Saving Nelson Mandela: The Rivonia Trial and the Fate of South Africa

Pivotal Moments in World History

by Kenneth S. Broun

The question would he hang?

In 1963, when South Africa's apartheid government charged Nelson Mandela with planning its overthrow, most observers feared that he would be sentenced to death. But the support he and his fellow activists in the African National Congress received during his trial not only saved his life, but also enabled him to save his country.

In Saving Nelson Mandela , South African law expert Kenneth S. Broun recreates the trial, called the "Rivonia" Trial after the Johannesburg suburb where police seized Mandela. Based upon interviews with many of the case's primary figures and portions of the trial transcript, Broun situates readers inside the courtroom at the imposing Palace of Justice in Pretoria. Here, the trial unfolds through a dramatic narrative that captures the courage of the accused and their defense team, as well as the personal prejudices that colored the entire trial. The Rivonia trial had no jury and only a superficial aura of due process, combined with heavy security that symbolized the apartheid government's system of repression. Broun shows how outstanding advocacy, combined with widespread public support, in fact backfired on apartheid leaders, who sealed their own fate.

Despite his 27-year incarceration, Mandela's ultimate release helped move his country from the racial tyranny of apartheid toward democracy. As documented in this inspirational book, the Rivonia trial was a critical milestone that helped chart the end of Apartheid and the future of a new South Africa.

Genres: Africa, Nonfiction

232 pages, Hardcover

First published January 3, 2012

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third installment in the Pivotal Moments in World History series takes a look at the Rivonia Trial and the efforts to save Nelson Mandela during the course of the trial. The book takes a very narrow focus picking up with the arrest of Mandela and other conspirators and then right into the trial and all the facets that were attached to the trial. The author points out that throughout the trial despite pleading not guilty those on trial had self-incriminated enough to be convicted so the trial was not about guilt or innocence but about avoiding the death penalty and the hanging that many feared would follow the trial. The book is well written and balanced focusing on the Apartheid system and the pitfalls of justice as well as the efforts of the defense to make a balanced case that was political in nature. The judge gets a lot of the praise for his handling of the trial and being as fair as allowed under the Apartheid government. Well worth the time for those who don’t know a lot about the trial that shaped South Africa.

[Richard Marney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written by a lawyer, centered on the 1963-4 trial of Nelson Mandela and his co-liberation heroes, the book is suitable for non-lawyers and provides a different and insightful perspective on the historical fight for racial equality in South Africa.

[Kodzo Selormey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well researched and engaging book about the Rivonia trial. It gives an excellent overview of the build up to the trial, of the trial itself and the aftermath of the trial. It would have been very easy for Mr Broun to write a dry, academic text, but he keeps the book light and very readable.

[Jeff Schauer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very readable and informative book that focuses intently on the Rivonia Trial in apartheid South Africa. The author balances biographical details of the defendants and their persecutors with attention to organizational, global, and historical context.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read. Informative yet concise.