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University of the Witwatersrand, Historical Papers Research Archive Rivonia Trial
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Bernstein Hilda and Rusty Papers 1931-2006

Rusty Bernstein's Papers includes personal correspondence to family and comrades, professional documentation relating to his career as an architect and inventor, and a large collection of writing, including drafts and material for his political biography Memory Against Forgetting as well as articles, essays and literature relating to prominent events in the liberation struggle (The 1946 Mine Workers Strike, The Freedom Charter and the Rivonia Trial). The collection also includes written material relating to his political career in the Communist Party and involvement with the ANC and as editor/contributor to journals like Fighting Talk and The African Communist and a lecture series given in Moscow to young militants of the ANC.
Hilda Bernstein's papers include a series of journals dating from 1967 to 2001 and personal diaries written whilst in prison, and on travels throughout South Africa and Europe. A large part of the collection marks her involvement with women's rights and work for the ANC Women's League. There is also a considerable collection of art records documenting her career in London and Europe. The bulk of the collection is comprised of records relating to Hilda's extensive writings - books, articles and political literature. Of particular prominence is material collected for her most recent book The Rift, which captures the experiences of South African exiles. There is also a large collection of correspondence both personal and professional and political brochures relating to her position as City Councillor for the Communist Party in Johannesburg from 1943 to 1946.

The records kept by Hilda (viewed as 'evidence' of Hilda's activities) far outnumber those kept by Rusty. It would be misleading to presume that this is in any way a complete archive of the Bernstein's activities.
On the contrary, there are large gaps. For example, there is very little in the collection relating directly to the Freedom Charter, in which Rusty played a major part in the organizing committee and was responsible for drafting the country-wide submissions that would become the Charter. Consideration should also be made for the possibility that Hilda is a more conscientious record keeper than Rusty was, or that due to persistent banning and arrest Rusty was forced to destroy evidence of his activities or resist the documentation of these activities. In truth, the reasons for the shape of this collection are too numerous and extensive to state. As it stands, the researcher can at best make this deduction - that Hilda's work and influence in the liberation struggle, particularly in the role assigned to woman, is vast and unique, and deserves attention beyond the shadow cast by Rusty's political career. In Hilda's case it is a matter of the biography that has yet to be written.

Hilda and Rusty Bernstein Papers

Joel Joffe

A copy of the book written by Joel Joffe, the Rivonia Story, accompanied by copies of documents in Nelson Mandela's handwriting. The documents include his application for remand in the Pretoria Regional Court on 15 October 1962, and a typed account of his speech in the Pretoria Regional Court.

Joffe, Joel

Nelson Mandela

Handwritten speeches and papers by Nelson Mandela for the Pretoria Regional Court Trial (1962) and the Rivonia Trial (1963 - 1964).
The collection includes further notes by Nelson Mandela for his defence. Application for the remand of the trial. Application challenging the right of the court to try him and his preparatory notes. Notes written by Nelson Mandela and intended to use if sentenced to death.

Mandela, Nelson Rolihlahla

Records of the Rivonia Trial

Incomplete set of records of the state vs. Nelson Mandela and nine others. The collection includes the indictment, opening address, statements, evidence, evaluation of evidence and exhibits including photographs. An important section of the collection relates to preparations of the defence. As well as Nelson Mandela, the accused include Dennis Goldberg, Govan Mbeki, Walter Sisulu, Ahmed Kathrada, Andrew Mlangeni, Raymond Mhlaba, James Kantor and Elias Motsoaledi.

South African Institute of Race Relations

South African Institute of race Relations press clippings 1928 (1940-1970)-1985 the collection has material on the ANC, treason trial, and Rivonia trial. Correspondence with Mandela Family between 1954- 1962; 1964- 1984

South African Institute of Race Relations

South African Institute of Race Relations Photograph Collection

Forms part of archives of South African Institute of Race Relations. Photographs mainly from Drum Magazine relating to politics and political figures. Photographs related to Rivonia Trial are under 15 personalities: 2. Arthur Goldreich (bearded), 3. Goldreich with Abdulhay Jassat (29/9/63), 4. Goldreich with ? (possibly Harold Wolpe) as refugees in Francistown? 1963, 5a Arthur Goldreich, 5b-d Contact prints of Goldreich and others; 26. Trials: 6-7 Women demonstrating during the Rivonia Trial 1964.

South African Institute of Race Relations

Records of the Rivonia Trial

Incomplete set of records of the State vs. Nelson Mandela and nine others. The collection includes charge sheets, the indictment, opening address, statements, evidence, evaluation of evidence and exhibits, including photographs, bail applications, sentencing. An important section of the collection relates to preparation of the defence. Also includes a VHS video (no soundtrack) of the cells and court room where the Rivonia Trial was held. This was filmed a long time after the trial. Its reference code is AD1844, D.

