Senior Advocate George Bizos was due to fly to Cape Town late yesterday for further consultations with Nelson Mandela in Pollsmoor Prison, indicating that negotiations over the details of the ANC leader’s release from prison are continuing.
It is believed negotiations broke down last week over demands that the ANC leader have a “cooling off” period away from his home in Soweto after his release. This was because the authorities were worried about the effects of simply freeing him unconditionally.
It is believed that Mandela has taken a hard line against demands that he spend such a “cooling off” period outside of the country. His family have made it clear that he wishes to be released on South African soil. His family have indicated his release is likely, but may not happen for some months.
But it appears the mechanics of his release — where and under what conditions it takes place — are also being discussed. Although the government is under enormous international pressure to release him, Security Forces appear to be concerned that simply releasing him unconditionally could set in movement an unpredictable chain of events.
They are believed to have pushed for a “cooling off” period, in the belief that if he spends time outside of the country, his return to Soweto will be less tumultuous. Alternatively, they have sought assurances on what he will do immediately after his release.
Negotiations are understood to have broken down over Mandela’s insistence that he be released unconditionally. However, the fact that Bizos, who has represented Mandela since his conviction for sabotage in 1962, has flown down again to Cape Town seems to indicate that negotiations are continuing. Speculation and rumour about an imminent release have been rife all week, with the international media on constant standby.
The State President, PW Botha, scotched most of the rumours this week when he reiterated the preconditions for Mandela’s release laid down two weeks ago. This indicated that the release or at least some agreement on the release of Wynand Du Toit, the South African soldier held in Angola, remains a key factor in Mandela’s release.