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A N C D A I L Y N E W S B R I E F I N G
SATURDAY 26 SEPTEMBER 1998
PLEASE NOTE: This News Briefing is a compilation of items from South
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@ MINISTERIAL MEETING OF THE NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
At a Ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement chaired by
Foreign Minister Alfred Nzo in New York yesterday, the following
communique was released:
1. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation
attending the 53rd Session of the General Assembly met on 24
September 1998 in New York and held a general debate to exchange
views on items before the General Assembly and to consider issues of
importance to the Movement.
2. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation
welcomed Belarus as a new member of the Movement, congratulated the
Republic of South Africa on its assumption of the Chairmanship of
the Non-Aligned Movement and also thanked it for logistical and
other arrangements made towards the success of the XII NAM Summit
held in Durban. They further extended their appreciation to Colombia
for its Chairmanship of the Movement during the past three years.
3. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation
reiterated their commitment to the principles of the Movement and
the need for further cooperation and solidarity in promoting and
defending the interests of the Movement in global affairs on the
basis of common positions agreed to by the members.
4. In this regard the Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Heads of
Delegation recalled the Final Document of the XII Summit of the
Non-Aligned Movement held in Durban in the period 29 August to 3
September 1998 and recommitted themselves to the decisions reached
at the Summit.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
PRETORIA
25 SEPTEMBER 1998
@ COMPREHENSIVE NUCLEAR-TEST-BAN-TREATY (CTBT)
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
MEDIA STATEMENT ON ANNOUNCEMENTS BY PAKISTAN AND INDIA ON THE
COMPREHENSIVE NUCLEAR-TEST-BAN-TREATY (CTBT)
Foreign Minister Alfred Nzo welcomed the statement by the Prime
Minister of Pakistan, Mr Mohammad Sharif, in which he declared his
country's intention to sign the Comprehensive
Nuclear-Test-Ban-Treaty (CTBT), as well as the announcement by the
Indian Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, of his country's
readiness to conclude its ongoing discussions about signing the
CTBT.
Minister Nzo stated in New York last night, following the two
Prime Minister's addresses to the 53rd Session of the United Nations
General Assembly, that "these are positive developments which the
world has been waiting to hear. The early signing and ratification
by both countries would be an important development for the early
entry into force of the Treaty."
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
PRETORIA
25 SEPTEMBER 1998
@ FEATURE-LESOTHO
JOHANNESBURG Sept 25 Sapa-IPS
PRETORIA'S FIRST TASTE OF WAR SINCE 1994
Just a few weeks ago, South Africa was chiding other Southern
African countries for sending troops to the Democratic Republic of
Congo (DRC), but it has now matched up in its own military
intervention in Lesotho.
The tiny mountain kingdom of Lesotho, which is completely
surrounded by South Africa, has given Pretoria its first taste of
war since 1994, a move that may point to a shift in Pretoria's
foreign policy.
Democratic Party (DP) leader Tony Leon, strongly opposed to the
move, says the involvement of South Africa could set a dangerous
precedent and lead to its involvement in other military initiatives
on the continent.
"Such intervention cancels government's previous commitment to
peaceful solutions for conflict situations on the continent," says
opposition National Party defence spokesman Hennie Smit.
President Nelson Mandela dissociated himself from the military
assistance granted the government of the Democratic Republic of
Congo by Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe recently. The differences in
approach to the DRC crisis nearly ripped apart the 14-nation
Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) which Mandela chairs.
Now, Pretoria is at pains to explain intervention in Maseru is
at the behest of the legitimate government of Lesotho and the SADC
amid wide condemnation by people in Lesotho, including King Letsie
III and South African opposition parties.
"This is an SADC operation and not a South African operation
to restore order in Lesotho," says acting president Mangosuthu
Buthelezi. "SADC has made it clear that coup d'etats cannot be
condoned in the region."
However when Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe moved into the DRC in
defence of president Laurent Kabila's government it was in response
to "foreign invasion" of the DRC. South Africa has moved in to
interfere in a domestic problem, critics say.
For the past few months, Lesotho has been gripped by violent
protest over the May 24-26 elections won by the Lesotho Congress
for Democracy (LCD). The protests forced the establishment of the
Langa Commission by the SADC to investigate the allegations of
fraud made by the opposition.
While findings of the Commission, chaired by South African
judge Pius Langa, released last week said there were
inconsistencies in the poll, the body failed to call for fresh
elections, raising the ire of the opposition who vow that peace
cannot be restored unless there is a fresh election.
So far, more than 50 people have died since South African and
Botswanan troops moved into Lesotho on Monday following rumours of
a coup and loss of control by the government of Prime Minister
Pakalitha Mosisili.
A letter dated September 16 from Mosisili to presidents Mandela
of South Africa, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Festus Mogae of
Botswana and Joachim Chissano of Mozambique requested urgent
intervention.
"The only intervention I can and do request urgently is of a
military nature," reads the letter. "The most serious tragedy is
that the police, and in particular the army, are at best,
spectators.
"The mutiny in the Lesotho Defence Force is taking root. The
brigadier who has been forced to be commander, has had to go into
hiding because the mutineers have attempted forcing him to announce
a coup. He has so far refused and fears for his life. In this
instance, we have a coup on our hands," says the letter.
Junior officers recently forced the resignation of army chief
Lieutenant-General Makhule Mosakheng. Together with 28 other senior
officers, he has sought asylum in South Africa.
South Africa's Safety and Security minister Sydney Mufamadi,
who handed over the Langa Commission report last week to Lesotho,
says the ball is now in Maseru's court to decide when the SADC
intervention force should leave before allowing for fruitful talks
between the parties involved.
The government of Mosisili has been unwilling to talk to the
opposition who claim it rigged the May elections which resulted in
the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) winning 79 of the
80 seats in the National Assembly.
Analysts say the storming of Lesotho is reminiscent of forays
into foreign countries during apartheid.
The asymmetry between the strength of the South African economy
and weakness of the rest of its neighbours provide Pretoria with
considerable leverage to ensure compliance with its interests.
Since Mandela became president in 1994, Pretoria has been at
pains to thwart this bully-boy image earned during apartheid. Then,
military distabilisation, euphemistically labelled "forward
defence" involved strikes across the borders, and Lesotho was one
of the states that suffered losses of more than 60 billion dollars,
as a result.
@ MEDIA STATEMENT ON NAM AND EU TROIKAS
Issued by: The Department of Foreign Affairs
Consistent with the mandate of the Durban NAM Summit which calls
for increased dialogue with important economic groupings in the
industrialised world, the NAM Troika of Foreign Ministers, led by
Foreign Minister Alfred Nzo, held wide ranging discussions with the
European Union Troika, led by the Austrian Foreign Minister, Mr
Wolfgang Schussel, in New York late yesterday.
The NAM Troika, which includes Colombia and Bangladesh, took the
opportunity to raise critical economic issues of concern to the
developing world, including the current global financial crisis,
development assistance and the problem of external debt. The
Ministers also discussed the issue of disarmament, United Nations
reform, the International Criminal Court, international organised
crime and narcotics trafficking, as well as the political and
security situations in Africa and the Middle East.
The Foreign Ministers underscored the importance of creating a
mechanism to ensure a more structured and regular dialogue of this
nature and agreed that this matter would be followed up their
officials.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
PRETORIA
25 SEPTEMBER 1998
@ LESOTHO
PRETORIA September 25 1998 Sapa
SOME LESOTHO DISSIDENTS TRYING TO REGROUP: SANDF
Some dissident Lesotho soldiers were on Friday trying to
regroup after three days of clashes with a regional task force, the
SA National defence Force said in Pretoria.
Spokesman Colonel Daan Boshoff said some mutineers retreated to
the outskirts of the capital of Lesotho during the past week's
fighting.
"They are now trying to regroup, and are armed and dangerous.
We are talking about small groups which are difficult to pin down."
Boshoff said Maseru was quiet, although sporadic incidents of
looting, arson and intimidation still occurred.
The regional task force comprises South African and Botswana
soldiers who entered Lesotho on Tuesday under the auspices of the
Southern African Development Community.
Their mission to quell rising unrest over perceived
irregularities in the May general election ran into fierce
resistance from dissident Lesotho soldiers.
Boshoff said the SADC troops' priorities on Friday were to
patrol Maseru, to retain strategic points secured so far, to
prevent the regrouping of dissidents, and to get a joint
operational centre up and running.
SANDF chief General-Siphiwe Nyanda and senior officers arrived
at Ladybrand in the morning after flying by helicopter over some of
the past week's trouble spots.
These included the Katse and Mohale dams about 60km from
Maseru.
SANDF spokeswoman Laverne Machine, who accompanied the flight,
said from Ladybrand that task force troops were still deployed at
both dams.
"There are still mutineers hanging around the periphery of
Katse dam, and the SADC troops are maintaining a presence to keep
the place secure."
Life in the area appeared to be returning to normal, Machine
said.
"From the air we saw kids going to school at Katse as well as
Mohale."
Nyanda will visit Maseru and surrounding areas later in the
day.
@ LESOTHO-TALKS
MASERU September 25 1998 Sapa
LESOTHO GOVERNMENT REJECTS TALKS WITH OPPOSITION
Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili's government on Friday
morning rejected further talks with opposition parties on resolving
the crisis in Lesotho.
The country's monarch, King Letsie III, has been attempting to
bring government and opposition parties to the negiotiating table,
but Lesotho Foreign Minister Tom Thabane rejected his efforts.
"How can we talk to political leaders who appear to have
encouraged their supporters to commit crime and sow anarchy
throughout the country," Thabane, a senior member of the ruling
Lesotho Congress for Democracy, told Sapa.
As far as Thabane was concerned those responsible for the
mayhem, arson and looting of shops in Maseru and other parts of the
country in the last three days should face the "strong arm of the
law".
Opposition parties have in the meantime accepted the king's
invitation for round table talks to resolve the political crisis
stemming from claims that the May election was rigged in favour of
the LCD.
Opposition alliance spokesman Vincent Malebo told Sapa: "We are
ready for talks with the government but only under the leadership
of the king. The ball is now in the hands of the government."
The opposition believed that talks could help resolve the
crisis in the country caused by "forces of aggression", said
Malebo, apparently referring to the military intervention this week
by Southern African Development Community troops at the request of
Mosisili's government.
@ ZIM-SURVEY
HARARE September 25 1998 Sapa
COMPREHENSIVE ZIMBABWE SALARY SURVEY PUBLISHED
Increases granted to Zimbabwe employees in the 12 months to
July 1998 were lower than expected, but proposed increases for the
rest of the year were marginally higher, according to a Zimbabwean
remuneration and fringe benefits survey published this week.
It was published by Harare-based High Post Consultants (HPC) in
association with South African human resource consultancy
FSA-Contact.
Melanie Trollip, FSA-Contact data services manager, on Friday
said the Zimbabwe survey was based on its general staff and top
executive salary surveys, which were widely used in South Africa to
enable organisations to recruit the right calibre of employee at
the right price.
The survey incorporated the salaries and fringe benefit
policies of local companies with annual turnovers from less than
ZD50 million (25 percent of participants) to over ZD500 million.
Job categories covered included executives; administration;
sales and marketing; and all positions in manufacturing, finance,
logistics, information systems and human resources.
The survey found that all participating Zimbabwean
organisations incorporated a cost of living adjustment when
determining their normal salary increases.
This was reflected in the fact that average increases in
Zimbabwe were considerably higher than those granted in South
Africa during the same period.
But HPC chief executive Patrick Chingoka said many other
factors were also considered when salaries and wages were reviewed.
"All participating companies consider performance merit when
determining salary increases of executives and mid-management
personnel. The same factor is considered by only 20 percent of
companies when setting wage increases for hourly-rated workers," he
said.
About 80 percent of organisations took performance merit into
consideration when reviewing the salaries of supervisory and
general staff.
For hourly rated workers, the major influencing factor in wage
reviews was negotiations with unions, with three quarters of survey
respondents taking cognisance of this. More companies also
considered length of service of hourly-rated workers than for other
categories (30 percent for hourly-rated workers compared with
around 20 percent for all other categories below executive level).
In contrast, length of service played no role in determining
executives' salary adjustments.
"Another interesting fact which emerged in the survey is over
one-third of the participating organisations pay a premium in order
to attract the right quality of candidates. Most respondents pay
between 10 percent and 20 percent above the market rate, but 10
percent are willing to pay a premium of over 30 percent in some
instances.
"Job titles, for which premiums are paid, include divisional
directors and managers; executive and general secretaries;
marketing and corporate financial services personnel; group
treasurers; and investment portfolio analysts," Chingoka said.
@ LESOTHO-WILEY
CAPE TOWN September 25 1998 Sapa
COMMITTING SOLDIERS WITHOUT INTELLIGENCE DATA CRIMINAL: MEC
Western Cape community safety MEC Mark Wiley on Friday said
committing troops to an operation without comprehensive
intelligence was tantamount to criminal irresponsibility.
He said the decision could often result in unacceptable
casualties and the country ran an enourmous risk once the decision
had been taken.
"Committing troops to an operation without comprehensive
intelligence is tantamount to an act of criminal irresponsibility.
"To fail for whatever reason, is a national humiliation and
results in commensurate loss of influence. This truism needs to be
remembered when politicians determine budgets and policy regarding
internal and external security matters, including internal
policing," Wiley said.
Wiley, reacting to a photograph of fallen South African
soldiers in Lesotho where a Southern African Development Community
task force was deployed on Tuesday to restore order to the troubled
kingdom, said the picture should be a lasting tribute to the
soldiers who were prepared to carry out the orders given to them.
Wiley extended his provincial government's sympathy and
condolences to the families and friends who suffered losses.
@ NAM-MINISTERS
CAPE TOWN September 25 1998 Sapa
NAM MINISTERS MEET EU
Economic issues affecting the developing world were on the
agenda of a meeting between the Non-Aligned Movement's troika of
foreign ministers, led by South Africa's Alfred Nzo, and their
European Union (EU) counterparts in New York late on Thursday.
The foreign ministry said in a statement on Friday that the
meeting was in line with the mandate of the Durban NAM summit,
which called for increased dialogue with important economic
groupings in the industrialised world.
The NAM troika, which consists of South Africa as chair of the
movement and Colombia and Bangladesh as past and likely future
chairs, had raised issues including the global financial crisis,
development assistance and external debt.
The ministers had also discussed disarmament, United Nations
reform, the International Criminal Court, international organised
crime and narcotics trafficking, and the political and security
situations in Africa and the Middle East.
The EU delegation was led by Austrian Foreign Minister,
Wolfgang Schussel.
The department also said NAM ministers met in New York
yesterday under Nzo's chairmanship to exchange views on items
before the current session of the United Nation's general assembly.
@ LESOTHO-DEATHS
PRETORIA September 25 1998 Sapa
NAMES RELEASED TO TWO SA SOLDIERS WHO DIED IN LESOTHO
Lance-Corporals Sambonga Mtengwane and Sikhum Zett Mafuta were
on Friday identified as two of eight South African soldiers who
died this week in strife-torn Lesotho.
Releasing their names in a statement in Pretoria, SA National
Defence Force chief General Siphiwe Nyanda said the two were from 1
Parachute Battalion in Bloemfontein.
Mtengwane, 28, was from Bloemfontein, and Mafuta, 31, from
Cofimvaba in the Eastern Cape.
Nyanda expressed his condolences to the family and friends of
the two men.
The names of the six others who died in action during the
Southern African Development Community operation to restore peace
to Lesotho were released earlier this week.
They were Captain Johan Nel, 27, Sergeant Jerome Sax, 25, Lance
Corporal Owageng Mothupi, 23, Private Phillip Tshweu, 29, Rifleman
Lucas Magwazana, 34, and Rifleman Albert Mangogape.
@ PAKISTAN-SA
CAPE TOWN September 25 1998 Sapa
SA WELCOMES PAKISTAN NUCLEAR MOVE
South Africa has welcomed this week's commitment by Pakistan to
sign the nuclear test ban treaty, as well as India's announcement
that it is ready to conclude discussions on following suit.
Foreign Minister Alfred Nzo said in a statement released on
Friday that these were "positive developments which the world has
been waiting to hear".
The signing and ratification by both countries would be
important for the early entry into force of the treaty, he said.
India's prime minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, told the United
Nations General Assembly on Thursday that his country wanted the
treaty to go into force no later than September 1999.
On Wednesday, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said his
country was ready to adhere to the treaty, but that this would
depend on whether India resumed its tests.
The two countries conducted nuclear tests in May, which were
condemned by South Africa and other countries.
@ THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT BILL
Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS)
PRESENTATION TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT BILL, MINISTER Z. PALLO JORDAN, 21 SEPTEMBER 1998.
Madam Speaker,
Honourable Members,
Comrades,
Every generation inherits the obligation to interact with the
environment in a manner that will ensure that development serves its
own members and those of future generations.
But in South Africa, our generation faces a further challenge
because our Constitution obliges us and all organs of state to
respect, protect, promote and fulfil the constitutional rights, and
especially the social, economic and environmental rights of our
citizens, in a manner that will:
* promote the achievement of equality; and
* improve the situation of the most vulnerable amongst our
citizens who were the victims of the unjust discriminatory practises
of the past.
The National Environmental Management Bill forms part of the new
body of laws and standards in South Africa and the world.. I believe
that this bill has what it takes to lead the DEAT into the 21st
century.
The proper allocation and management of our natural resources
are key concerns of this government. During the course of 1998 this
legislature passed the National Water Act and the National Forests
Act. Parliament is poised to discuss new minerals, agriculture and
heritage laws and a land tenure rights law. There are possibilities
that the Development Facilitation Act of 1995 may be revisited
before the forthcoming elections.
Within my own department new laws on
* clean air,
* integrated pollution and waste management,
* protected areas and biodiversity conservation, and
* coastal zone management
are being prepared for consideration after the next years
elections.
Our environmental laws and other laws relating to our management
of the environment are fragmented. The task of reviewing,
integrating, consolidating and weeding out the undesirable is an
ongoing process. This bill makes important advances in managing the
(presently) fragmented performance of environmental functions among
various government departments, both horizontally and vertically. In
the light of the cooperation we pioneered with other departments in
the preparation of the white paper on which this bill is based and
in the drafting of the bill itself, I am confident that we are, in
practice, doing what the authors of the Constitution had in mind
when they wrote the chapter on cooperative government.
The National Environmental Management Bill provides the
legislative foundation and framework by which government will ensure
the protection, promotion and fulfilment of the rights entrenched in
section 24 of our Bill of Rights. It contains provisions that:
* give people access to the judiciary to protect their rights,
* will ensure the state or any other transgressor may be held
responsible and legally liable for costs arising from harm to the
environment owing to their actions or failure to take action,
* ensure compliance with legislation,
* promote and give effect to cooperative government as envisaged
in 41(2) of the Constitution.
Through the NEMB government has, for the first time, legislation
that sets environmenal governance on a course that will ensure
sound and consistent decision-making and management of the
environment across government. The NEMB removes uncertainties about:
* the principal basis for decision making,
* cooperative government instruments and arrangements,
* regulatory approach and compliance mechanisms,
* norms and standards for integrated environmental management,
and
* mechanisms that will afford civil society opportunities for
involvement in environmental governance, access to information and
the judiciary to protect their environmental rights.
The principles in Chapter 1 of the Bill reflect government's
commitment to achieving development that is socially,
environmentally and economically sustainable. These principles serve
as a guideline for:
* decision-making in managing the environment and exercising
environment-related functions;
* conciliation and environmental conflict management; and
* the interpretation, administration and implementation of the
law.
Madam Speaker,
Six months ago we published a White Paper on Environmental
Management Policy, and today that policy is being translated into
law. The development of policy and the drafting of the law were
processes involving extensive consultation that added value to the
final product. I owe a debt of gratitude to the following: Firstly
* the hardworking officials in my Department,
* the officials of the environmental portfolios in the nine
provincial governments,
* the members of the reference group chaired by Deputy Minister
Mokaba,
* the drafting team,
the NGOs whose pressure has kept government on its toes,
* the environmental and constitutional lawyers,
* NEDLAC,
* the MINMEC for environmental affairs,
* the 7 DGs who met every Friday for 2 months,
* the South African public for their written and oral
submissions,
* the Portfolio Committee under the able leadership of its
inimitable chair, Comrade Gwen Mahlangu,
* and the former Acting Director-General of my Department, Dr
Francois Hanekom, who managed the entire process under very trying
personal circumstances.
I have had fruitful discussions last week with the Select
Committee of the NCOP about the contents of the Bill. That Committee
is keen to fulfil its important oversight function as soon as
possible.
I believe that in the NEMB we have a law that represents very
significant and innovative measures towards sound and effective
environmental management. This law builds on the constitution and
gives legal effect to the White Paper on Environmental Management
Policy. It is a product of our young democracy and a critical step
in the transformation process to create a society committed to
sustainable development with greater equity and environmental
justice. The Bill creates a fitting enabling legal framework for the
DEAT to lead all organs of state in all spheres along the path of
sustainable development into the new millennium.
@ LESOTHO-BASE
MASERU September 25 1998 Sapa
SIGNS OF FIERCE FIGHTING AT LDF's MAKOANYA BASE
Signs of fierce fighting between Lesotho Defence Force soldiers
and the SA National Defence Force over the last two days were still
evident at Makoanya military base in the Lesotho capital of Maseru
on Friday.
The LDF headquarters were riddled with bullets, and mortars,
and handgrenades, AK47s, R4 and R5 rifles were lying on the ground.
The commander of the SANDF unit stationed at the base,
Lieutenant-Colonel Jorrie Jordaan, said the base was taken over on
Wednesday.
Jordaan said two LDF soldiers died and 15 were injured when the
SANDF tried to take control of the base on Tuesday morning.
LDF soldiers retreated to a nearby mountain where they kept on
firing on the advancing SANDF troops.
