Rivonia Trial ends: Nelson Mandela and seven co-accused are sentenced to life imprisonment
In the Palace of Justice in Pretoria, Judge Quartus de Wet sentenced eight leaders of the ANC and Umkhonto we Sizwe to life imprisonment for sabotage. Many had expected death sentences.
Photo: PHParsons · CC BY-SA 3.0
On 12 June 1964 the Rivonia Trial ended in the Palace of Justice on Church Square, Pretoria. A day earlier Judge Quartus de Wet had convicted Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki, Raymond Mhlaba, Elias Motsoaledi, Andrew Mlangeni, Denis Goldberg and Ahmed Kathrada of sabotage linked to Umkhonto we Sizwe. Lionel "Rusty" Bernstein was acquitted.
The accused had prepared for the possibility of death sentences. Mandela had set out their reasons in his statement from the dock in April. The judge instead sentenced all eight to life imprisonment.
The other seven were flown to Robben Island. Goldberg, the only white man convicted, was held separately at Pretoria Central Prison, where he served 22 years.
Why it matters
The sentences removed much of the ANC's leadership from public life for decades, while the trial made Mandela and his co-accused known around the world and strengthened the international campaign against apartheid.
- Source: 12 June 1964: 50th anniversary of the sentencing of the Rivonia trialists, Nelson Mandela Foundation · Rivonia Trial 1963 to 1964, South African History Online · Nelson Mandela and seven others sentenced to life imprisonment for sabotage in the Rivonia Trial, Nelson Mandela Foundation (On this day) · Sentencing of the Rivonia Trialists (PDF), Nelson Mandela Foundation
Where it happened
Palace of Justice, Church Square, Pretoria
The Rivonia Trial was heard and the sentences were passed in this court building on the north side of Church Square. The point marks the building itself (OpenStreetMap courthouse).
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Where it happened Exact site
Palace of Justice, Church Square, Pretoria
The Rivonia Trial was heard and the sentences were passed in this court building on the north side of Church Square. The point marks the building itself (OpenStreetMap courthouse).
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Related place Area
Robben Island
Seven of the eight men sentenced that day (all except Denis Goldberg) were flown to the maximum security prison on Robben Island, where they served most or all of their sentences. The circle covers the island, not a specific cell block.
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