The trial of Fred Carneson, a listed communist begins at the Supreme Court in Cape Town

Updated: 30 Sep 2019

The trial of Fred Carneson, a listed communist begins at the Supreme Court in Cape Town

The trial of Fred Carneson, a listed communist, member of the banned South African Communist Party (SACP) and former editor of the New Age began at the Supreme Court in Cape Town. Carneson faced three counts of sabotage and contravention of the Suppression of Communism Act. On 25 May Carneson was sentenced to a total of five years and nine months' imprisonment. After nearly seven years in prison, Carneson was released on 24 February 1972, following which he left South Africa to join his family in London. Eventually, he was employed at the National Union of Teachers in London. The Carnesons returned to South Africa in 1991 and settled in Cape Town. Fred became a local councillor and the Treasurer of the SACP in the province. He died on 8 September, 2000 in Cape Town.

How we know this

01SAHO, ‘Fred Carneson’, from South African History Online, [online], Available at www.sahistory.org.za [Accessed: 14 February 2013]
02O’Malley, P., ‘1966’, from Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, [online], Available, at www.nelsonmandela.org.za [Accessed: 12 February 2013]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2013, March 20). The trial of Fred Carneson, a listed communist begins at the Supreme Court in Cape Town. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0095320

South African History Online (2013) 'The trial of Fred Carneson, a listed communist begins at the Supreme Court in Cape Town', South African History Online, 20 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0095320 (Accessed: 26 October 2026).

South African History Online, The trial of Fred Carneson, a listed communist begins at the Supreme Court in Cape Town [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0095320, (accessed 26 October 2026).

"The trial of Fred Carneson, a listed communist begins at the Supreme Court in Cape Town." South African History Online, 20 Mar. 2013, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0095320. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

South African History Online. "The trial of Fred Carneson, a listed communist begins at the Supreme Court in Cape Town." South African History Online. March 20, 2013. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0095320.