t he N a t i o n al P a r t y ." I do n ot think that the conspirators including D W2 w o u ld "just go a l o n g" w i th s u ch a sensitive t h i ng as t o p p l i ng t he G o v e r n m e n t. My i m p r e s s i on is that D W2 w as s i m p ly a lying w i t n e ss w ho d id n ot w a nt to t a ke the C o u rt into his o wn c o n f i d e n c e. As is o b v i o us f r om t he e v i d e n ce of D W2 he d id n ot assist t he a c c u s ed on the allegation of t he e v e n ts of the 9 th J a n u a ry 1 9 96 at O ld E u r o p a. I return t h en to evaluate the a c c u s e d 's e x p l a n a t i on that he dissociated h i m s e lf f r om the c o n s p i r a cy to o v e r t h r ow the G o v e r n m e n t. At the outset I o b s e r ve that the f o l l o w i ng factors militate against this e x p l a n a t i o n. ( 1) It is c o m m on c a u se that the a c c u s ed a t t e n d ed the m e e t i ng of the co-conspirators at O ld E u r o pa at the h o me of K h e t h i sa M o l a po on the 9 th J a n u a ry 1 9 9 6. ( 2) It is further c o m m on c a u se that the a c c u s ed w as in c h a r ge of the h o u se in w h i ch the m e e t i ng w as h e ld in the a b s e n ce of K h e t h i sa M o l a po w ho w as c o n v e n i e n t ly a w ay in Leribe. ( 3) It is c o m m on c a u se further that at the said m e e t i ng of the 9 th J a n u a ry 1 9 96 the d i s c u s s i on c e n t r ed a r o u nd the toppling of the G o v e r n m e nt w h i ch w o u ld be effected by an a n n o u n c e m e nt o v er R a d io L e s o t ho at " d a w n" on the m o r n i ng of the 1 0 th J a n u a ry 1 9 9 6. ( 4) T he e v i d e n ce of P W1 a nd P W2 is n ot c h a l l e n g ed to the effect that ultimately the a c c u s ed a nd the co-conspirators d i s c u s s ed the q u e s t i on of security a nd transport to get to R a d io L e s o t h o. T h at b e i ng the c a se I find that the conspiracy w as a c c e p t ed in principle by the participants at the m e e t i n g. In my v i ew this is the o n ly r e a s o n a b le inference to be t h r o wn in the c i r c u m s t a n c es of the c a se (see R v Blom 1939 A. D. 188 at 202-203. (5) P W1 was not challenged in his evidence that all the participants of the meeting in question including the accused were "happy" over the discussion to topple the Government." This is inconsistent with the conduct of someone w ho dissociated himself from the conspiracy. (6) It is c o m m on cause that the meeting at Old Europa took place for a very long time starting from the evening of the 9th January 1996. While the accused claims he left the meeting either at 11 p.m. or 12 o'clock midnight I accept the unchallenged evidence of P W2 that the meeting broke off at 6 a.m. on the morning of the 10th January 1996. I further reject the accused's evidence that he left the co- conspirators still engaged in the meeting bearing in mind that he was in charge of the house in the absence of its owner and also bearing in mind that there was admittedly no transport to take him from Old Europa to his house at Lithabaneng in the middle of the night. On accused's o wn version they had walked on foot to the meeting in question. I accept the evidence that if he left he did so after the meeting was closed at 6 a.m. when it was no longer dangerous for that matter to leave the house unguarded. That being the case I consider that the accused had ample t i me to w a lk o ut a nd dissociate h i m s e lf f r om t he m e e t i ng if he d id n ot associate h i m s e lf w i th the c o n s p i r a cy to o v e r t h r ow the G o v e r n m e n t. Y et t he a c c u s ed participated right t h r o u gh to the e n d. ( 7) T h e re is no credible e v i d e n ce that the a c c u s ed e v er d i s c o u r a g ed the co-conspirators i n c l u d i ng his o wn relative P W1 f r om the c o n s p i r a cy to o v e r t h r ow the G o v e r n m e nt at this m e e t i ng or i n d e ed a ny o t h er m e e t i n g s. T h is is i n c o m p a t i b le w i th a m an w ho allegedly dissociated h i m s e lf f r om the c o n s p i r a c y. ( 8) It is n ot d i s p u t ed that the conspirators e v en w e nt to the e x t e nt of detailing M a k a ra S e k a u tu a nd L e l i n g o a na J o n a t h an d u r i ng the c o u r se of the m e e t i ng at O ld E u r o pa to go a nd bring o ne of the