Today in History: The 1956 Treason Trial came to an end in 1961: reliving the trial’s key moments
The Treason Trial might not always be the first thing that comes to mind when one is asked about significant trials during the Apartheid era; however, it played a major role in the struggle against the regime.
The Treason Trial commenced in December 1956, after 156 individuals were arrested on charges of treason as they were believed to oppose the ruling National Party and its Apartheid regime.
Of the 156 individuals, 105 were Africans, 21 were Indians, 23 were Whites, and seven were Coloureds. Of the 156, only 10 were women.
The individuals arrested included the likes of Ruth First, Yusuf Dadoo, Ahmed Kathrada, Chief Luthuli, Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Joe Slovo, and Oliver Tambo.
During the trial, Tambo was released due to insignificant evidence. He was then exiled when he left the country.
Since the trial was incredibly long, we’ve broken the four-and-a-half year process into digestible chunks:
— Significant events —
• December 1956: 156 anti-apartheid leaders arrested
• December 1956 – January 1958: Preparatory examination in a Magistrates’ Court to determine whether there was sufficient evidence to warrant a trial.
• November 1957: Prosecution rewords the indictment and proceeds with a separate trial against 30 accused. The remaining 61 accused were to be tried separately before the case against them was dismissed in mid-1959.
• August 1959: Trial against 30 defendants proceeds in the Supreme Court.
• 5 March 1960: Chief Inkosi Albert Luthuli’s testimony begins.
• 8 April 1960: ANC is declared banned in the wake of the State of Emergency declared after the Sharpeville massacre. Defendants retained in custody for five months and trial resumes without lawyers for several months.
• May 1960: Helen Joseph and 21 left-wing White women detained during the State of Emergency embark on an eight-day hunger strike.
• 3 August 1960: Mandela’s testimony begins.
• 7 October 1960: Defence closes.
• 23 March 1961: Trial adjourned for a week.
• 29 March 1961: Accused are found not guilty.
— Nelson Mandela’s interview —
There isn’t much footage of interviews with Nelson Mandela, but there is a clip that was aired in the Netherlands on 31 January, 1961. This interview is believed to have been conducted at the Old Synagogue in Pretoria during a break in the trial. It is also widely considered to be Mandela’s first television interview. It is not known when exactly it was conducted, or who conducted the interview.
— Nelson Mandela’s testimony —
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela began his testimony in the Treason Trial on 3 August 1960, and brought significant topics and discussions forward. One of these was the discussion about the Defiance Campaign, when he was asked if the freedom of Africans would be a direct threat to European individuals.
Below is an extract from his testimony:
“Bench: Well, as a matter of fact, isn’t your [Africans] freedom a direct threat to the Europeans?
Mandela: No, it is not a direct threat to the Europeans. We are not anti-white, we are against white supremacy and in struggling against white supremacy we have the support of some sections of the European population and we have made this clear from time to time. As a matter of fact, in the letter we wrote to the then Prime Minister of the country, Dr Malan, before we launched the Defiance Campaign, we said that the campaign we were about to launch was not directed against any racial group. It was a campaign which was directed against laws which we considered unjust, and times without number the ANC has explained this . . . It is quite clear that the Congress has consistently preached a policy of race harmony and we have condemned racialism no matter by whom it is professed.”
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