Liliesleaf Trust - Preserving our history & herita is a half day trip by Themba Day Tours & Safaris

notes

Liliesleaf Farm personifies the beliefs, inspiration and aspirations of a unique group of leaders who were committed to bringing about socio-political transformation predicated on democratic principles.

Liliesleaf Farm was purchased by the South African Communist Party (SACP) in 1961 and evolved into the headquarters of Umkhonto-we-Sizwe (MK), the African National
Conference (ANC) military wing, translated as “The Spear of the Nation”. The farm, situated just outside Johannesburg, was used not only as the high command, of MK, but also as a hideaway and meeting place for ANC and Congress Alliance senior leaders.
The raid by security police on Liliesleaf in 1963 led to the arrest and capture of members of the high command of MK, and the subsequent Rivonia Trial, which resulted in the lifelong imprisonment of key ANC, South African Communist Party and Congress Alliance leaders. This trial was a key turning point in the struggle against Apartheid, catapulting South Africa’s situation into the international spotlight.

In addition, the trial catalysed a series of events in South Africa’s history which would eventually result in the formation of South Africa’s fi rst democratically elected government, some 31 years later