This Day in History: October 17, 1961
Additional Date: October 17, 1961
African National Congress (ANC) leader, Walter Sisulu was arrested on a charge that he did not own a reference book. Subsequently Sisuslu was confined to his house for 5 years. Before his banishment in June 1961 Sisulu, Joe Slovo, Nelson Mandela and Govan Mbeki secretly met and discussed the formation of uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), the ANC’s armed wing. This group constituted the MK’s high command. He served as political commissar of MK with his friend Mandela as its Commander in Chief. During his banishment in July 1963, Sisulu was arrested together with the High Command of the ANC at Lilliesleaf Farm in Rivonia.