Nelson Mandela

Specialists and activists criticised Mandela's government for not giving the HIV/AIDS epidemic sufficient political priority early enough as it spread rapidly. After leaving office, Mandela instead became one of the most prominent voices in the fight against AIDS, particularly from the 2000 International AIDS Conference in Durban.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Political responsibility

Mandela had supported Allan Boesak and considered him for a prominent diplomatic position. When a scandal arose over the use of donor funds, an inquiry ordered by the President found no criminal responsibility while criticising negligent management. Boesak was subsequently convicted by the courts of theft and fraud. The gap between initial political exoneration and judicial outcome prompted contemporary criticism of favouritism and premature exoneration.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

Mandela is celebrated for prioritising a negotiated transition and reconciliation, but some South African young people and radical movements now criticise him for accepting a political and economic compromise that left deep racial inequalities in wealth, land and ownership intact.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

In September 1998, Nelson Mandela's South Africa and Botswana carried out a military intervention in Lesotho, officially under SADC auspices, following a post-election crisis and mutiny in the army. The operation, known as Boleas, met stronger resistance than anticipated, resulted in deaths and contributed to serious destruction and looting in Maseru, prompting criticism of its preparation, legality and Pretoria's regional motives.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Command responsibility

Following the fatal shooting outside Shell House in March 1994, Mandela acknowledged in 1995 that he had instructed ANC security personnel to defend the headquarters in the event of an attack, including if it meant killing. This admission fuelled lasting controversy over political responsibility for the incident and the ANC guards' conduct.

State of the evidence

Admitted by the person

Attribution

Directly implicated

After peaceful resistance methods failed in the face of apartheid repression, Mandela helped establish Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) and acknowledged planning a sabotage campaign targeting, among other things, state infrastructure. He was sentenced to life imprisonment at the Rivonia Trial by the apartheid regime.

State of the evidence

Admitted by the person