Gangster State

Magashule and his co-accused were eventually convicted on charges
relating to ‘public violence committed at a university’. They were each
given ‘a fine of R 400 plus a suspended sentence of 300 days’
imprisonment’. But the case went on appeal and dragged on until
1985 , when Ciskei’s Supreme Court dismissed the appeals and
increased the sentences. Magashule was among sixteen of the accused
whose sentences were increased to jail time ranging from one to three
years.^17 It was still a far cry from being found guilty on charges of high
treason, and by all indications Magashule did not end up serving any
of his prison time.
Court records and old newspapers provide clues as to where
Magashule may have found the creative inspiration for his story about
the supposed assassination attempt and subsequent ‘treason’ trial.
In a summary of the protest action in their appeal ruling, the Ciskei
Supreme Court judges noted the following: ‘During the confusion of
the riot appellants Nos 1 and 2 brought a thick pipe filled with cement
and stone and some 90 cm long and together they threw it through the
left side of the rear window of the motor vehicle in which Mr Namba
Sebe [another brother of Prime Minister Sebe], the then Minister of
Transport, was travelling. He was seated at the left rear of the vehicle
and on reading the record one can only conclude that it was merely
fortuitous that he was not killed or at least very seriously injured.’
Magashule, who was listed as appellant No. 12 , was not responsible
for the attack on the minister’s car.^18
In addition, at the time of the students’ court case, a terror trial was
being heard in the Ciskei Supreme Court. Four men from Mdantsane
outside East London were accused of being members of the then
banned ANC, participating in terrorist activities and recruiting people