651 - NM, Interviewed by media during his visit to Canada, 24 September 1998, tape 71760MT, Archive, SABC Information Library, Johannesburg.

[ANOTHER EVENT]

Q: How long South African troops are going to remain part of the SADC force there?

MANDELA: We cannot say how long they are going to remain and I must also point out at the outset that it is incorrect to project the image of South African troops only being in Lesotho. It’s an initiative of SADC and we cannot take any unilateral action about the troops that are there. The matter will have to be discussed with our other partners in SADC how long they should remain there and that is going to depend on the situation on the ground.