security m en f r om the a r m y. T h ey a d m i t t e d ly left at 2 a . m. a nd r e t u r n ed at a b o ut 4.30 a . m. ( S ee the u n c h a l l e n g ed e v i d e n ce of P W 2 ). N ow the fact that the a c c u s ed w o u ld also a w a it this exercise for s u ch a l o ng t i me is also glaringly i n c o m p a t i b le w i th a m an w ho dissociated h i m s e lf f r om the c o n s p i r a c y. ( 9) It is n ot seriously disputed that the conspirators failed to go to R a d io L e s o t ho on the 9 th J a n u a ry 1 9 96 m e r e ly b e c a u se t h ey h ad n ot s e c u r ed transport as w e ll as security a nd n ot b e c a u se t h e re w as no a g r e e m e nt on t he c o n s p i r a cy itself. H e n ce the q u e s t i on of g o i ng to R a d io L e s o t ho w as d e f e r r ed to a n o t h er d a y. I n d e ed I a c c e pt this v e r s i o n. ( 1 0) T h e re is no e v i d e n ce that t he a c c u s ed r e p o r t ed to t he authorities a b o ut the c o n s p i r a c y. O n ce m o re this is i n c o m p a t i b le w i th the c o n d u ct of a m an w ho h as d i s s o c i a t ed h i m s e lf f r om t he c o n s p i r a c y. ( 1 1) T he a c c u s ed c o n c e d es that he a t t e n d ed a "series of m e e t i n g s ." In my v i ew this is a g a in i n c o m p a t i b le w i th t he a c t i o ns of s o m e o ne w ho h ad d i s s o c i a t ed h i m s e lf f r om t he c o n s p i r a c y. ( 1 2) T he e v i d e n ce that s o me of t h e se m e e t i n gs w e re actually h e ld at t he a c c u s e d 's h o me at L i t h a b a n e ng w as n ot s e r i o u s ly d i s p u t e d. As earlier stated I h a ve a t t a c h ed d ue w e i g ht to t he f o l l o w i ng q u e s t i o ns p ut to P W2 by M r. Phoofolo: " Q: He (the a c c u s e d) will tell his L o r d s h ip that t he o n ly m e e t i ng that he k n o ws of h e ld at his p l a ce w as that of t he 4 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 96 A: A l t h o u gh I c a n 't recall t he d a te b ut I k n ow t h e re w as o ne m e e t i ng that I d id n ot attend." I accept the e v i d e n ce that s o me of the m e e t i n gs w e re in fact h e ld at t he h o me of the a c c u s ed at L i t h a b a n e n g. I find it t oo m u ch of a c o i n c i d e n ce that the first m e e t i ng h e ld at O ld E u r o pa on the 9 th J a n u a ry 1 9 96 w as actually h e ld at a d e s e r t ed h o u se ( u n d er the c a re of t he a c c u s ed h i m s e l f) w h o se o w n er w as conveniently a w ay in L e r i be a nd the fact that the m e e t i n gs of the 4 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 96 a nd 1 0 th F e b r u a ry 1 9 96 w e re h e ld at the a c c u s e d 's h o me w h i ch is admittedly secure a nd c o n v e n i e nt for sensitive m e e t i n gs of that nature. I think probabilities are that the v e n u es for the m e e t i n gs w e re carefully c h o s e n. T he point is w hy m u st these m e e t i n gs be h e ld at h o u s es o v er w h i ch the a c c u s ed is responsible u n l e ss he is part a nd parcel of the c o n s p i r a c y? At a ny rate I h a ve no d o u bt in my m i nd that t he a c c u s ed w o u ld n ot h a ve a l l o w ed the m e e t i n gs to t a ke p l a ce at t h e se h o u s es if he h ad dissociated h i m s e lf f r om the c o n s p i r a c y. ( 1 3) 1 accept the u n c h a l l e n g ed e v i d e n ce of P W3 to the effect that he w a r n ed the conspirators i n c l u d i ng the a c c u s ed to stop the c o n s p i r a cy a nd that " n o b o dy r e s p o n d e d" i n c l u d i ng the a c c u s e d. I c o n s i d er that this w as an ideal o p p o r t u n i ty for the a c c u s ed to dissociate h i m s e lf f r om the c o n s p i r a cy yet he did not. H is c o n d u ct therefore is inconsistent w i th that of a m an w ho h ad dissociated h i m s e lf f r om the c o n s p i r a c y. ( 1 4) T h e re is u n d i s p u t ed e v i d e n ce w h i ch I believe a nd a c c e pt (see the e v i d e n ce of P W 1) that the a c c u s ed a g r e ed to be o ne of the C o u n c i l l o rs in the p r o p o s ed g o v e r n m e nt that w as to be set up by the conspirators after the o v e r t h r ow of the l a w f ul G o v e r n m e n t. T h is a g a in is i n c o m p a t i b le w i th the c o n d u ct of a m an w ho h ad dissociated h i m s e lf f r om the conspiracy. In