Jordaan said they found underground bunkers which some of the
fleeing LDF soldiers had used to escape. He said these bunkers were
for protection against chemical weapons.
"We have not searched the bunkers but all the exit points are
sealed.
"If they are still in there we hope they will come out as we
have cut the electricity and oxygen supply," said Jordaan.
A task team would be sent in to examine the bunkers, which
could have been booby-trapped by LDF soldiers.
Jordaan said a large number of LDF soldiers left the base when
the Southern African Development Community forces invaded, and some
decided to resist. He said about 20 tons of LDF weapons, more than
10,000 small arms ammunition, mortars and machine guns were
confiscated at the base.
It was diffiuclt to estimate how many weapons were still
missing as no records were found.
"There is a possibility that the rebel LDF soldiers might
regroup, but they have no ammunition with them," Jordaan said.
Asked about the preparedness of young and inexperienced South
African soldiers, Jordaan said they had managed to stand their
ground as it was the first time they had been exposed to a real war
situation.
He said the SANDF had achieved its objective of securing the
military base and of excavating weapons.
He said the weapons and ammunition would be taken to a central
area for safekeeping.
In the Makoanya base storeroom, thousands of munitions and
heavy calibre weapons were found stored in boxes marked
"agricultural equipment".
Jordaan said it appeared the boxes and ammunition were from the
former Eastern Bloc.
@ LESOTHO-SUPPLIES
MASERU September 25 1998 Sapa
BASOTHO GO SHOPPING IN SA AS FOOD, PETROL RUN OUT IN LESOTHO
Lesotho citizens on Friday streamed across the border into
South Africa on shopping expeditions as food and other supplies
dwindled in the capital Maseru.
The shortages came in the aftermath of three days of fighting
and extensive arson and looting sparked by the invasion of Lesotho
by Southern African Development Community troops on Tuesday.
Scores of shops and stores were destroyed or damaged in an orgy
of looting and burning, and businessmen on Friday were packing
their goods and leaving Lesotho - an ominous portent for the
economic future of the country.
People waited in 2km-long queues to cross at the Maseru Bridge
border post.
Flowing back into Lesotho were people returning with groceries,
and stocks of beer, petrol and other goods.
A woman said: "There is nothing to eat in Maseru and we will
have to stock enough to ensure we survive. The food shortage will
go on for a long time."
Some of the commuters were walking the 12km distance to
Ladybrand, but most boarded taxis or drove their own vehicles to
South African towns as far as Bloemfontein to buy goods.
Businessmen, whose shops were completely or partially
destroyed, were seen leaving Lesotho, passing through the border
post with truckloads of their merchandise, including fridges,
stoves and other electrical appliances.
Heavily armed SADC troops monitored the flow of commuters in
and out of Lesotho.
@ MANDELA SPEECH AT THE STATE DINNER AT CANADA
Issued by: Office of The President
SPEECH BY PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA AT THE STATE DINNER
HOSTED BY CANADIAN GOVERNOR GENERAL
CANADA, 25 SEPTEMBER 1998
Governor General;
Your Excellencies;
Distinguished Guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Thank you, Your Excellency, for your kind words and your warm
welcome. Let me say at the outset that we have been overwhelmed by
the hospitality accorded us since our arrival.
I am told that Ottawa is one of the coldest capital cities in
the world. But from our experience one would never know that. The
people of this city have warmed our hearts with their welcome and
made us feel that we were at home away from home.
Indeed, for many South Africans Canada was a second home when
their own country denied them their basic human rights. For me too,
this is a return to a country and a city that received me not long
after my release from prison.
How much has changed in the intervening eight years. Today we
can thank you for having maintained your support for the forces of
democracy at a critical time in a transition whose outcome was never
guaranteed.
And to that we add our thanks for over sixty million dollars
given to help kickstart projects launched under our Reconstruction
and Development Programme.
The Canadian International Development Agency has been generous
with us even in times of limited resources, and we sincerely
appreciate the strength of your commitment to our own goals. It was
important that we should lose no time in starting to bring
improvements in our people's lives so that their freedom should gain
concrete content.
Canada's assistance is felt in almost every sphere, to an extent
that we feel you to be a true partner in the transformation of our
country.
With your help we have a new constitution that guarantees rights
and freedoms for all our people and respect for all our diverse
communities. We have new codes of ethics to promote good governance.
With your help millions have gained access to things which most
Canadians may take for granted, such as clean water, housing and
electricity, but which have been only a dream to the majority of
South Africans.
Your invitation to us to pay this visit to your country has
special meaning for us. It gives us a chance to strengthen a
relationship that has meant so much in the past, and which will
allow us together to meet the even greater challenges of development
that lie in the future.
That is why we are accompanied by Government Ministers concerned
with areas of high priority for us: the economy; the justice system;
and health-care.
Our confidence in the future of our relationship is strengthened
by the award with which you have tonight, through me, paid tribute
to the people of South Africa for their achievements.
I will cherish the title of Honorary Companion of Order of
Canada, knowing that it is the highest decoration of your country. I
am moved by the fact that it is the first time that a foreign leader
has received this honour. I humbly accept it as an expression of the
deep bonds between the Canadian and South African peoples, based on
our shared commitment to common values.
We are proud to have worked with Canada to help make the world a
safer place, and in particular to rid it of the scourge of landmines
which have sown such cruel and indiscriminate suffering, especially
in some of the countries of Southern Africa.
We think, this evening, of how much in our histories binds us,
as former colonies and now sovereign members of the community of
free nations, and in particular of the Commonwealth.
In this spirit, I would like in conclusion to say that South
Africa is committed to working with Canada, through the Commonwealth
and all the other fora to which we both belong, to help promote
peace, stability, human rights and prosperity throughout the world.
Ladies and Gentlemen;
I ask you to join me in a toast to Her Majesty the Queen, the
Head of our Commonwealth, to her representative in Canada, His
Excellency the Governor-General; and to the flourishing of relations
between the peoples of Canada and South Africa.
@ NP-WCAPE
CAPE TOWN September 25 1998 Sapa
VAN SCHALKWYK CALLS FOR PROBE INTO SA'S ROLE IN LESOTHO
National Party leader Marthinus Van Schalkwyk on Friday called
for a full public commission of inquiry into South Africa's
military incursion into Lesotho.
Addressing the NP's Western Cape congress in Goodwood outside
Cape Town, Van Schalkwyk said South Africa's defence force had
always had a proud record - when it embarked on an operation, it
did so swiftly.
Eight South African soldiers died in Lesotho this week in a
Southern African Development Community-backed intervention to prop
up the government of Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili.
Van Schalkwyk said he had received invitations to visit Lesotho
from opposition parties and business people based there, but had
not decided whether to take them up.
He would however visit towns near the mountain kingdom.
Van Schalkwyk said the matter had to be dealt with carefully,
since Lesotho was an independent sovereign state and he did not
want to create wrong impressions.
Turning to the issue of opposition co-operation in next year's
general election, Van Schalkwyk said the NP's doors would always
remain open at all levels.
He however claimed the NP remained the only party which could
effectively fight the African National Congress, and that the NP's
position as official opposition in parliament was not in danger.
Recent opinion polls showing a decline in support for the NP
were misleading as they ignored rural areas, Van Schalkwyk said.
He accused the Democratic Party of rejecting full-blooded
co-operation which the NP had offered, saying the DP wanted to lure
white voters away from the NP.
People who were struggling to adapt to the new South Africa
were "emigrating" to the DP.
Van Schalkwyk said the DP's election agreement with the Freedom
Front was a dead-end street for whites.
There were people in the DP who wanted to co-operate with the
NP, but their views were overruled.
"There are egos in the way," he said.
The Freedom Front had proposed that it, the Conservative Party
and the NP should co-operate in next year's poll but the NP had
said "no thank you."
Van Schalkwyk said the NP could not work with racist parties.
@ ALBANY ANC APPLAUDES HEAVY SENTENCE FOR GRANNY RAPER
GRAHAMSTOWN (ECN) - The Albany ANC has applauded the heavy
sentence imposed on Siyanda Bavuma, 28, who was given a 14-year
prison term for the rape of 67-year-old granny earlier this week.
High Court Judge Andre Erasmus sentenced Bavuma of Joza to the
full term and ruled no portion of the sentence be suspended.
The 67-year-old mother of 13 was raped at knifepoint in her
one-roomed shack in April as she took an afternoon rest.
Albany Region ANC spokesman Mr Brian Maloni, who attended the
three-day trial said he was pleased with both the verdict and
sentence.
In an interview, he said: "We support the decision of the courts
to impose heavy sentences for rape and other violent crimes in the
community.
"This shows how committed our government is in its determination
to stamp out crime."
He wished more members of the community would attend court
proceedings to see justice done and encouraged the public to come
forward with information to the police on the activities of
criminals.
He said recent meetings between ANC officials and police focused
on the crimes of murder, rape, armed robbery, theft of motor
vehicles and stock theft.
The aim of the series of meetings was to "strategise and make
the SAPS an effective, working and respected public institution".
He said a Planned Conference on Crime will be held in the
Grahamstown city hall on October 6 before the National Summit on
Crime to be held on October 26, in Johannesburg. - ECN Friday
25/9/98 ANC
@ QUESTIONS-LAND
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY September 25 1998 Sapa
LAND CLAIMS COST DEPARTMENT R77,533 MILLION: HANEKOM
Since 1995 about 26325 land claims had been registered with the
Land Claims Court and it had cost the land affairs department
R77,533 million to handle them, Land Affairs Minister Derek Hanekom
said on Friday.
The costs included capital amounts for land acquisition and
development assistance.
Hanekom said since its inception in 1995 the Land Claims Court
had cost a total of R7,084 million.
To date 155311 hectares of land had been returned to claimants
benefiting 27738 people, he added.
A review of the entire restitution process, including the
functioning the Commission on Restitution of Land Rights, the land
affairs department and the Land Claims Court had been instituted,
Hanekom said in reply to a question from Dr Pieter Steenkamp (NP).
It would aim at analysing the land restitution process and
institutions implementing it and formulate recommendations on
procedural, institutional, legal and other changes necessary to
process claims faster, Hanekom said.
The review team began its work in July and would complete it by
year-end, he said.
@ EDUC-TUCKSHOP
JOHANNESBURG September 25 1998 Sapa
THREE EXPELLED, FOUR LEAVE VOLUNTARILY IN TUCKSHOP SCANDAL
Three pupils have been expelled from Fourways High School and
four matric pupils voluntarily left the school after being
implicated in a tuck shop scam that allegedly skimmed school
coffers of at least R48000, Gauteng education MEC Mary Metcalfe
announced on Friday.
Metcalfe said two of the expelled pupils were in Grade 9 and
one in grade 10.
All the matric pupils involved, including the daughter of
Safety and Security Minister Sydney Mufamadi, would be allowed to
write their final exams.
A joint statement issued by the Gauteng department of education
and the school governing body said no names of any pupils would be
released to the media, so it was not clear what the fate Lindiwe
Mufamadi was.
The Citizen reported on Friday that she was among the four who
voluntarily left.
Metcalfe said the decision to expel three pupils followed a
meeting between herself, officials of the Gauteng department of
education and the school governing body of Fourways High School on
Thursday evening.
The pupils who were expelled have the right of appeal to the
MEC for education.
The school governing body and parents of the pupils implicated
agreed on Thursday night that it would be in the best interests of
the safety of four of the pupils if they volunteered to leave the
school and write their exams elsewhere.
Mike Hogan, chairman of the school governing body, said charges
of theft would not be laid against the pupils.
Last Thursday four pupils were forced to make a publi apology
at a school assembly.
"All other learners implicated in the theft from the school
tuckshop will be dealt with by the normal disciplinary processes
managed by the school governing body, which will take into account
the level of involvement of the learners, the past records of the
learners and any extenuating circumstances that may exist," a joint
statement issued at a press conference said.
At least 23 pupils were implicated in the scam which is thought
to have been run over 18 months.
Hogan said the pupils allegedly handed over money for food to
two tuckshop workers and were then given their money back, the food
they had ordered plus an additional amount which they then took to
the room of a tuckshop worker who lived on the premises.
Hogan said one tuckshop worker was arrested and another
disappeared and was being sought by police.
@ FEATURE-NUJOMA
WINDHOEK September 25 1998 Sapa-IPS
NUJOMA UNDER FIRE FOR ATTACKING EU AID POLICY
Namibian President Sam Nujoma has come under fire for attacking
the European Union's plan to review its aid to countries involved
in fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
"The President should retract his statements and apologise
publicly otherwise the country would face serious repercussions
from the EU," said Zen Mnakapa, director of Namibia's National
Society for Human Rights (NSHR).
He told IPS this week that Nujoma's remarks at a ruling Swapo
(South West African People's Organisation) Party rally over the
weekend were "outrageous, disappointing and uncalled for".
Nujoma branded the EU countries as "selfish...imperialists and
liars", barely two-days after the EU announced that it planned to
review its aid to countries involved in fighting in the DRC.
The review will apply to Namibia, Angola and Zimbabwe which
have sent troops to prop up the DRC government, and to Uganda,
Rwanda and Burundi which are suspected of supporting the rebels.
In an hour-long speech at a rally at the black township of
Katutura, Nujoma said: "We cannot allow Africa to be ruled by
foreigners. Africa must be controlled by Africans.".
"These...Europeans. They formed a political union (the EU) and
again they want to get our raw materials without paying us," said
Nujoma.
He said the disturbances in the Great Lakes Region (grouping
Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania and the DRC) are instigated by
"white imperialists" who want to control and plunder Congo's
resources, while Congolese people live in poverty. "This can no
longer be allowed to continue," he said.
Enraged Mnakapa described the speech as uncalled for. "We
don't know what prompted him (Nujoma) to make such remarks. What
have the Europeans done? You cannot call someone a fool simply
because he disagrees with your military involvement in the DRC."
Mnakapa said, while Namibia was busy talking about forging
friendly relations with the rest of the world, it was at the same
time insulting Europe.
Opposition leader, Katuutire Kaura, also condemned the attack
on the EU, saying it was not expected from a man of Nujoma's
stature.
"For a man on whose country's destiny is dependent upon to
make such public remarks is really worrying. Such statements should
be reserved for young people," he said.
Head of the European Commission in Namibia, Francisco Ortiz de
Zuniga, said he would respond to Nujoma's attacks only after
carefully considering them in relation to the EU's planned review
of aid to African countries involved in the DRC fighting.
He said he had just returned to Namibia on Monday from his
annual leave, and that he needed time to study the EU Commissioner
Joao de Deus Pinheiro's statement in connection with the review of
EU aid to Namibia, Angola, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.
The six countries concerned received between 100-180 million US
dollars from the EU in terms of five-year development aid
programmes started in 1995.
In a speech distributed at EU headquarters in the Belgian
capital of Brussels, Pinheiro said the EU "must review the use of
funds to ensure EU community resources are not used to indirectly
finance the war".
The rebellion in the DRC erupted on August 2 after President
Laurent-Desire Kabila ordered the remaining Rwandan troops and
military instructors, who helped him overthrow the late President
Mobutu Sese Seko in May 1997, out of the country.
Kabila has accused Rwanda and Uganda of fermenting the
rebellion. Both have denied the claims.
@ LESOTHO-SACOB
JOHANNESBURG September 25 1998 Sapa
SACOB WANTS MEETING WITH GOVT TO DISCUSS LESOTHO BUSINESS LOSS
The South African Chamber of Business on Friday said it had
asked for an urgent meeting with government to discuss the concerns
of South African businesses affected by looting and arson in
Lesotho over the past few days.
Sacob spokesman Bill Lacey told Sapa the organisation had sent
a letter addressed to Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Aziz Pahad
and then acting president Mangosuthu Buthelezi on September 23 to
convey concern over the economic impact of the invasion into
Lesotho.
"Some 90 percent of the business activity of South African
border towns is reliant on trade with Lesotho," Lacey said.
According to Sacob, small businesses in these towns would be
particularly affected and there was doubt whether many of them
would be able to survive for any length of time.
When asked whether the South African government was likely to
face legal action from business owners who had lost their means of
livelihood, Lacey said: "It's a complex issue because the Lesotho
government invited the South Africans into Maseru, but on the other
hand I doubt that the Lesotho government has the financial means to
compensate people for their losses."
He said Sacob members who had been most affected were seeking
reassurance from the South African government that the situation in
Lesotho would be restored to some semblance of normality and
stability as soon as possible.
"We've had no reply to our letter as yet, but Sacob hopes to
meet with the government within the next week or so."
@ QUESTIONS-PRISONS
PARLIAMENT September 25 1998 Sapa
R6M ON PRIVATE MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR PRISONERS
More than R6 million was spent on medical treatment for
prisoners in private clinics in the first six months of this year,
Correctional Services Minister Ben Skosana said in reply to a
parliamentary question on Friday.
Admissions covered the repair of a breast prosthesis, treatment
of penile warts, gout, "malnutrition and failure to thrive", a
"deformed nose repair", removal of wire from the sternum, and a
wide range of more serious surgical procedures.
A total of 439 patients were treated over this period, at a
total cost of about R6,426 million, or an average of R14627 per
patient.
Skosana said only two hospitals - the private Garden City and
Rand clinics in Johannesburg - were equipped to accommodate
patients from prisons. His department was investigating the
viability of establishing secure units in provincial hospitals in
Gauteng.
@ KWANATAL-FARMERS
DURBAN September 25 1998 Sapa
KWANATAL FARMERS PREPARE FOR NATIONAL MARCH AGAINST CRIME
KwaZulu-Natal Agricultural Union president Graham McIntosh on
Friday said the union was finalising the arrangements for Tuesday's
demonstration against crime.
McInstosh in a statement in Durban said the demonstration would
form part of the national programme that would run from Monday to
Friday. The South African Agricultural Union and other sectors
would march to protest against the high levels of crime in the
country.
He said the focal point of the march in the province would be
Pietermaritzburg.
The marchers would gather at the Royal Show Ground and proceed
to Long Market Street, where a memorandum would be handed to the
head of the provincial safety and security department, Waynand van
der Merwe.
He said the memorandum would outline concerns about the
security of the rural community and farmers, and would contain
positive proposals to the government on how crime could be curbed.
"Other actions will take place in many outlying towns and
villages in the province and the organisers of these protests have
been given a comprehensive set of guidelines on how such protests
should be organised within the law," McIntosh said.
He said there would be motorcades in the Newcastle, Mooi River,
Weenen, Underberg areas and on the Nottingham Road in the midlands.
@ LESOTHO-DP
JOHANNESBURG September 25 1998 Sapa
DP DELEGATION TO VISIT LESOTHO
The Democratic Party will send a delegation to Lesotho on
Saturday to make an on-sight assessment of the growing crisis in
Lesotho, DP leader Tony Leon said on Friday.
Leon said the decision to send a delegation to Lesotho followed
a meeting of the DP federal executive on Friday.
"I have asked that a delegation from the party, led by party
chairman Errol Moorcroft and defence spokesman James Selfe, make a
visit to make an on-sight assessment of the growing crisis in
Lesotho."
The delegation was expected to arrive in Lesotho on Saturday,
where they would meet significant roleplayers in the crisis which
since Tuesday led to the deaths of at least 66 soldiers on all
sides.
Leon said it was clear that President Nelson Mandela, who was
on a state visit to Canada, needed to take personal charge of the
situation in an attempt to salvage something from the growing
political and military debacle.
"We believe the government has a responsibility to address the
growing humanitarian disaster to which our military intervention
has led.
"Equally, South Africa has an obligation to help with the
reconstruction of Maseru. It is becoming clear that our attempt to
prop up a government with suspect democratic credentials has been a
costly mistake," Leon said.
@ ZIM-CURRENCY
HARARE September 25 1998 Sapa-DPA
ZIMBABWE CURRENCY STABILISES AFTER CRISIS
Zimbabwe's currency stabilised briefly Friday after falling by
nearly a sixth from 31:1 to 36:1 against the U.S. dollar on
Thursday, but dealers feared another fall was imminent.
The latest round of the prolonged crisis over the Zimbabwe
dollar, which was worth two U.S. dollars at independence in 1980,
was triggered by the Posts and Telecommunications Corporation and
Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority needing 5 million U.S.
dollars on Thursday to settle external debts.
Confidence has also been shaken by admissions the budget
deficit has been worsened by President Robert Mugabe's dispatch of
3,000 troops to intervene on behalf of President Laurent Kabila's
Congo Kinshasa government.
In a statement to parliament on Thursday, Finance Minister
Herbert Murerwa said external debt exceeded 41.3 billion Zimbabwe
dollars - over 1.3 billion U.S. dollars at the rates obtaining when
the statement was drafted.
@ FEATURE-AFRICADEBT
NAIROBI September 25 1998 Sapa-IPS
CHURCH JOINS CAMPAIGN TO WRITE OFF AFRICA'S DEBT
The Church in Africa, concerned about the increasing poverty on
the continent, has joined the campaign to write off Africa's debt.
"We are calling for the year 2000 as a year of Jubilee for the
cancellation of Africa's debts we have had to bear for so long. We
are making a petition to them (the donor community) that it is now
our turn to turn around and develop," head of the Anglican church
in Kenya, David Gitari said while launching the campaign in the
capital Nairobi recently.
Sub-Saharan Africa owes 227.2 billion US dollars to
international creditors - a figure that translates into 379
dollars for every man, woman and child in Africa.
The Accra-based 'Jubilee 2000 Coalition", which is
spearheading the campaign, says sub-Saharan Africa paid out 1.31
dollars in debt service for every one dollar repayed in aid grant
in 1996.
Africa shoulders 11 percent of the developing world's debts,
with only 5 percent of the developing world's wealth - twice the
burden of any other region in the developing world.
According to the group, sub-Saharan African governments
transfer to creditors four times as much as they spend on the
health of their citizens. This is a burden for Africa where 262
million people - half its population - live on less than one US
dollar a day as a result of paying back high interest loans used to
inject new capital in industrialised countries.
