South Africans remember incident leading to long imprisonment for Mandela, others

Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – Millions of South Africans on Thursday recalled the police raid, 50 years ago, that changed the course of politics in that country, PANA reported from here.

PANA recalls that on 11 July, 1963, police raided the Liliesleaf farm in Johannesburg and apprehended all but few of the leaders of the African National Congress (ANC) on sight.

At the time of the raid, Liliesleaf was the headquarters of the ANC’s military wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe.

Quoting official records, PANA reported that police officers, hidden in a laundry van, drove up to the farm and launched their raid. Days later, Nelson Mandela was also arrested.

Using evidence found on the farm, which included a journal of Mandela's travels overseas, police charged Mandela and 19 others found at the farm with sabotage and conspiracy to violently overthrow the government.

The suspects were subsequently imprisoned and taken to Robben Island where they were locked away for decades.

Denis Goldberg, Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki, Arthur Goldreich, Ahmed Kathrada, Andrew Mlangeni and Bob Hepple (who avoided jail by escaping) were among the ANC cadres arrested that day.

On Thursday, some of the surviving ANC leaders returned to the scene of the crime and launched a medallion to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the raid, PANA reported.
-0- PANA CU/VAO 11July2013