all the c i r c u m s t a n c es of the c a se a nd t a k i ng the c u m u l a t i ve effect of the a b o ve m e n t i o n ed factors into a c c o u nt I h a ve c o me to the c o n c l u s i on that the a c c u s e d 's e x p l a n a t i on c a n n ot r e a s o n a b ly possibly be true a nd I find that it is false b e y o nd r e a s o n a b le d o u b t. A c c o r d i n g ly I reject it. M o r e o v er in my v i ew the m e r i ts a nd d e m e r i ts of P W1 a nd P W2 as corroborated by P W3 are clearly far superior to the m e r i ts a nd d e m e r i ts of the a c c u s ed a nd his w i t n e ss D W 2. I h a ve c o n s i d e r ed that the fact that P W1 is related to the a c c u s ed a nd that they are admittedly on g o od t e r ms as well as b e i ng c o - w o r k e rs r e d u c es the d a n g er for false incrimination. In the c i r c u m s t a n c es of the c a se I believe the e v i d e n ce of the C r o wn witnesses P W 1, P W2 a nd P W 3. T h e se w i t n e s s es w e re n ot s h a k en in cross e x a m i n a t i o n. M o r e o v er P W3 w as n ot interested in the case. He w as a neutral w i t n e ss a nd no r e a s on w as s u g g e s t ed w hy he s h o u ld implicate the a c c u s e d. To the extent that P W 1, P W2 a nd P W3 m ay be single witnesses to s o me of t he issues i n v o l v ed in the c a se I h a ve of c o u r se w a r n ed m y s e lf of the d a n g e rs of relying on single evidence. T h e se witnesses h a ve h o w e v er n ot b e en c h a l l e n g ed or s h a k en in their e v i d e n ce a nd I find that their e v i d e n ce w as so clear a nd satisfactory in material respects that I a c c e pt it. I am satisfied that they h a ve told the truth. T h is is p e r h a ps an a p p r o p r i a te stage t h en to refer to the l aw r e g a r d i ng the o f f e n ce of h i gh treason. T h is c r i me h as b e en d e f i n ed by P . M . A. H u nt in S o u th A f r i c an C r i m i n al L aw a nd P r o c e d u re V o l. II ( R e v i s ed S e c o nd E d i t i on by J RL M e l t o n) in the f o l l o w i ng w o r d s: " H i gh treason consists in a ny overt act u n l a w f u l ly c o m m i t t ed by a p e r s on o w i ng allegiance to a State p o s s e s s i ng m a j e s t as w ho intends to i m p a ir that m a j e s t as by o v e r t h r o w i ng or c o e r c i ng the G o v e r n m e nt of that State." T he essential e l e m e n ts of the c r i me of h i gh t r e a s on are therefore the following: (a) an overt act; ( b) u n l a w f u l ly c o m m i t t e d; (c) by a p e r s on o w i ng allegiance to the State; ( d) w h i ch p o s s e s s es m a j e s t as a nd (e) w i th hostile intent o t h e r w i se k n o wn as animus hostilis. I should mention at the outset that the defence makes no challenge to essentials (c) and (d) above. Mr. Phoofolo has confirmed this position in his Heads of Argument. Accordingly the Court accepts that the accused indeed owes allegiance to the State which in turn possesses majestas. It is essentials (a) (b) and (e) above which are put in issue in this case. The definition of an overt act was reaffirmed by Watermeyer CJ in R v Leibbrandt and Others 1944 AD 253 at 284 in the following words: " An overt act has been defined by Lord Tenterden in Rex v Thistlewood (33 S. E. Tr 684) as "any act manifesting the criminal intention and tending towards the accomplishment of the criminal object" and it must be clearly distinguished from the state of mind or intention which accompanies it." It is pertinent to note that this definition was adopted by this Court in R v Mofelehetsi Moerane and Others 1974-75 LLR 212 where Mapetla CJ stated that "a conspiracy to commit an overt act of high treason is itself an overt act of high treason." I respectfully agree with this principle which is indeed reaffirmed by Friedman J in S v Banda and Others 1990 (3) S. A. 466 AT 474 to the effect that not only an attempt, but also incitement and conspiracy to commit high treason are acts of high treason in themselves. Indeed I respectfully wish to adopt the following remarks of the learned judge on page 473 J - 474 B of the judgment: "Any act therefore, if viewed objectively, which is seemingly and apparently to all appearances innocent, m ay establish treason if it is performed with a hostile intent. This aspect has received