I rose and said, “My Lord, it is not I, but the government that should be in the dock. I plead not guilty.” “Accused number two, Walter Sisulu, do you plead guilty or not guilty?” Sisulu: “The government is responsible for what has happened in this country. I plead not guilty.” Justice de Wet said he was not interested in hearing political speeches, that we should merely plead not guilty or guilty. But his direction was ignored. Each of the accused suggested that it was the government that was criminal before pleading not guilty.
