50 years since Lilieslief

July 11, 2013 was the 50th anniversary of the raid on Lilieslief Farm. Like the Sharpeville Massacre and a few other seminal events in South Africa's recent turbulent past, the raid and the subsequent Rivonia Trial became lightening rods that would galvanize the population and change the course of South African history. Among those arrested, Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisuzu, who along with the others convicted of crimes against the state, would serve upwards of the next 26 years in prison.

Beautifully restored, all that is left of the vast Lilieslief farm is the main farmhouse, a garage, some servants' and workers' quarters and other important historical outbuildings. There is a modern research and education center that has been added to the site as well.

Like the Apartheid Museum, the exhibits were very well done. You had a choice of an organized or self-guided tour. Both began with a 12 minute film which gave an overview of the events leading up to the raid and a description of the raid itself. As you worked your way through the buildings, additional photographic displays and video footage helped tell the rest of the story.

Many revolutionaries took refuge at Lilieslief during the Apartheid era including Nelson Mandela who masqueraded as a groundskeeper there. In addition to a hide-out and meeting site for the underground government opposition, Lilieslief was also used to broadcast Radio Freedom which provided vital contraband communication amongst the blacks and colored.

A part of the history that I had never heard before was the story of the Great Escape. Four of those arrested managed to escape incarceration before the trial with the assistance of a young Afrikaans policeman. Brought to life by video interviews and television footage, it was an amazing story of bravery and, quite frankly, sheer luck. This has all the makings of a major motion picture! Steven Spielberg, Sean Penn, Denzel Washington, are you listening?