About this site

This resource is hosted by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, but was compiled and authored by Padraig O’Malley. It is the product of almost two decades of research and includes analyses, chronologies, historical documents, and interviews from the apartheid and post-apartheid eras.

1956

August 9 : 20,000 women march to Pretoria protesting against the pass laws. Lay thousands of petitions at door of Prime Minister Strydom chanting 'Wathint'abafazi, wathint' imbokodo, Uzakufa'. You have struck a rock, dislodged a boulder you will be crushed.' Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Sophie Williams and Rahima Moosa led the march symbolising the unity of South African women.

December 5 – 156 arrests for High Treason. Congress members from around South Africa taken to the Fort Prison in Johannesburg. The trial lasts 4 years when all are acquitted. 'The South African Treason Trial' written while still on trial, by Lionel Forman, with Solly Sachs in London. Published in 1957 in England with reviews world-wide. Treason Trial Defence Fund inaugurated, later to become International Defence and Aid Fund

This resource is hosted by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, but was compiled and authored by Padraig O’Malley. Return to theThis resource is hosted by the site.