Missing volumes are: Volume 21: Walter Sisulu's Evidence (vol. 2); Volume 22: Walter Sisulu's Evidence (vol. 3); Volume 23: Walter Sisulu's Evidence (vol. 4); Volume 27: Denis Goldberg's Evidence; Volume 35: Exhibit: Plan of Liliesleaf and Rivonia. Incomplete: Volume 29: Elias Motsoaledi's Statement. It is not clear why these volumes are missing.

The records in this collection are the Defence set donated originally by Joel Joffe. They are part of the archives of the South African Institute of Race Relations (SAIRR).

Joffe, Joel

Nelson Mandela Papers

Handwritten speeches and papers by Nelson Mandela for the Pretoria Regional Court Trial (1962) and the Rivonia Trial (1963-1964). The collection includes further notes by Nelson Mandela for his defence; the application for the remand of the trial; an application challenging the right of the court to try him and his preparatory notes. Rivonia Trial records are a typed copy of Mandela's statement from the dock (signed); final clause of statement from the dock (manuscript); notes that Mandela intended to use if he were sentenced to death when asked if he had anything to say (manuscript). There are copies of these in the Legal Resources Centre, Bram Fischer Library, Johannesburg.

Mandela, Nelson Rolihlahla

Joel Joffe Papers

Joel Joffe was one of the defence lawyers in the Rivonia Trial. This collection contains a copy of the book written by him on the Rivonia Trial, The Rivonia Story, accompanied by copies of documents in Nelson Mandela's handwriting. The documents include his application for remand in the Pretoria Regional Court on 15 October 1962, a typed account of his speech in the Pretoria Regional Court, first draft of his speech and notes to be used if he was sentenced to death.

Joffe, Joel

Benjamin Pogrund Papers

Benjamin Pogrund was a journalist. The collection includes correspondence, telexes, memoranda, press cuttings, printed items re the Rand Daily Mail, black rights and attitudes, riots, political prisoners, apartheid, the homelands, labour legislation, race relations, the Schlebusch Commission, treason trials, detentions, bannings, forced removals, labour, education and trade unions. See I3.1 for 2 files related to the Rivonia Trial: Index to witnesses and The State vs. Abram Fischer and Others.

Pogrund, Benjamin

Trials

Press summaries and bulletins of the Treason Trials' Defence Fund 1958-1961; press clippings on the Rivonia Trial (including on Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu) 1964, Abram Fischer 1965-1966, trial of 22 (including Winnie Mandela) 1969-1970, S Cooper and others 1975, Breyten Breytenbach 1977, Solomon Mahlangu 1977-1978; record of proceedings of W W Twala and Others in the Supreme Court of South Africa (Transvaal Provincial Division) 1978-1979 (pages 1-2554).

Institute of Race Relations (IRR)

Helen Suzman Papers

Correspondence, diaries, articles, speeches, photographs, notes, press clippings and printed items relating to her years in parliament as an opposition MP. Subjects are detentions, bannings, restrictions, political prisoners, removals, homelands, urbanisation, labour, women, education, health and social welfare, politics, economics and Namibia. There is no direct reference to the Rivonia Trial but there are records related to prison conditions at Robben Island and Pretoria Central (where the trialists were incarcerated) in 1960s, 70s and 80s (Aa1.2.1, Aa4.1, Ab5). Records include correspondence with relevant authorities and Suzman's own personal notes from visits. Also newspaper report ten years since Rivonia Trial (Aa4.1), and other press cuttings re prison conditions (Aa9). Also correspondence with indirect references to Denis Goldberg (Ab1.1, Ab1.2).

Suzman, Helen

Denis Kuny Papers

Court records and other documents relating to trials in which Kuny (an advocate) was involved, including the Rivonia Trial where Denis Kuny was junior counsel. One box of Rivonia Trial material contains: A1.1 Indictments 1963 ; A1.2 Motion to quash the indictment 1963 ; A1.3 Defence requests for further particulars and the State's reply thereto; A1.4 Documents relating to Accused no 8 (James Kantor) including affidavit, request for particulars, petition, notes and a press cutting.

Records still in process.

Kuny, Denis

Records of the Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS)

Memoranda and other documents on political trials, conscientious objection, detentions, repression and the ANC Constitutional Committee. Section P1 Political Trials contains reports and documents concerning political trials in South Africa, including amongst others:
-Treason Trial (from: Political Science Quarterly)
-Mandela speech from the Dock (Rivonia Trial 1964)
-State vs. Dean of Johannesburg (1972)
-The trial of the 13 (Ngkungwana and others) By Shauna Westcott
-Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim vs. the Apartheid State. By Rudi Boon
-The Passtoors trial. By Willem C van Manen
-Political Trials, South Africa 1976-1979. By Glenn Moss
-Security and related Trials in SA July 1976-May 1977 (SAIRR)
-Security Trials 1978 by Linda Ensor
-Letter from Judge Didcott to John Dugard re Andrew Zondo
-Delmas Trial 1980s
-Upington (Paballelo) 1989
-‘The Sun Will Rise’ statements from the dock by SA political prisoners (Sobukwe, Mandela, Sisulu, Motsoaledi, Mlangeni, Mkwayi, Fischer, ja Toivo, Tuhadeleni, April, Lekota, Mokoape, Suttner, Sexwale, Tsiki, Ramokgadi, Seko, Nkosi, Mothlanthe) Ed Mary Benson, 1981
-Political trials seminar. 19-21 May 1989
-Political prisoner status: Namibia 1989/1990

Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS)

Records of the Students' Resource Centre, University of Witwatersrand

Reports, pamphlets, minutes, publications, statements and photographs relating to NUSAS and SASPU, as well as miscellaneous information on various anti-apartheid and other organisations. A19.3 Publications and Media contain two items on Rivonia: A19.3.4: Rivonia - Tweny Years: A Resource Pack (published by ADAC) and A19.3.7: An Overview: Rivonia Trial (pamphlet).

Students' Resource Centre, University of the Witwaterand

Records of the Archibishops of Cape Town Part II

This large collection of records of the Anglican Church contains, amongst other things, much about the Church’s confrontation with the State over the issue of apartheid, notably the effects of the Group Areas Act on black churches in white areas and the admission or all races to church schools. Other topics are conscientious objection and the refusal of young Anglicans, both lay and clerical, to serve in the South African Defence Force and the question of Namibia’s independence and the expulsion of Bishops Mize and Winter for promoting it. C85 Current legislation (1957 - 1978) includes: 1964 correspondence re death sentence and long imprisonment for those convicted in the Rivonia Trial.

Anglican Church

Colin Purkey Papers

Correspondence, memoranda, reports, minutes, interviews, photographs and posters relating to the following organisations: Black Sash, Detainees' Parents Support Committee, End Conscription Campaign, Institute for a Democratic Alternative in South Africa, Jews for Social Justice, Johannesburg Democratic Action Committee, Mass Democratic Movement, National Education Union of South Africa, National Education Crisis Committee, NUSAS and the United Democratic Front.
Subjects are Namibia, education, trade unions, women, detentions, protest theatre and the Black liberation struggle. B. Political Organisations include Mandela's statement from the dock at the Rivonia Trial (B11.8.3).

Records of the African National Congress (ANC)

Constitution, minutes, reports, resolutions, Treason Trial legal records, press statements, speeches, correspondence, press clippings, pamphlets, periodicals, notes, and items on the A.N.C. Youth League and the A.N.C. Women's League together with other organisations such as the All African Convention, All African People's Conference and the South African Congress of Democrats. Subjects are apartheid, African nationalism, passes, education, Freedom Charter and the activities of the ANC in exile. Forms part of the archives of the South African Institute of Race Relations. Two items relate to the Rivonia Trial under Fa: Policy statements by ANC and related organisations (1946-1973): Fa46 "Stand by our leaders" (1964, 1 p.Ts. Asking for a boycott for 12 June when Rivonia Trialists will be sentenced) and Fa47 "The message of Rivonia" (1964, 1p. Ts.).

African National Congress (ANC)

South African Institute of Race Relations Press Clippings

The clippings relate to a great variety of subjects. Rivonia Trial material is under Political Trials 197.3 and 197.4. 197.3 has clippings from the Star and Rand Daily Mail Newspapers and subjects include: Harold Wolpe, details of the evidence being presented in the trial, Denis Goldberg and his alleged involvement in training camps, the independence of the judiciary, details of the case and the indictments. 197.4 has clippings mainly from the Star. Subjects include: sabotage and justifications for it, Joel Joffe leaving South Africa after the trial, the fact that the trialists would not appeal sentences, prison conditions, indemnity of Rivonia Trial witnesses, Bernstein leaving South Africa.

Institute of Race Relations (IRR)

Records of the Garment Workers Union

Minutes, correspondence, memoranda, printed items (including the Garment Worker), press clippings and photographs relating to the Garment Workers Union and its predecessor, the Witwatersrand Tailors Association. One paragraph in one item mentions the Rivonia Trial in Bba2.2.11 General correspondence 1951-1973. It is contained in a letter written by Violet Weinberg to Anna Scheepers re Weinberg's dismissal from the Industrial Council for the Clothing Industry (August 1964). Weinberg voices disagreement with Scheepers on a number of political and union-related points. It is in this context that political developments like the Trial are mentioned.

Garment Workers Union (GWU)

Karis/Gerhart Collection

Includes interviews, political documents, political trial material, trade union documents and biographical files covering the political scene from 1964-1990. Many are photocopies. There is no Rivonia Trial material in the political trial material but there are biographies on the accused: Mandela (reel 91), Kathrada (reel 90), Sisulu (reel 96), Mbeki (reel 92), Wolpe (reel 98) and supplementary biographical files on Motsoaledi, Goldberg and Bernstein.

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