Bram Fischer is sentenced to life imprisonment

Bram Fischer, the former political activist was arrested in 1964 for being a member of the illegal organisation Communist Party of South Africa (CPSA). He was later released on bail and in January 1965 and went into hiding. He remained underground until was re-captured in Johannesburg on 11 November 1965. On 23 March 1966 his trial began in Pretoria. Fischer was convicted of conspiring with the African National Congress (ANC) Umkonto we Sizwe to commit sabotage and v iolating the Suppression of Communism Act. On 9 May 1966 he was sentenced to life imprisonment for his political activities against apartheid and twenty-four years for being a member of the CPSA. He was subjected to harsh and degrading prison conditions. After several appeals by his family members for his release due to ill health, Bram Fischer was finally released to the custody of his brother in Bloemfontein in March 1975