page 503 - Long Walk Original Manuscript [LWOM_503.jpg]

the precautions taken by the prison authorities during my appearances in court indicated that such a move was expected in official quarters.

I nevertheless made a sketch of the prison with particular emphasis on the exact location of the prison hospital and the gates leading to the prison hospital, and smuggled it out with my comments. I discouraged the proposed operation and suggested that the project be postponed until I was convicted and serving as a prisoner, at which time the vigilance of the authorities would be more relaxed. At the time we were awaiting the return of the first recruits who had been sent for military training and made suggestions as to how they should be posted. I insisted that Raymond Mhlaba should be stationed at headquarters in Johannesburg and the remaining recruits to be in charge of their own areas in different parts of the country. I insisted that the sketch with its accompanying notes be immediatly destroyed after they had been persused.

The Congress movement had set up a "Free Mandela Committee" with Ahmed Kathrada as secretary. The Committee launched a lively campaign around the slogan "Free Mandela".

The trial had been set down for hearing on a Monday. Meanwhile the Congress movement had made arrangements to stage a demonstration that day, the plan being to line up demonstrators on either side of the route along which the van conveying me to court would be travelling. It was clear from press reports, talks and remarks by prison officials, that a large turn out was expected for the proposed demonstration and the authorities were shaken. The preceeding Saturday at 10.00 in the