From Sharpeville to Rivonia 1959 to 1964 : Merlin Press : 9780850367584 : 0850367581 : 09 Mar 2021 : 1959 was the year James Currey arrived in South Africa and found a nation in crisis. Hopes of change rose and foundered over the next five years. Letters and vivid conversations capture the excitement of daily life and political drama. An extra-parliamentary opposition had used non-violent means of protest since 1952, but on 21 March 1960 the police shot and killed 69 peaceful protesters in Sharpeville. It was a turning point. In March 1960, 35,000 Africans protested n Cape Town and the police responded with further savagery. Shortly after Randolph Vigne, Neville Rubin, Tim Holmes and James Currey founded The New African a radical review of politics and the arts. The intense comings and goings of a small magazine served as effective cover for acts of sabotage.In July 1964 Randolph Vigne appealed to Clare and James to help him escape. Clare had no hesitation; ?Randolph and Gillian are ou