Arrest of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
President de Klerk announces his intention to release Nelson Mandela
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1964 in South Africa
Explore 33 historical events and records for South Africa in 1964.
Historical records for South Africa in 1964
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 33 of 33 unique records.
33Unique records
1 of 1Page
16Named events on this page
20Named people on this page
2Places on this page
February
April
I Am Prepared to Die Speech
Defends democracy and explains the turn toward sabotage.
Statement from the Dock
Delivers his famous statement from the dock.
Trial
Tried alongside Nelson Mendella
Trial
Tried alongside Nelson Mendella
Trial
Tried alongside Nelson Mendella
Trial
Opening day of Mandellas defence
Trial
Tried alongside Nelson Mendella
Trial
Tried alongside Nelson Mendella
Trial
Tried alongside Nelson Mendella
Trial
Tried alongside Nelson Mendella
May
Trial
Yutar sums up the prosections case against Mandela in the Rivonia trial
Trial
Yutar sums up the prosections case against Mandela in the Rivonia trial
June
Life Sentence
Is sentenced to life imprisonment after the Rivonia Trial.
Political Prison Sentence
Is sentenced for sabotage-related offences with fellow defendants.
Rivonia Life Sentence
Receives a life sentence at the Rivonia Trial.
Rivonia Life Sentence
Receives life imprisonment in the Rivonia Trial.
Rivonia Life Sentence
Receives life imprisonment at the end of the Rivonia Trial.
Rivonia Life Sentence
Receives life imprisonment following the Rivonia verdict.
Rivonia Trial Sentencing
Avoids the death penalty but faces indefinite incarceration.
Sabotage Conviction
Becomes the only white defendant among those given life imprisonment.
Sabotage Conviction
Is convicted alongside other senior liberation movement leaders.
Sabotage Conviction
Is sentenced with Mandela and other accused leaders.
Long-Term Imprisonment Begins
Begins eighteen years of continuous imprisonment on the island.
Robben Island Arrival
Returns to Robben Island after receiving a life sentence.
Other events (month unknown)
Arrest of Govan Mbeki
Arrested with Nelson Mendella
Cabinet Responsibility Expanded
Expands his administrative standing inside the National Party government.
OAU Banda decides in favour of relations with South Africa
The OAU Banda decides in favour of relations with South Africa
Public Works Portfolio
Takes responsibility for the public works portfolio.
Rivonia Trial Security Context
Vorster supervised the justice and security apparatus while leading antiapartheid activists received prison sentences following the Rivonia Trial.
Trial
Defence counsel
Trial
Attorney for Nelson Mandella
Trial
Judge in the Rivonia trial
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.