No Retaliation for House Burning, Mandela Orders
Imprisoned black activist Nelson Mandela has ordered that there should be no witch hunt after black youngsters burned down his home and has sent a message of peace to South Africa’s townships, his lawyer said today.
The jailed leader, in a message relayed by lawyer Ismail Ayob at a news conference, said he was shocked by the news that his home in Johannesburg’s Soweto township was gutted by fire on Thursday.
“His first question was whether anyone had been hurt,” said Ayob, who visited Mandela in Cape Town’s Pollsmoor Prison on Thursday.
“He ordered that there should be no prosecution or witch hunt. It is a matter that will be resolved by the people of Soweto,” he said.
Ayob said the house would be rebuilt over the next few weeks.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
