S. Africa Talks to Mandela About How to Free Him Without Triggering Riots

The government is talking to jailed black nationalist leader Nelson R. Mandela about ways to effect his release without triggering bloody riots, Information Minister Christoffel van der Merwe said Friday.

In a statement carried by the independent South African Press Assn., Van der Merwe said, “The situation that could lead to Mr. Mandela’s release is being discussed with him, and it is being discussed in government circles.”

He added that he could not promise that Mandela, leader of South Africa’s outlawed African National Congress, would be freed this year, however.

Mandela, 70, was jailed for life in 1964 for sabotage and plotting to overthrow the country’s white-led minority government.

“If we just released him today . . . it would undoubtedly have the result that people would get killed. We have to create a situation where that will not be the result,” Van der Merwe said.

The minister declined to say why he believes Mandela’s release would cause riots and deaths.

Van der Merwe said Justice Minister Hendrik J. Coetsee, who is known to get on well with Mandela, is seeking his cooperation to avoid bloodshed after his release.

Mandela’s lawyer, Ismail Ayob, said it is absurd to suggest that releasing his client would cause deaths and said he was not aware of discussions with the government.

“I think they are just looking for excuses yet again not to release Mandela. There would be a great outpouring of joy at his release after serving two or three life sentences, but I cannot imagine why even one person would die,” Ayob said.

“Mr. Mandela is not in jail anymore; he is in detention,” Van der Merwe said.

Mandela’s wife, Winnie, said earlier this year that he was more isolated and lonely in the comfortable prison house he now inhabits than he had ever been in jail.