On 5 January 1965, three members of the African National Congress (ANC) and Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) Mac Maharaj, Laloo Chiba and Andrew Masondo, including an unknown Raymond Nyanda, arrived at Robben Island. The two, Maharaj and Chiba, were part of the Little Rivonia Trialists, with Wilton Mkwayi and others.
With the MK National High Command in tatters, the political leadership had thrust the responsibility of reconstituting it on the shoulders of Wilton Mkwayi. In November 1963, Chiba was invited by Mkwayi to serve on the MK’s 2nd National High Command, together with David Kitson and Lionel Gay.
Once the Rivonia Trialists were sentenced, the 2nd National High Command carried out various acts of sabotage with pipe bombs on railway lines in Pimville, Nancefield, New Canada, Mlamlamkunzi, Phomolong and Mzimhlope, and on the Vrededorp Post Office. In mid-1964, the Congress Movement suffered yet another setback when Chiba, Kitson and Gay, and later Mkwayi, were arrested.
The Little Rivonia Trial was an apartheid-era court case in which several members of MK’s 2nd National High Command faced charges of sabotage. The accused were: Maharaj, Chiba, Dave Kitson, John Matthews and Wilton Mkwayi. Lionel Gay, turned state witness, and in return, the prosecution dropped the charges against him. All the accused were found guilty in a trial that occurred from November to December 1964.
Mkwayi received a life sentence; Kitson twenty years; Chiba eighteen years; Matthews fiftee
Is there more information on Raymond Nyanda? Was it ever confirmed that he was a planted regime spy before his mysterious “suicide”? He was not the only spy who was planted amongst Political Prisoners on RI. There were a few cases of individuals who suddenly appeared on the political landscape on RI. Most of these were arrested alone and had no links with the movement or any other political formation. This part of history needs further research.
Thank you so much for keep us informed Castro