Nelson Mandela, African National Congress (ANC) leader and first commander-in-chief of Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), was captured in Cedara, a small town near Howick, Natal, shortly after his return to South Africa on completing six months’ military training in Oujda, Morocco, and after attending the All Africa People’s Conference in Ethiopia. He was charged with incitement to strike and with illegally leaving the country. Bob Hepple acted as his legal representative. His trial took place in Pretoria's Old Synagogue. In November 1962, he was sentenced to five years' imprisonment on the charges. He began his sentence in Pretoria Central Prison.
eventREF E-0011961Revised
5 August 1962
Nelson Mandela is arrested
- Updated
- 5 Aug 2020
How we know this
- 01Gastrow, S. (1987). Who's Who in South African Politics, no 2 , Johannesburg: Ravan.
- 02Mandela, N. (1994). Long Walk to Freedom. Randburg: Macdonald Purnell, p. 301.
- 03Sampson, A. (1999). Mandela :the authorised biography, Johannesburg: HarperCollins.
- 04Hepple, B. Rivonia: The Story of Accused No 11,‘The Road to Rivonia: July 11 1963’, (1999) pg 8.
Last updated · 5 Aug 2020
South African History Online. (2013, August 2). Nelson Mandela is arrested. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011961
South African History Online (2013) 'Nelson Mandela is arrested', South African History Online, 2 August. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011961 (Accessed: 13 October 2026).
South African History Online, Nelson Mandela is arrested [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011961, (accessed 13 October 2026).
"Nelson Mandela is arrested." South African History Online, 2 Aug. 2013, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011961. Accessed 13 Oct. 2026.
South African History Online. "Nelson Mandela is arrested." South African History Online. August 2, 2013. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011961.
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