Graça Machel lashes out over doctor’s book about Mandela’s final years

A NEW book about the final years of Nelson Mandela’s life, penned by the head of his medical team, was “written with respect” and the support of family members.

But yesterday, Mandela’s widow Graça Machel condemned Mandela’s Last Years by Vejay Ramlakan “in the strongest terms”.

“It’s an affront to and an assault on the trust and dignity of my late husband. It breaches the doctor-patient relationship of confidentiality and I’m taking legal advice on whether to institute legal proceedings against the author and its publisher.”

Ramlakan responded briefly yesterday. “Penguin Random House has released a statement, which I agree with.”

In the publisher’s statement, issued in response to Machel’s legal threat, Penguin Random House South Africa said it had accepted Mandela’s Last Years for publication after Ramlakan advised the firm that he had received permission from Mandela’s family to publish the book.

“Their representative was provided with a proof of the book. Mandela’s Last Years sets the record straight about the final years of his life, medical challenges, interactions between family members and staff.”

Machel said she would consult executors Justice Dikgang Moseneke, George Bizos SC and Judge Sangoni “on how best to protect Madiba’s good name and reputation”.

Graça Machel