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The State vs. Nelson Mandela: The Trial that Changed South Africa
On 11 July 1963, police raided Lilisleaf farm at Rivonia near Johannesburg, arresting alleged members of the high command of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC). Together with the already imprisoned Nelson Mandela, they were put on trial and charged with conspiring to overthrow the apartheid government by violent revolution. Their expected punishment was death. In The State vs. Nelson Mandela their defence attorney, Joel Joffe, gives a blow-by-blow account of the most important trial in South Africa’s history, vividly portraying the characters of those involved, and exposing the astonishing bigotry and rampant discrimination faced by the accused, as well as showing their courage under fire. Lord Joel Joffe CBE is a crossbench peer in the House of Lords. He has previously served as Chairperson of Oxfam and worked as a human-rights lawyer.
300 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2007
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About the author
Joel Joffe
4 books2 followersLord Joel Joffe CBE was a crossbench peer in the House of Lords. He previously served as Chairperson of Oxfam and worked as a human-rights lawyer.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 29, 2020
I absolutely devoured this book. I was expecting to find it interesting but maybe to slog through it at times as is the nature with some non-fiction. I was also expecting for it to take a while to read because of how dense in subject matter I expected it to be. However, I was thoroughly immersed in this account of the Rivonia Trial. Even though the subject matter was dense - in that it was dealing with legal talk and politics, etc. - Joffe really managed to bring it down to a level that was both academic but attainable for the masses, which I appreciated.
As someone who did not live through Apartheid (I was 3 when it ended), there has been a lot of subtle confusion in my understanding of various aspects of the time. And one of the confusions has always been about how black people could both be thoroughly excluded and discriminated against in South Africa (politically, economically, socially, etc.) but how they could still have a 'fair trial'. I think I couldn't quite understand how a trial could both attest to being fair, but also by premise of the nature of Apartheid itself - never being able to even be remotely fair. I always wondered why the state even bothered with trials for 'non-whites' at all (obviously I do understand that Apartheid was advertised as 'separate but equal' and so would have to have trials - amongst many other reasons). This account cleared up some confusion as Joffe spends a lot of time pointing out how much of a sham the prosecution was (and does so in an entertaining way). Joffe made Percy Yutar (prosecutor) sound like a 2 year old begging for the attention of a parent - although the 2 year olds I know have a much better conscience that Yutar seemed to have.
I loved that Joffe often focussed on explaining the personality and characteristics of each accused throughout the trial. I came away really feeling like I had met each one and could imagine each of them in the witness box or in a meeting. I appreciated this 'mini-biography' aspect.
As someone who did not live through Apartheid (I was 3 when it ended), there has been a lot of subtle confusion in my understanding of various aspects of the time. And one of the confusions has always been about how black people could both be thoroughly excluded and discriminated against in South Africa (politically, economically, socially, etc.) but how they could still have a 'fair trial'. I think I couldn't quite understand how a trial could both attest to being fair, but also by premise of the nature of Apartheid itself - never being able to even be remotely fair. I always wondered why the state even bothered with trials for 'non-whites' at all (obviously I do understand that Apartheid was advertised as 'separate but equal' and so would have to have trials - amongst many other reasons). This account cleared up some confusion as Joffe spends a lot of time pointing out how much of a sham the prosecution was (and does so in an entertaining way). Joffe made Percy Yutar (prosecutor) sound like a 2 year old begging for the attention of a parent - although the 2 year olds I know have a much better conscience that Yutar seemed to have.
I loved that Joffe often focussed on explaining the personality and characteristics of each accused throughout the trial. I came away really feeling like I had met each one and could imagine each of them in the witness box or in a meeting. I appreciated this 'mini-biography' aspect.
August 3, 2017
What the book did not do was show how this trial changed South Africa and what was its significance for the cause for which Nelson Mandela fought for. Except for the popularity of the case and the accused with the non-white South Africans.
What the book does do is give a detailed account of the case happenings, brief characterization of the accused, prosecution and defense attorneys and the cause for which the accused stood for, in a well narrated court room drama.
