THE "BLACK SASH" WOMEN IN SOUTH AFRICA BEGAN A SILENT VIGIL ON THE STEPS OF JOHANNESBURG CITY HALL, MAY 17, IN PROTEST AGAINST THE SABOTAGE BILL. THE BILL AMEN??? SEVERAL ACTS, AND INTRODUCES THE DEATH PENALTY FOR SABOTAGE. THE MINIMUM SENTENCE ON CONVICTION WOULD BE A PRISON TERM OF FIVE YEARS.

THEY SET UP A BIG POSTER BEARING THE WORDS "REJECT SABOTAGE BILL - THE BILL TO END ALL LIBERTY", AND LIT A "FLAME OF FREEDOM" TORCH. MEMBERS OF THE "BLACK SASH" MOVEMENT (SO NAMED BECAUSE THEY WEAR BLACK SASHES) HAVE TAKEN PART IN VARIOUS PROTESTS. THEIR LATEST VIGIL LASTED ALL NIGHT.

THE BILL - AMONG OTHER THINGS - LIMITS THE DISCRETION OF THE HIGH COURT IN PASSING SENTENCES, ABOLISHES A PREPARATORY EXAMINATION BEFORE A MAGISTRATE, PLACES THE ONUS OF PROVING HIS INNOCENCE ON THE ACCUSED, PERMITS A PERSON TO BE CHARGED MORE THAN ONCE FOR THE SAME OFFENCE WITH THE SAME FACTS, AND DOES NOT PERMIT THE CASE TO BE TRIED BY A JURY.

"SABOTAGE", AS ENVISAGED IN THE BILL, INCLUDES ANY ACTION THAT ENDANGERS LAW AND ORDER, HEALTH, WATER OR ELECTRIC SERVICES, MEDICAL, SANITARY OR FIRE SERVICES, FOOD, THE FREE MOVEMENT OF TRAFFIC AND POSTAL COMMUNICATIONS.

IT ALSO INCLUDES DAMAGE TO PROPERTY IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES AND THE ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF WEAPON AND EXPLOSIVES. THE CHRISTIAN COUNCIL OF SOUTH AFRICA, REPRESENTING MORE THAN 3,500,000 PEOPLE, HAS ATTACKED THE "ALMOST DICTATORIAL POWERS" THAT WOULD BE VESTED IN THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE IF THE BILL BECOMES LAW. IT EXPRESSED FEARS THAT ALL CRITICISM OF THE GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS PUBLIC PROTESTS WOULD BE STIFLED.