The African National Congress has appealed to the world community to demand that Prime Minister Botha act to stop the execution of James Mange, and has urged governments to intercede on his behalf.
The acting chairman of the UN Special Committee against Apartheid made a statement appealing "to all governments and organisations to take urgent action to save the life of James Mange, and secure prisoner-of-war status and treatment for captured freedom fighters". This appeal followed a statement by the representative of India to the United Nations General Assembly on 15 November, who stated that "this latest news underlines the urgency of international action for an end to repression and the release of political prisoners in South Africa... The United Nations and Member States must immediately take action to save the life of James Mange, for the UN has recognised that the struggle of the South African people for liberation is a legitimate struggle and a significant contribution to the fulfillment of the purposes and principles of the United Nations". The European Parliament appealed to South Africa to have Mange's appeal heard in public – unlike the trial which was largely in camera – with international legal observers. The letter was sent by the European President Simone Veil on behalf of all political groupings in the Parliament.
