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In response to media reports that I received a telephone call from Dr Allan Boesak, let me place on record that I have not received any telephone call or calls from Dr Boesak while he has been in prison.

But let me also add, that had I received a call from him, I would have had no hesitation in speaking to him.

It is my understanding that it is usual practice that prisoners have access to phones within prisons under certain circumstances. To this end, most prisons have public telephones, which are available to prisoners except if they have had this privilege withdrawn for some or other reason.

It is therefore quite normal for prisoners to phone their partners, family, friends, colleagues or comrades. Indeed I have on many occasions received calls from prisoners from within the confines of prisons. There is therefore nothing untoward or sinister in this.

Dr Boesak and I have worked closely in the past, firstly when I was Deputy President of the UDF and he patron, and also when I was General-Secretary of the South African Council of Churches and he a member of the executive.

We were both involved in many activities in the course of the anti-apartheid struggle. Whatever has happened does not affect our close relationship.

Contact Nazeem Mahatey on 082 376 3820

Issued by The Presidency

19 February 2001