Nelson Mandela privately revealed that General Constand Viljoen prevented a military coup in South Africa

Billionaire Christo Wiese revealed that former President Nelson Mandela credited General Constand Viljoen for not attempting a military coup in South Africa.

He shared details about his discussion with Mandela during an interview with Rob Hersov at the Stellenbosch Tatler and Truth Report symposium.

During the early nineties, South Africa faced a volatile period where the country was transitioning from white rule to a democratic country.

It was certain that the African National Congress (ANC) would win the 1994 elections, and not everyone was happy with the change in power.

Viljoen was a prominent figure in the South African military sector, having served as the Chief of the South African Army and the South African Defence Force.

Wiese said that he had dinner with Mandela at his home in Cape Town, named Genadendal, where he learned something he did not know.

It was an informal discussion, and he shared details with Wiese which he would not ordinarily share.

“He told me there was one person that this country is so indebted to that they can never repay the debt,” he said.

“That person is General Constand Viljoen. ‘I pleaded with him for three days not to attempt a military coup, as he was under immense pressure.”

This made Wiese realise that trouble was much closer during the transition period than people knew. He was one of the people who laughed off those fearing a civil war.

“It shows how wrong I was, because I laughed at people who suggested that was a possibility,” Wiese said.

“From Mandela’s lips to my ears, he said, ‘I pleaded with him for three days not to bring the troops out of the barracks.'”

Wiese remains upbeat about South Africa

During the symposium, Wiese said he remains upbeat about South Africa because it is a uniquely resilient country.

He said that ordinary South Africans and non-politicians are increasingly engaged and willing to talk to each other rather than at each other.

This, he said, was reminiscent of the productive discussion groups leading up to the 1990 political transition.

Wiese added that South Africa’s problems can easily be solved by the private sector in a relatively short time.

“Unlike many failed states, South Africa has a large, dynamic, and committed private sector,” he said.

“If the private sector is let loose, it can resolve infrastructure and state-owned enterprise failures within one to three years.”

He explained that South Africa has clear problems but also clear, achievable solutions, unlike many developed nations in Europe that are struggling with intractable issues.

He added that South Africa is uniquely resilient, has overcome many adversities, including two wars, and has undergone a peaceful democratic transition.

He said that doomsdayers have been proven wrong time and again in South Africa, and that this will likely continue.