judicial pronouncement in cases where it was stated - 'an act, apparently innocent in itself, m ay clearly be an overt act of treason if proved to have been done with hostile intent to the injury of the State or the supreme government'. R v Viljoen 1923 AD 90 AT 92; R v Wenzel 1940 W LD 269 at 275; R v A d a ms and Others 1959 (1) SA 646 (Spec Crim Ct) at 666; S v Hogan 1983 (2) SA 46 ( W) at 57C; R v Christian 1924 AD 101; R v Mardon 1947 (2) SA 768 (Spec Crim Ct); R v Stauss 1948 (1) SA 834 (A)." It was precisely for this reason that Mapetla CJ in R v Mofelehetsi Moerane and Others (supra) at p 219 correctly stated, in my respectful view, that "even what may in itself appear to be a perfectly innocent act, if it can be proved that that act was done with a hostile intent, will amount to an overt act of high treason." The learned Chief Justice arrived at this conclusion after referring to the following passage by Ramsbottom J in R v Wenzel 1940 WX. D. at 275: "Now, gentlemen, an overt act and deed, manifesting an intention to commit any of these species of treason, need not necessarily be an act of treason in itself; for example, suppose that there is an undoubted scheme proved or admitted to raise an insurrection or to levy war against the King for a general purpose, there can be nothing more innocent in itself in the world than the ringing of a bell, or firing of a skyrocket, the beating of a drum, or anything of that sort; but if it be proved at the same time that any of these were to be the signals of the insurrection, then these acts, perfectly innocent in themselves, if done by a person w ho was aware of the object of them, is an overt act of treason; that is to say, it is an overt act, intimating the treasonable purpose the m an has in view " W h at then is hostile intent? It is pertinent to bear in mind that this hostile intent or animus hostilis is the definitive element of high treason itself. The most authoritative and all embracing definition of hostile intent is that given by Snyman: Criminal Law (Second Edition) at page 314 which is to the following effect: "Hostile intent m ay be defined as follows: and intention unlawfully to overthrow the Government, coerce, impair or endanger the existence, independence or security of the Government ". As was succinctly stated by Watermeyer CJ in R v Liebbrandt and others (supra) at 284 intention is clearly something subjective that is to say a state of mind incapable of direct proof by witnesses. Proof of hostile intent therefore can only be proved by inference from the acts and expressions of the a c c u s ed a nd f r om t h o se of their p r o v ed c o - c o n s p i r a t o rs as w e ll as f r om s u r r o u n d i ng c i r c u m s t a n c es b e a r i ng in m i nd t he t wo c a r d i n al rules of logic as set o ut by W a t e r m e y er JA in R v Blom ( s u p r a) of 2 0 2 -3 n a m e ly that:- " ( 1) the inference s o u g ht to be d r a wn m u st be consistent w i th all t he p r o v ed facts. If it is n o t, t h en t he i n f e r e n ce c a n n ot be d r a w n; ( 2) t he p r o v ed facts s h o u ld be s u ch that t h ey e x c l u de e v e ry r e a s o n a b le i n f e r e n ce f r om t h em s a ve t he o ne to be d r a w n. If t h ey do n ot e x c l u de o t h er r e a s o n a b le i n f e r e n c e s, t h en t h e re m u st be a d o u bt w h e t h er t he i n f e r e n ce s o u g ht to be d r a wn is correct." N ow t he e v i d e n ce a d d u c ed in this c a se h as s h o wn b e y o nd r e a s o n a b le d o u bt that t h e re w as a c o n s p i r a cy to o v e r t h r ow t he G o v e r n m e nt as at t he 9 th J a n u a ry 1 9 9 6. I a c c e pt that t he c o n s p i r a cy w as p r o b a b ly h a t c h ed b e f o re that d a t e. On a c c u s e d 's o wn v e r s i on M a k a ra S e k a u tu a n n o u n c ed to t he participants of the m e e t i ng at O ld E u r o pa on the 9 th J a n u a ry 1 9 96 that he h ad c o me to let t h em k n ow that he h i m s e lf a nd "all political l e a d e rs in L e s o t ho a nd traditional l e a d e rs a nd L e s o t ho a r m ed f o r c es a nd L e s o t ho p o l i ce officers a nd N SS security of L e s o t ho r e a c h ed a c o n c l u s i on that at d a wn of that d ay he will be a n n o u n c i ng at R a d io L e s o t ho that L e s o t