Thriller In Pretoria

Getting tickets to a Michael Jackson concert at the last minute isn’t easy, unless you’re South African President Nelson Mandela, that is. The promoter of Jackson’s current five-concert tour of South Africa said a presidential aide called him Monday to say Mandela, companion Graca Machel and her three children would like to attend that night’s show. The promoter promptly found prime tickets, arranged for Mandela to meet the rock superstar complete with snacks and walked the entourage to their seats. Apparently, it helps to have pull. Above, Mandela and Jackson embrace in 1996.