Rivonia Trial 1963-4

• After Sharpeville, ANC leader Oliver Tambo was exiled and Albert Luthuli agreed to continued non-violence - by contrast Mandela set up the MK (Umkhonto we Sizwe)
• MK aimed to liberate black South Africans and those treated as unequal via more violent protest; they opted for violence against property rather than openly against the white community
• Mandela, still “banned” had to work underground (”Black Pimpernel”), MK HQ was in Rivonia, Johannesburg and the bombings started in 1961
• In 1962, Mandela left South Africa and arrested upon return, no proof of connection to MK, he was charged with minor offences
• The 1962 Sabotage Act: effectively added the death penalty, to anyone guilty of damaging property for political reasons; targeted at MK
• 1963-4: Mandela and 7 others were prosecuted under the Sabotage Act (charged with high treason), the Rivonia trial; evidence from a July police raid on underground communist base, trial in Rivonia because the base was in Rivonia
• Mandela was found guilty but spoke for 4 hours (reported internationally, banned in South Africa), he led out his ideas of a fair democracy (equal political/domestic rights and treatment); against “separate but equal”
• 12th June 1964 - all accused sentenced to lie imprisonment and held at pretoria central prison before being flown to Robben Island