"We will never be able to clear these debts, the only way we
can develop is for the debts to be cancelled," said Gitari.
Kenya's renown conservationist, Wangari Mathaai, who helped
launch the campaign, said Africa's debt crisis heightened in the
1970s when the oil producing countries of the Middle East increased
the price of petroleum, forcing the poor countries of Africa and
Asia to seek more loans to purchase oil.
"The advent of the Cold War eased the pressure as both Western
and Eastern blocs competed to grant favours in the form of low
interest loans, but not for long. In the 1980s the same donors
unilaterally increased interests on the loans, forcing most
developing countries to devalue their currencies, bringing down the
value of agricultural goods used to service debts", Maathai said.
The heavy cost of debt servicing has also affected Kenya's
economy. "When we started borrowing, the US dollar was worth six
Kenyan shillings. Now the shilling is 60 against the dollar. They
are using the debts to keep us down and oppressed. They are
prepared to see the people die," she claimed.
The issue of morality has also been raised by the coalition.
For example, Rwanda, with an external debt of over one billion
dollars, is paying the debt incurred for importing machetes,
grenades and small arms, used to slaughter up to one million
Rwandese in 1994.
So was the role played by the donor money in supporting
oppression and abuse of human rights in countries like the
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Uganda and Kenya. "It takes
two to be corrupt, rich countries knew very well they were
investing in the wrong people and they should not reap where they
invested badly," said Maathai.
Mitch Odero, editor of 'Tam Tam' magazine, published by the
Nairobi-based All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC), urged the
donors to take urgent decision to write off Africa's debts.
Odero's sentiments, published in the latest edition of the
Christian magazine, echo the views of retired South African
Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu last year condemning World bank
and International Monetary Fund's Structural Adjustment Programmes
(SAPs) which have forced African governments to cut back on public
expenditures in order to service external debts.
"Jesus said anything that imposes unnecessary suffering on
those for whom he died, is wrong and immoral - SAPs do this and
they must be condemned as wrong and immoral," Tutu said.
The South African clergyman has been joined by other African
leaders - like former Tanzanian president Julius Nyerere, and
President Nelson Mandela and his wife Graca Machel - in the
Jubilee 2000 Coalition, a non-governmental organisation (NGO)
formed in 1996, to exert pressure on wealthy nations to cancel
Africa's debts.
The group will lobby the European Commission (EC) and the
African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) meeting, which kicks off later
this month, to negotiate a new agreement to replace the Lome
Convention which gives ACP countries preferential trade treatment
in the European Union.
@ LESOTHO-REFUGEES
LADYBRAND September 25 1998 Sapa
RUMOURS OF MASSACRE ADD TO TENSION AMONG REFUGEES
Two young men arriving in a Ladybrand refugee camp on Friday
after crossing the Lesotho border brought with them a tale of a
massacre of at least 20 youths in a Maseru village.
Their unconfirmed story added to tensions and claims that armed
rebel soldiers and opposition party members were pursuing
government supporters and burning property in rural areas.
The youths claimed the massacre took place in Khubetsoana,
outside Maseru, when young men tried to protect shops and property
from marauding arsonists.
The youths, who said they crossed into South Africa to inform
relatives at a Ladybrand refugee centre of the massacre, said the
bodies were still lying unburied where they had been hacked to
death.
The refugee camp houses about 800 supporters of the country's
ruling Lesotho Congress of Democracy, mostly women and old men from
Khubetsoana.
About 1700 streamed into Ladybrand since Tuesday, according to
pastor Fraser Webster, who is co-ordinating church efforts to
assist them.
Webster said a fund had been established - the Lesotho Refugee
Relief Fund - and donations could be made to Ladybrand Standard
Bank account number 240578708.
The refugees were in desperate need of food and clothing. He
said their numbers were growing by the hour and of particular
concern were the unaccompanied children who had arrived seeking
help.
The burning of property, which government supporters claim are
the work of opposition party supporters, spread on Friday midday to
the northern towns of Buta-Bute and Maputsa, according to Steve
Buys, a Ladybrand businessman who was co-ordinating a cross-border
crisis committee.
He said the information came from businessmen in the towns.
Addressing a meeting of farmers and businessmen in the
Ladybrand town hall on Friday, Freedom Front leader General
Constand Viljoen said he could not think of a military operation
that had gone as badly wrong as the Southern African Development
Community intervention in Lesotho.
Viljoen said there was an urgent need for a post mortem to
understand what went wrong and how to put it right. He urged locals
to reach out and assist victims of the carnage.
At the same meeting, Free State Agricultural Union chairman Dr
Pieter Gouws demanded the South African police and the SA National
Defence Force protect farmers and small towns on the border with
South Africa.
"As a farmer I am extremely worried. It is not just Ladybrand
and the border area, but the whole of the Free State that is
affected," he said.
He said farmers expected cross-border attacks motivated by
hunger and revenge.
Business was booming on Friday in Ladybrand, shopkeepers in the
town said. Trade had increased 100 percent by Thursday as Basotho
streamed across the border to buy supplies in Ladybrand.
@ LAND-DIRATSEGAE
PRETORIA September 25 1998 Sapa
DIRATSEGAE COMMUNITY RECEIVE TITLE DEEDS TO THEIR LAND
The Department of Land Affairs on Friday announced that it had
made available R4 million for the development of the Rustenburg
district of Diratsegae, which was this week given back to its
rightful owners, the Bakwena-Ba-Modimosana-Ba-Maaka community.
The department said in a statement in Pretoria that Land
Affairs director-general Geoff Budlender in announcing the grant,
said the money would be given to the Rustenburg District Council.
Chief Land Claims commissioner Joe Seremane urged the community
to use the land for the intention and vision that they claimed and
fought for.
After nearly 40 years of dispossession, the community on
Thursday received the title deeds to their land, the statement
said.
In handing over the title deeds to Chief Legoale and an excited
gathering on Heritage Day, the leader of the House of Traditional
Leaders, Pathekile Holomisa said: "This symbolises the return of
our culture, identity, respect and dignity. It is appropriate that
you chose your traditional leader to accept this, which means you
are still adhering to your roots."
Diratsegae was originally bought by the
Bakwena-Ba-Modimosana-Ba-Maaka tribe in 1890 and registered in the
name of the one time Superintendent of Natives, a certain Petrus
Jacobus Joubert.
The statement said in 1959, 69 years after the original
purchase of the land, the white organised farming community in the
area began lobbying for the removal of the community as it was the
only black owned land surrounded by white owned farms.
It was therefore, the statement said, not surprising that
Diratsegae was declared a poorly situated "black spot" and the
community inhumanly removed to Brakkuil and Taaibochkuil about
109km away from their original land.
The statement said 156 families were eventually removed of
which 15 bravely resisted removal. They were subsequently forced to
settle in the surrounding locations.
@ LESOTHO-MOSAKENG
MASERU September 25 1998 Sapa
LESOTHO SOLDIERS ORDERED TO REPORT TO MILITARY POLICE
Lesotho soldiers who went home when the Southern African
Development Community intervention troops arrived in the country
earlier this week should report to the military police in Maseru,
reinstated Lesotho army chief Lietenant-General Makhule Mosakeng
said on Friday.
Mosakeng ordered soldiers to report at the military police
station at the army's headquarters in Maseru by 11am on Saturday.
In a statement repeatedly broadcast on the state controlled
Radio Lesotho, Mosakeng said those soldiers, however, stationed at
their various rural bases should remain there and continue with
their normal duties until further notice.
Mosakeng made the appeal as the joint SADC and Lesotho
operations committee was assessing the damage caused during the
three days of fighting which left Maseru's infrastructure almost
completely burnt out.
Mosakeng and the Lesotho government on Friday urged people in
the country to remain calm as efforts to normalise the situation
were continuing.
Meanwhile, Lesotho's Trade and Industry Minister Mpho Malie on
Friday afternoon was scheduled to meet business people in the
capital, Maseru.
Representatives of the Lesotho Manufacturers' Association, the
local chamber of commerce and the National Development Co-operation
were expected at the meeting.
Malie told Sapa the meeting was to assess the situation to
determine how fast operations could be brought back to normal.
"This will include things like assisting the private sector in
setting up temporary stalls in tents to provide daily essentials to
the citizens of Lesotho.
"We are also looking at establishing sub committees to assess
the extent of damages caused by the torching and looting of
businesses in Maseru," Malie said.
He added that another meeting was planned for early next week
during which a way forward to resuscitate the economy of Lesotho in
the short and long term would be discussed.
@ LESOTHO-OPPOSITION
MASERU September 25 1998 Sapa
SADC PLANS PRIVATE ARMY FOR LESOTHO GOVT, OPPOSITION CLAIMS
The Lesotho government and the Southern African Development
Community were planning to replace the country's defence force with
an army loyal only to the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy
party, Lesotho's five opposition parties alleged on Friday.
Comment from the LCD on the allegations could not be
immediately obtained.
In a statement, the Basotho National Party, the MaremaTlou
Freedomn Party, the Basutholand Congress Party, the Sefate
Democratic Party and the Lesotho Labour Party said the proposed
"LCD Army" was being trained by South Africa, Botswana and
Zimbabwe.
"We alert the perpetrators of this action to the danger they
have caused to the people of Lesotho in suppressing the legitimate
Lesotho army," the parties said.
The LDF soldiers scattered into the countryside following the
SADC assault on the Mokoanyane military base in Maseru.
The parties' spokesman, Vincent Qhubela, said the Lesotho
government would have to pay for its actions, which had destroyed
Lesotho.
"SADC forces will have to protect (Prime Minister) Pakalitha
Mosisili for a long time," said Qhubela.
He said the opposition parties remained committed to resolving
the country's political impasse through negotiations.
"We appeal to the international community and the SADC in
particular to ensure that talks on the Langa report continue."
The controversial report found irregularities in the management
of Lesotho's general election in May, but could not conclude that
the outcome, in which the LCD won 79 of 80 seats, was not valid.
Qhubela said genuine negotiations were not possible while South
African and Botswana troops of the SADC force remained in Lesotho.
He appealed to the two armies to immediately withdraw their
forces to pave the way for negotiations.
Meanwhile, senior LCD officials and Lesotho's Foreign Affairs
Minister Mpho Thabane dismissed the allegation as stupid and
foolish.
He said the reform process within the LDF began in 1995/96
because of the highly politicised nature of the army at the time.
The training to professionalise the army was done with the help
of the South African National Defence Force, the Botswana Defence
Force and the Zimbabwe Defence Force. The US, Britain and Germany
also assisted, Thabane said.
"We were shocked now in 1998 to find that some factions of the
army were embracing opposition party politics.
"They were seen in army uniforms, helping looters and assisting
them in hijacking vehicles," Thabane said.
He added that the SADC commanding structures were in Lesotho to
prevent a possible coup and to bring stability within the Lesotho
Defence Force. The reform was never intended to create an LCD army,
he said.
"SADC forces will remain in the country until stability is
restored,' Thabane said.
Referring to the mutineers he said they would be dealt with in
terms of the defence act of 1997.
@ WELFARE-CONFERENCE
PRETORIA September 25 1998 Sapa
SADC WELFARE CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN JOHANNESBURG
A welfare conference attended by representatives from Southern
African Development Community member states would be held in
Johannesburg next month, the Welfare Department said on Friday.
It said in a statement in Pretoria the three-day conference
would focus on issues related to the eradication of poverty and
Aids. It would also seek to boost welfare partnerships on national,
regional and international levels.
Attending countries would report back on progress made since
the World Summit for Social Development held in Copenhagen,
Denmark, in 1995.
The gathering, to be held at the Cedar Park conference centre
in Woodmead from October 19 to 21, would be the first of its kind
held by SADC member countries, the department said.
@ STATE-PROPERTY
PRETORIA September 25 1998 Sapa
SALE OF REDUNDANT STATE-OWNED RESIDENCES TO GO AHEAD: DEPT
The sale of about 834 redundant state-owned residences would go
ahead without delay, the Department of Public Works said in
Pretoria on Friday.
It said Public Works Minister Jeff Radebe and provincial MECs
agreed at a meeting earlier in the day that the disposal of these
properties should not be drawn out any longer.
After Cabinet decided in August last year that redundant
residences should be sold, 46 heads of departments were asked to
verify that properties earmarked for disposal were indeed
redundant.
Few reacted to this request.
"The 16 responses received to date indicate that an urgent
intervention was required," the department said in a statement in
Pretoria.
"To speed up and bring this matter to fruition, the meeting
decided that the national department should proceed with sales."
Should provinces need a residence for official purposes, the
onus would now be on them to indicate that with a proper
motivation.
"This initiative is expected to unlock the current bottleneck
in the disposal process, and will generate substantial revenue for
the state," the department said.
The move would also relieve the state of the task of
maintaining properties it no longer needed.
Departmental spokesman Zaid Nordien said 834 state residences
throughout the country had so far been found to be redundant.
"More properties may be added to the last as the disposal
process continues," he said.
The department said the meeting between the minister and MECs
also resolved to step up the state's affirmative procurement
programme.
In terms of the programme, the participation of previously
disadvantaged entrepreneurs in public works construction activities
had risen from two percent in 1994 to 28 percent this year.
"MECs agreed on taking further the implementation of the
affirmative procurement policy in provinces," the department said.
@ SA-POLAND
PRETORIA September 25 1998 Sapa
SA AND POLAND TO SIGN ORGANISED CRIME TREATY
South Africa and Poland would sign a treaty of mutual
assistance on organised crime, the Justice Department said on
Friday.
"The treaty will cover the co-operation of the two countries in
the fight against organised crime which is now taking on an
international dimension," it said in a statement in Pretoria.
The department said Justice Minister Dullah Omar met his Polish
counterpart, Hanna Suchocka, this week at the World Conference on
Organised Crime being held at Sun City, North-West.
Suchocka told Omar the two countries had much in common in
their fight against organised crime.
"Poland is re-organising its criminal justice system after the
post-communist change in its political system, as South Africa is
currently doing in the post-apartheid period," the department said.
Justice Ministry spokesman Bennie Bunsee said the treaty would
be signed in the near future.
A draft submitted by Suchocka would be considered by South
Africa before a final agreement was reached, he said.
@ CHILDREN-DETENTION
CAPE TOWN September 25 1998 Sapa
PARLY COMMITTEE URGES ACTION ON JUVENILE DETENTION
Parliament's justice portfolio committee on Friday urged the
welfare, safety and security, and correctional services departments
to draw up a comprehensive plan for dealing with detained
juveniles.
In a report tabled this week, the committee expressed concern
at a lack of adequate facilities available for detaining
awaiting-trial juveniles, particularly those charged with serious
offences.
>From the information available, there were only three
facilities currently in operation, it said.
The committee, however, noted that another nine were nearing
completion, some of which were to open in the near future.
The committee urged the welfare department to do everything in
its power to prioritise and expedite - in conjunction with the
justice department - the opening of these and other facilities,
and to submit a progress report.
Currently, police officials responsible for the detention of a
juvenile are required to provide the court with a written report
setting out reasons for the detention in a police cell or lock-up.
The committee said it had come to light that this requirement
was not always complied with by the responsible official.
It was also very difficult to monitor the situation to ensure
compliance with this measure.
The committee said it was also concerned that the trials were
often delayed.
@ FARMERS TO STAGE MASS ACTION ON WEDNESDAY
GRAHAMSTOWN (ECN) - Eastern Cape farmers plan staging huge
protests in Bisho and Port Elizabeth next Wednesday to try and draw
the provincial government's attention to the worsening crisis of
farm murders.
The protests follow the recent deaths of Grahamstown dairy
farmer Mr George Wylie, 76, and Mr Jacobus Human, 45, of Paterson
and will be part of a national strategy by the country's provincial
farm unions. More than 560 farmers have been killed since 1994 and
there have been 2 352 farm attacks in the same period.
A source at the Port Elizabeth-based Eastern Province
Agricultural Union said it was hoped that up to 2 000 people would
turn up for the protests.
He confirmed a wide section of interests, including farmers and
their staff, church organisations, the business sector and sports
bodies were being asked to join in.
He said he hoped at least a thousand trucks, tractors and other
vehicles would be mobilised for the protests. - ECN
Friday 25/9/98 Farmers
@ SPEECH AT THE MANDELA CHILDREN'S FUND - CANADA LAUNCH
Issued by: Office of the President
SPEECH BY PRESIDENT MANDELA AT THE LAUNCH OF THE CANADIAN FRIENDS
OF THE NELSON MANDELA CHILDREN'S FUND
TORONTO, 25 SEPTEMBER 1998
Children of Canada;
Canadian Friends of our Children's Fund;
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a great pleasure to be with you today and to see all your
young faces.
You will know that I come from a country where most of us were
denied freedom for many years. Some of us were put in jail because
we fought against the unjust system of apartheid. During the years
in prison, we were separated from our own children and the children
of our country. We yearned to see children laughing, playing and
doing all the things that children do.
When we came out of prison, we found that in South Africa there
were no longer many children who could laugh and play innocently.
Apartheid had left millions without schooling; decent housing; or
proper health-care. Too many did not have enough to eat.
The children of South Africa were forced to grow up very quickly
and take the responsibilities of adults, and many of them were
jailed or even killed because they joined the struggle for freedom.
Young people who could have been developing their talents to the
full and then making a valuable contribution to society, were living
life on the margins.
Today, South Africans are taking the special needs of children
very seriously. Men and women from every walk of life are working
hand in hand to give our children the better life they deserve,
especially those who are homeless, who have not had formal education
or are in prison.
We started the Children's Fund to address some of the most
urgent needs of our youth and to help prepare them for the future.
It has grown from strength to strength. We even now have Friends
of the Children's Fund in Britain and in the United States of
America.
I am truly grateful that you have come to help us launch the
Fund here in Canada.
Two young people have come with us from South Africa especially
to talk to you about our country and its children. In turn they will
tel children in South Africa about the children of Canada. Building
links between the children of different countries can only
strengthen the chances for a better world in the future.
I would like to express my sincere thanks to all those who have
worked to get the Friends started and everyone whose support made
today possible.
Canada has played a very positive role in the world, through its
own efforts to promote racial harmony and in its peacemaking efforts
elsewhere. In the fight against apartheid the people of Canada were
a loyal friend and ally of the South African people. For that we
thank you and salute you!
Apartheid fell because people around the world stood up and
opposed it together. As future leaders who will take over from the
older generation to which I belong, you face even greater
challenges. Though the world has made much progress in the twentieth
century, the lives of much of humanity is still blighted by poverty,
violence, hunger, disease and environmental damage.
Why is it that over 200 million children under the age of five
are malnourished in this day and age! Why do millions of people
still not have electricity and clean water when the nations of the
world can produce so much wealth! Why are people still dying from
diseases that modern science can cure!
All this can be changed if ordinary people like you and me act
together, just as we ended apartheid and just as slavery was
abolished 160 years ago.
This visit to North America has been exciting and inspiring. But
the greatest joy has been to discover that there are so many
children in this country who care about other children in the world,
children far away from them whom they have never seen. You have made
me feel like a young man again, with my batteries recharged.
When I go back to my country I will be able to tell the children
of South Africa that in Canada they have friends indeed, who are
ready to work with us for a better life for all children!
And I would like you to tell the Canadian children who are not
here today with us, that we love them all!
@ LESOTHO-FREESTATE
BLOEMFONTEIN September 25 1998 Sapa
FSTATE HEALTH DEPT ON ALERT FOLLOWING LESOTHO CONFLICT
The Free State health department has put its resources in
Ladybrand, Zastron, Ficksburg and Qwa-Qwa on alert in response to
the conflict in Lesotho, the department said in a statement on
Friday.
It said a special health team had been assembled to effectively
deal with the resulting medical and humanitarian needs of refugees,
especially in Ladybrand.
Free State health also expressed concern about the health
situation at the three refugee camps in Ladybrand and had
identified
- in consultation with the department of social services, the SA
Red Cross and other relevant parties - the need for consumable
materials such as baby nappies, primary health care medicine, milk
supplements, soap and sanitary towels which would be supplied to
refugees.
The statement said the district hospital in Ladybrand had
treated 16 civilian casualties directly linked to the conflict in
Lesotho during the last four days.
Patients seen suffered from head injuries, bullet wounds and
burns, the statement said.
Two civilian patients were referred to Pelonomi and one to
Universitas hospitals in Bloemfontein. Support had also been
rendered to the SA Medical Services (SA National Defence Force) and
three patients were referred to public hospitals in Bloemfontein.
As the situation in Lesotho stabilised, the statement said, it
was expected that the number of patients seen at district hospitals
in Zastron, Ficksburg and Qwa-Qwa was likely to increase. The
situation would be constantly monitored.
@ PREMIER COUNTERS EPA CRITICISM OVER MARCH PROCEDURE
GRAHAMSTOWN (ECN) - Eastern Cape Premier Makhenkesi Stofile has
denied an Eastern Province Agricultural Union (EPAU) claim that he
was refusing to co-operate with the planned farmers anti-crime
protest.
EPAU president Pieter Erasmus's said in a statement yesterday
(subs: Fri): "... the Premier has indicated not to co-operate. I
want to urgently emphasize to the Premier that it is of paramount
importance that the highest political official bearers within the
province will reconcile themselves with the protest and be present.
A special appeal will again be made to the Stofile "not to
neglect his duty in this regard".
However, Premier's Office spokesman Gay Khaile said yesterday
(subs: Fri) that when Stofile had advised the EPAU should hand over
their memorandum to the police, he was not saying he would not
co-operate. The Premier had advised the EPAU to hand their document
to Provincial Police Commissioner Nico Slabber in Port Elizabeth.
Khaile said the Premier was fully behind the farmers' protest.
