Six Treason Trialists miss resumption of trial

On 6 September 1960, six of the Treason Trial accused were missing when the trial resumed in Pretoria. The defence team lawyer, Bram Fischer told the court that transport which was suppose to bring the accused to the court, had broken down. The adjournment came as a blessing to many of the accused as they got an opportunity to visit their families. The trial proceeded without the six missing accused. Their names were never given by the source as to who they were. During the proceedings, Robert Resha resumed his evidence under cross examination by Mr. J. Trengove, for the Crown. He said that the African National Congress(ANC) consisted of “intelligent politicians” who were able of making their own analysis of any situation. The story of the Treason Trial dates back on 5 December 1956, when about 156 anti-apartheid activists were arrested in South Africa and accused of manoeuvring against the incumbent government of the time. References:  The Star, 6 September, 1960, ‘Treason Trial Accused missing’. Available at the National Library of South Africa, Cape Town Campus] pg 1 Karis, T.G., 1961. ‘The South African Treason Trial’ in Political Science Quarterly, Vol. 76, No. 2, pp. 217-240 [online] Available at www.jstor.org [Accessed 19 July 2011] Mandela, N., n.d. ‘Nelson Mandela`s Testimony at the Treason Trial 1956-60’from African National Congress [online] Available at www.anc.org.za  [Accessed 19 July 2011]