Rivonia Trial facts for kids

The Rivonia Trial was a big court case in South Africa that happened between 1963 and 1964. It was about ten important leaders from the African National Congress (ANC). They were accused of planning to fight against the apartheid system. Apartheid was a very unfair system that separated people by race and gave white people more rights.

The Palace of Justice in Pretoria, where the trial happened

The trial started after police found important documents during a raid on a secret base in Rivonia. One of the people on trial was Nelson Mandela, who later became the first Black President of South Africa. After the trial, Mandela was sent to prison on Robben Island.

The main lawyer for the government was Dr. Percy Yutar. The judge in charge of the trial was Dr. Quartus de Wet.

Who Was Arrested?

Many people were arrested and put on trial during the Rivonia case. These were some of the key figures:

• Nelson Mandela
• Walter Sisulu
• Govan Mbeki
• Raymond Mhlaba
• Andrew Mlangeni
• Elias Motsoaledi, who was a trade union member and also part of the ANC.
• Ahmed Kathrada
• Denis Goldberg, an engineer from Cape Town and a leader of a group called the Congress of Democrats.
• Lionel "Rusty" Bernstein, an architect and a member of the South African Communist Party.
• Bob Hepple
• Arthur Goldreich
• Harold Wolpe, a well-known lawyer and activist.
• James "Jimmy" Kantor, who was Harold Wolpe's brother-in-law.

Most of the people who were tried in the Rivonia Trial were found guilty. They were then sentenced to spend the rest of their lives in prison.

Images for kids

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  The thatched room at Liliesleaf Farm

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  Inside the Palace of Justice

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  Maximum Security Prison on Robben Island