THE BACKGROUND In 1963 – 1964, Nelson Mandela was facing the almost certain possibility of the death sentence. He had been charged with sabotage. Joel Joffe, defence lawyer said, “It would be difficult for the judge not to sentence them (Mandela and fellow trialists) to death” (as quoted in Anthony Sampson Mandela; The Authorised Biography, p. 192). Mandela’s lawyers were worried. The state’s case seemed to be incontrovertible. Mandela himself admitted guilt. The gallows loomed large. In a four hour statement, Nelson Mandela did not attempt to exonerate himself but instead explained the reasons for his political position. Against the advice of his lawyers who were concerned that his final words were unnecessarily provocative, Mandela ended his statement by saying that if need be he would be prepared to die for his beliefs.

It is significant that the first case tried by the constitutional court was to declare the death penalty unconstitutional. The interlinking of these two significant moments is celebrated in the artwork – the function of which is to remind people of the fundamental principle of the right to life. (Wilma Cruise 2004).