After the banning of political movements such as the African National Congress and Pan Africanist Congress of Azania by the apartheid government in 1960, most of its leaders were placed under “house arrest” forcing them to go underground to continue their political work.
In July 1963, the police swooped on Liliesleaf Farm in Rivonia, a Johannesburg suburb where “banned” persons had been meeting.
This led to the famous ‘Rivonia Trial’, in which eight accused were sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labour.
They included Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Ahmed Kathrada, Govan Mbeki, Raymond Mhlaba, Denis Goldberg, Elias Motsoaledi and Andrew Mlangeni.
Thursday marks 50 years of the Rivonia trial.
Speaking on SABC Morning Live show Spokesperson of the Kathrada foundation, Neeshan Bolton says to commemorates this day they are going to have Youth dialogue, young people in conversation with Ahmed Kathrada on Thursday at the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
He says on Thursday evening they will be reflecting on the trial at Apartheid Museum and people will be addressed by Gauteng Premier, David Makhura. -Edited by Takalani Sioga
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