In 1985 the racial segregation policy in South Africa, led by President PW Botha (Timothy West), may be facing pressure to release ANC (African National Congress) leader Nelson Mandela (Clarke Peters) from prison. British businessman Michael Young (Jonny Lee Miller) tries to act as an intermediaryto free Mandela under orders from his CEO Rudolf Agnew (Derek Jacobi), and he enlists the assistance of Professor Will Esterhuyse (William Hurt) to deal with PW Botha (Timothy West), the white leader who wants to hold on to power, no matter how difficult, using intelligence information gathered by Dr. Niel Barnard (Mark Strong) to undermine the Mandela supporters, including Thabo Mbeki (Chiwetel Ejiofor), at ANC and keep the white leadership in control.