Saving Nelson Mandela

The Courtroom as a Site of Epistemic Resistance: Mandela at Rivonia

“…Just as the mere labeling or accusation of a person as terrorist today is sufficient to exclude the person so labeled from the category of the human and therefore from the protection of the law, the mere utterance of the word communism at the height of the Cold War would send "shudders down the spines of most white South Africans" and can expose individuals to violence. 127 The defense was aware of the state's strategy and sought to make use of the allegation to give account of how the war against communism in South Africa is used to muzzle peaceful opposition. By affirming his appreciation for the teachings of communism and the alliance with the South African Communist Party in the struggle against Apartheid, maintaining a neat philosophical distinction between the aims and ideological creeds of the ANC and the Communist Party, Mandela takes aim at White South Africans and liberals in the West "whose fears of rampaging Communism in Africa trumped their objections to Apartheid."…”

“…By affirming his appreciation for the teachings of communism and the alliance with the South African Communist Party in the struggle against Apartheid, maintaining a neat philosophical distinction between the aims and ideological creeds of the ANC and the Communist Party, Mandela takes aim at White South Africans and liberals in the West "whose fears of rampaging Communism in Africa trumped their objections to Apartheid." 128 Addressing this specific allegation, Mandela used the occasion to filter into the public register grievances that were denied voice and visibility. In distinguishing the ANC from the Communist Party, he said, "The ideological creed of the ANC is, and always has been, the creed of African Nationalism.…”

“…123 From the outset, the prosecution sought to depict a communist image of the ANC and its leaders. 124 In his opening statement, State prosecutor Percy Yutar argued that the acts of sabotage with which the accused were charged bears the characteristic marks of "communist secrecy" 125 and are "calculated to further the achievement of one or more of the objects of Communism." 126 By synchronizing the global war against communism with the interests protected by Apartheid, the government intended to stir up a red scare hysteria among white South Africans and the West.…”