March 1986. East German lawyer Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Vogel and his second wife Helga left his office in East Berlin, and transferred to West Berlin's TXL airport, where they boarded a flight to FRA and transferred to a SAA B744 to JNB via SAL. On arrival in JNB they flew to Sun City, where he was to attempt to release Nelson Mandela from prison in a "Swap". It proved unsuccessful and he would return to East Berlin after his four days in the sun empty handed.
F.W. de Klerk would release Mandela from prison in 1990. On June 11th 1990, Willy Brandt hosted a reception for Nelson Mandela after having invited him to Bonn after his release.
The incredible story of the attempted release of Mandela can be read by searching "A spectacular attempt to release Mandela from prison under the Apartheid regime" by Prof. Dr DR.Ulrich van der Heyden.
Lance Shippey