In his statement, Erasmus thanked Safety and Security MEC Dennis
Neer for confirming in writing that he would receive the union's
memorandum at the law courts in Port Elizabeth's North End.
EPAU is planning marches in Bisho and Port Elizabeth on
Wednesday in protest against farm killings and rising crime. - ECN
Fri 25/09/98 False
@ ALBANY ANC CALLS REGIONAL CRIME CONFERENCE
GRAHAMSTOWN (ECN) - The Albany Region ANC is to convene a
high-powered conference on crime at the Grahamstown city hall to
develop a strategy to effectively stamp out crime.
Regional ANC spokesman Mr Brian Maloni said more than 200
delegates from all over the Eastern Cape would be invited.
Maloni said the conference would lead up to the National Summit
on Crime in Johannesburg on October 26.
He said the Grahamstown conference would be held on Tuesday,
October 6 and follows this month's high-level meeting between the
ANC and top provincial police brass held at the University of Port
Elizabeth.
Maloni said the aim of this meeting was to draw and set up the
programme for the regional Grahamstown conference.
He said he expected about 200 delegates to attend including ANC
representatives from King William's Town, East London and the
Nkonkobe region.
Also expected to attend are provincial Commissioner of Police,
Nico Slabbert and MEC for Safety and Security Mr Dennis Neer.
"The conference will focus on the crimes of murder, rape,
assault, armed robbery, theft of motor vehicles and stock theft, as
well as housebreaking.
"Our (the ANC's) principal concern and interest is in bringing
solutions on how best can we deal and fight the criminal element.
"We also need to strategise and make the South African Police
Service an effective, working, respected public institution."
He said another important aim would be to highlight the
devastating affect of crime in the area and to bring about community
involvement in combating crime.
Maloni said the effective community participation in policing
and crime prevention strategies would go a long way to reducing the
unacceptable levels of crime, particularly violent crime in the
province.
He said the conference was open to any member of the public or
organisation and anyone wishing to attend can contact him on
046-6226019. - ECN Friday 25/9/98 Determine
@ KWANATAL-AIDS
DURBAN September 25 1998 Sapa
MAJORITY OF WOMEN IN KWAZULU-NATAL HIV POSITIVE
Women in KwaZulu-Natal form a large part of people infected by
HIV/Aids epidemic, provincial health MEC Zweli Mkhize said on
Friday.
Mkhize was speaking at the provincial HIV/Aids and sexually
transmitted diseases review meeting held at the Addington Hospital
in Durban.
He said more than 58 percent of women admitted to King Edward
VIII hospital in Durban were infected with the disease. Mkhize said
a study on people under the age of 25 who visited the Durban
sexually transmitted diseases clinic revealed that 70 percent of
women were HIV positive.
He said the contributing factors in the increase of the spread
of the disease in the province was unemployment and poverty.
Mkhize said people who were not educated and lived in poverty
were the victims of the disease.
"This disease has no barriers where poverty is concerned and
the only way to fight is through general social upliftment and
stability," he said.
Mkhize said problems that contributed towards causing diseases
should be first addressed. "If unemployment and poverty is not
addressed, people will in desperation, stream to cities to find
ways to survive. These then become the breeding grounds of sickness
and epidemics," Mkhize said.
He warned parents and the communities not to exploit young
women for labour which made them vulnerable to sexual abuse by
males in the industries.
Mkhize said Aids could be successfully fought if men and women
could work together, particularly in sexual relationships.
He added that the provincial government had committed itself to
taking the issue of Aids seriously and had invited the public to
make submissions on the epidemic.
@ LESOTHO-CHURCHES
JOHANNESBURG September 25 1998 Sapa
CHURCHES DISAPPOINTED BY DEPLOYMENT OF TROOPS IN LESOTHO
The United Congregational Church of Southern Africa on Friday
said it noted with disappointment the deployment of troops from
Botswana and South Africa in Lesotho by the Southern African
Development Community.
The church in a statement called on Southern African states to
refrain from military intervention in neighbouring countries,
saying governments needed to solve their problems through peaceful
means.
It also noted with concern the military involvement of Namibian
and Zimbabwean troops in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
It urged Southern African governments to reduce their armies,
and retrain their soldiers for policing duties to fight crime.
The Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference urged SADC to
withdraw troops from Lesotho and pursue a path of diplomacy by
convening a multi-party summit.
The SACBC said military intervention by SADC forces unleashed a
trail of death and destruction.
"While this intervention was ostensibly to avert a possible
coup d'etat, there is no escaping the fact that it is being seen as
unjust aggression against the sovereignty of the kingdom of
Lesotho," it said.
It said SADC's ill-advised and ill-prepared military
intervention deepened the divisions and intensified animosity
between the governing party and the opposition parties as well as
the Basotho and South Africans.
"South Africa's participation in this blunder is in stark
contrast to the hospitality offered by Lesotho during the apartheid
era. South Africa made a costly and tragic miscalculation."
The SACBC expressed its sympathy to King Letsie III and his
people.
"...We urge that immediate steps be taken to repair the damage
done to relations between our two nations, and that clarification
be given as soon as possible regarding to compensation to those who
have suffered loss as a result of this SADC initiative."
@ NZO-ARMS
CAPE TOWN September 25 1998 Sapa
NZO CALLS FOR SMALL ARMS CONFERENCE
Foreign Minister Alfred Nzo on Friday called for an
international conference under the auspices of the United Nations
to address the problem of uncontrolled proliferation of small arms
and light weapons.
At an information briefing in New York, Nzo emphasised the
importance of formulating an holistic strategy to address the
problem, foreign affairs spokesman Marco Boni told Sapa.
It had to be viewed from an inclusive perspective of arms
control and disarmament, post-conflict peace-building, conflict
prevention and socio-economic development.
In emphasising the leading role the UN had played in this
issue, Nzo proposed that an international conference be held after
1999 to enable governments and regional organisations to share
experiences and facilitate dialogue on the issue.
The conference should formulate an action plan to combat the
problem, based upon experiences of indigenous regional approaches.
Nzo stressed that the similarities between the problems of
anti-personnel mines and small arms and light weapons were
unfortunately only relevant to the victims of these weapons.
The methods of effectively dealing with these two problems were
vastly different.
In the current small arms debate, the focus was not on banning
such weapons, but curtailing their illicit transfer and controlling
legal transfers.
The reason for the demand for small arms, such as
socio-economic under-development, should also be addressed.
This goal could only be achieved through the political
commitment and support of all governments, Nzo said.
@ PAC-MAKWETU
CAPE TOWN September 25 1998 Sapa
MAKWETU BOWS OUT OF ACTIVE POLITICS
Former Pan Africanist Congress president Clarence Makwetu has
been reinstated as a member of the party and as an MP, but will
resign his seat with immediate effect and retire from active
politics.
Makwetu was accused of sowing disunity in the PAC and his
membership was suspended for three years in May 1997, after he
rejected a party decision to replace him as its president. He was
subsequently expelled from Parliament.
Makwetu instituted proceedings in the Cape High Court to
overturn these decisions.
However a face-saving out of court settlement was announced on
Friday, in terms of which Makwetu will be reinstated.
Makwetu in turn undertook to resign as an MP, abide by the
PAC's constitution, refrain from addressing factional groups and
strive to promote and achieve party unity.
Both he and the PAC will cover their own legal costs.
In a joint statement, the PAC and Makwetu said they "are
pleased to announce that they have, without admitting or conceding
that either party acted unlawfully, settled the legal dispute".
Makwetu had indicated his intention to retire from active
politics and his resignation as an MP had been accepted, the
statement said.
@ MANDELA-CANADA
CAPE TOWN September 25 1998 Sapa
MUCH OF WORLD'S PEOPLE BLIGHTED BY POVERTY, HUNGER: MANDELA
Though the world had made progress in the 20th century, the
lives of much of humanity was still blighted by poverty, violence,
hunger, disease and environmental damage, President Nelson Mandela
said on Friday.
"Why is it that over 200 million children under the age of five
are malnourished in this day and age?" Mandela asked in a speech
prepared for delivery at the launch of the Canadian Friends of the
Nelson Mandela's Children Fund in Toronto, Canada.
"Why do millions of people still not have electricity and clean
water when the nations of the world can produce so much wealth? Why
are people still dying from diseases that modern science can cure?"
Mandela asked.
He said this could be changed if ordinary people acted
together, just as they had to end apartheid and to abolish slavery
160 years ago.
The president said apartheid had left millions of children
without schooling, decent housing, or proper health care.
Many South African children were forced to grow up very quickly
and take the responsibilities of adults.
"Young people who could have been developing their talents to
the full and then making a valuable contribution to society, were
living life on the margins."
Mandela said South Africans were taking the special needs of
children very seriously.
"Men and women from every walk of life are working hand in hand
to give our children the better life they deserve, especially those
who are homeless, who have not had formal education or are in
prison."
The president said the children's fund was formed to address
some of the most urgent needs of the youth and to help prepare them
for the future.
He said the fund had grown from strength to strength and now
had friends of the fund in Britain and the United States.
Mandela praised the role played by Canada in promoting racial
harmony and in its peacemaking efforts elsewhere.
"In the fight against apartheid the people of Canada were a
loyal friend and ally of the South African people. For that we
thank you and salute you!"
@ LESOTHO-NYANDA
LADYBRAND September 25 1998 Sapa
SADC OPERATION SUPPRESSED MUTINY, SAYS NYANDA
The chief of the South African National Defence Force, General
Siphiwe Nyanda, on Friday said the Southern African Development
Community's military operation in Lesotho suppressed a Defence
Force mutiny.
He denied the intervention was botched.
"Certain things did happen that may not have pleased us,"
Nyanda said, referring to the destruction of property in Maseru,
but the operation was a success and was executed as planned, he
said.
He praised the SADC force commander, Colonel Robbie Hartslief,
for the way he conducted the operation, and said Hartslief
responded quickly to changes on the ground to achieve the mission's
objectives.
Nyanda said the massive weapons haul at Makonyane military
barracks, the site of fierce resistance, was evidence of the
military threat to democracy in Lesotho. SADC troops seized 40 tons
of weaponry and ammunition at the base.
Nyanda paid tribute to SADC soldiers who died during the
operation, and said they would be buried with full military
honours. They made the highest sacrifice in the service of their
country.
Hartslief said a second-phase operation would begin on Saturday
to stop unrest and violence in the outlying areas of Lesotho.
Troops would not be withdrawn from Maseru, and more troops
would be deployed in the country to tackle the chaos that spread to
other towns and rural areas.
Nyanda suggested imposing a state of emergency but this would
be a matter for the government of Lesotho. The SADC forces would
assist in implementing a state of emergency if requested.
Hartslief said a joint operation centre to restore government
functions in Lesotho had been established at the air base in Maseru
and he would tranfer his operational headquarters from Ladybrand to
the centre.
Hartslief said while the attitude towards SADC troops had been
negative until Thursday, by Friday the citizens of Maseru were far
more friendly towards the troops.
@ LESOTHO-ANALYSIS
MASERU September 25 1998 Sapa
PROTRACTED CIVIL WAR COULD BE IN THE OFFING FOR LESOTHO
The upheavals in Lesotho on Friday were said to be far from
over as rebel soldiers, believed to be armed with sophisticated
weaponry, expressed their determination to fight on.
The rebels apparently plan to resist until the last man and
evade capture in the face of sentences for insurrection.
The rebels reportedly threatened to launch attacks in rural
areas especially on supporters of the ruling Lesotho Congress for
Democracy.
The speculation on protracted civil war was further fueled by
reports that certain opposition parties had heavily armed their
supporters and so-called liberation forces.
Some of the weapons the rebels were equipped with were
described as coming from countries in the Far East.
Sources told Sapa journalists in Maseru that since Southern
African Development Community troops were focusing on the capital
Maseru, attacks by the rebel forces in the rural areas would be
easy.
As contingents of the South African-led intervention force were
seen patrolling Maseru's streets on Friday, reports from the rural
areas indicated there was no visible presence of SADC troops in
these areas, where the potential for possible attacks was high.
During a visit by South African National Defence Force chief
General Siphiwe Nyanda and SA Foreign Affairs Director-General
Jackie Selebi to the Mokoanyane base, Colonel Jorrie Jordaan warned
of a possible counter attack from renegade soldiers hiding in the
nearby mountains.
He said force had been used around noon on Friday to knock back
suspected rebels into their hiding places in the mountains.
Jordaan said intelligence sources had informed him that the
rebels were not prepared to surrender.
Intelligence sources told Sapa too that renegade soldiers were
prepared to fight until the last man.
The rebels were in fear of being charged with treason, which
could carry the death penalty
The strength of Lesotho's army is estimated at 3500, of which
the majority reportedly did not to support the LCD government.
Military analysts told Sapa, the fact that junior Lesotho
Defence Force officers arrested their seniors, including army chief
Lieutenant-General Makhule Mosakeng, and forced them to resign at
gunpoint, was an indication of the serious problem within the army.
Mosakeng and 28 other senior officers were forced out of the
army because they were allegedly seen to be aligning themselves
with the LCD.
When the junior soldiers mutinied on September 11, they said
they wanted to sort out issues such as the oath of allegiance and
job descriptions.
The junior officers claimed LDF senior staff had breached their
oath by serving the political interest of the LCD government and
not that of the supreme law of Lesotho, the Constitution.
On Thursday, Mosakeng and other senior officers were reinstated
by the government.
On Friday Mosakeng urged the bulk of the soldiers, who went
home when the SADC troops arrived on Tuesday, to report to the
military police at the LDF army headquarters in Maseru by 11am on
Saturday.
So far about 149 prisoners of war had been captured and the
main question in the capital on Friday was: "Where is the bulk of
the Lesotho army".
Those reinstated on Thursday were at work and those said to be
deployed at various bases in rural areas were reportedly also still
at work, according to Mosakeng.
Intelligence and political sources said the rebel soldiers had
also placed preconditions should they surrender.
These included an immediate withdrawal of SADC troops from the
country, and that Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili's
administration should sit down with opposition leaders to discuss
the current political impasse.
Asked for comment, a spokesman for the opposition alliance who
asked not to be named, told Sapa the rebel soldiers would not stop
fighting because of the LCD government's threats that should they
be caught, they would face the strong arm of the Lesotho law.
According to the country's judicial system, the penalty for
crimes like rape, murder and treason, was the death sentence.
Sources speaking on behalf of the rebels said those hiding in
the mountains were well aware of what could happen to them and thus
were loath to surrender.
@ WORLDBANK-AFRICA
WASHINGTON September 25 1998 Sapa-AP
ENCOURAGING ECONOMIC GROWTH CONTINUES, REPORT SAYS
African countries continued their encouraging economic growth
in 1998 with 21 countries posting increases of five percent or
more, the World Bank said in its annual report.
But the continent continues to face sobering problems that
include the economic threat posed by HIV/AIDS, dependence on
foreign aid, a rapid rise in domestic debt in some countries and
the potentially dampening effect of the Asian financial crisis.
The bank said lending commitments to Africa in fiscal 1998,
which ended June 30, totaled dlrs 2.87 billion compared with dlrs
1.7 billion in lending in 1997.
Within this total lending for education was higher than for the
last three years, the bank said.
"This is of critical importance in a region with the lowest
school enrollment ratio in the world and an adult literacy rate of
only 53 percent," the report said.
Commenting on the report, Bank Vice President for External
Affairs, Mark Malloch Brown said, "Africa continues to build on
its initial successes but trade and investment must continue to
grow."
He said long term private capital flows to Africa increased
from dlrs 4 billion in 1996 to dlrs 8 billion in l997, but remained
a fraction of the dlrs 256 billion in total flows to developing
countries.
"They do appear to have held up better than other regions in
recent months," Malloch Brown said.
He also pointed out that in April Uganda became the first
country to benefit from a debt relief program for poor countries
sponsored by the World Bank and its sister institution, the
International Monetary Fund.
Other African countries that have qualified for debt relief
include Mali, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast and Mozambique.
@ LABOUR-NUMSA
JOHANNESBURG September 25 1998 Sapa
NUMSA, MOTOR INDUSTRY EMPLOYERS' BODY TO CONTINUE TALKS AT CCMA
The National Union of Metalworkers of SA and the SA Motor
Industry Employers' Association again failed to resolve the
deadlock in wage negotiations at a meeting on Friday.
Numsa spokesman Dumisa Ntuli said Samiea had not agreed to most
of their proposals, but that talks would continue at another
meeting on Monday under the auspices of the Commission for
Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration.
About 50,000 motor industry workers have been on strike since
September 1, affecting petrol stations, panelbeating shops, spare
parts firms and car component manufacturers.
The union's package of proposals put to Samiea included an
agreement in principle on actual rates of pay for the year ahead
and guaranteed wage increases for all employees earning above the
industry minimum wages.
Samiea had agreed on some smaller points, such as the need for
transformation of the motor industry bargaining council and a
progressive minimum wage for petrol attendants, which would begin
to close the huge wage gap, Ntuli said.
The main sticking point was still the issue of basing wage
increases on actual rates of pay rather than minimum levels, which
was central to the union's demands, he said.
But Samiea spokesman Vic Fourie on Friday reiterated that the
association would not budge from its position that minimum levels,
but not actual wages, should be negotiated at central level.
"These issues are so fundamental to our businesses that
employers are unable to concede to them," he said.
Fourie said the association held that actual wages should be
dealt with at plant or enterprise level between employers and
employees.
He said the CCMA had not yet notified him of Monday's meeting
with Numsa.
@ MANDELA-CHILDREN
TORONTO September 25 1998 Sapa-CP
MANDELA GREETED BY THOUSANDS OF TORONTO SCHOOLCHILDREN
Thousands of cheering schoolchildren packed Toronto's mammoth
SkyDome on Friday to greet South African President Nelson Mandela
in a boisterous celebration capping his historic visit to North
America.
"It is a great pleasure to be with you today and see all your
young faces," Mandela said in an address that was in sombre
contrast to the joyous festivities that preceded it.
"I do not think that there is another country anywhere that has
ever brought together between 40,000 and 50,000 children for a
function of this nature."
As he did in Ottawa earlier this week, the 80-year-old Mandela
praised Canada for helping in the fight to end apartheid in South
Africa. But he had a special word for Canadian children.
"The greatest joy has been to discover that there are so many
children in this country who care about other children around the
world," he said to resounding cheers from the approximately 40000
kids at the Dome.
"You have made me feel like a young man again with my batteries
recharged."
A constantly beaming Mandela, wearing a fleece jacket adorned
with native motifs given to him by aboriginal leaders before his
SkyDome appearance, sat at the stadium's centrestage and took in
performances from various bands and artists for most of the
hour-long gala.
"Don't you want to shake my hand?" he said, grinning broadly,
as a small girl accompanied by singer Susan Aglukark appeared too
shy to greet him. Moments earlier, Mandela stood up and danced as
another artist sang a song about racial harmony.
As he entered SkyDome in a golf cart accompanied by his wife,
an African-styled band sang and chanted "Nelson Mandela" and
schoolchildren did traditional African dances.
In his welcoming remarks, Prime Minister Jean Chretien
described Mandela as the "hero of the world" and told the
schoolchildren they were privileged to be in attendance.
"When you will be my age, you will tell your grandchildren: I
was there when Nelson Mandela came to Toronto and to Canada," he
said.
The SkyDome appearance had a genuine show business feel to it,
complete with hosting duties by MuchMusic veejay Juliette Powell
and Due South actor Paul Gross and performances by various bands.
But it wasn't without political flavour - Ontario Premier Mike
Harris was roundly booed by the kids when he took the stage to
welcome Mandela. Some 200,000 Ontario students have not seen the
inside of a classroom since June because of a dispute between the
province and teachers.
Mandela's arrival in Toronto capped a three-day visit to Canada
that saw him receive the country's highest civilian honour on
Thursday, hours after being feted in the House of Commons.
Mandela is the first foreign leader to receive the Order of
Canada.
On Thursday, MPs and senators clapped, cheered and jostled to
get close enough to shake hands with the South African leader.
The tall, dignified African statesman, who has become the
embodiment of the struggle for human rights, was given a two-minute
standing ovation as he walked into the Commons. His speech was
drowned by applause six times.
It was his second appearance in Parliament. In 1990, after 27
years in prison, he spoke of the coming struggle to end apartheid
in his homeland.
Earlier this week, he received the United States Congressional
Medal of Honour while visiting Washington. He also attended the
opening session of the United Nations in New York.
@ LESOTHO-BUSINESS
MASERU September 25 1998 Sapa
LESOTHO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CALLS FOR INCREASED SECURITY
The Lesotho Chamber of Commerce on Friday night called for
security to be stepped up at businesses which survived torching and
looting during three days of fighting in and around Maseru since
Tuesday.
The call was aimed at the Lesotho goverment and Southern
African Development Community intervention troops.
"It is important that this security should also be extended to
the Basotho nationals so that they can freely move in their
country," chamber spokesman Thabang Nyeoe told Sapa after the
meeting.
"It should be provided because it is the first step in
normalising the situation," Thabang said.
Essential utilities such as water reservoirs and electricity
stations as well as industrial complexes should also be protected,
he said.
Nyeoe said the need for protecting the remaining shops was to
empower the owners to stock goods of immediate need to the people
such as paraffin and food.
Chamber members will meet again on Sunday to assess the broader
impact of damage to business properties during the week-long
anarchy in Maseru.
@ STATE OF DISASTER DECLARED IN AREAS IN FREE STATE
Issued by: Ministry for Provincial Affairs and Constitutional
Development
Mr MV Moosa, Minister for Provincial Affairs and Constitutional
Development, today declared a state of disaster in the magisterial
districts of Ladybrand, Ficksburg, Wepener, Fouriesburg, Zastron and
Clocolan in the Free State Province in terms of the Civil Protection
Act, 1977, as amended.
The number of refugees from Lesotho in the country at the moment
is estimated at 4 000 and a larger influx of refugees is expected
resulting from lack of infrastructure, income and food in Lesotho.
Bordering South African towns may not have the ability and capacity
to keep up with the influx of people. Sine most of the refugees may
not have a home, work or family to go back to, even after the
normalisation of the situation, in Lesotho, it is anticipated that a
prolonged stay of refugees will be inevitable.
The Provincial Disaster Management Committee of the Free State
has taken charge of the operation with the assistance of all role
players such as the Departments of Home Affairs, Health, Welfare and
Population Development, the SANDF and other Non Government
Organisations. Everything possible is being done to get the
situation under control and to minimise the effects of the disaster.
The declaration of a state of disaster, however, empowers the
disaster management organisations to perform their tasks
effectively.
Minister MV Moosa expressed his deepest sympathy with the
families affected by the situation in Lesotho. He believes that, as
in the past, these events will be surmounted by inner strength and
faith. He also extended his sincere thanks and appreciation to
everyone who assist and supports the communities in the areas.
ISSUED BY THE MINISTRY FOR PROVINCIAL AFFAIRS AND CONSTITUTIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
25 September 1998
Enquiries: Mr PA Stopforth
Tel. No: (012) 334 0709
Cell: 082 808 9878
@ NP-WCAPE
CAPE TOWN September 25 1998 Sapa
NP LEADER WANTED TO CHANGE PARTY NAME
National Party leader Marthinus van Schalkwyk revealed on
Friday that he had been part of a minority that had wanted the
party to change its name in 1990, when it opened its doors to all
races.
International precedent had shown that unless a "dramatic name
change" was accompanied by an historic event, it would not work, he
said at the party's Western Cape congress in Goodwood, outside Cape
Town.
He was speaking in a debate on whether the party's federal
council should investigate the desirability of a name change.
Van Schalkwyk said the party leadership had decided that for
now the NP - which recently launched a new logo - should be
unoffically known as the "New National Party".
A wide-cross section of its supporters were in favour of the
"National Party" element being retained, as this was identified
with good governance.
Turning to the issue of opposition co-operation in next year's
general election, Van Schalkwyk said the NP's doors would always
remain open at all levels.
He said the NP remained the only party which could effectively
fight the African National Congress, and that the NP's position as
official opposition in Parliament was not in danger.
He accused the Democratic Party of rejecting full-blooded
co-operation, which the NP had offered, saying the DP wanted to
lure white voters from the NP.
People who were struggling to adapt to the new South Africa
were "emigrating" to the DP.
Van Schalkwyk said the DP's election agreement with the Freedom
Front was a dead-end street for whites.
The FF had proposed that it, the Conservative Party and the NP
should co-operate in next year's poll but the NP had declined,
because it could not work with racist parties.
The two-day congress ended on Friday afternoon with an
exhortation from provincial leader Gerald Morkel to delegates to
"become foot soldiers" in carrying the party's message of good
governance to the electorate.
"Let's sign a contract with each other: I'll work my fingers to
the bone, what will you do?" he asked the congress.
It was the NP's last Western Cape congress before next year's
general election, and saw Morkel unanimously elected the first
coloured leader in the province: he has been acting leader and
provincial premier since Hernus Kriel's retirement from politics
earlier this year.
In discussion on 19 motions, delegates expressed concerns on
issues ranging from crime to non-payment at local government level,
and language rights.
The latter debate gave rise to a clash between Western Cape
Health Minister Peter Marais and MP John Gogotya.
The fiery Marais, chairing the congress at that stage,
repeatedly encouraged participants to vent their strong feelings
for Afrikaans.
Gogotya, who said he spoke 13 languages, said the NP was not an
Afrikaans party. "We must address the issues as they are, but God
forbid us allowing us to let the NP be seen as an Afrikaans party
... if we want South Africa to be a non-racial country."
A visibly subdued Marais answered: "This is a Western Cape
party - we recognise Afrikaans, English and Xhosa as the three
official languages."
Piet Marais, a senior NP spokesman on cultural matters and a
former minister of national education when the NP was still in
government, said the party had initiated a clause in the
Constitution that South Africa was a multi-lingual country.
But he added: "We'll have to remove the (ANC) government from
power if we want to protect our language."
@ ANGOLA-UNITA
LUANDA, Sept 25, Sapa-AFP
DEFECTION OF MPS A NEW BLOW TO SAVIMBI'S AUTHORITY
UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi on Friday lost the support of 55 of
his movement's 70 members of parliament in a new blow to his
authority, already rejected by the Luanda government.
Also on Friday, a close political adviser to Savimbi, Abel
Chivukuvuku, said he had fallen out with the National Union for the
Total Independence of Angola leader, whom the Luanda government has
sidelined in preference for a dissident "peace faction" that
emerged early this month.
UNITA dissident Jorge Valentim, who is tourism minister in
Angola's unity government, announced the defection of 55 UNITA
members of parliament from Savimbi's support base.
On September 9 the MPs, who have been suspended since August 31
in punishment for UNITA's failure to comply with November 1994
peace accords, had issued a joint communique stating their loyalty
to Savimbi.
Luanda had given UNITA until the end of August to complete
fulfilling its commitments made in the accords: handing over
remaining territory, disarming its fighters and setting up
headquarters in Luanda.
Also suspended were UNITA's four ministers and seven deputy
ministers, of whom all but two were reinstated Wednesday after
renouncing their loyalty to Savimbi. A minister and a vice minister
who failed to do so were summarily dismissed.
Chivukuvuku, who heads UNITA's parliamentary group, said in a
statement to the press on Friday: "I've had disputes with Andulo (a
UNITA stronghold in central Angola). From now on, I am a free man,
a citizen of peace."
He said however that he would not join the renewal committee.
In another threat to Savimbi's authority, Angola's ruling
People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) on Friday
asked parliament to cancel his special status as main opposition
leader.
Savimbi was given unspecified special status under the peace
accords, later defined in March this year as "head of the main
opposition party" with rights and privileges similar to those of a
vice president.
The designation followed a declaration by UNITA that it had
fully disarmed, but since then sporadic fighting involving UNITA
forces has claimed hundreds of lives in several parts of the
southern African country.
"Mr. Savimbi has put the country in a difficult situation. His
special status is not justified," said the head of the MPLA's
parliamentary group, Joao Lourenco.
Relations have been severed between the Luanda government and
Savimbi since the "peace faction" came forward with an offer to
cooperate with Luanda and UN observers in completing the stalled
peace process.
The regime of President Jose Eduardo dos Santos has designated
the splinter group as the "only valid interlocutor" in UNITA.
The faction is led by former UNITA secretary general Eugenio
Manuvakola, who signed the 1994 peace accords on the rebels'
behalf.
Savimbi is also losing favor on the international front.
The 14-country Southern Africa Development Community (SADC),
after a September 13-14 summit, branded Savimbi a "war criminal"
responsible for bloodshed and deteriorating security in Angola, and
recognized the dissident faction.
Nine central and southern African heads of state or their
representatives who held a summit in Libreville this week also
leant support to Dos Santos, urging African leaders to "abstain
from offering any support whatsoever to Jonas Savimbi and his
militarist wing" of UNITA.
The "troika" of countries supervising the Angolan peace process
- former colonial power Portugal, Russia and the United States -
on Thursday gave Savimbi his "last opportunity" to comply with
peace accords.
They said in a letter to the UNITA leader that "the situation
is precarious" in Angola, and called on him to contact Dos Santos
"to discuss how UNITA can conclude the peace process, and agreeing
on immediate steps needed to avert war."
"This is UNITA's last opportunity to secure a legitimate and
constructive role in the Angolan body politic," the letter said.
@ LESOTHO-DISASTER
PRETORIA September 25 1998 Sapa
MOOSA DECLARES STATE OF DISASTER IN SOME FREE STATE DISTRICTS
Provincial Affairs and Constitutional Development Minister
Valli Moosa on Friday declared a state of disaster in the
magisterial districts of Ladybrand, Ficksburg, Wepener,
Fouriesburg, Zastron and Clocolan in the Free State in terms of the
Civil Protection Act of 1977.
The ministry said the number of refugees from Lesotho was about
4000 and a larger influx of refugees was expected because of a lack
of infrastructure, income and food in Lesotho.
"Bordering South African towns may not have the ability and
capacity to keep up with the influx of people," tne ministry said
in a statement.
Since most of the refugees might not have a home, work or
family to go back to, even after the normalisation of the situation
in Lesotho, it was anticipated that a prolonged stay of refugees
would be inevitable.
The ministry said the provincial disaster management committee
of the Free State had taken charge of the operation with the
assistance of the departments of Home Affairs, Health, Welfare and
Population Development, the SA National Defence Force and
non-governmental organisations.
The declaration of a state of disaster empowered the disaster
management organisations to perform their tasks effectively, the
ministry said.
Moosa expressed his deepest sympathy with the families affected
by the situation in Lesotho. He also thanked everyone who assisted
and supported the communities in the areas.
@ LESOTHO-AFTERMATH
MASERU Sept 24 Sapa-AP
SHOCKED CITIZENS SURVEY DAMAGE OF S. AFRICA INTERVENTION
Shocked and weeping residents who returned Friday to homes and
businesses ruined by arson and looting touched off by South
Africa's military intervention said they don't know how they, or
this small nation, can recover.
"It is over for Lesotho," said Telang Nchela. She was sobbing
quietly in the charred wreckage of her supermarket.
Hundreds of businesses were pillaged. In some neighborhoods, it
looked as though only about two of every 10 buildings were intact.
Thaba Mokete, an 18-year-old student wearing jeans and a
baseball cap, watched armored personnel carriers bearing soldiers
from South Africa and Botswana rumble past.
"I don't know what we can do to show our anger because we
don't have that much power," Mokete seethed.
This Belgium-sized country of 2 million was poor before South
African troops crossed the border Tuesday at the invitation of
embattled Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili. Now it is devastated.
Mosisili aimed to put down a mutiny among his troops and
curtail strikes by opposition groups that claim last May's
election, which Mosisili's party won by a landslide, was rigged.
South Africa, as the region's dominant economy and military
power, thought to go in quickly, reestablish order and depart. The
800 troops, however, were unprepared for the military opposition
and social chaos they found, which to some lent credence to those
who oppose Mosisili.
"It is becoming clear that our attempt to prop up a government
with suspect democratic credentials has been a costly mistake,"
South Africa's Democratic Party leader Tony Leon said. His group
was sending delegates this weekend to survey the "disaster."
Despite one reported sniping incident, gunfire and arson have
nearly ceased in the capital. But signs are few that society may
return to normal very quickly.
Maseru residents who had the cash, crossed over the border into
South Africa - which encircles Lesotho - for food and supplies.
Schools and government offices were disrupted. A dusk to dawn
curfew remained in effect.
South African troops remained deployed at key installations,
including Katse and Mohale hydroelectric dams located about 60 kms
(36 miles) outside the capital.
South African armed forces chief Gen. Siphiwe Nyanda said more
troops would be deployed in outlying areas to halt looting. It's
unclear when soldiers might withdraw.
Along with security issues is a political stalemate. Mosisili's
opponents say they won't negotiate til troops are withdrawn and
King Letsie III is allowed to participate. The prime minister, who
claims his opponents plotted to assassinate him, won't negotiate at
all.
"How can we talk to political leaders who appear to have
encouraged their supporters to commit crimes and sow anarchy
throughout the country," said Foreign Minister Tom Thabane.
Eight South African soldiers died along with 58 Lesotho troops.
About 150 rebels from the latter group reportedly were under
arrest.
On Friday, Lawrence Ramashamole walked the streets looking for
a pickup truck to bring home the body of his brother, who he said
was killed while on duty for Lesotho, guarding the Katse dam.
"He was just guarding the dam as part of his duties,"
Ramashamole said. "Why did they have to kill him? He wasn't a
rebel."
Looters initially targeted buildings and businesses owned by
members of the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy party.
"The owner of this building is an LCD member, so now we are
the victims," said Nchela, pointing to the charred hulk of a
building which housed her 7 to 7 Supermarket.
Crunching through shattered glass in her red shoes, Nchela
entered the building, walking past warped metal shelves holding
blackened cans of food whose lids had popped off in the intense
heat.
"Two partners and I started this store in November last year
with bank loans and profits we had made from operating a smaller
store," Nchela said. "Today it's gone. We are left with debts to
the bank and suppiers and don't know if insurance will pay."
"I'm telling our 35 employees that if the bank can assist us
they can come back," Nchela said. "If not, it's over."
@ MANDELA-CANADA
TORONTO September 25 1998 Sapa-CP
MANDELA CANCELS CANADIAN ENGAGEMENTS DUE TO FATIGUE
South African President Nelson Mandela's demanding schedule
over the past few weeks appeared to catch up with him on Friday,
prompting him to cancel a scheduled afternoon news conference, and
possibly the rest of his official activities, including a dinner in
Toronto, Canada.
A final decision was yet to be made, an aide said.
His chief of staff, Jakes Gerwel, said the president was "very
exhausted" but assured everyone it was nothing more than that and
described Mandela's health as "perfect."
Earlier in the day thousands of cheering schoolchildren packed
the Toronto's mammoth SkyDome to greet Mandela in a boisterous
celebration capping his historic visit to North America.
"It is a great pleasure to be with you today and see all your
young faces," Mandela said in an address that was in sombre
contrast to the joyous festivities that preceded it.
"I do not think that there is another country anywhere that has
ever brought together between 40,000 and 50,000 children for a
function of this nature."
As he did in Ottawa earlier this week, the 80-year-old Mandela
praised Canada for helping in the fight to end apartheid in South
Africa. But he had a special word for Canadian children.
"The greatest joy has been to discover that there are so many
children in this country who care about other children around the
world," he said to resounding cheers from the approximately 40,000
kids at the Dome.
"You have made me feel like a young man again with my batteries
recharged."
A constantly beaming Mandela, wearing a fleece jacket adorned
with native motifs given to him by aboriginal leaders before his
SkyDome appearance, sat at the stadium's centre stage and took in
performances from various bands and artists for most of the
hour-long gala.
"Don't you want to shake my hand?" he said, grinning broadly,
as a small girl accompanied by singer Susan Aglukark appeared too
shy to greet him.
Moments earlier, Mandela stood up and danced as another artist
sang a song about racial harmony.
As he entered SkyDome in a golf cart accompanied by his wife,
an African-styled band sang and chanted "Nelson Mandela" and
schoolchildren did traditional African dances.
In his welcoming remarks, Prime Minister Jean Chretien
described Mandela as the "hero of the world" and told the
schoolchildren they were privileged to be in attendance.
"When you will be my age, you will tell your grandchildren: I
was there when Nelson Mandela came to Toronto and to Canada," he
said.
The SkyDome appearance had a genuine show business feel to it,
complete with hosting duties by MuchMusic veejay Juliette Powell
and Due South actor Paul Gross and performances by various bands.
But it was not without political flavour - Ontario Premier
Mike Harris was roundly booed by the kids when he took the stage to
welcome Mandela. Some 200,000 Ontario students haven't seen the
inside of a classroom since June because of an ongoing dispute
between the province and teachers.
Mandela's arrival in Toronto capped a three-day visit to Canada
that saw him receive the country's highest civilian honour on
Thursday, hours after being feted in the House of Commons.
Mandela is the first foreign leader to receive the Order of
Canada.
On Thursday, MPs and senators clapped, cheered and jostled to
get close enough to shake hands with the South African leader.
The tall, dignified African statesman, who has become the
embodiment of the struggle for human rights, was given a two-minute
standing ovation as he walked into the Commons. His speech was
drowned by applause six times.
It was his second appearance in Parliament. In 1990, after 27
years in prison, he spoke of the coming struggle to end apartheid
in his homeland.
Earlier this week, he received the United States Congressional
Medal of Honour while visiting Washington. He also attended the
opening session of the United Nations in New York.
@ LESOTHO-BISHOPS
PRETORIA September 25 1998 Sapa
SADC INTERVENTION UNLEASHED DEATH, DESTRUCTION IN LESOTHO:SACBC
The Southern African Development Community intervention in
Lesotho had unleashed a trail of death and destruction, the
Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference said on Friday.
"We are shocked at the tragic loss of life, the wanton
destruction of property and the fleeing of business people from
Lesotho as a result of the intervention of the South African
Defence Force.
"We are deeply disturbed that by all accounts the diplomatic
solution was not fully pursued in addressing the political crisis
in Lesotho," the organisation said in a statement.
The bishops said while the intervention was ostensibly to avert
a possible coup d'etat, it is being seen as unjust agression
against the sovereignty of the kingdom of Lesotho.
"SADC's ill-advised and ill-prepared military intervention has
deepened the divisions and intensified animosity between the
governing party and the opposition and also between the Basotho and
the people of South Africa."
The bishops expressed its sympathy to King Letsie III and the
people of Lesotho and urged the SADC to execute an ordered and
immediate withdrawal of its troops. Instead a path of diplomacy
should be pursued.
"Furthermore we urge that immediate steps be taken to repair
the damage done to relations between our two nations and that
clarification be given as soon as possible regarding compensation
to those who have suffered loss as a result of this SADC
initiative."
@ MANDELA SPEECH AT BUSINESS LUNCHEON
Issued by: Office of the President
SPEECH BY PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA AT A BUSINESS LUNCHEON HOSTED BY
MINISTER MANUEL
Toronto, 25 September 1998 20
Master of Ceremonies;
Ladies and Gentlemen;
Canadians and South Africans
We could not have asked for a better ending to our visit to
North America than a day that includes a summit of trade and
business leaders like this. Our visit had many important purposes,
but none more so than building relationships between Canadian and
South African business partners.
The value we attach to the Summit will be evident from the
number of senior government representatives present, and the 40 or
more of our business people here on a five-day trade and investment
mission. You may gauge our private sector's interest in doing
business with Canada by the fact that over 100 companies wanted to
join the mission.
Success in today's competitive climate depends on a strong
partnership of government and private sector. So it is a great
pleasure to welcome people whose task is to make or shape investment
decisions. The occasion brings a valuable opportunity to share ideas
on how we can work together for our mutual benefit. This is
especially important at a time when the crisis in the global economy
reminds us all of the interdependence of nations and economies in
today's world, and of the necessity for us to meet our goals through
co-operation with one another.
As two relatively small economies, one industrialised and one
developing, there are some specific advantages we can draw from
co-operating with each other. We both need investments from other
countries and international corporations. We have a common interest,
along with many others, in promoting a more equitable system of
international trade rules.
The struggle to free South Africa forged a world-wide community
of people who love freedom and justice. Within that wider community
close and valuable links have been built between the Canadian and
South African people, that have grown still stronger as we set out
to rebuild our country. Today, when we face still greater challenges
of development, the relationship becomes even more important,
especially in the economic sphere. The potential for mutual benefit
is also much greater than it was.
In 1994, when we addressed audiences in many countries, those
whom we met joined us in celebrating our freedom.
But there were clearly also concerns as to our capacity to
govern a modern economy. Many people were sceptical that South
Africans could leave their divided past behind them. The doubts were
understandable. We had no track record in government. We would be
the first to admit that we have made mistakes, but looking back over
the four years of democratic government we can say that we have done
well. What we have achieved is far beyond anything even attempted by
any previous government in South Africa.
In every sphere we have used our four years of freedom to lay
the foundation for a better life for all, and we are busy building
on it. Those early doubts have been laid to rest except amongst a
small and dwindling minority.
The South African people confounded the prophets of doom, by
joining hands to work for a better life for all. Of course we have
our differences, and they are sometimes sharp, but they take place
within a broad allegiance to our new democracy. There is a broad
consensus around government's policies and our challenge is
effective implementation.
Democracy and a culture of human rights have struck deep roots.
The spirit of reconciliation is steadily but surely healing the
divisions created by generations of enforced division on the basis
of race.
Our second democratic election next year will see the
replacement of an 80 year old president with a younger one. If the
democratic process selects Thabo Mbeki then the country will
formally gain a President who is already running the country in
fact!
Although crime and corruption are still at an unacceptable level
we have turned the tide. The new institutions of our democracy have
introduced a climate of transparency, helping us to expose
corruption, whoever is involved, and root it out. Democracy has
brought the opportunity to reshape a police force whose former
function was to protect minority interests and suppress opposition.
A new relationship between police and community is at the heart of a
strategy that combines effective law-enforcement with action to
address the social roots of crime.
Our programmes for socio-economic improvement are already
bringing the basic necessities of life to millions of poor people
who could only dream of them before. There is no magic in numbers,
and we know that we have only begun on a task of many years. But we
think it important you should know that we are in earnest about
improving the quality of life of our people. For example, on
average, on every single day since the election of South Africa's
first democratic government - on every single day - about 1,700
people have gained access to clean water; 1,300 homes have been
connected to the electricity grid; and over 800 telephone lines
connected. Every week since then has brought two new clinics into
existence and access to health-care for some 20,000 people.
At the moment about 1,000 houses are being brought into
construction or completed every day.
This is what has been happening day after day, week after week,
month after month for four years, and that is why we can speak of
millions of lives that have changed for the better. As business
people you will appreciate the cumulative effect on the economic
life of our country.
Our economic policy framework has been firmly established over
the four years of democratic government. At its heart is a
combination of prudent use of public resources; far-reaching
programmes of socio-economic improvement; restructuring of state
assets; industrial restructuring for export-oriented growth as we
integrate in a competitive global economy; and a gradual lifting of
exchange controls.
Investment, and in particular foreign direct investment, is of
critical importance to the kind of growth we need, and we
systematically encourage it.
A powerful thrust in our investment promotion programme comes
from our Spatial Development Initiatives. Some, like the Maputo
Development Corridor, are joint projects with our neighbours. These
packages of industrial projects and infrastructural development,
based on private-public sector partnerships and exploiting unused
potential for export-oriented activities, are changing the face of
our country and region. At the moment there are some 400 SDI-related
projects at various stages, with a total value of R83 billion and
the potential to create 68,000 jobs.
