oct 9, 1963 - The Rivonia Trial

Description:

The Rivonia Trial of 1963-64 was named after the suburb in northern Johannesburg where the resistance movement's "safe house", Liliesleaf Farm, was located.

This residence was used by senior leaders of the ANC and the SACP.

Many of the had been on the run from the authorities since the resistance movement was driven underground in April 1960.

When MK was established in December 1961, the house had also become the operational headquarters of its high command

Following his arrest in August 1962, MK Chairman and "Black Pimpernel" Nelson Mandela could no longer play his key role in organizing acts of sabotage.

Mandela had been stopped by police while returning to Johannesburg from Durban disguised as a chauffeur.

After a brief trial, he was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for leaving the country without permission and inciting strike action.

MK continued to operate in his absence, with Walter Sisulu and leading White communists taking the lead.

However, Liliesleaf Farm was raided by special forces in July 1963 following a tip-off from a neighbor.

The police found some of the remaining members of the MK high command - including Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki, Raymond Mhlaba, Lionel Bernstein, Ahmed Kathrada, Arthur Goldreich and Denis Goldberg - studying a document titled "Operation Mayibuye".

This was a detailed plan for a revolutionary guerrilla war to be waged by MK from clandestine bases in rural parts of the country.

Eleven defendants including Nelson Mandela, who was taken from his cell and put on trial once again, now faces charges of treason in a case that commanded the attention of the world.

On 9 June, the UN Security Council passed a resolution calling on the government to end the trial and offer an amnesty to all of the accused.

On 11 June, Justice Quartus de Wet delivered his verdict: with the exception of Lionel Bernstein, all of the accused were found guilty of all of the charges.

To the surprise of everyone, the judge sentenced the men to life imprisonment instead of death, and the guilty were immediately taken to begin their sentences at the notorious maximum security prison of Robben Island.

With the exception of the still banned and physically frail Chief Luthuli, all of the leaders of the ANC and MK were either imprisoned or in exile.

Added to timeline:

Date: