Liliesleaf Museum

05/08/2026

Today marks the anniversary of the arrest of Nelson Mandela, a pivotal moment that changed the course of South African history.

For over a year, Nelson Mandela played a high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse with the apartheid regime. They called him the "Black Pimpernel" because he could slip through any trap. He wore disguises, used the alias name of David Motsamayi, and moved under the cover of darkness. But on a quiet road near Howick, it all ended.

After 17 months in hiding as the "Black Pimpernel", Nelson Mandela was captured by apartheid police just outside Howick, KwaZulu-Natal. He was traveling in a car with anti-apartheid activist Cecil Williams, disguised as a chauffeur.

When Nelson Mandela stood trial later that year, the court didn't hand down a life sentence. He was sentenced to just 5 years in prison with hard labour! The charges? Inciting a strike and leaving the country without a passport. But the regime was terrified of his influence.

In July 1963, while Nelson Mandela was safely locked away serving his 5-year term, police launched a surprise raid on Liliesleaf Farm. They hit the jackpot, capturing his closest comrades and seizing hundreds of secret documents including Mandela's personal diaries and military travel logs. The state used the evidence found at the farm to drag Nelson Mandela out of his cell and put him on trial all over again. That initial 5-year term evaporated, replaced by a life sentence in the infamous Rivonia Trial.

Today, we don't just remember an arrest, we remember the resilience that followed it. They locked up the man, but they could never lock up the ideal of a free and democratic South Africa.

24/06/2026

The Thatched Cottage was home to a number of operatives who played a pivotal role in the liberation struggle. On 11 July 1963 the day of the Raid, an important meeting to discuss Operation Mayibuye, the plan to overthrow the apartheid government by force, was underway. Walter Sisulu, Ahmed Kathrada, Bob Hepple, Govan Mbeki, Raymod Mhlaba and Rusty Bernstein were arrested here. Their arrest was followed by what was to be known as the Rivonia Trial and subsequent imprisonment at Robben Island.

12/06/2026

Today, we honour eight brave men who stood in the dock during the Rivonia Trial, namely, Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki, Ahmed Kathrada, Raymond Mhlaba, Andrew Mlangeni, Elias Motsoaledi, and Denis Goldberg. They were sentenced to life imprisonment at the conclusion of the Rivonia Trial.
The state arrested them at Liliesleaf Farm and charged them with sabotage, guerrilla warfare, and conspiracy to overthrow the apartheid government. They openly admitted to sabotage, arguing that decades of peaceful protest against racist laws had been met only with state violence, leaving them no choice but to fight back. While the state pushed for the death penalty, the world held its breath. When Judge Quartus de Wet announced life sentences instead, a wave of relief and defiance swept through the courtroom.
They formed Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), transitioning the liberation movement from passive resistance to armed struggle. They united a nation, the diverse group of African, Indian, White, and Coloured leaders proved that the fight for freedom crossed all racial lines. They sparked global action: Their trial exposed the cruelty of apartheid to the world, triggering international sanctions and boycotts that eventually crippled the regime.
As we look at the democracy we share today, we remember the 27 years on Robben Island, the broken families, and the unbreakable spirit of the Rivonia 8.

11/06/2026

At Liliesleaf we honour stories that have shaped our nation. Today we celebrate another chapter of South Africa pride as Bafana Bafana takes to the field.

May your determination inspire us, your teamwork unite us and your performance make the nation proud.

Good luck, Bafana Bafana!😃

09/06/2026

Ambassadors Visit Liliesleaf

Ambassadors of Norway and Sweden visit Liliesleaf. CEO Mr. Thabiso Motau welcomed Ambassador Anne Beathe Kristiansen (Norway) and Ambassador Anna Karin Eneström (Sweden) for a tour and discussions. The visit rekindled collaboration and explored future partnerships, with a special focus on expanding Liliesleaf’s educational outreach programme.

02/06/2026

Did you know one of the ANC’s most successful undercover operations looked exactly like an innocent tourist holiday?
Between 1986 and 1993, Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) pulled off an incredibly audacious smuggling operation right under the noses of apartheid border guards.
Under the guidance of Joe Slovo, the ANC set up a fake travel agency in London called Africa Hinterland. They advertised rugged overland African safaris to white young, completely unsuspecting backpackers from Australia, Europe, and New Zealand.
The Bedford truck was used to secretly smuggle weapons and military supplies into South Africa to arm the ANC's underground resistance movement. It transported over 30 tons of heavy military materiel (including AK-47s, explosives, and limpet mines) directly into South Africa to sustain the underground resistance.
Visit Liliesleaf for more…

25/05/2026

LILIESLEAF FARM ON AFRICA MONTH

It was at Liliesleaf Farm where Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, and other Umkhonto We Sizwe (MK) strategists debated the necessity of securing foreign military aid to fight against the apartheid regime. Umkhonto We Sizwe, the military wing of the African National Congress (ANC), was formed at Liliesleaf Farm. The decision to send Nelson Mandela on a secret seven-month mission across Africa, was finalized in meetings held at Liliesleaf Farm. He travelled from the farm in January 1962 to begin his African mission under the alias name of David Motsamayi.
Nelson Mandela travelled across 15 African nations—including Botswana, Tanzania, Ghana, Nigeria, Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco. His core objective was to introduce the ANC’s strategic shift from non-violent protest to guerrilla warfare and secure funding, weapons and training bases. In February 1962, he addressed the Pan-African Freedom Movement conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, securing institutional alignment with continental liberation movements
Today, we honor Madiba and his comrades’ vision of a united, prosperous, and liberated Africa. True freedom lies in uplifting one another, preserving our shared history, and building a brighter future together.
Happy Africa Month !!!

20/05/2026

20/05/2026

The vibes were unmatched! A huge thank you to -Ebert-Stiftung South Africa for choosing us to host their workshop on the 30 May 2026.

Our space was absolutely buzzing with talent and good energy. We are proud to provide a space where meaningful discussion and learning can take place.