Accused #2: Walter Sisulu

256 hours of recordings of the Rivonia trial revivethe political fight of Mandela and 7 coaccused against apartheid. The film focuses on accused N°2, Walter Sisulu. “Mandela would, without fail, seek out Sisulu before making any kind of big decision.” It was an open secret among Mandela’s comrades in the struggle. Without Walter Sisulu, there wouldn’t have been Nelson Mandela. Sisulu was the one who found Mandela. Sisulu was his guide. Sisulu was his mentor. The world came to know about Sisulu during the Rivonia trial in 1963 and 1964. Mandela, accused number one, read a speech during the trial justifying why the ANC had resorted to violence. Sisulu, accused number two, was the first of the group to be cross-examined. The sound archives of the trial‒which have recently been restored by the INA‒allow us to relive the five days of his gripping confrontation with an overtly racist prosecutor. Sisulu, who faced the death penalty, stood up to the unrelenting aggression and gave as good as he got.