Word: mandelas
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After the government eased up on the number of visitors and the rules covering prison discussions, those who saw Mandela came away impressed, almost awed. Amazingly, he showed no sign of bitterness and was fully informed on both domestic and foreign affairs. He was a socialist, he said, not a Communist, and his goal was a nonracial, democratic South Africa. If the government would legalize the African National Congress that he once helped lead and open negotiations, the organization would call a "truce" in the armed struggle...
During the first half of 1986, Mandela had three visits from the seven- member Eminent Persons Group, which the Commonwealth countries sent to South Africa to try to advance a negotiated settlement. Mandela told the group that he was confident he could unify the rival black organizations and bring them into talks with the government. He stressed his commitment to a nonracial state that would provide security to whites and all minorities. Finally, he promised that once he was released, he and his ANC colleagues would tour the country's black townships, urging an end to violence and supporting negotiations...
Despite that failure, many South Africans and foreign observers regard Mandela as the only person who can prevent a race war in his country. "This man is the last hope for a negotiated solution between blacks and whites," says Helen Suzman, the strongest antiapartheid voice in white South Africa...
...Winnie Mandela also believes her husband offers the government its last chance to negotiate with moderate black leaders and the radical young activists who frequently terrorize the townships. His is the "last generation of peaceful resistance," she says. "Among the younger generation, there is no room whatsoever for negotiations...
From the small red brick house in the black township of Soweto that has become the headquarters for her struggle, Winnie Mandela remains defiant and determined. "The black man does not have the word reform in his vocabulary," she says. "Blacks in this country are talking about the transition of power to the majority. The government will not release Mandela because he will negotiate only on a transfer of power. The Afrikaner is very far from accepting that...