Mbeki acknowledges Botswana's role

In the words of Mbeki, Botswana took a truly frontline role during the struggle, albeit in a secretive way, in order to avoid provoking the apartheid government. To learn that Kgosi Linchwe II of Bakgatla was used to receive, keep and distribute ANC weapons for more than 20 years is amazing.

According to Mbeki's speech at Sir Ketumile Masire Foundation, Botswana government was fully aware of the role of Linchwe as they were aware of other Batswana's roles in the ANC underground machinery in Botswana. Mbeki himself tells of a story when the government of Botswana helped whisk him away to Tanzania when he was being returned from Bulawayo to South Africa via Botswana by the apartheid system.