WALTER SISULU
Imprisoned for Life
(Original biographical information included with his bracelet in 1985)
Walter Sisulu was tried in the Pretoria Supreme Court from October 1963 to June 1964 along with Nelson Mandela, Govan Mbeki, Ahmed Kathrada, and others in the ‘Rivonia Trial’. He was charged under the Sabotage and Suppression of Communism Acts, with campaigning to overthrow the Government by violent revolution and by assisting in the armed invasion of the country by foreign troops. The charge sheet listed 193 acts of sabotage allegedly carried out by persons recruited by the accused in their capacity as members of the High Command of Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation). Umkhonto we Sizwe is the military wing of the ANC.
Sisulu was convicted and sentenced in June 1964 to life imprisonment. He has served most of that time on Robben Island, but was transferred with three other political prisoners to Pollsmoor Prison near Retreat, Cape Town in April 1982
In his testimony at the trial, Sisulu said that his aim was the achievement of emancipation of the African people from white domination. The ANC, he said, had always adhered to a peaceful, reasonable and tolerant course, but the whites were not prepared to consider the peaceful settlement of the African claims. They chose instead to turn South Africa into an armed camp. Under these circumstances, he felt that the ANC could not continue preaching non-violence, and in June 1961 he had supported the view that the time had come to adopt more energetic measures, including even sabotage, in the struggle for freedom.
In 1952, Sisulu was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment for his role in organizing the 1952 Defiance Campaign. He was subsequently banned and restricted. He was accused in the Treason Trial of 1956 to 1961, and detained for five months during the State of Emergency in 1960. Sisulu was placed under partial house arrest in October 1962, and in February 1963 he was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment for organizing protest demonstrations on the eve of the proclamation of the Republic in May 1961 and for furthering the aims of the ANC. He was placed under 24-hour arrest in April 1963 while he was released on bail, pending appeal. Sisulu forfeited bail and went underground to continue his political activities through Umkhonto we Sizwe until his arrest in July 1963.
Sisulu was born in the Engcobo District of the Transkei in 1912. He was educated at mission schools, after which he held a variety of jobs as laborer, miner, and factory worker. He joined the ANC in 1940 and became treasurer of its Youth League. He became ANC secretary-general in 1949, under the leadership of Dr. Moroka, and then his successor, Chief Lutuli.
Sisulu is married with five children. His wife, Albertina Sisulu, is a nurse. She was an active member of the ANC Women’s League and the South African Women’s Federation. Currently she is a member of the United Democratic Front. She was detained with her son Max (then 17 years old) in 1963. She was also served with banning orders in 1964. The Sisulu’s daughter was detained under the Terrorism Act in 1976 and held for 329 days in solitary confinement.
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The source of this biographical information is International Defence and Aid Fund’s book, Prisoners of Apartheid, 1978. We appreciate their permission to use this material.
Sisulu was convicted and sentenced in June 1964 to life imprisonment. He has served most of that time on Robben Island, but was transferred with three other political prisoners to Pollsmoor Prison near Retreat, Cape Town in April 1982
In his testimony at the trial, Sisulu said that his aim was the achievement of emancipation of the African people from white domination. The ANC, he said, had always adhered to a peaceful, reasonable and tolerant course, but the whites were not prepared to consider the peaceful settlement of the African claims. They chose instead to turn South Africa into an armed camp. Under these circumstances, he felt that the ANC could not continue preaching non-violence, and in June 1961 he had supported the view that the time had come to adopt more energetic measures, including even sabotage, in the struggle for freedom.
In 1952, Sisulu was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment for his role in organizing the 1952 Defiance Campaign. He was subsequently banned and restricted. He was accused in the Treason Trial of 1956 to 1961, and detained for five months during the State of Emergency in 1960. Sisulu was placed under partial house arrest in October 1962, and in February 1963 he was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment for organizing protest demonstrations on the eve of the proclamation of the Republic in May 1961 and for furthering the aims of the ANC. He was placed under 24-hour arrest in April 1963 while he was released on bail, pending appeal. Sisulu forfeited bail and went underground to continue his political activities through Umkhonto we Sizwe until his arrest in July 1963.
Sisulu was born in the Engcobo District of the Transkei in 1912. He was educated at mission schools, after which he held a variety of jobs as laborer, miner, and factory worker. He joined the ANC in 1940 and became treasurer of its Youth League. He became ANC secretary-general in 1949, under the leadership of Dr. Moroka, and then his successor, Chief Lutuli.
Sisulu is married with five children. His wife, Albertina Sisulu, is a nurse. She was an active member of the ANC Women’s League and the South African Women’s Federation. Currently she is a member of the United Democratic Front. She was detained with her son Max (then 17 years old) in 1963. She was also served with banning orders in 1964. The Sisulu’s daughter was detained under the Terrorism Act in 1976 and held for 329 days in solitary confinement.
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The source of this biographical information is International Defence and Aid Fund’s book, Prisoners of Apartheid, 1978. We appreciate their permission to use this material.