Those arrested there in 1963, including the likes of anti-apartheid stalwart activists Ahmed Kathrada and Andrew Mlangeni, were welcomed, along with a live broadcast hosted by Talk Radio 702’s Jenny Crwys-Williams, and a gala dinner attended by President Jacob Zuma and his deputy Kgalema Motlanthe.
“The generation of leaders who were arrested that day needs to be revered, and on to which we should model ourselves as the patriotic citizens of South Africans,” he said.
Liliesleaf Farm also saw the launch of gold medallions by the South African Gold Coin Exchange commemorating the event, as well as legendary actor, director and playwright John Kani perform a narrative of the raid with Crwys-Williams for hundreds of school pupils.
The @RivoniaRaid Twitter handle was also updated regularly throughout the day to coincide with blow-by-blow occurrences of the commemorative events.
Mlangeni, Kathrada, Liliesleaf Trust CEO Nicholas Wolpe, Sir Bob Hepple, Dennis Goldberg and President Zuma all took to the stage to give an account on how the raid affected them personally, with Zuma saying that the legacy of events on 11 July would never be forgotten.
“It’s a testament of the revolutionary movement’s resolve that it did not allow itself to falter after the seemingly fatal blow of its leaders’ arrest.
The apartheid regime thought it had crushed all resistance but seeds planted at Rivonia could not be crushed. Ideas born at Liliesleaf did not die at the point of the raid.
They should not die and must continue to inspire and guide us to a better life for all,” he said.
