Struggle stalwart and Rivonia trialist, Denis Goldberg has died at the age of 87, late Wednesday night, following a lengthy battle with cancer.
Goldberg was one of the eight Rivonia Trialists who were convicted alongside former President Nelson Mandela for treason. He served about 22 years of his sentence.
The African National Congress (ANC) in the Western Cape has confirmed his passing.
According to the Presidency, Goldberg was born in Cape Town in 1933 and grew up in an intellectual family, becoming aware of national as well as international politics at an early age.
In the early 1950s, Goldberg joined the Congress of Democrats and the Communist Party underground. His keen sense of justice prompted him early on in life to fight injustices in this country.
He was the only white member of Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) – an armed wing of the ANC – to be arrested and sentenced.
In the video below, ANC deputy president David Mabuza hands over the party’s highest award, Isithwalandwe to Denis Goldberg last year:
The death has been announced of Denis Goldberg. Truly one of the finest people who fought for justice in South Africa.
— Martin Plaut (@martinplaut) April 30, 2020
RIP Denis Goldberg. What a hero! ?? pic.twitter.com/fnAfHS1i3N
— l e t h a b o with opinions ! (@CheetahPlains) April 30, 2020
Comrade Denis Goldberg has passed on. When many white people chose to oppress Africans in South Africa; he chose justice and struggle against that oppression. #RIPDenisGoldberg pic.twitter.com/tPljgfKXqg
— Olwethu Sipuka (@osipuka) April 30, 2020
Hamba Kahle Denis Goldberg. Another great South African has fallen
— Marco (@B19_D4ddy) April 30, 2020
