1996-07-18 Michael Jackson visits Nelson Mandela in South Africa 1996

Sun, 19 Jan 2025 18:47:26 +0000

On 18th July 1996, two days after he had performed a full birthday concert for the Sultan in Brunei, Michael Jackson came to South Afrika. Michael landed in Johannesburg, attended the 78th birthday celebration of back then South African president Nelson Mandela and later laid a wreath at a memorial in the black township of Soweto. On 19th July, Michael gave a speech in Sun City to announce the South African dates of the HIStory Tour in 1997. Before he left the country on 20th July 1996, Michael gave a short press conference together with Nelson Mandela in Pretoria.

In this video:
00:00 1996-07-18 RTL Exclusiv ...MJ lands in Johannesburg (German)
00:22 1996-07-18 AP ...MJ lands in Johannesburg
01:33 1996-07-18 AP ...MJ at Mandela's house for birthday party
03:07 1996-07-18 AP ...MJ at memorial in Soweto
04:54 1996-07-19 MTV News ...MJ in South Afrika
05:31 1996-07-18 AP (report) ...MJ in South Afrika
06:48 1996-07-18 TRT ...MJ in South Afrika (Turkish)
07:10 1996-07-18 ZDF Heute Journal ...MJ at Mandela's birthday (German)
07:19 1996-07-19 AP ...MJ at Sun City resort, posing with small lion
08:15 1996-07-19 AP ...MJ speech at the Sun City resort*
09:59 1996-07-20 AP ...press conference MJ & Mandela in Pretoria
11:40 1996-07-20 AP (report) ...press conference MJ & Mandela in Pretoria

*Sun City speech first uploaded by nalonso68jackson (https://youtu.be/bpHAh6vFHsI). Thank you! Everyone check out his channel!

A bit more complete transcript of Michael's speech in Sun City (thanks to @deserveMjj at Facebook):
Michael Jackson: "We are behaving like people without compassion and love for the most vulnerable section of society. The children of the universe are without a spokesperson, they are voiceless. We are all touched by the atrocities committed against children: sexual, physical abuse, child slave labor, educational neglect. We feel ashamed, Angry, Appalled. But there is no action No action.", Michael declares. At the press conference also, he gives an emotional discourse to the people of South Africa: “First, I would like to say, sincerely, from the bottom of my heart, you have no idea how happy and honored I am to be here in South Africa. The people here have been so kind to me their love, their generosity, the hospitality has been overwhelming. I mean, I’m saying this from the bottom of my heart, ‘cause I really mean it. And I’m not wearing these glasses to be Mr. Cool, I wear these glasses because they are a facade, so you won’t have to see my tears ... [voice choking with emotions] ... I’m so happy to be here and you all have been so wonderful to me and I want to thank you so much and I thank you for coming to Sun City. I would like to take this opportunity to thank president Nelson Mandela and the wonderful people of South Africa for this gracious, really gracious welcome to your wonderful country. I just love it. I love it so much, I’m looking for a house to buy here [laughs]… I would like to thank the wonderful wonderful (inaudible) and the staff and its hospitality and hosting this conference. And I’m sorry I was not able to play South Africa dates previously, because I was so much looking forward to coming here. But now I am really excited about bringing the HIStory Tour – a brand new show, the HIStory Tour to South Africa. We are in negotiations right now, with promoters now and, but we’re playing South Africa in mid January 1997, in Capetown, in Durban and Johannesburg. My promoter, Mr. Marcel Avram is here today to announce additional dates and answer any questions you may have regarding the HIStory World Tour. I love you from the bottom of my heart and I thank you so much for your wonderful wonderful opportunity. Thank you.”

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