South Africa

Measures of Mercy

Antiapartheid sympathizers won partial victories in two celebrated South African causes last week. State President P.W. Botha commuted the death sentences of the Sharpeville Six, five black men and one black woman sentenced under the so-called common-purpose law for joining a mob that murdered a black official in 1984. International leaders had long pleaded with Botha to pardon the six. He finally did, but they must still serve jail terms of from 18 to 25 years.

Next day the government announced that Nelson Mandela, 70, will not return to jail when he finishes hospital treatment for tuberculosis. But the spiritual head...

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