All photographs | Martyrs, saints & sell-outs

Nelson Mandela is flanked by Alfred Nzo and Joe Slovo at DF Malan Airport to welcome newly returned ANC and SACP exiles

Nelson Mandela is flanked by Alfred Nzo and Joe Slovo at DF Malan Airport to welcome newly returned ANC and SACP exiles

Trevor Manuel with his then wife Lynne Matthews and son Govan on his release from detention. 1988

Trevor Manuel with his then wife Lynne Matthews and son Govan on his release from detention. 1988

Ebrahim Rasool at home with his parents on his release from detention. July 1988

Ebrahim Rasool at home with his parents on his release from detention. July 1988

A gagged journalist outside Independent Newspapers in Cape Town protesting against the draconian press laws during the Save the Press Campaign in 1989

A gagged journalist outside Independent Newspapers in Cape Town protesting against the draconian press laws during the Save the Press Campaign in 1989

Mary Burton, Bo Petersen (seated from second left) from the Black Sash amongst guest speakers at an End Conscription Campaign meeting in the Beattie Building at UCT.

Mary Burton, Bo Petersen (seated from second left) from the Black Sash amongst guest speakers at an End Conscription Campaign meeting in the Beattie Building at UCT.

Leah Tutu and others protest outside St George’s Cathedral after the last ‘white’ elections on 6 September 1989 where police killed 29 people

Leah Tutu and others protest outside St George’s Cathedral after the last ‘white’ elections on 6 September 1989 where police killed 29 people

‘Grassroots’ journalist Veliswa Mhauli greets comrades outside Cape Town Magistrates Court after release from Section 29

‘Grassroots’ journalist Veliswa Mhauli greets comrades outside Cape Town Magistrates Court after release from Section 29

ANC Women’s League Women’s Day meeting, community members commemorating women political prisoners at St. Francis Church Hall in Langa

ANC Women’s League Women’s Day meeting, community members commemorating women political prisoners at St. Francis Church Hall in Langa

Cheryl Carolus at a SWAPO solidarity meeting in Cape Town

Cheryl Carolus at a SWAPO solidarity meeting in Cape Town

Relatives and supporters of the remaining Robben Island prisoners stage a demonstration on board a ferry to highlight the plight of hunger strikers on the island

Relatives and supporters of the remaining Robben Island prisoners stage a demonstration on board a ferry to highlight the plight of hunger strikers on the island

Winnie Madikezela-Mandela at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission where she testified at the hearing of the brutal killing of Stompie Seipei in 1988

Winnie Madikezela-Mandela at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission where she testified at the hearing of the brutal killing of Stompie Seipei in 1988.

Dora Scott, mother of Leon Scott, is arrested on Greenmarket Square during a protest for the release of the Forbes Trialists

Dora Scott, mother of Leon Scott, is arrested on Greenmarket Square during a protest for the release of the Forbes Trialists

Accompanied by prison personnel, political prisoners on their release from Robben Island prison, in Cape Town Harbour

Accompanied by prison personnel, political prisoners on their release from Robben Island prison, in Cape Town Harbour

Ashley Forbes amongst freed political prisoners disembarking at Cape Town harbour on their release from Robben Island prison. 1991

Ashley Forbes amongst freed political prisoners disembarking at Cape Town harbour on their release from Robben Island prison. 1991.

Student protesters overwhelmed by teargas on the University of the Western Cape campus, Bellville, Cape Town

Student protesters overwhelmed by teargas on the University of the Western Cape campus, Bellville, Cape Town

Youth protest, and barricades erected as a defence against police brutality, Belgravia Road, Athlone, Cape Town, 1985.

Youth protest, and barricades erected as a defence against police brutality, Belgravia Road, Athlone, Cape Town, 1985.

Police tear-gas Defiance Campaign meeting at the Bonteheuwel Civic Centre in 1989

Police tear-gas Defiance Campaign meeting at the Bontehuewel Civic Centre in 1989

Student protest at Rocklands Civic Centre, Mitchells Plain. This was where the United Democratic Front was launched in 1983

Student protest at Rocklands Civic Centre, Mitchells Plain. This was where the United Democratic Front was launched in 1983.

Cape Town March 13 September 1989

Cape Town March 13 September 1989

Police use the sneeze machine in Ashton during the 1990 Defiance Campaign

Police use the sneeze machine in Ashton during the 1990 Defiance Campaign

Students take to the streets in Mitchell’s Plain to protest the 1989 racially segregated elections held under the Tricameral Constitution

Students take to the streets in Mitchell’s Plain to protest the 1989 racially segregated elections held under the Tricameral Constitution

President P.W.Botha addresses the media after receiving captured SADF Prisoner of War Wynand Du Toit at his Groote Schuur Residence in Cape Town

President P.W.Botha addresses the media after receiving captured SADF Prisoner of War Wynand Du Toit at his Groote Schuur Residence in Cape Town

The Naked Women’s Protest at KTC squatter camp on the Cape Flats.

