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Mandela reunited with co-accused Mandela reunited with co-accused
(about 12 hours later)
South African ex-President Nelson Mandela is to meet a group of people who were on trial with him during apartheid, in a historic reunion. Former South African President Nelson Mandela has met a group of men and women with whom he was on trial during the struggle against apartheid.
The event is part of the celebrations for Mr Mandela's 90th birthday later this year. Mr Mandela was an accused on three occasions during that period, including the famous Rivonia Trial, when he was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Mr Mandela was tried on three occasions during the struggle against apartheid in the 1950s and 1960s. Twenty surviving defendants met the ex-President in Johannesburg.
The cases included the famous Rivonia Trial, at which he was sentenced to life imprisonment. The historic reunion was part of the celebrations for Mr Mandela's 90th birthday later this year.
The trials were landmark events in the campaign to end white domination and Nelson Mandela was always the key figure. It has long been Mr Mandela's wish to be reunited with the survivors of the trials that were landmark events in the 1950s and 60s.
Good health Now they have been able to share their memories about the early efforts to end white domination in South Africa.
In 1956, he and more than 150 other anti-apartheid activists were tried for treason. After four long years, they were all acquitted. 'Struggle continues'
But in 1964, Mr Mandela was back on trial, among a group who were given life sentences. Of the more than 150 men and women who went on trial for treason with Nelson Mandela in 1956, only 25 are still alive.
On Friday, about 25 surviving defendants will be reunited with Mr Mandela, and spend two hours in discussion with him. Now in their 70s and 80s, many of these well known activists are increasingly frail.
They include Ahmed Kathrada, who was a close colleague of Mr Mandela's during the years in prison on Robben Island. Dennis Goldberg, who was among those in the dock with Mr Mandela at the Rivonia Trial in 1964, paid tribute to his former colleagues.
But many famous figures from the past - including Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu and Joe Slovo - have died since Nelson Mandela was released from prison in 1990. "The people I met are people who selflessly committed themselves to building a free South Africa with justice and democracy, and a better life for all our people. And that struggle continues," he said.
With his 90th birthday just four months away, Mr Mandela appears to be in good health, although his public appearances have been significantly reduced, and he looks increasingly frail. The reunion was made possible with the help of Sweden which gave extensive support to the anti-apartheid movement from 1960 onwards.
Mr Mandela will turn 90 in July. He appears to be in reasonable health, but now makes far fewer public appearances.