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Rare Rivonia trial artefacts up for sale online

Cape Town - Rare artefacts from the Rivonia trial have been put up for sale on a classifieds website.

Classifieds website Gumtree announced on Thursday that two cupboards specifically built for the Rivonia trial of 10 anti-Apartheid activists including Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki and others.

"The smaller of the two cupboards was customised with 46 drawers – one for each of the 46 charges laid against the ten leaders of the African National Congress (ANC) on trial. The other housed the evidence documents," Gumtree said.

The cupboards were purchased by the seller in 2009 and though offered to Apartheid Museum as well as the Nelson Mandela Trust, were not sold due to a lack of funds.

The Rivonia trial was a landmark case in SA as the government of Hendrik Verwoerd tried to cut the head off the resistance to the regime and the accused expected the death sentence.

Both cupboards were built for the trial and were originally owned by then-state prosecutor, Dr Percy Yutar, whose number is still visible on the back.

"We've often seen various artefacts and historically important items pass being bought and sold on the platform, but this is a rare piece of history," said Johan Nel, country manager of Gumtree.

The cupboards are being advertised at R10 000.


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