What the book does do is give a detailed account of the case happenings, brief characterization of the accused, prosecution and defense attorneys and the cause for which the accused stood for, in a well narrated court room drama.
January 5, 2019
The book, once you understand it is written by an advocate as their presentation of the trial from their point of view, is gripping. I, personally, learned of many things I was not aware of. The accused were unapologetic and steadfast even in the face of a possible death sentence. However, I was slightly disappointed that they actually subjected themselves to this legal process knowing very well it was never going to be fair nor result in any form of justice for them. I suppose they did what they felt was best at the time.
December 16, 2018
Every law student should read it! It details everything (or almost everything) a lawyer would do to prepare and stand for trial.
October 18, 2019
An amazing read!
October 6, 2020
Hard read but ultimately enriching and of historical importance. Paints a very vivid picture of a slice in time. Should be on schools GCSE curriculum .
August 24, 2017
brilliant
August 7, 2014
This is an incredible book. If even a small part is true then the apartheid government of South Africa should be deeply ashamed of its actions and its attitudes.
You cannot come any closer to the trial of Nelson Mandela and his collegues than this report from one of the lawyers who handled his defence. Of course it is one side of the story and it is already mentioned in this book that the official documents from the trial are spread far and wide and difficult to reconstruct. On that basis, I sincerely hope that this is not the complete, unbiased story. Because if it is, then it shows a government who supressed its own people, cut off every single route they had to protest and then callously, viciously and mercilessly prosecuted them on the basis of unfair laws in unjust courts. The say-so of a police officer was enough to hold someone in solitary confinement for 90 days, under duress, unlawful pressure and torture. And then, at the end of those 90 days, rearrest him or her and begin all over again or use them to convict others.
This book paints an abhorrent picture of South Africa's dark days.
You cannot come any closer to the trial of Nelson Mandela and his collegues than this report from one of the lawyers who handled his defence. Of course it is one side of the story and it is already mentioned in this book that the official documents from the trial are spread far and wide and difficult to reconstruct. On that basis, I sincerely hope that this is not the complete, unbiased story. Because if it is, then it shows a government who supressed its own people, cut off every single route they had to protest and then callously, viciously and mercilessly prosecuted them on the basis of unfair laws in unjust courts. The say-so of a police officer was enough to hold someone in solitary confinement for 90 days, under duress, unlawful pressure and torture. And then, at the end of those 90 days, rearrest him or her and begin all over again or use them to convict others.
This book paints an abhorrent picture of South Africa's dark days.
July 31, 2009
I wasn't alive during this period and am disappointed that it's not given more than a cursory glance in most history classes. The way the prosecution handled the case is laughable and disheartening. The defense team for Mandela and the other accused men did an amazing job given the circumstances. And the prisoners were heroic; refusing to give up their beliefs under extreme pressure. I am very glad that I found this book because it gave me so much more information about Nelson Mandela, the miracle that he and his supporters brought about in apartheid South Africa, and what he did and his fellow prisoners endured for equality. While the author gets a little caught up in the legalese and the writing can be dull at times, the story is so captivating that it holds your attention, especially if you do not know much about the case. Truly a great read.
July 18, 2014
This book is by no means a racey or exciting read, and really shouldn't contain any shocks for anyone who lived unblinkered in SA during the apartheid years. The shamefully poor, and lie ridden evidence presented by the defence, via witnesses who were beaten, intimidated, or bribed, in a most unprofessional manner by anyone tasked with upholding the law doesn't detract from the fact that all of the accused were in fact involved in anti government work and members of anti government parties. Lawfully, they should have been convicted, as some of the evidence was true, and they never denied anything that was true. Morally is another matter. The courage and stoicism, the unshakeable loyalty to the cause, to each other, and to others involved in the struggle is inspirational. Would that there were and are more of them to keep us all honest.
January 23, 2014
Was not focused on Mandela which wasn't a bad thing. Sometimes felt difficult to stay interested however it was informative. I only finished it because I hate to leave a book half read.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews