§ Mr. HoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make immediate316W representations to the South African Government to appeal for clemency for Tjeluvyo Mgedezi, the miners' leader who has been sentenced to be hanged.
§ Mrs. ChalkerIt is not our normal practice to intervene in such cases. We do so only exceptionally, when all other avenues have been exhausted. Our criteria are that the case must be clearly political, and there must also be strong extenuating circumstances or grounds to doubt the fairness of the judicial process. Our embassy in Pretoria has spoken with Mr. Mgedezi's lawyers and understands that he intends to petition President Botha for clemency.