Mandela, ex refuses to criticize him18: 04 12/03/2010, Adam Gabbatt, guardian.co.uk, Evening Standard of London, the media, Nelson Mandela, news and n

Mandela, ex refuses to criticize him18: 04 12/03/2010, Adam Gabbatt, guardian.co.uk, Evening Standard of London, the media, Nelson Mandela, news and newspapers, South Africa, UK news, world news Guardian Unlimited

Winnie Mandela stated that 'we are disappointed "in Evening Standard story was' fictitious', but emphasizes the role of history


Nelson Mandela, former wife has refused to criticize the former South African president in an interview about his decision to accept the Nobel Peace Prize.

The Evening Standard published an interview with Winnie Madikizela-Mandela on Monday accused of Mandela "has disappointed us."

She came to condemn his decision to accept the Nobel Peace Prize 1993 together with FW de Klerk, South Africa's president in 1990, who took the decision to release Mandela.

The remarks were reported in South Africa, where the party governs the country, the African National Congress, said Wednesday that their leaders speak with Madikizela-Mandela, when he returned to the country.

The story took a new turn today when the 73-year-old rejected the inflammatory comments attributed to him.

"I did not give an interview .... It is therefore not necessary for me to respond in detail on the content of an interview invented" it said in a statement distributed by the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

"I deal in the coming days with what I see as an inexplicable attempt to undermine the unity of my family, the legacy of Nelson Mandela and the high regard with which the name of Mandela held here and around the world."

Madikizela-Mandela was traveling abroad when the interview conducted by Nadira Naipaul - wife of Nobel laureate VS Naipaul - was published this week.

The Evening Standard published a statement this afternoon saying it "can not understand," Madikizela-Mandela, the version of events.

"Nadira Naipaul is a distinguished journalist who visited Winnie Mandela at his home and spoke at length about their experiences," the statement said.

"Nadira and her husband, the writer Sir VS Naipaul, are photographed with Winnie Mandela, and this image is printed with the article.

"We can understand the denial of Winnie Mandela, an event and conversation that clearly took place.

In the article, Madikizela-Mandela, quoted by Archbishop Desmond Tutu called an "idiot" and criticizing her ex-husband.

"Mandela has disappointed us. He agreed to a bad deal for blacks," the Standard quoted him as saying.

"Economically we are still abroad. The economy is very 'white'. There are so few blacks, but many of those who gave their lives in the struggle have died without reward."

The citation continued: "I can not forgive to go to receive the Nobel Prize [Peace Prize in 1993] with his jailer De Klerk. From the hand is gone. Do you think De Klerk freed from the goodness of their hearts? Had to . The days of dictation, the world had changed, and our struggle is not a flash in the pan, was bloody to say the least and given us rivers of blood. was kept alive by all means at my disposal ".

Madikizela-Mandela said he had spoken with Archbishop Tutu on the history of the Evening Standard and was talking to Mandela and his wife, Graca Michel.

"Finally, I repeat, do not give me any interview Mrs Naipaul," she said.

"Any further questions on the contents of that interview should be addressed to her fictitious."

Nelson Mandela
South Africa
London Evening Standard
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Adam Gabbatt


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