Mandela at the Treason Trial of 1958

© Dr Peter Magubane
Nelson Mandela during the Treason Trial.

Various political activists, including Nelson Mandela, who was a lawyer at the time stood accused of treason in the 1950’s apartheid years.

These activists, who included Mandela, Ruth First, Z.K. Mathews and Lionel "Rusty" Bernstein drafted and adopted the Freedom Charter that spoke to the power of the people of South Africa.

The Apartheid government then orchestrated a raid on these activists that led to the Treason Trial of 1956 that lasted for 11 years. In 1961, all those accused were acquitted and discharged. Mandela and other activists had an array of supporters that came to the court each time defendants were summoned.

Pictured is a young Madiba, making his way through a crowd of singing supporters at his trial in 1958.

“I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.” ~ Nelson Mandela

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