After the raid on Liliesleaf, Afrikaner lawyer Bram Fischer, leading counsel for the defence at the Rivonia Trial and chairman of the South African Communist Party, along with Wilton Mkwayi, tried to re-establish the MK High Command. Fischer was arrested nine and a half months after going underground, and in 1966 was sentenced to life in prison. In a sworn statement from the dock, he said that there was a higher duty to break immoral laws passed by a small minority to deprive the majority, on account of their colour, of their most elementary rights. "At least one Afrikaner should make this protest." Bram Fischer remained in prison until he developed cancer and the authorities released him to die at home.