ho G o v e r n m e nt h ad b e en o v e r t h r o wn a nd that therefore t he G o v e r n m e nt of N a t i o n al U n i ty will be in place. So he h ad c o me to invite us to a c c o m p a ny h im to R a d io L e s o t h o ." T he q u e s t i on t h en is w h e t h er the a c c u s ed associated h i m s e lf w i th this conspiracy. He d o es n ot dispute the fact that he participated in t he m e e t i ng of the 9 th J a n u a ry 1 9 96 for a very l o ng t i m e. N or d o es he dispute that eventually the d i s c u s s i on c e n t r ed on w h e t h er transport a nd security w o u ld be available for the carrying out of the c o n s p i r a cy early on the m o r n i ng of the 1 0 th J a n u a ry 1 9 9 6. To s h ow their d e t e r m i n a t i on a nd resolve in the m a t t er t he parties e v en w e nt to the extent of s e n d i ng o ut t wo of the conspirators M a k a ra S e k a u tu a nd L e l i n g o a na J o n a t h an to go a nd fetch a security m an f r om t he a r m ed forces. In my v i ew this is a clear indication that the c o n s p i r a cy w as a c c e p t ed in principle. L o g ic dictates that an a g r e e m e nt (expressly or by c o n d u c t) w o u ld i n d e ed p r e c e de s u ch niceties a nd m o d a l i t i es as security a nd transport. F or r e a s o ns fully stated a b o ve I reject the a c c u s e d 's e x p l a n a t i on that he dissociated h i m s e lf f r om the c o n s p i r a cy a nd I believe t he e v i d e n ce of P W1 a nd P W2 r e g a r d i ng the a c c u s e d 's association w i th the c o n s p i r a cy to o v e r t h r ow the G o v e r n m e nt on the 9 th J a n u a ry 1 9 9 6. T h at b e i ng the c a se I find that the a c c u s ed is guilty of a t r e a s o n a b le act. A g a in as earlier stated the a c c u s ed d o es n ot seriously d i s p u te that he a t t e n d ed "a series of m e e t i n g s" after the 9 th J a n u a ry 1 9 9 6. I a c c e pt the e v i d e n ce of P W l, P W2 a nd P W3 that t h o se m e e t i n gs w e re in f u r t h e r a n ce of t he c o n s p i r a cy to o v e r t h r ow the G o v e r n m e n t. I h a ve a l r e a dy rejected the a c c u s e d 's e x p l a n a t i on that he dissociated h i m s e lf f r om the c o n s p i r a c y. By attending m e e t i n gs in f u r t h e r a n ce of a c o n s p i r a cy to o v e r t h r ow the G o v e r n m e nt I find that the a c c u s ed is guilty of h i gh treason. M r. Phoofolo h as relied h e a v i ly on t he c a se of R v Labuschagne and others TPD 2 71 for t he p r o p o s i t i on that e v en t h o u gh t he a c c u s ed t o ok part in t he m e e t i n gs in q u e s t i on he d id n ot specifically a g r ee to t he c o n s p i r a c y. In that c a se h o w e v er t h e re w as clearly no d e c i s i on t a k en a nd t h e re w as no e v i d e n ce d i s c l o s i ng a c o n s p i r a c y. T h e re w as no " i n c i t e m e n t" by a ny p e r s on a nd m o re i m p o r t a n t ly there w as e v i d e n ce that t he c o n d u ct of t he a c c u s ed w as o ne of " d i s c o u r a g e m e n t ." Q u i te clearly t h e r e f o re that c a se is d i s t i n g u i s h a b le f r om the instant c a se w h e re there is e v i d e n ce w h i ch I b e l i e ve that t he a c c u s ed a c t u a l ly a s s o c i a t ed h i m s e lf w i th t he c o n s p i r a cy to t he e x t e nt that he e v en a c c e p t ed a p o s i t i on as a C o u n c i l l or in t he p r o p o s ed g o v e r n m e nt of N a t i o n al U n i ty after the l a w f ul G o v e r n m e nt h ad b e en o v e r t h r o w n. I c o n s i d er that this is a t r e a s o n a b le act in t he c i r c u m s t a n c es of this c a s e. R e g a r d i ng t he e l e m e nt of hostile intent I am satisfied that t he C r o wn h as p r o v ed this b e y o nd r e a s o n a b le d o u bt f r om t he w h o le c o n d u ct of t he c o n s p i r a t o rs c u l m i n a t i ng in s o me of t h em actually h o l d i ng t he staff of R a d io L e s o t ho h o s t a ge a nd a n n o u n c i ng the o v e r t h r ow of G o v e r n m e nt o v er t he r a d i o. I n d e ed P W2 is u n c h a l l e n g ed in his e v i d e n ce that " we w e re s e r i o u s; we w e re s o b e r ." M r. Phoofolo h as a r g u ed that s i n ce the C r o wn d id n ot a l l e ge in t he i n d i c t m e nt that t he a c c u s ed