Commodore Dieter Gerhardt and his wife are sentenced to life imprisonment

Commodore Dieter Gerhardt, the former commanding officer of the Simonstown naval base, and his second wife Ruth Gerhardt, were sentenced to life imprisonment and ten years' imprisonment respectively, being found guilty of high treason on charges of spying for the Soviet Union. On 26 January, 1983, the South African government announced at a special press conference that a senior South African naval officer, Commodore Dieter Gerhardt and his second wife, Ruth, had been detained for questioning in connection with alleged espionage. Both Dieter and Ruth were released prior to the change of government following the 1994 general election.