The Mandela family and the Nelson Mandela Foundation have hailed the decision by Penguin Random House South Africa (PRHSA) to immediately withdraw the book Mandela’s Last Years.
The Mandelas say Penguin’s decision vindicates their position and they trust that it sends out a loud and clear message that some things are worth more than money, and that the one whom “we call Father of our Nation can rest in peace”.
The publishing house yesterday announced that the decision was taken out of respect for the late Nelson Mandela’s family.
In a statement the company said: “PRHSA accepted Mandela’s Last Years for publication after the author Vejay Ramlakan advised the publisher that he had been requested by Mr Mandela’s family to publish the book.
“The book was meant to portray Nelson Mandela’s courage and strength until the very end of his life, and was in no way intended to be disrespectful. However, given the statements from family members, we have decided to withdraw the book.”
Mandela’s widow Graça Machel was considering legal action against Ramlakan and PRHSA.
The family was in the dark as to who could have authorised the publication of the book about the final years of the country’s founding president.
Follwoing PRHSA’s decision, Mandela’s grandson Mandla Mandela said:
“We are delighted that Penguin Publications have decided to withdraw the publication of Mandela the Last Years by former Surgeon-General Dr Vejay Ramlakan.
“We believe this is the correct choice as it upholds the dignity of our world icon and respects the wishes of his family to guard the sanctity of his last moments.”
He said the family wished to express its appreciation to PRHSA for taking heed and being sensitive to the feelings of the family and those entrusted with the protection of Madiba’s legacy.
“We are told that some member of the Mandela family was consulted by the author but remain entirely unaware of this. We would like to appeal in the interest of transparency that the name of the family member be disclosed so that we may verify and deal with this matter,” he said.
“We want to thank Auntie Graça Machel for acting so swiftly. Penguin’s decision vindicates our position and we trust that it sends out a loud and clear message that some things are worth more than money and that the man whom we call Father of our Nation can rest in peace. We believe that abuse of the Mandela name and legacy is an act of bad faith and unbecoming of the type of treatment meted out to so brave and noble a legacy.”
He said the private and personal disclosures made in the book would have been a sad day in which profit triumphed over dignity, honour and respect.
“It would indeed have been one of those moments which Madiba referred to when he said: “There were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested. We thank Penguin Publications for acting with sagacity and upholding the final wishes of one who gave so much to the world.”
Ramlakan did not respond to phone calls and SMSes last night.
Nelson Mandela Foundation chief executive officer Sello Hatang told the Cape Times that they will issue a list of inaccuracies contained in Ramlakan’s book in coming weeks.
“The Nelson Mandela Foundation welcomes the decision by Penguin Random House South Africa to withdraw the book.
“We believe this book should have never been published. You will remember that Ms Graça Machel had already indicated her displeasure and that she hadn’t been consulted and subsequently more and more family members came out,” he said. “We believe that there are some inaccuracies in the book.
“One of them is how the author claims that at the time of Madiba’s ill-health, Ms Machel worked for the foundation and was doing foundation work. We have indicated that this can only be either ignorance or maliciousness on the part of the author because Ms Machel has never been an employee or a trustee of the Nelson Mandela Foundation.”