The economic indicators point to the success of our policies.
Years of stagnation have been turned to five years of
continuous growth.
The rate of growth, slowed down by the effects of the recent
global turmoil, is expected to pick up again in 1999. Inflation has
been reduced and despite the impact of the recent financial crisis
it is expected to remain in single digits.
Government has reduced the fiscal deficit from 10% in 1993/94 to
a targeted 3.5% this fiscal year.
Most significant are the signs of the underlying changes we are
seeking:
sustained productivity growth with falling costs per unit of output;
and
a sharply improved export performance (20% up from 1993 to 1996;
12.5% in 1997 and 12,0% in the first half of this year).
The restructuring of state assets continues, after the initial
sale of six radio stations and an airline, and the acquisition of
strategic equity partners for our national telecommunications
corporation and the Airports Company. On this year's agenda for
restructuring are the national forestry corporation and airline,
South African Airways We believe that the consistent application of
these policies and the soundness of our well-capitalised banking
system are the main reasons that we are weathering the global
financial turmoil. Our policies provide the correct long-term
strategies for the structural reform that will bring sustainable
growth.
All countries, even the most powerful, are being obliged to
recognise that none of us can achieve sustained growth and
development, peace, stability and prosperity, unless others do so
too.
South Africa therefore places the highest priority on the
economic integration and political stability of Southern Africa, on
the basis of balanced development, equitable relations and
democratic governance. The Southern African Development Community is
on its way to becoming an integrated market of 180 million people
within eight years.
The reconstruction and development of our continent as a whole
is a condition of the fulfilment of our own destiny as an African
nation.
Because none of us is able on our own to solve the important
challenges which we face, South Africa actively participates in
efforts to deal with problems through multilateral organisations.
In particular, we share the urgent concern of all those who
would want the world trade and financial system to move in a
direction that translates world economic growth into the benefits of
development.
We come to you from Africa, a continent whose people are working
hard to improve their lives; and whose people reach out to you, not
with a begging bowl, but to join hands in a partnership of mutual
benefit that will add to the momentum for growth. The economic links
that a summit like this helps to build, and the opportunities for
trade and investment that it facilitates, are indispensable to the
generation of sustained growth on which the realisation of all these
goals depends.
South Africans are looking for increased economic links with
Canada. That is why we are here and why we opened a new office in
Toronto in July to promote economic ties between us.
There are many profitable opportunities for Canadians in South
and Southern Africa. By seizing them you will be rising to one of
the great challenges of our time, the regeneration of the African
continent.
Let us join in a partnership for peace and prosperity as we
enter the new millennium!
@ LESOTHO-TOLL
MASERU September 25 1998 Sapa
OFFICIALS WORK ON LESOTHO DEATH TOLL FIGURE
The death toll in Lesotho following three days of fighting
between Southern African Development Community troops and rebel
soldiers remained unknown on Friday night, and government officials
said they would try to release details by Monday.
The count as announced by the South African National Defence
Force for the SANDF and rebel soldiers stood at 66 by Friday
evening. Of this, eight were SANDF troops and 58 were LDF members.
Seventeen SANDF soldiers were reported injured during the
skirmishes.
Lesotho police commissioner Bolutu Makoaba on Friday night told
Sapa the police had collected 14 bodies of civilian victims of the
upheaval in and around Maseru.
"We are presently unable to give the final figure of people
killed and injured during the uprising as it has been very
difficult to get statistics, even from the rural areas," he said.
Attempts to get the local Red Cross and the crisis committee to
comment on the death toll were unsuccessful.
Makoaba said a large number of people had been arrested for
offences ranging from malicious damage to property to looting.
Journalists covering the fighting on Friday said the charred
bodies of trapped victims were still lying in various burnt out
buildings in the capital.
Local hotel employees who travelled from rural areas to work
said bodies of victims of the clashes lay uncovered and scattered
at Kubetsoana in northern Lesotho.
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A N C D A I L Y N E W S B R I E F I N G
MONDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 1998
PLEASE NOTE: This News Briefing is a compilation of items from South
African press agencies and as such does not reflect the views of the
ANC. It is for reading and information only, and strictly not for
publication or broadcast.
To unsubscribe from the ANC Daily News Briefing mailing list send a
message to 'list...@wn.apc.org'. In the body of your message put
'unsubscribe ancnews'.
@ LESOTHO
MASERU September 26 1998 Sapa
MORE TROOPS TO BE SENT TO LESOTHO
More Southern African Development Community troops were
expected to be deployed in Lesotho on Saturday to bolster the
military intervention in the country and secure areas beyond the
capital.
SA National Defence Force chief General Siphiwe Nyanda said the
plan required political authorisation but SANDF spokeswoman
Lieutenant-Colonel Laverne Machine said the implementation was a
fait accompli.
Nyanda, who toured Maseru on Friday, told journalists the
initial objective of suppressing a Lesotho Defence Force mutiny and
seizing weaponry had been achieved.
No details of the number of troops that would be deployed in
Lesotho were given but Machine said it was essential that the size
of the force be increased.
Addressing a press conference, Nyanda denied the SADC force had
invaded Lesotho. He said the force had been invited by the Lesotho
government and would leave once the government instructed South
Africa to order its withdrawal.
Nyanda said he regretted the destruction of Maseru's business
district but denied the SADC force was responsible for this. The
resistance encountered from rebel LDF troops had meant the SADC
force was unable to prevent the looting and arson which erupted in
the city on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Nyanda said the force's strategy was to use minimum force to
achieve maximum affect.
Operation commander Colonel Robbie Hartslief said SANDF Ratels
equipped with 90mm cannons had initially fired blanks in an attempt
to use psychological strategy to force a surrender by the
mutineers. Hartslief said the level of resistance encountered meant
that the SADC force had to switch to live artillery rounds.
He said the intention of the SADC force was to minimise loss of
life and destruction of property.
He said this policy meant that the SADC forces did not fire at
looters and arsonists.
Hartslief pointed out that although the central business
district had been burned down the SADC force had secured the city's
industrial area, particularly because of the presence of chemical
and fuel storage facilities.
Meanwhile the whereabouts of the bulk of Lesotho's
approximately 3000-man strong army was unknown. Hartslief said 160
soldiers had been taken prisoner and an undisclosed number of
soldiers had been killed.
Machine said some troops had sealed themselves in underground
bunkers at the Makoanyane base. The task force had no idea how many
soldiers were in the barracks but said they had limited oxygen
supplies and no food or electricity.
The SANDF troops were unable to access the bunkers as they were
sealed from the inside with blastproof doors.
Machine said it was suspected that some of the mutineers had
died in the bunkers as soldiers had reported a bad smell emanating
from ventilation pipes.
Head of the LDF, General Makhule Mosakheng, who was reinstated
on Thursday, had sent instructions for all LDF members to report to
the army headquarters by 11am on Saturday.
Nyanda on Friday gave credence to growing speculation that an
imposition of a state of emergency was imminent. Nyanda told
journalists he supported the imposition of a state of emergency but
this remained a political decision.
Opposition leaders earlier told journalists that a state of
emergency would form a second, sinister phase of the intervention.
Meanwhile the situation on the streets of Maseru was quiet on
Friday evening, but no signs of an attempt to restore order were
evident and it appeared that charred bodies still remained in burnt
out shells of supermarkets.
The Maseru bridge border post was clogged by Basothos
travelling to nearby Ladybrand to stock up on supplies as no shops
were trading in the city.
Shops in Ladybrand have reported a 100 percent increase in
business since Thursday.
@ MANDELA-CANADA
TORONTO September 26 1998 Sapa-AFP
AN EXHAUSTED MANDELA RETURNS HOME AHEAD OF SCHEDULE
After a gruelling four week travel schedule, exhausted South
Africa's President Nelson Mandela cut his tour of North America
short and returned to Africa ahead of schedule.
Looking extremely unsteady, Mandela, 80, was persuaded by aides
to cut short his appearance at a luncheon with South African and
Canadian businessmen, and to cancel a scheduled press conference a
little later.
But after being treated by his physician and resting for about
six hours, Mandela reappeared to make a shortened speech at a gala
dinner hosted by Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien.
Welcoming Mandela to the dinner, Chretien said: "There will be
no speech tonight because our guest, who has been working so hard
..., needs a rest."
Chretien hailed the African leader as "the greatest living
human being in the world today", perhaps the most extravagant
praise he has received in what has been a love-fest tour between
Mandela and the people of North America, especially Canada.
In a his brief reply Mandela described Canada as a "home away
from home."
"Wherever I go, it would seem I am receiving this hospitality
and warmth from so many people far away from my homeland," he said.
"I do not know what I have done to merit this. This is a tribute
not to an individual, but to a country."
As he entered the banquet, a reporter asked him how he was
feeling.
Looking much steadier, he replied: "Very well, very well
indeed."
But it was clear his dinner appearance was taken against the
advice of some of his top officials.
Jake Gerwel, Mandela's chief of staff, told reporters that his
boss was "suffering from fatigue" and that he and others had
persuaded him to leave the lunch after delivering a speech.
Gerwel added that Mandela had been examined by a physician who
always travels with him and that he had been given "a perfect bill
of health".
"President Mandela is very exhausted," Gerwel said. "It has
been an exhausting four weeks."
In that time Mandela has hosted a state visit by Cuban leader
Fidel Castro, chaired a southern African summit and visited
Mauritius, New York, Washington, Boston, Ottawa and Toronto.
Yet less than three hours before nearly collapsing from
exhaustion, a jubilant Mandela joined more than 40,000 Canadian
schoolchildren in dancing at a rally.
"You have made me feel like a young man again, with my
batteries re-charged," Mandela told the kids.
Chretien, who is 64, told the children: "When you are my age,
you will tell your grandchildren 'I was there when Nelson Mandela
came to Toronto and to Canada'."
The children sat in silence as Mandela told them of the
injustices of the old apartheid system, and the injustices he still
encountered after his 27 year ordeal in prison.
On Thursday Canada received Canada's highest civilian honor -
the Order of Canada - from Governor General Romeo LeBlanc,
representative of Queen Elizabeth II.
Mandela received the award after he gave a speech that to the
Canadian parliament that was ended by a lengthy standing ovation.
The African leader however appeared embarrassed by so much
praise, and finally grabbed Chretien by the hand to force him to
sit down in the hope of stopping the applause.
@ LESOTHO-BORDER
MASERU September 26 1998 Sapa
LESOTHO CITIZENS FLOCK TO LADYBRAND TO DO SHOPPING
Hundreds of Lesotho citizens were flocking to the Maseru bridge
on Saturday on their way to do shopping in the nearby South African
town of Ladybrand.
It was all smiles for taxi drivers who ferried the shoppers to
Ladybrand.
A woman told Sapa that having to travel to Ladybrand to do
shopping was straining her budget.
"I don't know how we are going to survive this catastrophe. I
believe this is just the beginning of suffering," she said.
Shops in the Maseru CBD were looted and set alight earlier this
week by Lesotho citizens angered by the presence of SA National
Defence Force troops who moved into the mountain kingdom on Tuesday
morning.
A woman on her way to Ladybrand to do shopping said the
presence of the SANDF in Lesotho was unacceptable.
"The former apartheid government would never have invaded us
like this," she said.
Meanwhile, hundreds of SANDF troops were camped about 5km
outside the border, waiting to be deployed in Lesotho.
Calm was returning to Maseru, with people moving up and down
the main street, King's Way, on Saturday morning.
@ LESOTHO-TOLL
MASERU September 26 1998 Sapa
UNOFFICIAL TOLL IN LESOTHO FIGHTING STANDS AT 134
The unofficial death toll after three days of fighting in
Lesotho stood at least at 134 on Friday night, reliable sources
told Sapa on Saturday morning.
Of this figure, the sources said, 66 were members of the SA
Development Community and Lesotho troops.
The bodies of the remaining victims were collected by
representatives of the Red Cross, Crisis Committee and the police.
The bodies were kept at the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital in Maseru.
By Friday night, an estimated 146 people had reportedly been
injured.
The Lesotho Police and the Red Cross could not provide official
figures. They said they were expecting more information from
various parts of the country where fighting had apparently spread.
Military sources told Sapa it would be difficult to confirm the
casualties among the Lesotho rebel soldiers as some rebels had
apparently taken their fallen comrades to secret places.
There were also rumours that some families had collected the
bodies of their loved ones. Some were apparently taken to private
mortuaries, whil
@ LESOTHO-DEFENCE
MASERU September 26 1998 Sapa
LESOTHO DEFENCE FORCE SOLDIERS REPORT AT THE DEFENCE HQ
Hundreds of the Lesotho Defence Force soldiers heeded a call by
Commander Makhula Mosakeng to report at the defence headquarters in
Maseru on Saturday.
Dressed in civilian clothes, the LDF soldiers were searched at
the gate and accompanied by the SA National Defence Force military
police to a building where they registered.
One military police officer told Sapa that the soldiers' names,
ranks and the bases where they were stationed previously were being
registered.
"Once the process is finished at 12 noon, we will be able to
know who is still out there, who is injured and who is dead, and
then we will wait for the next order," he said.
One LDF soldier said they were heeding a call by General
Mosakeng to report at the army's headquarters.
"We do not know why and we are just waiting for him to tell us
what to do," he said.
Asked whether they would heed any call or order from Mosakeng,
he said: "A soldier is a soldier and we just obey orders." He
declined to elaborate.
The SANDF officers said General Mosakeng and the joint
SANDF/Botswana Defence Force operation commander Colonel Robbie
Hartslief were to address the LDF soldiers.
Meanwhile, SANDF spokeswoman Lieutenant-Colonel Lavine Machine
said the weapons seized at the Mokoanyane base were being
registered and stored according to military procedure.
She said no incident had occurred during the cleaning up of the
barracks, where massive arms and ammunition were found. She said
the weapons remained the property of the LDF and would be handed
over to it.
The LDF would have to decide what to do with some of the
ammunition and weaponry that had been damaged as a result of the
heavy fighting between the SADC troops and LDF mutineers.
She said the fate of LDF soldiers who had sealed themselves in
underground bunkers was still unknown.
Machine said if the LDF rebels had been prepared for the SADC
intervention, "it is unlikely the operation would have succeeded
given the weapons that we found there. I don't think we would have
walked away if they had been ready for us".
She said many of the arms were found stored in boxes marked
"agricultural equipment". She said it appeared the weapons had not
been there for long and it was unclear why so many weapons had been
stockpiled.
@ UDM-CONGRESS
UMTATA September 26 1998 Sapa
UDM MARKS ITS FIRST BIRTHDAY WITH RALLY AND PETITION TO GOVT
The United Democratic Movement on Saturday marked its first
birthday with a rally at the Independence Stadium in Umtata in the
Eastern Cape.
UDM president Bantu Holomisa, deputy president Roelf Meyer and
national secretary Sifiso Nkabinde would address the gathering, a
UDM statement said.
This will be followed by a march to the Umtata police station
to hand over a petition addressed to the government.
"We strongly condemn the government's failure to address the
chronic problems that undermine the constitutional rights for which
people fought so hard," the UDM said in the petition.
It charged the government with failing to solve unemployment
and poverty and put an end to official corruption, inadequately
equipping the police service to fight crime and failing to stop
farm killings.
"The failure of government to address the real causes of these
killings means that it is incapable of protecting the lives of
South Africans."
The UDM also condemned the deployment of South African troops
in Lesoto.
It criticised the government's insistence that only barcoded
identity documents would be acceptable for the next election and
called for this decision to be overturned.
The petition also claimed that the exclusion of parties not
represented in Parliament from access to the electoral fund was "an
undemocratic exclusion of our party from the political process even
though we are bigger than two of the parties in Parliament".
@ LESOTHO-CAPTIVES
MASERU September 26 1998 Sapa
MORE THAN 1000 LDF MEMBERS REGISTER AT MILITARY HEADQUARTERS
Over 1000 Lesotho Defence Force members had, by lunch time,
gathered at the Ratjomose defence force headquarters in Maseru,
awaiting the outcome of a meeting between the commanding officers
of the SA Development Community task force and their superiors.
A SA National Defence Force lieutenant said that by 12.30pm
1120 soldiers - all dressed in civilian clothes - had been
registered at the base.
The officer said 24 weapons, including assault rifles, had been
handed over to SANDF military police.
The soldiers were not regarded as prisoners of war, although
160 of them remain locked in a mess.
The 160 include soldiers detained on Tuesday by the SADC
troops. Others were from the Makonyane barracks.
The conditions in the mess were quite crowded, with the 160
sharing one toilet.
Some of the soldiers to whom Sapa spoke said they had never
intended staging a coup as alleged by Prime Minister Pakalitha
Mosisili.
"We are very loyal to our government and we just wanted things
to be sorted out," one of the soldiers said.
He said this was interpreted by Mosisili as a plot to dethrone
him.
They appealed to King Letsie III and Mosisili to come and talk
to them.
@ LABOUR-SACCAWU
JOHANNESBURG September 26 1998 Sapa
EDGARS GROUP EMPLOYEES TO GO ON STRIKE ON MONDAY
Employees of the Edgars group of companies are set to go on a
nationwide strike on Monday to pressurise their management to lift
a proposed wage freeze for the 1998/99 financial year.
South African Commercial Catering and Allied Workers' Union
assistant general secretary Herbert Mkhize said the industrial
action was precipitated by the "arrogance and intransigence" of the
company towards the bargaining process.
Edgars Group has proposed the wage freeze, citing a fall in
profits of 28 percent and the current economic hardships.
Saccawu said its intention to table a wage proposal of between
15 and 20 percent was torpedoed by the proposed freeze.
"Edgars has always been difficult to negotiate with and this
stance has come as no surprise to us... if the profits have fallen
by 28 percent then what has happened to the other 72 percent.
"We are not dealing with a company that is in the red here,"
Mkhize told a media briefing in Johannesburg on Saturday.
He said a typical example of the company's intransigence was
the R733000 lawsuit it had slapped on the union on Friday evening
- for loss of earnings.
He said the union had explored all avenues at its disposal,
including go-slows, picketing and mediation by the Commission for
Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration, but to no avail.
Mkhize said that, despite the lawsuit, his members were going
ahead with the strike on Monday.
"We suspect there is a conspiracy by captains of the retail
sector
- using Edgars as a guinea pig - to hold back the advances made
in
the Labour Relations Act and we are contemplating the possibility
of a sympathy strike as a union should the current efforts fail."
Saccawu has more than 3000 workers in the Edgars Group.
The group has, among its subsidiaries, retail outlets such as
Jet, Cuthberts, ABC and Express.
In a related incident, Mkhize said Saccawu was still
sensitising its allies regarding a possible consumer boycott of
Smart Centre and Bee Gees retail stores.
The two, he said, had failed to settle a dispute over wages and
the improvement of working conditions.
He conceded the picketing and go-slow methods used by members
of his union in the employ of the two companies had not had the
desired impact.
The management of the two shops had responded to the industrial
actions by locking out the workers.
"A message of solidarity has already been circulated to the
African National Congress-SA Communist Party-Cosatu alliance to
call on their members for support on this action.
"A further message has been cabled to Pan Africanist Congress,
the Azanian People's Organisation, Fiet, the National Council of
Trade Unions and the International Union of Foodworkers," he said.
"We appealed to them or their members not to buy from these
stores until the dispute between us had been resolved."
@ LESOTHO-SEKONYANA
MASERU September 26 1998 Sapa-dpa
LESOTHO PRIME MINISTER ACCUSED OF MAKING INCONSIDERATE CLAIMS
A Lesotho opposition leader Saturday accused Prime
Minister Pakalitha Mosisili of making inconsiderate and serious
allegations of an opposition conspiracy to assassinate him and other
cabinet ministers.
Speaking to the Deutsche Presse-Agentur, dpa from Maseru, Basotho
National Party (BNP) leader Evaristus Sekonyana said Mosisili had the
intelligence services of South Africa and Lesotho at his disposal and
should have consulted them before making such allegations.
"To me it sounds very inconsiderate to say that the BNP, the
Basutholand Congress Party (BCP) and the Marematlou Freedom Party
(MFP), even though we are an alliance, could ever get into a
conspiracy to kill Mosisili, his deputy Kelebole Maope and Foreign
Affairs Minister Tom Thabane," Sekonyana said, adding that it was a
"serious" allegation.
He said the opposition had nothing to do with the security of the
country but was only interested in the election issue, referring to
the tri-nation Langa commission of inquiry's final report on alleged
irregularities during this year's May 23 general elections.
"Mosisili and his government should come and give us more facts
about this assassination plot," Sekonyana said.
He alleged that the government wanted the Lesotho Defence Force
(LDF) to be disbanded.
"As far back as 1994, the government has showed that they do not
like the LDF and they want it to be disbanded. If it was not for the
intervention of the Commonwealth, the LDF would have been disbanded,"
Sekonyana said.
Referring to Saturday's appeal by re-instated LDF commander Lt-
Genl Makhula Mosakeng's for members of the LDF who have vanished into
the mountains to report to their bases by Sunday, Sekonyana said he
thought it was the correct thing to do.
"Personally I am dead scared of heavily armed people roaming the
mountains, because what happened in Afghanistan showed that people
who are in control of the mountains are in control of the country,"
he said.
He said the Lesotho soldiers knew the mountains of the country
very well and there were "a lot of diamonds" in the mountains at
their disposal, either to be sold or exchanged for food and
ammunition.
BCP leader Molapo Qhubela has alleged that 75 per cent of the LDF
soldiers have fled to the mountains of the country and were mixing
with the rural population.
The commander of the SANDF and Botswana intervention force's
Operation Boleas, Colonel Robbie Hartslief was reported to have
admitted that he did not know what happened to about 3,000 soldiers
of the Lesotho army.
