Apartheid and South Africa in the 60’s – the move to Liliesleaf

With the enactment of Apartheid laws in 1948, racial discrimination became institutionalized. Race laws touched every aspect of social life, including a prohibition of marriage between non-whites and whites, and the sanctioning of “white-only” jobs and the effective erosion of black democratic rights in the bulk of South Africa. This system of legislated racial discrimination continued to intensify, and in 1960, South Africa was in the grip of an overwhelmingly oppressive Apartheid regime.

The penalties imposed on political protest, even non-violent protest, were severe. During the states of emergency which continued intermittently until 1989, anyone could be detained without a hearing by a low-level police official for up to six months. Thousands of individuals died in custody, frequently after gruesome acts of torture. Those who were tried were sentenced to death, banished, or imprisoned for life.

On 21 March 1960, a peaceful protest against apartheid laws resulted in the police killing sixty-seven unarmed demonstrators and injuring over 180. Most of those killed and injured were women and children. The uproar among the oppressed was immediate, and the following week saw demonstrations, protest marches, strikes, and riots around the country. On March 30, 1960, the government declared a state of emergency, detaining more than 18,000 people. Those campaigning for the end of Apartheid, and for democratic rights for all South Africans were banned (the African National Congress in 1960, and the Communist Party in 1950) and it became illegal for known members of the party to meet in public. If they met they risked being arrested.

While the ANC had been officially outlawed, and some claimed extinguished, its leaders had decided that the organisation would not just give up and die. It would continue underground.

As the Communist party was banned, it became illegal for known members of the party to meet in public. If they met they risked being arrested. As a result of this and the implementation of the State of Emergency, the Communist Party decided to acquire a secure and secluded property where its leadership could meet. They chose Liliesleaf Farm, a 28 acre farm situated some 12 miles from the centre of Johannesburg. Liliesleaf was purchased by Navian (Pty) Ltd which was effectively a front company for the Communist Party. The funds to purchase the farm apparently came from the former Soviet Union via Zurich into South Africa. Arthur Goldreich, a member of the Communist Party, together with his family, fronted as the ‘white owners’ of Liliesleaf farm, projecting the façade of the ‘white front’, while the thatched cottage and outbuildings were used to conceal underground activities

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This Aerial picture of the farm and outbuildings was taken by the police in their surveillance of Liliesleaf farm.

Until the raid in 1963, Liliesleaf was the secret HQ of MK and from where the leadership strategised a path that was to forever change the course of South African history.