Nelson Mandela Foundation

Sunday, 20 April 2014 marks the 50th anniversary of Madiba’s renowned “Speech from the Dock”. 

To mark this anniversary the Nelson Mandela Foundation is releasing a rare photograph of Madiba taken on 12 June 1964 as he was leaving the court.

Rare photograph of Mandela

Rivonia Trial: Mandela being transported from the courthouse

Photograph of Nelson Mandela being transported from the courthouse.

(Image: Copyright Lionel Shapiro)

A rare photograph of Nelson Mandela aged 44 and taken on the day he was sentenced to life in prison emerged within days of his passing on 5 December 2013.

The image of Mandela inside the van taking him and his colleagues to start serving their life sentences was taken by university student Lionel Shapiro on 12 June 1964.

One can see emerging from the bars of the van the clenched fists of two of the seven comrades with whom he was sentenced.

Close up of photo of Mandela being transported from the Rivonia Trial courthouse

A close up version of photograph of Nelson Mandela being transported from the courthouse.

(Image: Copyright Lionel Shapiro)

Shapiro emailed the Nelson Mandela Foundation saying he had ‘unique’ photographs he wanted to share with us.

Archivist Lucia Raadschelders made contact with Shapiro and arranged to receive the photographs.

“I was terribly excited and terribly sad. I almost cried when I saw them,” she said.

The copyright of the photograph rests with Lionel Shapiro.