@ KENYA-BLASTS
NAIROBI September 26 1998 Sapa-AP
FBI RETURNS TO HOUSE WHERE BOMB COULD HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED
FBI agents have returned to a white two-story house in a new
development on the outskirts of Nairobi believed to be the one
rented by a suspect in the U.S. Embassy bombing in Kenya that
killed 248 people, the new tenants said Saturday.
An American couple, who refused to give their names, said FBI
agents, who had already searched the house shortly after the Aug. 7
bombing, returned Thursday but were only allowed to check the yard
and the exterior of No. 43 in New Runda Estate on the northern edge
of the Kenyan capital.
The New York Times reported Saturday that other residents in
the estate identified the previous tenant as Haroun Fazil, one of
four suspects charged with the murder of the 12 Americans who died
in the blast.
According to a complaint filed Sept. 17 by the U.S. Attorney's
office in Manhattan, Fazil, a native of the Comoros Islands off
East Africa, rented the house from May to August and was later
joined by co-conspirator Mohamed Rashed Daoud Al-'Owhali.
No neighbors, other residents, security guards or household
employees were around Saturday to discuss the FBI visit or Fazil's
stay.
It was not possible to obtain comment from FBI agents in
Nairobi investigating the bombing.
According to the complaint, the bomb that destroyed the embassy
was built at the house rented by Fazil, who is a fugitive. He is
alleged to have driven a white pickup truck to the embassy on the
day of the bombing to show the way to the vehicle that carried the
bomb.
The house is about 12 kilometers (8 miles) from the embassy
building in downtown Nairobi.
Fazil, Al-'Owhali and Mohamed Saddiq Odeh, the other suspect
charged in the Kenyan bombing, are believed to be members of the
al-Qaeda organization founded by Saudi exile Osama bin Laden. The
latter two are in custody in New York.
On Friday Mamdouh Mahmud Salim, who was arrested Sept. 16 in
Germany on an Iterpol warrant, was charged in U.S. District Court
in Manhattan with murder conspiracy and use of weapons of mass
destruction in an international plot to kill U.S. citizens. He was
not charged specifically in the deaths of the Americans killed in
the Nairobi bombing.
In an almost simultaneous blast Aug. 7, another bomb killed 11
people, all Africans, at the U.S. Embassy in neighboring Tanzania.
Two suspects have been charged in the deaths and are being held
by police in Dar es Salaam.
Adadi Rajabu, head of criminal investigations for the Tanzanian
police, was quoted Saturday in the Swahili language daily Mtanzania
saying that police were looking for two fugitives in connection
with the bombing.
One of the suspects charged, Egyptian Mustafa Mahmoud Said
Ahmed, owned an import-export company in Nairobi and was reported
Aug. 18 by the independent Kenyan newspaper, Daily Nation, to have
informed the U.S. and Israeli embassies in Nairobi late last year
of planned terrorist attacks against them.
Sources told the newspaper the Egyptian had met bin Laden in
the mid 1980s.
Embassy officials have denied having prior knowledge of the
attack.
@ EU-AID-NUJOMA
WINDHOEK September 26 1998 Sapa-IPS
NUJOMA UNDER FIRE FOR ATTACKING EU AID POLICY
Namibian President Sam Nujoma has come under fire for attacking
the European Union's plan to review its aid to countries involved
in fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
"The President should retract his statements and apologise
publicly otherwise the country would face serious repercussions
from the EU," said Zen Mnakapa, director of Namibia's National
Society for Human Rights.
He told IPS this week that Nujoma's remarks at a ruling Swapo
(South West African People's Organisation) Party rally over the
weekend were "outrageous, disappointing and uncalled for".
Nujoma branded the EU countries as "selfish...imperialists and
liars" barely two days after the EU announced that it planned to
review its aid to countries involved in fighting in the DRC.
The review will apply to Namibia, Angola and Zimbabwe which
have sent troops to prop up the DRC government, and to Uganda,
Rwanda and Burundi which are suspected of supporting the rebels.
In an hour-long speech at a rally in the township of Katutura,
Nujoma said: "We cannot allow Africa to be ruled by foreigners.
Africa must be controlled by Africans.".
"These...Europeans... they formed a political union (the EU)
and again they want to get our raw materials without paying us,"
said Nujoma.
He said the disturbances in the Great Lakes Region (grouping
Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania and the DRC) were instigated by
"white imperialists" who wanted to control and plunder Congo's
resources, while Congolese people lived in poverty.
"This can no longer be allowed to continue," he said.
Enraged Mnakapa described the speech as uncalled for. "We don't
know what prompted him (Nujoma) to make such remarks. What have the
Europeans done? You cannot call someone a fool simply because he
disagrees with your military involvement in the DRC."
Mnakapa said while Namibia was busy talking about forging
friendly relations with the rest of the world, it was insulting
Europe.
Opposition leader Katuutire Kaura also condemned the attack on
the EU, saying it was not expected from a man of Nujoma's stature.
Head of the European Commission in Namibia, Francisco Ortiz de
Zuniga, said he would respond to Nujoma's attacks only after
carefully considering them in relation to the EU's planned review
of aid to African countries involved in the DRC fighting.
He said he had returned to Namibia on Monday from his annual
leave and needed time to study the EU Commissioner Joao de Deus
Pinheiro's statement in connection with the review of EU aid to
Namibia, Angola, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.
The six countries concerned received between 100-180 million US
Dollars from the EU in terms of five-year development aid
programmes started in 1995.
In a speech distributed at EU headquarters in the Belgian
capital of Brussels, Pinheiro said the EU "must review the use of
funds...to ensure EU community resources are not used to indirectly
finance the war".
The rebellion in the DRC erupted on August 2 after President
Laurent Kabila ordered the remaining Rwandan troops and military
instructors, who helped him overthrow the late President Mobutu
Sese Seko in May 1997, out of the country.
Kabila has accused Rwanda and Uganda of fomenting the
rebellion. Both have denied the claims.
@ LESOTHO-AFTERMATH
MASERU September 26 1998 Sapa
HARDSHIP FOR BASOTHO PEOPLE IN THE AFTERMATH OF LESOTHO
UPHEAVAL
Two days after fierce fighting between resisting rebel soldiers
and the Southern African Development Community troops, life is
beginning to be difficult for the Basotho people.
Business and private property was reduced to ashes through
torching and looting. Driving along the mountain kingdom's main
streets, one is greeted with the lonely spirit of a ghost town.
Burnt out shops, locked shops that survived the destruction,
closed garages and stolen torched cars are visible along main
routes in and around Maseru.
The one continual roaring sound throughout the town is that of
SADC armoured vehicles patrolling the area.
"The whole town is like Beirut," an angry Basotho man told Sapa
journalists in Maseru.
"This is no life, we can't live like this with hippos standing
in front of out homes. This is even worse than during the darkest
days of apartheid," said an elderly woman.
A group of youths, staring at one of the burnt out shops,
complained that there were no shops that would provide them with
daily essentials, like food.
"This is awful because for us to get these things our parents
will have to go through the border manned by the forces of
aggression (apparently referring to SADC troops) into neighbouring
towns.
"We are already starving and I don't think many will still be
alive in the next week, unless the governement does something to
help the nation," an elderly man said while crossing the border to
reach nearby Ladybrand.
"It is because of this government's irresponsible action that
our town has been reduced to almost nothing," he said.
The majority of people Sapa spoke to on Saturday said it would
take a long time to rebuild Maseru and its economy.
"We never expected that political developments in this country
would result in our capital being down like this. This will cost
billions of rands to bring it back to where it has been," they
said.
They blamed Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili's administration
for the chaotic situation in the country, a charge the government
has denied.
Mosisili said in a statement this week that before inviting the
SADC troops to intervene, law and order had progressively
deteriorated.
"I invited the SADC troops in terms of our original agreement
so that they can help us restore law and order, peace and stability
in our country," he said.
No matter what explanation the government gives, the general
feeling in and around Maseru has been that of devastation,
depression and anger over the presnece of SA National Defence Force
and Botswana troops in the mountain kingdom.
At the Maseru bridge border post, a 2km queue was seen on
Saturday morning with most of the people going to buy food in
neighbouring towns.
"Even if it means walking 15km to Ladybrand, or about 100km to
Bloemfontein to get food for my already three starving children I
will do it," said a middle-aged woman who was trying to catch a
lift at the border post.
Meanwhile, Lesotho's Trade and Industry Minister Mpho Malie
told Sapa an urgent meeting with local business people would take
place on Sunday to look at providing people with immediate needs,
like food.
Opposition political parties expresssed concern that the
collection of customs revenue at all border posts in the country
had collapsed.
"This means that there is no revenue coming into our country,
money is desperately needed to rebuild it from the ashes caused by
the forces of aggression," said one politician, who asked not to be
named.
@ LESOTHO-HOLOMISA
UMTATA September 26 1998 Sapa
LESOTHO INTERVENTION SHAMED SA: HOLOMISA
Condemning the military intervention in Lesotho, United
Democratic Movement president Bantu Holomisa on Saturday called on
President Nelson Mandela and Deputy President Thabo Mbeki to accept
responsibility for all the suffering and damage that had resulted.
Speaking at a rally in Umtata to mark the first birthday of the
UDM, he said: "Their bellicose and arrogant approach to the Lesotho
incident has shamed our country.
"The military deployment of our troops in Lesotho without
consulting the interested parties in Lesotho has caused confidence
in this country to wane."
On the situation in the country, he said: "Through hindsight it
is clear that we were correct to establish the UDM because the
situation is fast deteriorating into a frightening abyss of chaos
and anarchy."
This was evidenced by increasing crime, violence, unemployment,
homelessness, nepotism and instability. The government's Growth,
Employment, and Redistribution policy compounded the situation, he
said.
"Gear is silent about the plight of 60 percent of our
population who do not have access to capital."
By contrast, the key to the UDM's vision was establishing
policies that empowered all South Africans and narrowed the gap
between the have's and have nots, he said. "Our aim in the UDM is
to create jobs and self-employment."
The party was also committed to the restoration of civil order.
The UDM did not support President Nelson Mandela's assertion
that emigrants were unpatriotic.
"On the contrary we believe that they are making patriotic
statements in condemnation of a government's security, safety and
judicial systems that makes heroes out of criminals."
He further charged that nepotism and corruption undermined the
Employment Equity Bill and affirmative action policies.
Holomisa criticised South Africa's foreign policy which he said
lacked coherence and instead rested on the decisions of individuals
handpicked by the deputy president.
Calling for a consultative forum to address the issue of future
regional military intervention, he said it was in the interests of
the Southern African Development Community that opposition
political parties were involved in government activities to stop
unmandated agendas being promoted.
@ SHAKA
STANGER September 26 1998 Sapa
ZWELITHINI COMMENDS POLITICAL PARTIES IN KWAZULU-NATAL FOR
PEACE
King Goodwill Zwelithini on Saturday commended the Inkatha
Freedom Party and the African National Congress in KwaZulu-Natal
for their effort in bringing peace in the province.
Zwelithini was addressing thousands of people at the King Shaka
Day celebrations held in Stanger on the north coast.
He said the IFP and ANC had shown that all people were free to
align themselves with various political organisations.
"Let me emphasise that having divergent views in matters of
politics should not be a cause of enmity between people of the same
nation," he said.
Zwelithini also urged the Zulus to take lead in the African
Renaissance.
"We are one of those nations in Africa which should take a lead
in the campaign to revive our African heritage and all those things
that gave us dignity and respect in our humanness as Africans,"
Zwelithini said.
He said respect was the first signal that indicated if there
was commitment to rebuilding Africa. He urged the communities to
revive self-respect, love and become the kind of nation that King
Shaka sought to build.
Zwelithini called upon the Amakhosi to take the lead in the
African Renaissance and implement it in order to contribute in
reviving the spirit of humanity and cultural values. He said the
rebirth of Africa would assist in reducing crime and corruption in
the society.
Commenting about the HIV/AIDS disease, Zwelithini urged people
to assist the victims of the epidemic.
"My assessment is that we have not begun to address this plague
as a community and made concerted efforts to anticipate or deal
with the results squarely," he said.
He warned the youth to prevent the disease and to stop arguing
about it.
Zwelithini also commended the provincial legislature for
showing support in the fight against the disease.
The Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi who also
attended the celebrations called for the recognition of the Zulu
Kingdom.
"Let us move forward in bringing about the success of our
Kingdom so that when our posterity celebrates King Shaka Day in the
centuries to come, will be able to talk about the rise of the Zulu
nation against the economic difficulties and social injustice," he
said.
Buthelezi said it was sad that the Amakhosi fought strongly for
the liberation and for their nation, but they had been ignored.
KwaZulu-Natal tourism and economic affairs MEC Jacob Zuma
appealed to the people who attended the celebrations to respect
their chiefs and take a lead in the rebirth of Africa.
The celebrations were attended by the Minister of Public
Enterprise Stella Sigcawu, provincial Health MEC Zweli Mkhize,
Democratic Party representetive, Roger Burrows, Pan Africanist
Congress's Joe Mkhwanazi, and other provincial MECs.
Thousands of people from different parts of the province and
Amabutho (warriors) in traditional attire attended the
celebrations.
@ AFRICA-POPULATION
WASHINGTON September 26 1998 Sapa-AP
AIDS, SOCIAL PRESSURES, LOWER AFRICAN POPULATION PROJECTIONS
Population experts now believe that several African countries
may achieve zero population growth in just a few years. But family
planners are not cheering.
The reasons are gruesome and worrisome: populations devastated
by AIDS and further threatened with food shortages, water
depletion, ecological collapse and social chaos.
Family planners have been trying for decades to halt the
population explosion in countries projected to double or triple
populations by 2050. But they didn't want it to happen this way.
They don't want allies that kill and destroy societies.
"A lot of countries will not see expected population increases
because of rising death rates," said Lester Brown, president of
World Watch and author of a new report on world population
problems.
Revised United Nations projections for population growth will
be out at the end of October, and U.N. demographers confirm that
the impact of AIDS in some African countries will be dramatic, even
"unbelievable."
AIDS, which killed 2.3 million adults and children last year,
will not slow worldwide population growth, however. That will reach
6 billion by the middle of next year and is expected to rise to
between 7.7 billion and 11 billion by 2050.
Hardest hit by AIDS is Zimbabwe, where 25 percent of the
population now carries the AIDS virus. Brown estimated its
population will stop growing and possibly begin declining in just
four years.
Current U.N. projections, made in 1996, have Zimbabwe more than
doubling in population, from 11 million to 24.9 million, by 2050.
Larry Heligman, assistant director of the U.N. population
division that draws up the long-range projections, said
demographers are closely watching deaths from AIDS in 34 countries.
These include countries where the infection rates have hit 2
percent or where the affected population is large, such as India
which has more than 4 million of the world's estimated 30 million
people now infected by the virus.
"When you begin to look at the projections beyond 2005, what
we are seeing is just unbelievable," Heligman said in an
interview. He said some revisions were made in projections two
years ago because of AIDS, but the 1998 impact will show "even
stronger devastation."
Ironically, alarm over the impact of AIDS on population in the
worst-hit countries comes as the spread of the virus has leveled
off or declined in the United States and other wealthier countries
and is slowing even in some poorer countries: Thailand, Brazil and
Uganda, for example.
Fueling the concern are the first detailed global figures on
AIDS infection percentages released at an international AIDS
conference in June. In addition to the impact on Zimbabwe, the U.N.
data show Botswana with 25 percent AIDS infection, Namibia with 20
percent, Zambia with 19 percent, Swaziland with 18.5 percent and
several other African countries with 10 percent or more.
By contrast, the AIDS infection rate in the United States is
0.57 percent. The global rate also remains below 1 percent.
Groups working to control rapid population growth around the
world are concerned the new projections will be viewed as support
for the cynical view that the world's problems will take care of
themselves no matter what humans do.
"We must not let people think that an epidemic is going to
solve problems. It's going to worsen them," said Amy Coen,
president of Population Action International, which conducts
research and supports efforts to slow population growth worldwide.
Coen, in an interview, noted that AIDS usually hits people in
the prime of life, in their most productive years. In some
countries, the number of AIDS orphans - children who have lost both
parents to AIDS - is in the hundreds of thousands.
In Uganda, where the impact of AIDS is acute despite recent
gains, there are 1.7 million AIDS orphans.
"No country can afford a generation of throwaways," Coen
said. "The next generation isn't just going to pop up fine."
Brown, in his Worldwatch report, cites a number of pressures in
addition to AIDS that may pull down populations down by pushing up
death rates, including the environmental effects of population
growth: deforestation, soil erosion and falling water tables.
The challenge, said Brown, is to keep families small before
disease, environmental deterioration or resulting social chaos
force tragic population declines.
"We had hoped we'd be able to stabilize populations by
bringing down birth rates," Brown said. "Now, some of our worst
fears are being realized."
@ LESOTHO-REBUILD
MASERU September 26 1998 Sapa
BURNT-OUT MASERU SHOWS SIGNS OF RETURN TO NORMALITY
Lesotho's burnt-out capital, Maseru, on Saturday afternoon
showed signs of returning to a semblance of normality after a week
of turmoil.
Lesotho's energy minister Monyane Moleleki told journalists
that government offices would reopen on Monday at 9am and schools
would open on Wednesday.
A government team had just completed a video assessment of the
damage, he said.
Moleleki said while his government regretted the destruction in
Maseru's central business district, this represented an opportunity
to build a better capital suited to the requirements of the 21st
century.
"The city was poorly planned and built more than a hundred
years ago," he said.
Moleleki added that the country's economic affairs minister
would be travelling to the US to meet International Monetary Fund
and World Bank officials to seek assistance for Maseru's
reconstruction.
Other funding agencies, such as the Development Bank of
Southern Africa and the African Development Bank would also be
approached.
Moleleki said it was fortunate that very few government
buildings were destroyed and said this pointed to the fact that the
arson was not politically motivated.
He said the Lesotho High Court would also start functioning
soon and would prosecute the perpetrators of crimes during the
week's upheavals.
The government had made no decision regarding Lesotho Defence
Force mutineers as this was a military issue.
"The military has ways of dealing with mutineers," said
Moleleki.
He also said government had not met opposition parties since
Tuesday's SADC intervention, but remained open to negotiations.
Referring to election irregularities outlined by the Langa
Commission's report into the May 23 elections, Moleleki said: "We
would hate to be beneficiaries of a fraudulent election."
He said opposition parties, such as the Lesotho National Party,
had a tradition of not accepting election results.
"We can call for elections now provided that everyone accepts
the results," said Moleleki.
Questioned on why government refused to allow King Letsie III
to address the nation on Friday, he said he was a constitutional
monarch and any national address he made had to be approved by
government.
"Kings don't rule in Lesotho. They reign"
The government must take responsibility for whatever the king
said.
Moleleki said a clean-up campaign would be launched on Sunday
and the military, together with the department of trade and
industry, would set up makeshift wholesale stores in tents and
halls to provide food.
Meanwhile, it would take three to four years to rebuild Maseru
but the institutional operation of the city would be functioning
within a few days, he said.
@ LESOTHO-THABANE
MASERU September 26 1998 Sapa
LESOTHO HIGH COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS KING'S ROLE IN CRISIS
Lesotho's High Commissioner Tom Thabane has questioned the role
of King Letsie III in events leading to the country's present
crisis, SABC television news reported on Saturday.
Thabane accused the king of frustrating the government's
attempts to evict protesters from his palace in Maseru.
The report said in the five weeks leading up to this week's
chaos in Maseru, hundreds of protesters held vigils at the king's
palace in the capital.
They along with opposition parties alleged that the May general
election results were rigged and called on the king to annul the
results and dissolve parliament.
Thabane said the political problems in Lesotho dated back to
the time of independence and that the monarchy had been trying to
dominate the political scene for decades.
He said the king had not been helpful in stopping the
lawlessness wrecking the country in recent weeks.
"When the police asked to enter the palace ground to flush out
the people with water tankers, they didn't get permission from the
royal palace to do that.
"And his majesty himself personally intervened on this issue,
and personally I thought that that was unfortunate," Thabane said.
"Another effort, to have a statement read over the radio by
himself to ask the people to leave the palace ground, was read, but
the particular paragraph to ask these people to leave was not
included in the speech."
Thabane has also called for a referendum on the future role of
the king. King Letsie III is bound by the constitution from making
political statements.
Thabane further said the government would cooperate in
facilitating new elections even though the election had proved to
be expensive and a burden for Lesotho's weak economy.
@ FEATURE-LESOTHO-REFUGEES
LADYBRAND September 27 1998 Sapa-AFP
LESOTHO REFUGEE CAMPS IN S.AFRICAN TOWN OF LADYBRAND
Rich Chinese Lesotho businessmen and their destitute Basotho
clients are refugees in Ladybrand, a small South African town on
the border with the kingdom.
They are some of the about 4,000 people who fled into South
Africa after fighting and looting this week ravaged Lesotho's
capital Maseru and several other localities in the tiny kingdom.
In Ladybrand, the authorities directed each different
population group to a different area, in the centre of the town or
on its edge, with or without water.
Indians refugees were all able to find shelter with relatives
in the town, but other groups were put up in make-shift
accommodation.
Lesotho's entire Chinese community, comprising about 1,000
people, abandoned their goods, shops or restaurants and fled to
South Africa when the trouble started after intervention troops
arrived Tuesday on behalf of the South African Development
Community (SADC).
"We lost everything," a dignified entrepreneur originating from
Hong Kong said. Only ashes remained of his three stores and house,
according to news which reached him from Maseru.
Some Chinese people fled the country in chaffeured four-by-four
vehicles, a sign of their wealth. In Ladybrand, they paced shops to
find items which could improve the comfort of their rudimentary
camp, in a gymnasium in the centre of the town.
Their main concern was that insurance companies would refuse to
pay out claims under a "risk of war" clause because, officially,
the trouble started after South African and Botswana troops entered
Lesotho on a SADC "peace mission".
