Widespread demands for Nelson Mandela's unconditional release followed news that he had tuberculosis. The government's response to the new demands remained unclear, combining an insistence on 'renunciation of violence' as a precondition of release with references to humanitarian and political factors.
Nelson Mandela was taken from Pollsmoor Prison to Tygerberg hospital in Cape Town on 12 August, said to be suffering from 'pleural effusion' of the left lung. A more definite diagnosis was initially withheld from the public. Tuberculosis was not confirmed until an examination of Mandela on 20 August by a Swiss doctor, Heinrich Herzog. There was no indication that Dr Herzog's visit complied with the Mandela family's request for an independent doctor of their choice. On 31 August Mandela was transferred to the Constantiaberg clinic in Diep River.
At the provincial National Party Congress in Natal on 18 August, President Botha said he was 'prepared to release Mandela if ... he rejected violence' and added that 'he hoped he would co-operate' and not 'choose to go back to prison'. The Minister of Information, however, shifted the focus away from Mandela's continued commitment to the armed struggle to the 'wider political' impact 'which would result from his release'. The importance of a statement renouncing violence 'depends upon the circumstances' - its 'absence would not necessarily prohibit release'. He said concern now was with 'what the implication would be for the country if he were released'.
This emphasis on a 'flexible' evaluation of a number of factors conforms to the government's current position on the early release of political prisoners which dates from August 1987. The work of the Prison Advisory Release Board in reviewing cases for release, highlighted by Botha last year, was restated by Dr Strauss, the medical superintendent of Tygerberg hospital.
Mandela has now been accorded 'special' visiting rights in a move that has been interpreted as a preliminary to possible release. Winnie Mandela's visits are not restricted. A visit by a 'group of leading anti-apartheid activists' was agreed. Whilst this was cancelled because it would have coincided with Mandela's transfer to the clinic, reports indicated that another visit was planned. He was also visited by the Minister of Justice, but the purpose of this visit was not made public.
