Welcome to Liliesleaf

“At the Rivonia Trialist Reunion held at Liliesleaf in December 2001 President Thabo Mbeki announced the establishment of the Liliesleaf Trust. The Trust aims to ensure that the unique heritage, history and legacy of Liliesleaf Farm is preserved for future generations.”

Situated in residential Rivonia, the insightful and interactive museum experience Liliesleaf honours South Africa’s remarkable heritage and the impressive trajectory of South Africa’s socio-political past. Once the headquarters of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the military wing of the ANC and the Congress Alliance, Liliesleaf holds a position of esteem among struggle landmarks in South Africa. Visitors to Liliesleaf will experience a first-hand account of the events and circumstances leading up to the infamous raid of the Rivonia farm, as well as insights into some of the revolutionary personalities who helped to shape South Africa’s democracy.

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“British Prime Minister David Cameron Visits Liliesleaf on Mandela Day - 19 July 2011

JOHANNESBURG | British Prime Minister David Cameron briefly visited to South Africa to meet with President Jacob Zuma during a two day visit to the country and Nigeria.
As part of his brief visit Prime Minister David Cameron visited Liliesleaf, a national heritage site in Rivonia, paying homage to the ANC, the anti-apartheid struggle, and Nelson Mandela on his birthday. The Liliesleaf Trust was extremely honoured and delighted to welcome Cameron to Liliesleaf, where he had the opportunity to have a private meeting with Nobel peace prize winner Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu. Following the private meeting, Prime Minister Cameron and Arch Bishop Tutu were given a guided tour of Liliesleaf by Nicholas Wolpe, the CEO of the Liliealeaf Trust.
It was a raid on Liliesleaf on 11 July 1963, which led to eight of the 10 accused - including former President Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki, Andrew Mlangeni and Ahmed Kathrada - being sentenced to life imprisonment for sabotage. Mandela at the time of the raid was already serving a five year sentence, for leaving the country illegally and was brought to the Rivonia Trial as accused number 1, following the uncovering of his dairy and other papers during the raid on Liliesleaf.“

Liliesleaf reopened its doors to the public in June 2008, as an interactive and experiential tribute to the prominent political leaders who once congregated on its property, and the ideals, beliefs and ideologies these men represented against the face of Grand Apartheid.

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Directions to Liliesleaf >>

We welcome you to browse through our site, read the stories, and retell them. One of the objectives of the Liliesleaf Trust is not only to preserve the narrative of our historical and political past, but to ensure that these stories are circulated and known, and that the hardships endured by the men, women and children who fought for so long can be heard.

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Opening Hours

Week : 8:30am - 5pm
Weekend : 9:00am - 4pm

"Liliesleaf was an old house that needed work and no one lived there. I moved in under the pretext that I was a houseboy or caretaker that would live there until my master took possession. I had taken the alias David Motsamayi, the name of one of my former clients. At the farm, I wore the simple blue overalls that were the uniform of the black male servant."
Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom

Watch the stories of South Africa’s past unfold in 3-D

INTERACTIVE TABLE > MANOR HOUSE
The table displays a 3d interface consisting of video, images, audio, and text. The interface is browsed by visitors using two aluminum ‘navigators’, that allow them to view info about the Apartheid era in South Africa. Click here for more…