United States, Washington, DC:

South African Airline Ambassador Mission Director, Thulani Mabaso, was invited to the United States by Brian Kidwell, Airline Ambassador’s Government Affairs Director.

During Thulani’s visit, Brian had arranged lectures Thulani would give at Cornell University, the US Congress and many other institutions.

Thulani related his hardships as a prisoner at Robben Island, where he shared prison time with Nelson Mandela. Thulani was also a member of the ANC, which is listed as a terrorist organization by the US government.

                Thulani, Brian and son David in Robben Island      

Brian Kidwell used his US State Department contacts to get Thulani a visa to travel here in the US  and he made an appointment for Thulani to see Senator Dodd, a friend of Airline Ambassadors who has helped us on many international issues and Congressman Howard Berman (D California).

Based upon their meeting with Thulani, the Senator and Congressman sponsored a bill that was finally sent to President Bush.  Once signed into law, the bill will allow Nelson Mandela (and Thulani) to visit the United States without the secretary of state having to certify that he is not a terrorist.

Negotiators from the Senate and the House

agreed Thursday night on a final version of the bill to remove from U.S. databases the names of the former South African president and anybody else marked only because of a relationship with the African National Congress.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told lawmakers in April that she was embarrassed by the situation.

                                                                                                 South African Airline Ambassador Mission Director

                                                                                                              Thulani Mabaso with Brian Kidwell

                                                                                                       and Nancy Rivard at Robben Island Prison.

The ANC has been South Africa's ruling party since the country's rebirth in 1994 as a majority-ruled democracy rather than a white-ruled state where the vote was based on race.

The ANC was removed from the State Department's list of terror organizations years ago, but its members have remained on U.S. immigration watch lists. During the Cold War, the West considered the ANC a communist organization that wanted to bring down pro-Western South Africa.

The Mandela situation came up as Rice testified in a legislative hearing in April.

"It is frankly a rather embarrassing matter that I still have to waive in my own counterpart - the foreign minister of South Africa - not to mention the great leader, Nelson Mandela," Rice said.

         Thulani at the AAI Sewing School in Capetown

Read the Press Release from Christopher Dodd's (D CA) Office...

Full Circle Magazine article featuring Thulani Mabaso

News...