South Africa & Aparthied

Question 1

When was the Rivonia trial?

Answer 1

1963-1964

Question 2

Why did the Rivonia trial take place?

Answer 2

-By mid 1963 200 acts of sabotage had been carried out by MK
-In 1963 police raided the headquarters of MK
-papers were found linking MK to acts of violence & giving the names of organisers, including Nelson Mandela (who was already in prison)

Question 3

The Rivonia trial:

Answer 3

• trial ended on the 12th of June 1964
• the court sentenced eight of the convicted to life imprisonment
• Mandela and Sisulu were incarcerated on Robben Island prison

Question 4

The launch of MK

Answer 4

• the declaration of the State of emergency in 1960 signalled the beginning of a brutal and intensive phase of state repression
• forced underground, the ANC & PNC had to consider new tactics
• the ANC created an underground military wing called MK
• launched on the 16th of December 1961

Question 5

International reactions to the Rivonia trial

Answer 5

• significant media coverage meaning the trial was watched by the world
• as a result South Africa experienced pressure from the international community during and after the trial
• those listed as conspirators during the trial were in hiding or in exile, many of them helped raise funds for the accused and organised many anti-apartheid protests abroad

Question 6

The effect of the Rivonia trial on the struggle against apartheid

Answer 6

• by imprisoning the leaders of MK, the government was largely able to break the strength of the struggle inside South Africa, and for some time open political activity was nearly impossible
• the liberation movements strengthened their underground networks and continued to create organisational capacity outside of the country