w as o ne of the c o n s p i r a t o rs w ho w e nt to R a d io L e s o t ho t h en it c a n n ot t e n d er e v i d e n ce that in fact he d id g et there. He relies on section 2 56 of the C r i m i n al P r o c e d u re a nd E v i d e n ce A ct 1 9 81 w h i ch is to the effect that in a t r e a s on trial e v i d e n ce shall n ot be a d m i t t ed of a ny o v e rt a ct n ot alleged int he c h a r ge " u n l e ss relevant to p r o ve s o me o t h er o v e rt act alleged therein." In my v i ew this p r o v i so is decisive in t he instant c a se w h e re C o u nt I A m a k es it perfectly clear that the c o n s p i r a cy w as to o v e r t h r ow the G o v e r n m e nt by a n n o u n c i ng s a me o v er R a d io L e s o t ho on 9/1/96 a nd that in t e r ms of C o u nt 1 B, the objective w as t h en d e f e r r ed to s o me o t h er d a y. T he m a in thing here is that the a n n o u n c e m e nt of the o v e r t h r ow of the G o v e r n m e nt w as g o i ng to be m a de o v er the R a d io w h a t e v er t he date. I consider therefore that the e v i d e n ce that the a c c u s ed w as actually s e en at R a d io L e s o t ho w as n e c e s s a ry a nd relevant as b e i ng in f u r t h e r a n ce of the c o n s p i r a cy to go a nd a n n o u n ce the o v e r t h r ow of the G o v e r n m e nt o v er the radio. In a ny e v e nt e v en if I am w r o ng in the v i ew that I take of the m a t t er I am satisfied that in a m a t t er s u ch as this the e x e c u t i ve acts of the c o - c o n s p i r a t o rs at R a d io L e s o t ho are the acts of the a c c u s e d. T h at these acts a m o u n ts to t r e a s on a d m i ts of no d o u b t. Lastly, as earlier stated there is no e v i d e n ce that the a c c u s ed reported t he conspiracy to o v e r t h r ow the G o v e r n m e nt to the authorities. T a x ed as to w hy he failed to report to the authorities the a c c u s ed c o u ld offer no e x p l a n a t i on w h i ch c o u ld r e a s o n a b ly possibly be true. He started s a y i ng totally o u t r a g e o us things s u ch as that the police, the a r my a nd m e m b e rs of the N a t i o n al Security Service w e re all involved in the c o n s p i r a cy to o v e r t h r ow the G o v e r n m e nt a nd that therefore he c o u ld n ot report to t h em as t h ey m i g ht kill h i m. As I u n d e r s t a nd his e v i d e n ce he n e v er e v en tried. In a ny e v e nt I reject this e x p l a n a t i on as b e i ng u n f o u n d ed a nd totally false. T h is is so b e c a u se on his o wn v e r s i on t he a c c u s ed w as told by M a t s o so Bolofo that " M a j or G e n e r al M o s a k e ng said he c a n n ot o v e r t h r ow t he G o v e r n m e nt b e c a u se t h ey h a ve s i g n ed an a g r e e m e nt w i th S A D CC c o u n t r i es that t h ey will n e v er o v e r t h r ow G o v e r n m e n t s ." It m u st h a ve b e en c l e ar to t he a c c u s ed t h e r e f o re that M a j or G e n e r al M o s a k e ng w as o p p o s ed to t he o v e r t h r ow of t he G o v e r n m e n t. T h at b e i ng t he c a se I c o n s i d er that the a c c u s ed c o u ld h a ve r e p o r t ed to h im if he w as so m i n d ed a nd if he d id n ot h a ve t r e a s o n a b le intentions. N or d o es this C o u rt b e l i e ve t he a c c u s e d 's e x p l a n a t i on that he d id n ot r e p o rt to h is o wn c h i ef b e c a u se t he latter w as " l i k e w i s e" i n v o l v ed in t he c o n s p i r a cy to o v e r t h r ow t he G o v e r n m e n t. T h e re w as a b s o l u t e ly no e v i d e n ce that t he c h i ef w as so i n v o l v ed a nd this w as clearly s a id as an a f t e r t h o u g h t. I h a ve no d o u bt that the a c c u s ed w as p l a in lying on this point. T he truth of t he m a t t er is that he n e v er r e p o r t ed to a ny authority. He d id s ay h o w e v er o ut of d e s p e r a t i on that he r e p o r t ed to o ne L e k h o o a na J o n a t h an w ho is secretary of t he B NP party. B ut t h en three is no e v i d e n ce that t he said L e k h o o a na J o n a t h an is a m an in authority. In a ny e v e nt he is a d m i t t e d ly n ot a c c u s e d 's o wn c h i ef It is a p p r o p r i a te at this s t a ge t h en to refer to S n y m a n: C r i m i n al Law ( s u p r a) p a ge T h is is w h at t he l e a r n