Rivonia is one of the most affluent areas in Johannesburg and many residents and business owners are spoilt for choice with shopping malls, restaurants and bars, however, some are none the wiser about the rich history of the area.
It was at Liliesleaf Farm in Rivonia that Nelson Mandela and political activist, Ahmed Kathrada held secret meetings in the underground headquarters of the African National Congress (ANC).
It was in 1963 that police officers swooped on Liliesleaf Farm and arrested Kathrada, Mandela and other ANC leaders.
This led to the infamous Rivonia Trial where eight accused ANC leaders were sentenced to life in prison. It was during the Rivonia trial where Mandela’s iconic ‘I have fought against white domination and I fought against black domination’ speech was delivered.
Nelson Mandela and Ahmed Kathrada after their release from prison.
Today the country mourns the loss of the former political prisoner and anti-apartheid activist, Uncle Kathy, who was sentenced to life imprisonment and spent 18 years alongside Mandela on Robben Island.
Upon his release, Kathrada was elected as a member of parliament for the ANC, and in 1994 was appointed as political adviser to Mandela, and was voted 46th in the Top 100 Great South Africans in 2004.
Kathrada was admitted to Donald Gordon Medical Centre on 4 March due to blood clotting in the brain and sadly passed away on 28 March.
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