Liliesleaf Farm Museum is facing a serious cash crisis. Nicholas Wolpe, the CEO of Liliesleaf, said he would be devastated if the museum were to close. The farm, located in Rivonia, Johannesburg, is where the Communist Party of South Africa had its headquarters in the 1960s and the then-banned ANC had its underground meetings.

“It evolved from being the secret headquarters of the Communist Party into first the newly High Command or the newly formed uMkhonto we Sizwe,” said Wolpe, who described the farm as the “nerve centre” of the liberation fight. “It was a place of activity. It was a place of dialogue, with a place of engagement, a place of debate, it is where we planned the overthrow of apartheid,” he said.

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Vinyl Record: Of King Kong- All African Jazz Opera: Arthur Goldreich and his family  who lived at Liliesleaf projected the “ white family façade” . The connection between Liliesleaf and King King was Arthur who was thes et and costume designer for the Opera.  Arthur was arrested on the day of the Raid but later escaped together with Harold Wolpe, Mossie Moola and Abdulhay Jassat.

The South African Treason Trial: The nationalist Government viewed the Freedom Charter as an attempt to incite the overthrow of the Government and as a consquence they charged a 156 people with Treason. The Treason Trial lasted for four and half years at the end of which all 156 accused were acquitted of Treason. This book documents the Treason Trial and includes the signatures of more than half of the Treason Trialists.

News paper clippings from the Percy Yutar collectionwhich documents, through newspaper clippings the Soweto Uprisings and subsquent cop mission of enquire that followed

“The first step in liquidating a people is to erase its memory. Destroy its books, its culture, its history. Before long the nation will begin to forget what it is and what it was.” — Milan Kundera

The Covid-19 pandemic has thrown the world into turmoil and confusion. In the process, we have been propelled into the unknown. What was once considered “normal” is no longer considered such. The impact of the pandemic has been felt worldwide and has affected all sectors of society.

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Pen Gun and Bullets: This Pen Gun was given to Oliver Tambo who served as ANC President from 1967 to 1991, to protect him against would be assisins . Tambo was sent abroad by the ANC to establish the ANC in exile and to mobilise foreign opposition against apartheid. It is believed this Pen Gun was given to Tambo by the East Germans. The Pen Gun was donated to Liliesleaf by Ronnie Kasrils

Chocolate wrappings & cardboard pieces: Harold Wolpe’s brother In-law, James Kantor, was arrested in 1963 on suspicion of being a co-conspirator but in March 1964 was acquitted of all charges. Kantor used these chocolate wrappings and cardboard pieces as writing material whilst in jail.

The  South African Treason Trial: The nationalist Government viewed the Freedom Charter as an attempt to incite the overthrow of the Government and as a consquence they charged a 156 people with Treason. The Treason Trial lasted for four and half years at the end of which all 156 accused were acquitted of Treason. This book documents the Treason Trial and includes the signatures of more than half of the Treason Trialists, which forms part of the Ben Turok collection.

The Rivonia Trial: 11 July 1963 to 12^th June 1964 : As reported by the press From 28^th August, 1963 to 13the June, 1999. Collected by Percy Yutar, the Chief State prosecutor in the Rivonia Trial and Deputy Attorney General of the Transvaal.

The Soweto Riots: 16^th June 1976: As reported by the press Collected by Percy Yutar, the Chief State prosecutor in the Rivonia Trial and Deputy Attorney General of the Transvaal.

In the last few months we have seen the deaths of ordinary people who helped define our heritage by becoming extraordinary: Andrew Mlangeni, Achmat Dangor and George Bizos. These were people whose lives contained South Africa’s raging currents, epitomised its human beauty and witnessed its cruelty and brutality.

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James Kantor, the unsuspecting 8^th co-accused at the Rivonia Trial, while on trial asked his fellow accused to write mini biographies, which he included in his book a “Health Grave”, which was a recollection and reflection of his arrest and standing trial for sabottage. These are images of the original handwritten biographies written by the Rivonia Trialists

Chocolate wrappings & cardboard pieces: Harold Wolpe’s brother In-law, James Kantor, was arrested in 1963 on suspicion of being a co-conspirator but in March 1964 was acquitted of all charges. Kantor used these chocolate wrappings and cardboard pieces as writing material whilst in jail.

A photograph of Ramnie Naidoo in exile, taken from the the Naidoo Family collection at liliesleaf archve.

Various political Journals,  publications and rare books that are found in the archive.

Original ‘Awaiting Trial’ card: Nelson Mandela.
The charges related to Mandela for calling on workers to strike in May 1961, against the proclamation of South Africa as a republic and travelling without the necessary travel documents in January, 1962. Mandela went on trial at the Old Synagogue in Pretoria on 15 October, 1962.