He was usually in front, sometimes at the back
PRESIDENCY spokesman and struggle stalwart Mac Maharaj has recalled how Nelson Mandela always led — from the front and the back.
In once instance, he ordered the recall of ambassadors who were appointed without his permission while he was on a trip abroad.
Maharaj, who was the transport minister in Mandela’s cabinet, said: “Madiba asked: ‘ Who made these appointments?’
“They said, no, it was foreign affairs. They followed due processes and they gave it to the deputy president to sign. He [Mandela] said: ‘Rescind that decision.’
“Aziz Pahad was deputy [foreign] minister at the time and he was one of the people who went to Mandela saying: ‘ You can’t rescind it. It is done. We have letters of credentials exchanged. The foreign governments have agreed. These people are on their way.’
“They were pleading with him, saying the protocols have been completed. It is against international diplomatic practice to do this.
“Madiba said ‘change it’ and it was changed. Different people were appointed.”
Maharaj singled out Mandela’s unilateral talks with the apartheid government while he was in prison as an example of how he had led from the front.
“He was not negotiating, but he was pushing the regime to negotiate with the liberation movement.”
But, sometimes, Mandela allowed the national executive committee to discuss a matter and reach a decision even though he held a particular view, said Maharaj.
As an example of leading from behind, Maharaj recalled a proposal by South African Communist Party boss Joe Slovo to suspend the armed struggle to expose the government.
Mandela proposed that Slovo, Maharaj, Thabo Mbeki and Ronnie Kasrils talk to provide a proposal.
“He knew that if these four people came with a draft, he has covered all the opinions in the room.”
The ANC’s armed struggle was suspended with hardly a discussion.
“He was like a shepherd, because a shepherd does not follow the sheep wherever they want to go. He is there to direct them to a particular position,” said Maharaj.