Alex and Marie-Jose (Smoothy) Moumbaris were arrested on the 19 July 1972 while trying to cross the border from Botswana. They were secretly detained for 4 months, before being charged, and their relatives were unable to establish their whereabouts. Helen Amiel, Alex Moumbaris mother, traced their whereabouts from their departure in Paris on the 8 June 1972, having received the last news from Gaborone in July 1972. The matter only appeared before the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on the 20 November 1972, when Alex Moumbaris and 5 Others were charged under the Terrorism Act. Marie-Jose, who was pregnant at the time, had been released and deported in September 1972.

The Indictment was delivered on the 8 March 1973, and the trial commenced on the 19 March 1973. The co-accused were Tloi Theophilus Cholo, Maqina Justice Mpanza, Petrus Aron Mtembu, Gardener Sandi Sijaka, John William Hosey. Alex Moumbaris was represented by Adv. George Bizos, instructed by Richard Wilson & Partners.

Letters include communication with law firms Richard Wilson & Partner; Weiman & Mahon Attorneys; Raymond Tucker and Andrew, Lister and Tucker Incorporated. They relate to the legal representation for Alex Moumbaris at his trial and the appointment of Advocate George Bizos, who has "much experience in cases involving the Terrorism Act"; correspondence relating to things belonging to Marie-Jose, in the possession of the Security Police; prison conditions; registration with the University of South Africa to further his studies; visits by his mother and son; application to Prison Department re the question of newspapers, news, letters and visits; Alex Moumbaris hunger strike in prison; Affidavit from Amnesty International re their prison conditions and treatment (with explanatory email by Alex Moumbaris). Also included: a drawing from prison; telegram to Alex Moumbaris, Pretoria Prison, European Section from his family in Paris; and two telegrams by Alex Moumbaris' mother and wife to Ilse Wilson, daughter of Bram Fischer, with the one sent on his release in 1974, and the other sending condolences of the passing of Bram Fischer in 1975.

Led by his mother Helen Amiel and his wife Marie-Jose Moumbaris.

On the 11 December 1979 Alex Moumbaris and two other prisoners, Tim Jenkin and Stephen Lee, made a daring escape from Pretoria Central Prison. After a dangerous and exhausting journey they eventually arrived in Lusaka, where they were received by OR Tambo, and for the first time appeared publicly about their escape during a press conference on the 14 January 1980.

Including speech on the occasion of an event for solidarity with political prisoners in South Africa, under the aegis of Unesco, 10 October 1980; newspaper clips.

Alex Moumbaris started working for the African National Congress (ANC) in Paris immediately after his release. He established the first office at 42 Rue Rochechouart, for which the French Communist Party paid the rent and other bills. During Dulcie September's tenure the office was moved around 1985 to 28 Rue des Petites-Écuries "for security reasons", where she was assassinated in 1988. The expenses for the second office were paid indirectly by the Socialist Party, through the Centre for Research Information Action in Africa (CRIAA) and more precisely Jean-Bernard Curial (information provided by Alex Moumbaris).

The file contains correspondence, notes and stickers mainly relating to the Fete de l'Humanite; including correspondence with Sonia Bunting (ANC London office and Inkululeko Publications) and Ronnie Kasrils. Also included badges for the release of James Mange; Lilian Ngoyi; SACP.

Correspondence and statements, mainly relating to the visit of SACTU delegate Edward Ramsdale, SACTU offices in London, to Paris in November 1980 where he met with members of the Union Générale des Travailleurs Sénégalais en France (UGTSF); also included a 'Statement to the press' from Paula Ensor, David Hemson, Martin Legassick and Robert Petersen "as activists within SACTU", "In response to the public attack on us by the ANC office in London...", London, 18 January 1980.