Mandela death: He 'did not exist' under apartheid businessman says Nelson Mandela was a "mystical figure" to white people living in South Africa during the 1980s, a Welsh businessman has said. Mike Miles, from Bridgend, said the former South African President who was never talked about and "did not exist." Mr Miles lived in the country under apartheid from 1981 to 1994 and has been visiting South Africa since. He told Mai Davies why he believes the country's current state of democracy is not working.