Liliesleaf Farm and the surrounding suburb of Rivonia
In the early 1960s, the leafy, affluent northern suburbs of Johannesburg were reserved for white people only who, under the segregation of the Group Areas Act, enjoyed genteel lifestyles on their large properties staffed by black domestic workers. Arthur Goldreich – a member of the Communist Party – moved to Liliesleaf, a semi-rural smallholding in Rivonia, in December 1961 with his family and appeared to be the legitimate owner of the property. This was merely subterfuge to provide cover for Nelson Mandela, dubbed the “Black Pimpernel”, and other banned African National Congress (ANC) members on the run from the vicious security police.
Mandela and key leaders of the struggle such as Raymond Mhlaba, Lionel “Rusty” Bernstein, Walter Sisulu, Bob Hepple, Ahmed Kathrada and Andrew Mlangeni, hiding from apartheid authorities, operated from the farm for two years. Mandela’s alias was David Motsamayi, the supposed gardener, cook and chauffeur at Liliesleaf, and to avoid suspicion he lived in the tiny servants’ quarters. In reality, however, it was the base of the underground, newly formed Umkhonto weSizwe, the armed wing of the ANC.
Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) means “the Spear of the Nation”, and the organisation worked in tandem with the South African Communist Party (SACP). Those hiding out in Rivonia did not want to engage in violence but eventually realised that there was no option but to initiate Operation Mayibuye, the MK plan for guerrilla warfare that would be used in South Africa to overthrow the racist Nationalist Party. The first attacks against government installations were carried out on December 16 1961, and these led to the ANC being banned and classified as a terrorist organisation. On July 11 1963 Liliesleaf was raided by dozens of armed policemen who arrested the masterminds of MK, including Goldreich. Mandela was not present as he was already serving a five-year sentence for inciting workers to strike and for leaving the country without a passport.
Implicated by documents found at the farm, Mandela and his peers were charged with sabotage and faced the death sentence. Goldreich subsequently managed to escape from South Africa disguised as a priest. At the end of the infamous Rivionia Trial in 1964, seven men were sent to prison on Robben Island for 221 acts of sabotage designed to “ferment violent revolution”. Most of them served between 22 and 27 years and, in February 1990, Mandela was the last man to be released.
When Mandela tried to find Liliesleaf 18 months after he had been freed, he struggled to find the house because the suburb had changed so radically. The Schneider family bought the house in 1989 unaware of its historical significance, and two years later they turned it into a guest house and conference centre.
At a reunion of the Rivonia trialists held at Liliesleaf, it was agreed that the house should be returned to its original state and be kept as a museum. The restoration of the property included acquiring surrounding land and recovering original bricks to restore the house and outbuildings. Liliesleaf Farm opened to the public in 2009 and is now a popular museum. It has a resource centre, interesting interactive displays and a coffee shop.
Today Rivonia is a thriving suburb of Johannesburg housing many businesses and it is the hub of start-up IT companies. Along the Boulevard you will find the outdoor Rivonia Square complex as well as other shops and restaurants. The area is a popular night spot. Browns Restaurant – famous for its wine cellar and French cheese room – occupies an old farmhouse where, when weather allows, you can dine in the tranquil and private gardens. There is also an abundance of excellent bed and breakfast accommodation in the leafy suburb.