Shouting at the Crocodile: Popo Molefe, Patrick Lekota, and the Freeing of South Africa

South African-born novelist Moss abundantly documents this excellent account of the 1980s political uprisings in South Africa in court transcripts and powerful, often poignant oral testimony of police brutality. She focuses on the three-year-long treason trial and detention of leaders of the United Democratic Front, the anti-apartheid org a nization whose 600 affiliates embrace numerous racial, linguistic, political, labor and religious viewpoints. As contrasted with the banned, more militant African National Congress, UDF leaders Molefe and Lekota favor negotiation over violence, and advocate a ``non-racial'' society with human rights for all. In December 1989, two months before the release of Nelson Mandela, whose successors they may prove to be, Molefe and Lekota were liberated, shortly after F. W. De Klerk wrested control of the South African government from P. W. ``Crocodile'' Botha. (Dec.)