ed a u t h or states on acts of h i gh treason:- " E v en an o m i s s i on to act w h i ch is a c c o m p a n i ed by the requisite hostile intent constitutes h i gh treason. E v e ry p e r s on w ho o w es allegiance to the State a nd w ho h e a rs or o t h e r w i se b e c o m es a w a re of the fact that h i gh t r e a s on is b e i ng c o m m i t t ed or that there is a p l an to c o m m it it h as a d u ty to c o m m u n i c a te this fact to the authorities as s o on as possible. Failure to do so constitutes t r e a s o n ." I respectfully a g r ee w i th the principle stated by t he l e a r n ed a u t h o r. I n d e ed G r e e n b e rg JP in R v L a b u s h a g ne ( s u p r a) at 275 a c k n o w l e d g ed this principle in the f o l l o w i ng w o r d s: It c an be a s s u m ed that failure to report past c o n d u ct w h i ch is t r e a s o n a b le is also t r e a s o n ." I am satisfied, f r om t he totality of t he e v i d e n ce b e f o re m e, that the a c c u s e d 's failure to report the c o n s p i r a cy a nd the c o - c o n s p i r a t o rs t h e m s e l v es to the authorities w as in f u r t h e r a n ce of the c o n s p i r a cy a nd w as a c c o m p a n i ed by hostile intent. T h is o m i s s i on is in itself an act of h i gh t r e a s on in the c i r c u m s t a n c es of the case. T a k i ng into a c c o u nt the totality of the e v i d e n ce as a w h o le therefore I h a ve c o me to the c o n c l u s i on that the C r o wn h as p r o v ed its c a se b e y o nd r e a s o n a b le d o u bt on the c h a r ge of h i gh treason. A c c o r d i n g ly the a c c u s ed is f o u nd guilty of h i gh t r e a s on as c h a r g ed in C o u nt I. He is d i s c h a r g ed on the o t h er C o u n t s. My Assessors agree. M . M. R a m o d i b e di J U D GE 12th J u ne 1 9 98 F or the C r o wn : M r. M d h l u li (the D P P) F or the A c c u s ed : M r. Phoofolo S E N T E N CE It is n ow t he t a sk of this C o u rt to i m p o se a s e n t e n ce w h i ch is a p p r o p r i a te in t he c i r c u m s t a n c es of t he c a s e. In d o i ng so t he C o u rt m u st b a l a n ce t he m i t i g a t i ng factors i n c l u d i ng p e r s o n al c i r c u m s t a n c es of t he a c c u s ed as a g a i n st t he r e q u i r e m e n ts of r e a s o n a b le p u n i s h m e nt d e s i g n ed to e n s u re n ot o n ly m a i n t e n a n ce of l aw a nd o r d er b ut a l so d e t e r r e n c e. It is on t he b a s is of this principle that I a p p r o a ch t he m a t t e r. At t he o u t s et I s h o u ld like to s ay that I h a ve r e c e i v ed full s u b m i s s i o ns f r om b o th c o u n s el in t he m a t t er in so far as s e n t e n ce is c o n c e r n e d. I h a ve a c c o r d i n g ly t a k en into a c c o u nt all that h as b e en s a id i n c l u d i ng p e r s o n al c i r c u m s t a n c es of t he a c c u s ed in their entirety. In p a r t i c u l ar I h a ve a t t a c h ed d ue w e i g ht to t he fact that t he a c c u s ed is a first o f f e n d er w ho m ay w e ll be a fallen a n g e l. He is m a r r i ed w i th t h r ee m i n or c h i l d r e n. He is t he s o le b r e ad w i n n e r. I h a ve a l so t a k en into a c c o u nt t he fact that t he a c c u s ed h as b e en in c u s t o dy since his arrest in M a r ch 1 9 9 6. T h e re is no d o u bt that he h as s u f f e r ed n ot o n ly f r om t he l o ng i n c a r c e r a t i on a nd its a t t e n d a nt c o n s e q u e n c es b ut a l so f r om t he a g o ny of h a v i ng t he c a se h a n g i ng o v er his h e ad d u r i ng all this t i m e. As a g a i n st p e r s o n al c i r c u m s t a n c es of t he a c c u s ed this C o u rt c o n s i d e rs t h at t he o f f e n ce of h i gh t r e a s on is v e ry s e r i o us i n d e e d. It m u st be p u n i s h ed a c c o r d i n g ly in o r d er to m a ke a lasting i m p r e s s i on on t he a c c u s ed a nd o t h er like m i n d ed p e r s o ns a nd t h us d e t er t h em f r om s i m i l ar acts in future. I n d e ed t he s e r i o u s n e ss of t he o f f e n ce c an be g a u g ed f r om t he fact that in t e r ms of section 2 97 ( 1) ( b) of the C r i m i n al P r o c e d u re a nd E v i d e n ce A ct 1 9 81 the H i gh C o u rt h as a discretion w h e t h er or n ot to p a ss a s e n t e n ce of d e a th u p on