The Law-Breaking Heroism Of Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid activist and politician who served as the country's first black president from 1994 to 1999. Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years for conspiring to overthrow the apartheid state.

Mandela joined the African National Congress (ANC) in 1943 and co-founded its Youth League in 1944. Influenced by Marxism, he secretly joined the banned South African Communist Party (SACP). Although initially committed to non-violent protest, he co-founded the militant Umkhonto we Sizwe in 1961, which led a sabotage campaign against the apartheid government. He was arrested and imprisoned in 1962 and, following the Rivonia Trial, was sentenced to life imprisonment for conspiring to overthrow the state.

During his time in prison, Mandela faced harsh conditions and was forced to do hard labour in a quarry. He could write and receive a letter once every six months and was allowed to meet with a visitor for 30 minutes once a year. Despite this, Mandela's resolve remained unbroken, and he led a movement of civil disobedience that pressured officials into improving conditions.

Mandela was released from prison in 1990 after years of political pressure against apartheid. He subsequently led the ANC in its negotiations with the minority government, which resulted in the country's first democratic elections in 1994. Mandela was elected as South Africa's first black president, serving until 1999.

Did Nelson Mandela break any laws?

Nelson Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid activist and politician who served as the first president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the country's first black head of state and the first to be elected in a fully representative democratic election.

Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years for opposing South Africa's apartheid system. Apartheid laws separated South Africans into four different racial categories: "white/European", "black", "coloured (people of mixed race)", or "Indian/Asian". White people, who made up 15% of the South African population, held power and wealth, while Black South Africans, who made up 80% of the population, were relegated to the bottom of society.

Mandela joined the struggle against apartheid in the 1940s as a young lawyer. He joined the African National Congress (ANC), the oldest Black political organisation in South Africa, in 1944, and became a leader of Johannesburg's youth wing of the ANC. In 1952, he became the deputy national president of the ANC, advocating for nonviolent resistance to apartheid. However, after the massacre of peaceful Black demonstrators at Sharpeville in 1960, Mandela helped organise a paramilitary branch of the ANC, Umkhonto we Sizwe ("Spear of the Nation"), to engage in guerrilla warfare against the white minority government.

Mandela was arrested in 1961 for treason but was acquitted. He was arrested again in 1962 for illegally leaving the country and was sentenced to five years at Robben Island Prison. In 1964, he was put on trial again, this time on charges of sabotage, and was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

During his 27 years in prison, Mandela faced harsh conditions and was forced to do hard labour in a quarry. Despite this, he continued to act as a leader and mobilised his fellow political prisoners. After his release from prison in 1990, Mandela helped negotiate an end to apartheid and became the first democratically elected president of South Africa in 1994. He retired from politics in 1999 but remained a global advocate for peace and social justice until his death in December 2013.

What was Nelson Mandela charged with in 1961?

In 1961, Nelson Mandela was charged with treason. He was accused of "high treason" against the state and arrested alongside most of the African National Congress (ANC) national executive. Mandela was held in Johannesburg Prison amid mass protests, and the defence's refutation began in January 1957. In February 1958, the judge ruled that there was "sufficient reason" for the defendants to go on trial in the Transvaal Supreme Court. The formal Treason Trial began in Pretoria in August 1958, and Mandela was acquitted in March 1961.

Mandela was also charged with organising an illegal strike and leaving the country without valid travel documents in 1962. He was arrested near Howick in Natal province, South Africa, on 5 August 1962, and charged with inciting workers' strikes and leaving the country without permission.

What was the Rivonia Trial?

The Rivonia Trial was a trial that took place in South Africa between 1963 and 1964, in which ten leaders of the African National Congress (ANC) were tried for 221 acts of sabotage designed to overthrow the apartheid system. It was named after Rivonia, the suburb of Johannesburg where the leaders were arrested.

The trial was essentially a mechanism through which the apartheid government could hurt or mute the ANC. The trial is often referred to as "the trial that changed South Africa", as it set off a chain of events that eventually ended apartheid and rang in democracy and freedom from oppression.

The Arrests

On July 11, 1963, a raid by security police at Liliesleaf farm in Rivonia led to the arrest of many prominent leaders of the ANC and Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), the armed wing of the ANC. The incident occurred three years after the ANC, the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), and other liberation movements were banned in April 1960.

The Charges

The ten accused were tried for 221 acts of sabotage and conspiracy to overthrow the state—crimes that carried the death penalty. The keystone of the state's case was a six-page plan of action called "Operation Mayibuye", which was confiscated during the Liliesleaf Farm raid. Operation Mayibuye was, in Nelson Mandela's words, "sketched out in general form the plan for a possible commencement of guerrilla operations, and how it might spark a mass armed uprising" against the South African Government.