The Naked Women’s Protest at KTC squatter camp on the Cape Flats

The South African Defence Force bids farewell to the former Minister of Defence, Prime Minister, and President of the Republic of South Africa, P.W. Botha at a ceremony held on the streets of Cape Town in late October 1989

The South African Defence Force bids farewell to the former Minister of Defence, Prime Minister, and President of the Republic of South Africa, P.W. Botha at a ceremony held on the streets of Cape Town in late October 1989

Father PJ Pearson in the church hall where the congregation were tear-gassed and attacked by police after the funerals of ANC members Robbie Waterwitch and Coline Williams

Father PJ Pearson in the church hall where the congregation were tear-gassed and attacked by police after the funerals of ANC members Robbie Waterwitch and Coline Williams

A policeman stands guard outside a Cape Flats polling station during the municipal elections held under the Tricameral Constitution. (1988)

A policeman stands guard outside a Cape Flats polling station during the municipal elections held under the Tricameral Constitution. (1988)

Rev. Michael Weeder being dragged after a teargas attack, June 1990

Rev. Michael Weeder being dragged after a teargas attack, June 1990

Clerics including Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Alan Boesak stage a protest on the steps of St. George’s Cathedral

Clerics including Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Alan Boesak stage a protest on the steps of St. George’s Cathedral

Trevor Manuel, Reggie September, Dullah Omar and others at a mass demonstration in Cape Town

Trevor Manuel, Reggie September, Dullah Omar and others at a mass demonstration in Cape Town

Activist June Esau in a celebrative mood at a mass meeting in Bonteheuwel Civic Centre in Cape Town

Activist June Esau in a celebrative mood at a mass meeting in Bonteheuwel Civic Centre in Cape Town

Funeral of student killed by police in Oudtshoorn

Funeral of student killed by police in Oudtshoorn

Young men protest against national service, Cape Town city centre in 1989. Kobus Pienaar is on the far right

Young men protest against national service, Cape Town city centre in 1989. Kobus Pienaar is on the far right

Benny Gool and Faried Esack with others at a Call of Islam protest at the General Post Office in Darling Street, Cape Town.

Benny Gool and Faried Esack with others at a Call of Islam protest at the General Post Office in Darling Street, Cape Town.

The End Conscription Campaign led by Ivan Watson announces their intent to defy conscription orders

The End Conscription Campaign led by Ivan Watson announces their intent to defy consciption orders.

Tokyo Sexwale, Steve Tshwete and others who were released from Robben Island join ANC comrades in saluting the Yengeni trialists

Tokyo Sexwale, Steve Tshwete and others who were released from Robben Island join ANC comrades in saluting the Yengeni trialists

Constitutional Development Minister Chris Heunis waves as he officially opens the Crossroads municipality with its new mayor

Constitutional Development Minister Chris Heunis waves as he officially opens the Crossroads municipality with its new mayor

A protest as part of the 1989 Defiance Campaign on the road to Victor Verster Prison in Paarl. 80 % of the buses were stopped before they left their areas

A protest as part of the 1989 Defiance Campaign on the road to Victor Verster Prison in Paarl. 80 % of the buses were stopped before they left their areas

A support rally for detainees held in Jamieson Hall at the University of Cape Town in 1986

A support rally for detainees held in Jamieson Hall at the University of Cape Town in 1986

Mass protest for open beaches at Strand beach

Mass protest for open beaches at Strand beach.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu leads protestors in a demonstration against the racially segregated beaches on Gordon’s Bay beach

Archbishop Desmond Tutu leads protestors in a demonstration against the racially segregated beaches on Gordon’s Bay beach

Funeral in Oudtshoorn of a student killed by police

Funeral in Oudtshoorn of a student killed by police

Funeral of a murdered student in Kleinvlei in the Western Cape

Funeral of a murdered student in Kleinvlei in the Western Cape.

Archbishop Tutu speaking in Khayelitsha where the ANC Women’s League pays tribute at a funeral of murdered civic leader, Michael Mapongwana in 1991

Archbishop Tutu speaking in Khayelitsha where the ANC Women’s League pays tribute at a funeral of murdered civic leader, Michael Mapongwana in 1991.

Funeral of Ernest Payi in Nyanga in 1988

Funeral of Ernest Payi in Nyanga in 1988

Mass funeral at the Guguletu Cemetery

Mass funeral at the Guguletu Cemetery

Colleen Lombard and Zuraya Abass, two co-accused in the Yengeni Trial with family members at the Supreme/High Court

Protest march. From left: Elijah Barayi, Chris Hani, Jay Naidoo, Alan Boesak, Cyril Ramaphosa, Tony Yengeni

Protest march

Ahmed Cassiem greets his daughter after he is released from Robben Island in 1990

Colleen Lombard, Alpheus Ndude and Chris Giffard take a break during the Yengeni Trial

Rashied Lombard greets his wife, Colleen after her release from Section 29

Attorney Christine Berger, Colleen Lombard and (unknown) outside the Supreme / High Court during the Yengeni Trial