an a c c u s ed c o n v i c t ed of h i gh treason. To that e x t e nt therefore t he o f f e n ce is literally a m a t t er of life a nd death. I h a ve a c c o r d i n g ly h ad to c o n s i d er seriously w h e t h er or n ot to s p a re t he a c c u s e d 's life for the t r e a s o n a b le act he h as c o m m i t t e d. I h a ve t a k en into a c c o u nt in f a v o ur of the a c c u s ed the fact that the a m o u nt of violence involved w as relatively m i n i m al b e i ng c o n f i n ed to the r o u n d i ng up of R a d io L e s o t ho staff at g un point. T h at h o w e v er m u st h a ve b e en a t r a u m a t ic e x p e r i e n ce to the p o or p e o p l e. As I h ad o c c a s i on to o b s e r ve in s e n t e n c i ng t he a c c u s e d 's c o - a c c u s ed on t he 1 2 th M a r ch 1 9 97 in these d a ys of d e m o c r a cy in L e s o t ho political d i s s e n s i o ns c an easily be a d d r e s s ed t h r o u gh the ballot b o x. I said t h en a nd w i sh to r e p e at n ow that there is absolutely no n e ed to resort to t he u n l a w f ul acts s u ch as h i gh treason. W h at is of particular c o n c e rn to this C o u rt is the fact that it is c o m m on c a u se that it h as n ow b e c o me f a s h i o n a b le in this c o u n t ry for p e o p le to resort to unconstitutional t o p p l i ng of G o v e r n m e nt by force. It is no w o n d er the a c c u s ed a nd his co-conspirators w e re so c o n f i d e nt of s u c c e ss in their traitorous a nd treasonable acts that t h ey o b v i o u s ly g e n u i n e ly b e l i e v ed that the m e re a n n o u n c e m e nt of the o v e r t h r ow of the G o v e r n m e nt o v er the r a d io w o u ld do the trick a nd the G o v e r n m e nt w as up for g r a b s! It is h o p ed that the sentence that this C o u rt is a b o ut to p a ss will go a l o ng w ay t o w a r ds s t a m p i ng out the culture of c o u ps that h as besetted this c o u n t ry for so long. I n d e ed the C o u rt is d e t e r m i n ed that d e m o c r a cy as is e n s h r i n ed in t he C o n s t i t u t i on shall prevail. S u ch is t he o b j e ct of this s e n t e n c e. Y et on t he o t h er h a nd this C o u rt s u b s c r i b es to t he p r i n c i p le e l o q u e n t ly e n u n c i a t ed by M o f o k e ng J, as he t h en w as in s e k o n y e la and ors. V Rex 1981 LLLR 41 to t he effect that justice m u st be t a m p e r ed w i th m e r c y. T h is is w h at he said at p a ge 45 of t he j u d g m e n t :- "It is characteristic of c o u r ts of l aw to be m e r c i f ul in their d e a l i n gs w i th individuals w ho a p p e ar b e f o re t h em despite h o r r i b le c r i m es t h ey h a ve b e en f o u nd to h a ve c o m m i t t e d ." I shall therefore e x t e nd a h a nd of m e r cy to t he a c c u s ed a nd g i ve h im an o p p o r t u n i ty to rehabilitate r a t h er t h an be b r o k en c o m p l e t e l y. I c o n s i d er that at t he a ge of 41 y e a rs he is n ot t oo o ld to r e f o r m. In all the c i r c u m s t a n c es of t he c a se t h e r e f o re I c o n s i d er that justice will be d o ne if t he s e n t e n ce i m p o s ed u p on t he a c c u s ed is o ne of t en ( 1 0) i m p r i s o n m e nt three ( 3) of w h i ch is s u s p e n d ed for t h r ee ( 3) y e a rs on c o n d i t i on t h at t he a c c u s ed is n ot f o u nd guilty of an o f f e n ce i n v o l v i ng h i gh t r e a s on or sedition c o m m i t t ed d u r i ng t he p e r i od of s u ch s u s p e n s i on a nd I so o r d e r. My A s s e s s o rs a g r e e. M . M. Ramodibedi J U D GE 1 2 th J u ne 1 9 98 F or the C r o wn : M r. M d h l u li F or the A c c u s ed : M r. P h o o f o lo O R D E R: I h a ve c o n s i d e r ed the e v i d e n ce of t he a c c o m p l i ce w i t n e s s es P W1 M a s u p ha M o l a po a nd P W2 L e n n ox N t e n te S e s i o a na a nd I am satisfied that t h ey fully a n s w e r ed to the satisfaction of the C o u rt all s u ch l a w f ul q u e s t i o ns as w e re p ut to t h e m. A c c o r d i n g ly t h ey a re b o th d i s c h a r g ed f r om all liability to p r o s e c u t i on for the o f f e n ce c o n c e r n ed in t e r ms of S e c t i on 2 36 ( 2) of the C r i m i n al P r o c e d u re a nd E v i d e n ce A ct 1 9 8 1. M . M. R a m o d i b e di J U D GE 12th J u ne 1 9 98