The Trial

The trial began on November 26, 1963, in Pretoria, Cape Town, and Maritzburg. The defence team was led by Bram Fischer, and included Vernon Berrange, Joel Joffe, Arthur Chaskalson, and George Bizos. The trial judge was Justice Quartus de Wet, and the prosecution was led by Dr Percy Yutar.

The Speech

In what was arguably the most profound moment of the trial, Nelson Mandela made a speech in the dock in which he condemned the court as 'illegitimate'. He argued that the laws in place were draconian and that defiance of these laws was justified. He said:

> "During my lifetime I have dedicated my life to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons will live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal for which I hope to live for and to see realised. But, my Lord, if it needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die."

The Verdict

The trial ended on June 12, 1964, with the court sentencing eight of the convicted to life imprisonment. Mandela, Sisulu, Mbeki, Motsoaledi, Mlangeni, and Goldberg were found guilty on all four counts. Mandela was released from prison on February 11, 1990, after over 27 years of unbroken incarceration.

What were the conditions like in Robben Island Prison?

Robben Island Prison, located just off the coast of Cape Town, was the site of Nelson Mandela's incarceration for 18 years, from 1964 to 1982. The conditions Mandela faced during his time on the island were harsh and challenging.

Mandela was kept in a small, damp concrete cell measuring 8 feet by 7 feet, with only a straw mat to sleep on. He endured verbal and physical harassment from prison wardens and was forced to perform hard labour, breaking rocks into gravel and later working in a lime quarry. The glare from the lime permanently damaged his eyesight, as he was initially forbidden from wearing sunglasses while working. Mandela and his fellow prisoners also participated in work and hunger strikes to improve prison conditions, seeing it as a reflection of the broader anti-apartheid struggle.

Despite the challenging environment, Mandela found ways to continue his education and resist the oppressive system. He studied for a Bachelor of Laws degree through a correspondence course with Wolsey Hall, Oxford, although newspapers were forbidden, and he was punished for possessing smuggled news clippings. He also initiated the "University of Robben Island," where prisoners lectured on their areas of expertise and engaged in socio-political debates. Mandela studied Islam and Afrikaans, hoping to build mutual respect and convert the wardens to his cause.

Over time, conditions on Robben Island improved, with small concessions being made by the prison authorities. In 1967, black prisoners were given trousers instead of shorts, games were permitted, and the quality of food improved. By 1975, Mandela had become a Class A prisoner, which allowed him more visits and letters. He corresponded with prominent anti-apartheid activists and began writing his autobiography, although it remained unpublished at the time.

Mandela's resilience and commitment to his beliefs during his time on Robben Island are a testament to his character and strength. Despite facing immense adversity, he continued to fight for his ideals and lay the foundation for the eventual end of apartheid in South Africa.

How did Nelson Mandela resist apartheid laws?

Nelson Mandela resisted apartheid laws in South Africa through his work as a lawyer, his involvement in the African National Congress (ANC), and his commitment to achieving equality for all people. Here is how he did it:

As a Lawyer

Mandela joined the ANC in 1944 and co-founded its Youth League in 1944. He studied law and began working as a lawyer in Johannesburg, providing free or affordable legal representation to Black people who defied apartheid laws. In 1952, he co-founded South Africa's first Black law practice with fellow ANC leader Oliver Tambo, specialising in cases that resulted from the apartheid legislation.

Through Civil Disobedience Campaigns

Mandela played a crucial role in the 1952 Defiance Campaign, travelling throughout the country to build support for non-violent means of protest against discriminatory laws. He also participated in national strikes, boycotts, and civil disobedience campaigns to defy apartheid laws.

By Helping Draft the Freedom Charter

In 1955, Mandela was involved in drafting the Freedom Charter, a document that called for a non-racial social democracy in South Africa. The charter advocated for nationalisation of banks, gold mines, and land to ensure equal distribution of wealth.

Through Armed Struggle

After the Sharpeville massacre of peaceful Black demonstrators in 1960, Mandela abandoned his non-violent stance. He believed that armed struggle was the only way forward and co-founded Umkhonto we Sizwe ("Spear of the Nation"), the military wing of the ANC. This group engaged in acts of sabotage and guerrilla warfare against the white minority government.

While Imprisoned on Robben Island

Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison on Robben Island, where he faced harsh conditions and forced labour. Despite the challenges, he continued to act as a leader, mobilising his fellow political prisoners to advocate for improved conditions and rights for all prisoners, regardless of race. He also led a movement of civil disobedience at the prison, pressuring authorities to improve conditions.

Through Negotiations

After his release from prison in 1990, Mandela led the ANC in negotiations with the minority government to end apartheid and establish a multi-racial government. These negotiations resulted in South Africa's first democratic elections in 1994, in which Mandela was elected as the country's first Black president.

Throughout his life, Nelson Mandela remained committed to resisting apartheid laws and achieving equality for all South Africans. His efforts, both during his imprisonment and after his release, were instrumental in bringing about significant change and fostering racial reconciliation in South Africa.

Frequently asked questions