Issued by: Office of the President
STATEMENT ON ALLEGED TALKS BETWEEN PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA AND MR PW BOTHA
The Office of the President would like to correct the false impression in the media that President Nelson Mandela had spoken with Mr PW Botha in the past 48 hours and tried to persuade him to change his attitude and still appear before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
President Mandela last spoke to Mr PW Botha late in 1997. At the time, President Mandela even offered to accompany Mr Botha to the hearings of the TRC. The suggestion was rejected by Mr Botha.
As such Mr Botha elected deliberately to break the law. The President followed negotiations between the TRC and Mr Botha on Tuesday with keen interest and welcomed them; but he was at no stage involved.
The President has already indicated through his own actions that no South African is above the law and that those who invite the might of the law upon themselves despite the extended generosity of the South African people must bear the full consequences of their actions.
Issued by the Office of the President
16 April 1998