Walter Sisulu evades security police and goes underground

Date: 19 Apr 1963
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

Walter Sisulu evades security police and goes underground

On 19 April 1963, African National Congress (ANC) leader Walter Sisulu forfeited R6000 bail and went underground. Security Police visited Sisulu's house and found out that Sisulu had fled. The incident happened while he was awaiting the outcome of an appeal against a 6 year sentence. On the following day it was published in the Rand Daily Mail (a newspaper banned in March 1985) that he fled to Bechuanaland (now known as Botswana). Three Months later, Sisulu and the high command of uMkhonto weSizwe(MK), armed wing of the ANC were arrested at Lilliesleaf Farm in Rivonia during a raid conducted by security police.

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How we know this

01O’Malley, P. ‘1963’, from O’Malley, [online], Available at www.nelsonmandela.org [Accessed: 15 March 2012]
02South African History Online, ‘The Revonia Trial and Lilliesleaf Farm’, [online], Available at www.sahistory.org.za [Accessed: 15 March 2012]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2012, April 11). Walter Sisulu evades security police and goes underground . South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0081692

South African History Online (2012) 'Walter Sisulu evades security police and goes underground ', South African History Online, 11 April. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0081692 (Accessed: 10 September 2026).

South African History Online, Walter Sisulu evades security police and goes underground [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0081692, (accessed 10 September 2026).

"Walter Sisulu evades security police and goes underground ." South African History Online, 11 Apr. 2012, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0081692. Accessed 10 Sept. 2026.

South African History Online. "Walter Sisulu evades security police and goes underground ." South African History Online. April 11, 2012. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0081692.