UDF leaders are charged with treason

Three leading members of the United Democratic Front (UDF), Archibald Gumede, Paul David and Billy Nair were charged with high treason. These anti-apartheid activists sought refuge in the British consulate in Durban after the South African Government was hot on their heels for organising a boycott of elections in August 1984 of the new Indian and Coloured chambers of Parliament and a 90 days sit-in in protest of the two new chambers. The three knew very well that in terms of international law, the South African government did not have jurisdiction over them while they were in the British consulate. On leaving the consulate, the three anti-apartheid activists declared that they had succeeded in focusing world attention on South Africa's use of detention without trail. They also criticised the British government for having put constant pressure on them to leave the consulate. Despite the fact that the government had withdrawn the previous detention orders against them, in what was seen as an attempt to counter criticism of the use of preventive detention without charge under section 28 of the Internal Security Act, the detention orders were restored and they were arrested and charged with high treason as soon as they left the consulate.