"We have started to talk with the government about this," said
Yang Lingxi, a Chinese consulate official who travelled from
Pretoria to assist his compatriots.
Some kilometres away, hundreds of Basotho refugees were
accommodated in a dusty camp in Manyatseng, at the edge of the
town.
They all fled their homes on foot, leaving everything behind,
except for a few belongings stuffed into bags.
"I want to go back home, but I am really afraid," said Phillip,
who like many, admits to being a supporter of the ruling Lesotho
Congress for Democracy.
His village, near Maseru, was devastated by looters who, he
claims, came from the opposition parties which claim the government
came to power in May in a rigged election.
At Manyatseng and Mauer's Neck, another Basotho refugee camp,
women and children make up the majority of the refugees.
Waiting for the Red Cross to distribute food, the youngsters
laugh and play in water streaming from a leaking water tank.
South Africa and Botswana together sent more than 1,000 men to
Lesotho, after a call for help by the government which was
convinced a coup was imminent after an army mutiny on September 16.
The situation in the kingdom is beginning to stabilise and some
families have started to return home. South African authorities
hope the refugee camps will be empty be next week.
@ MANDELA-CANADA-RIGHTS
OTTAWA September 27 1998 Sapa-IPS
RIGHTS-CANADA: INDIGENOUS PEOPLE TELL MANDELA OF THEIR PLIGHT
Canada's government had to endure a few hours of discomfort
while it played host to South African President Nelson Mandela as
the anti-apartheid hero paid special attention to Canada's
long-oppressed native people.
Many critics of Canadian native policy have compared the plight
of aboriginal Canadians to the suffering endured by black South
Africans during apartheid and Mandela met indigenous leaders twice
during his two-day visit here on Thursday and Friday to hear about
their problems.
On Thursday, he met Indian, Inuit and Metis (mixed-race)
leaders in Canada's Human Rights Memorial in Ottawa. Inside the
concrete and granite monument, away from the eyes of the public and
the media, native leaders explained some of their problems.
These include the suicide rates among Canadian aboriginals,
which are at least three times as high as those among non-natives.
Among the Inuit - the peoples of the Arctic - the rate is four
times higher than the rest of Canada. The real rates are believed
to be even higher than those figures, since, according to a
government study, up to 25 per cent of accidental deaths among
aboriginals may be unreported suicides.
Native Canadians also have the highest rates of diabetes,
tuberculosis, alcoholism and prescription-drug abuse.
And the majority of female prisoners in Canada are native
women, who make up less than five per cent of the female population
of Canada, while the per-capita incarceration rate for native men
is five times higher than the national average.
On Friday, before going to a huge youth rally, Mandela met the
head of Canada's national native group, the Assembly of First
Nations.
"Mr. Mandela appreciates what Canada's aboriginal people are
going through," said AFN Grand Chief Phil Fontaine. "He was well-
briefed on aboriginal issues, and I left the meeting feeling that
the president was very sympathetic to our struggles."
"He may not be able to translate that into action, but we felt
honoured to be able to seek his advice," Fontaine said.
Canadian authorities and the country's mainstream media gave
virtually no coverage to Mandela's meetings with Canadian
aboriginal leaders. On the request of Canadian government
officials, all of the South African president's meetings with
indinegous chiefs were held behind closed doors.
Mandela did not speak publicly about native issues, but
insisted on wearing a traditional sash given to him by aboriginal
chiefs when he addressed a joint session of the Canadian parliament
on Thursday.
His meeting Friday in Toronto with Fontaine, who represents all
of the people officially recognised Indians and Inuit in Canada,
went unreported, and virtually no aboriginal leaders were invited
to gala events held in his honour.
Still, aboriginal leaders are looking to Mandela to become an
ally in their struggle for self-government and equality. Chiefs say
indigenous Canadians used to face many of the same discriminatory
laws endured by black South Africans, including being barred from
citizenship.
They were also confined to reserves and forbidden by law from
settling on the vast, fertile plains of western Canada. They were
prohibited by law from selling agricultural produce grown on
reserves and were forbidden to practice many of their religious
rites. Native women who married non-native men were stripped of
their Indian status and no longer received allowances and health
benefits provided to other natives.
In 1981, the United Nations Human Rights Committee ruled that
the government's Indian Act constituted a breach of Article 27 of
the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Some Canadian officials believe their government endured
Mandela's sessions with indigenous leaders because they hope the
South African president will support Canada's bid for a seat on the
United Nations Security Council.
"Nelson Mandela has such personal and moral respect among world
leaders, especially those in Africa, that few of them would turn
him down if they ask him to support the Canadian bid," said a
senior government source.
"They are willing to give him money for education, to expand
trade, and even will send peacekeepers to Lesotho if Mandela asks.
Partly, it's because Mandela is one of the most popular and
respected men in the world, and partly it's recognition that
Mandela is the head of a major regional power," he said.
@ DRCONGO-UGANDA
KAMPALA September 27 1998 Sapa-AFP
UGANDA TO FIGHT IN DRCONGO IF UGANDAN REBELS JOIN THE FRAY:
MINISTER
Ugandan will attack Ugandan rebels inside the Democratic
Republic of Congo (DRC) if it obtains proof that they are helping
Kinshasa combat rebels fighting to topple the government there,
Uganda's regional cooperation minister said in a report published
Sunday.
"It depends on their numbers and where they are. If they are
many and are in strategically important places and a threat to
Uganda, then an attack on them will be considered," regional
cooperation minister, Amam Mbabazi, told the state-owned Sunday
Vision newspaper.
Kampala has already acknowledged that its troops are in the
DRC, but maintained they were engaged only in attacking Ugandan
rebel rear bases there to prevent the rebels attacking Uganda.
Ugandan press reports have, over the past two weeks, claimed
that the Sudanese government, whose relations with Kampala are
strained, had sent at least 2,000 troops, including 700
Sudanese-backed Ugandan rebels, to help President Laurent Kabila
quell the rebellion.
Sudan denied that its troops were involved in the war in the
DRC, saying that Khartoum's support of for Kabila of a "political
nature".
Uganda and Sudan broke off diplomatic relations in 1995,
accusing each other of backing rebel groups hostile to their
respective governments.
Kinshasa has accused Ugandan and Rwanda of sending troops to
the DRC to help the Tutsi-led rebels overthrow Kabila's government.
Mbabazi said that Kabila's attempt to forge an alliance with
Khartoum could bring "a new dimension" to Uganda's involvement in
the DRC conflict.
"Kabili's forging an alliance with the authorities in Khartoum
brings in a new dimension because Sudan is prone to destabilising
Uganda. This will mean Kabila aiding and abetting these plans by
Sudan against Uganda," said Mbabazi.
"If Kabila strikes an alliance with Sudan's Islamic Front
goverment, then we cannot exclude the possiblity that he endorses
their plans against Uganda.
"We shall therefore have to look at him in this new light," he
added.
Mbabazi said that he did not think that Kabila's forces had the
capacity to push Ugandans from their positions inside the DRC.
"Unless the Sudanese and the others come in, the only forces
that could possibly come in to fight against us are Angola,
Zimbabawe, and Namibia. Why would they fight us? These are our
friends," he said.
But he warned: "Should they indeed, do the unthinkable, or
should this alliance expand and include our enemies the Sudanese,
who are motivated to fight us, then in that case there will be a
possiblity that we can just fight in Congo. We are more than
prepared for such a possibility".
Zimbabwe, Angola and Namibia have sent troops to the DRC to
help Kabila fight the rebels.
Mbabazi said Uganda wanted a negotiated end to the conflict in
the DRC and that Ugandan troops wouldl be withdrawn once the
situation had stabilised.
@ TRANSPORT-JOHNROSS
CAPE TOWN September 27 1998 Sapa
ROADS AGENCY TO INVESTIGATE FEASIBILITY OF UPGRADING JOHN ROSS
The South African national roads agency would investigate the
feasibility of upgrading the John Ross highway outside Richards Bay
in northern KwaZulu-Natal, Transport Minister Mac Maharaj on
Sunday.
A statement said the planned upgrade, which would involve new
road works as well as a bridge over the Nseleni flood plains, would
provide road access links between Richards Bay, Empangeni and the
N2.
Maharaj said the investigation would focus on tolling the road,
the location of the toll plaza and various tariff levels.
He said the road project was vital in stimulating new
investment and industrial development in the Richards Bay area.
After the investigation, a report would be presented to Maharaj
and Trade and Industry Minister Alec Erwin. The ministers will then
make representations to local and provincial authorities.
The project is expected to cost R150 million.
@ MOLEKETI
CAPE TOWN September 27 1998 Sapa
FRASER-MOLEKETI TO VISIT FREE STATE
Welfare and Population Development Minister Geraldine
Fraser-Moleketi will visit the Free State on Monday to assess the
overall success of projects implemented by the provincial social
welfare services.
Fraser-Moleketi will be accompanied by officials from the
national welfare department.
The entourage will visit a book packaging warehouse project, an
affirmative procurement plan initiated by the Welfare Enmpowerment
Project (WEP) to create employment opportunities for the
disadvantaged in the province.
They will also visit the Victim Enmpowerment Centre at
Setshabelo which was officially launched on September 21 as part of
the National Institute for Crime Prevention and Re-integration of
Offenders (Nicro) annual whistle week campaign on crime prevention.
The group will hold a media conference at the Bloemfontein
Hotel which will be attended by the province's premier, all MEC's
for social welfare, members of the portfolio committee, top
management and various stakeholders from the welfare sector at 3pm
on Monday.
Fraser-Moleketi will issue a press statement on plans to launch
Welfare Month on October 1.
@ ZIMBABWE-ECONOMY
HARARE September 27 1998 Sapa-AFP
RIOTS FEARED AS ZIMBABWEANS FACE HUGE PRICE RISES
Zimbabweans, already shocked by a disastrous plunge in the
value of their currency, are bracing this week for a series of
price rises which some commentators fear could spark violence.
"Popular reaction against the root cause of this crisis -
extravagance, graft, corruption and general gross misgovernance -
may well push the nation towards the apocalypse," warned the
independent Standard newspaper Sunday.
At least six people died in food riots in January when the
price of the staple maize meal was increased by 21 percent - and
it reportedly is due to go up by some 20 percent on Wednesday.
January's increase was scrapped on government orders during the
riots, but the cabinet has now agreed to demands for a price rise
by millers, who say they are on the brink of collapse.
On top of this, Zimbabweans face increases in import duties of
up to 100 percent on everything from cars to fruit juices, a
threatened fuel price rise of 50 percent, hikes of around 40
percent in the cost of basic items such as toiletries - plus
increases in householder rates and service charges.
"The dramatic increases in the price of basic commodities to
take effect this week, with more in a very long pipeline, may turn
out to be the nation's last rites," the Standard commented.
Many of the price rises are blamed on the collapse of the
Zimbabwe dollar, which has lost about half its value against
foreign currencies this year - much of it in the last few weeks -
while the increases in import duties are an attempt to curb this
slide.
Another newspaper, the Independent, said Zimbabwe's economy was
in "free fall" and warned that "social instability in the medium to
long term poses a threat to this country as long as the economy
remains moribund."
The paper said the government must take most of the blame,
pointing specifically to President Robert Mugabe's unbudgeted
payment of billions of Zimbabwe dollars to war veterans last
December, and "damaging and senseless rhetoric" on redistributing
white-owned farms to blacks.
The paper also pointed to Zimbabwe's costly military
intervention in the Democratic Republic of Congo in support of
embattled President Laurent Kabila as a contributing factor in the
Zimdollar's decline.
The Financial Gazette said the International Monetary Fund will
quiz the government on how it is paying for the Congo intervention
before releasing 55 million US dollars in agreed aid, as the
military action threatens to undermine government's pledge to
reduce the budget deficit.
@ NWC RECEIVED A FULL BRIEFING BY ANC PRESIDENT MBEKI
Issued by: African National Congress
The ANC National Working Committee held a special meeting on
Saturday 26 September 1998 at Albert Luthuli House in Johannesburg.
The NWC received a full briefing by ANC president Thabo Mbeki
and other cabinet ministers who have been part of the SA
government's team on the SADC mission to Lesotho, on the situation
in Lesotho and the military intervention by the SADC to stabilize
the deteriorating security situation and create a climate conducive
to peaceful negotiations.
The NWC reiterated the important role of the Southern African
Development Community in promoting the principles of peace and
democracy and the economic development of the Southern Africa
region. The SADC has a responsibility to intervene in situations
where there is a threat to peace and democracy. It is for this
reason that the SADC was involved in restoring democracy in Lesotho
in 1994 and is also intervening at present.
The NWC is of the view that the joint military operation by SADC
forces (SANDF and Botswana Defence Force) is achieving its objective
of stabilising the security situation in Lesotho as indicated by
latest reports. Members of the LDF who were not part of the mutiny
have already returned to the base and have reiterated their loyalty
to the LDF. The Police have reestablished their authority to
maintain law and order.
The NWC has noted the attempts by the opposition parties in
South Africa, some sections of the media and commentators to project
the SADC military intervention as an invasion of Lesotho which
undermines the sovereignty of the Kingdom. The SADC's intervention in
Lesotho must be seen to be in the best interest of the people of
Lesotho and the principle of democracy.
The ANC believes that there has never existed animosity between
the people of Lesotho and the people of Southern Africa. The people
of Lesotho and the South Africans have always related very well
economically socially and culturally and will continue to do so.
The NWC reiterated the view of the ANC that the people of
Lesotho themselves can and must solve their political problems. The
ANC is convinced that the political leadership of Lesotho will rise
to the occasion and put the interest of Lesotho first above party
political interests with the view of taking the country out of the
current political impasse.
The ANC supports the continued search for peaceful negotiated
settlement by the Lesotho political parties and SADC. We hope that
this process will move as rapidly and as swiftly as possible.
The ANC will for its own part engage in dialogue with various
political parties in Lesotho in support of the SADC process.
Lastly, the ANC takes this opportunity to pay tribute to those
of the SANDF soldiers who fell in the Lesotho operation and further
express its deepest condolences to the bereaved families.
Issued by Department of Information and Publicity
P.O. Box 61884
Marshalltown
2107
27 September 1998
@ LESOTHO-NP
JOHANNESBURG September 27 1998 Sapa
NP DELEGATION TO MEET LESOTHO OPPOSITION AND KING ON MONDAY
A delegation of the National Party led by Marthinus van
Schalkwyk would meet representatives of Lesotho's opposition
parties and King Letsie III in Ladybrand on Monday to propose
solutions to the conflict, party spokesman Daryl Swanepoel said on
Sunday.
The delegation would include the party's leaders from the Free
State and the Eastern Cape whose provinces were directly affected,
Swanepoel said.
Meetings had also been scheduled with the farming and business
communities surrounding the Lesotho border.
@ EDUCATION-MKHATSHWA
MARAPYANE, Mpumalanga September 27 1998 Sapa
STRIVE HARD TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF EDUCATION: MKHATSHWA
Although South Africa is leading the world in public
expenditure on education, the quality and success rate of its
matriculants was among the lowest, Education Deputy Minister,
Father Simangaliso Mkhatshwa said on Sunday.
Addressing the 90th annivessary of the African Catholic Church
in Marapyane, Mpumalanga, Mkhatshwa lamented the lack of a culture
of learning, teaching and service among the country's black people.
"If the situation in our schools is not corrected...we are on a
path to self-destruction," he said.
"You must inform your children and teachers about the need to
restore the culture of learning in your schools.
"In your church and community meetings you must develop ways in
which you can participate in the governance of your schools," he
added.
Mkhatshwa said his ministry was prepared to offer training in
the empowering exercise.
Parents, he said, should take advantage of the provisions of
the South African Schools Act that allow for their involvement in
the education process.
"We are a winning nation but we will not be able to realise our
potential; we will not heal the wounds of the past as long as we
wallow in self-pity and to depend on the benevolence of others.
"We must all get involved and be the architect of our destiny
and the future of our children."
@ STATEMENT ON ISSUE OF SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONS
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
Foreign Minister Alfred Nzo on 19980925 called for an
international conference on small arms and light weapons, under the
auspices of the United Nations, to be held after 1999.
Speaking at an Information Briefing co-hosted by the Foreign
Ministers of Canada and Norway at the United Nations in New York,
Minister Nzo emphasised the importance of formulating a holistic
strategy when addressing the problems of uncontrolled proliferation
of small arms and light weapons. He added that while the focus has
traditionally been on conventional arms and weapons of mass
destruction, the devastation wrought by the proliferation of small
arms can no longer be ignored.
Minister Nzo added that the problem must be viewed from an
inclusive perspective of arms control and disarmament, post conflict
prevention and socio-economic development.
In emphasising the leading role which the United Nations has
played on this issue, Minister Nzo proposed that an international
conference be held after 1999, to enable governments and regional
organisations to prepare fully by sharing experiences and
facilitating dialogue. This conference should formulate an action
plan to combat the proliferation of these weapons, based on the
experiences of indigenous regional approaches.
Minister Nzo pointed out that the similarities of the problem of
anti-personnel mines and small arms and light weapons are
unfortunately only relevant to the victims of these weapons. The
methods of effectively dealing with these problems are vastly
different. The focus of international action on small arms and light
weapons should be on the curtailment of illicit transfer,
controlling legal transfer and addressing the demand for these
weapons, such as socio-economic underdevelopment. "This can only be
achieved by firm political commitment and support of all governments
around the world", Minister Nzo said.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
PRETORIA
27 SEPTEMBER 1998
@ LESOTHO-ANC
JOHANNESBURG September 27 1998 Sapa
ANC TO ENGAGE LESOTHO PARTIES AS CONTRIBUTION TO SADC EFFORTS
The African National Congress would engage various Lesotho
political parties in a dialogue as its contribution to Southern
African Community Development's efforts to find a negotiated
settlement in that country.
ANC department of information and publicity head, Smuts
Ngonyama, told a Johannesburg press conference that the party was
convinced that Lesotho's political leaders would put the interests
of their country above personal political interests.
Ngonyama said the ANC national working committee was on
Saturday briefed on the Lesotho situation by party president, Thabo
Mbeki and other cabinet ministers who were part of the government's
team on the SADC mission in Lesotho.
The committe was also briefed about the military intervention.
"The national working committee is of the view that the joint
military intervention by SADC forces is achieving its objective of
stabilising the security situation in Lesotho as indicated by
latest reports."
Ngonyama said troops would be withdrawn once SADC was convinced
that the situation had returned to normal, not because of some
opposition parties in Lesotho who were calling for the withdrawal
of South African troops.
The concerns of the opposition parties were being considered by
the SADC team and it was Lesotho's responsibility to guide the team
on a route that would lead to a lasting solution.
"It is Lesotho, within the framework of SADC, which can
influence SADC on which route to take to ensure peace and
stability."
Ngonyama said it was SADC's responsibility to intervene in
situations where there was a threat to peace and democracy.
The working committee, he said, had noted attempts by South
African opposition parties, some sections of the media and certain
political commentators to project the SADC military intervention as
an invasion.
"The SADC's intervention in Lesotho must be seen to be in the
best interests of the people of Lesotho and the principle of
democracy.
"SADC is committed to peace and economic development in the
region and it was within that context that it intervened," Ngonyama
said.
He said the government had a comprehensive and coherent foreign
policy and it was within its context that the decision to intervene
was made.
The ANC also paid tribute to South African soldiers who died in
Lesotho and expressed condolences to the members of their families.
@ LESOTHO-REACTION
MASERU September 27 1998 Sapa
MIXED FEELINGS FOR SADC TROOPS IN MASERU ON SUNDAY
There were mixed feeling towards the presence of Southern
African Development Community intervention troops in Lesotho on
Sunday afternoon as armoured vehicles patrolled Maseru's streets.
Thousands of Basotho people, believed to be supporters of the
ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy, converged on the capital to
begin a clean-up campaign.
They ululated, whistled and sang while those who supported the
opposition parties hurled abusive words at the soldiers.
"We are happy that these troops are here to protect us from
these lunatics within opposition parties," said one elderly couple.
The majority of opposition supporters accused SADC troops of
aggresion, blaming Mandela for the mess in their country.
"Withdraw these troops immediately from Lesotho and tell
Pakalitha Mosisili and his government to sit down with our leaders
and resolve the problem stemming from the May 23 election rigging,"
said an elderly Basotho National Party supporter.
The clean up campaign was halted to allow insurance companies
to inspect damaged properties.
@ LESOTHO-DP
JOHANNESBURG September 27 1998 Sapa
SA MUST PRESSURISE LESOTHO GOVERNMENT TO NEGOTIATING TABLE: DP
The South African government must pressurise the Lesotho
government to get to the negotiating table as a matter of urgency,
the Democratic Party said in a statement on Sunday.
The call follows a visit to Maseru by the party's delegation on
Saturday where it met opposition parties leaders and King Letsie
III's brother Prince Seeiso.
The statement said Lesotho opposition leaders were prepared to
let South Africa continue facilitating negotiations for a peaceful
settlement.
"Should this become a problem, however, it would be prudent to
call on the assistance of either the Commonwealth, the Organisation
for African Unity or the United Nations," it said.
It was essential that a political settlement was struck with
great speed because there was a possibility that the Lesotho troops
would raid neighbouring South African farms and communities to
obtain food, petrol, ammunition and other provisions.
"This would place still more strain on our security forces."
It had not been established whether other avenues were
exhausted by the South African government before deciding on
military intervention, the DP said.
"The South African military intervention was badly planned and
managed, and relied on obviously inaccurate or incomplete
intelligence for its execution."
The party said intervention highlighted a disturbing lack of
leadership by both President Nelson Mandela and Deputy President
Thabo Mbeki "both of whom were out of the country at the time of
the intervention, and remained out of the country for days
afterwards".
The DP also said since his return to the country, Mbeki had
avoided making public statements on the crisis.
"In addition the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Alfred Nzo) has
played practically no part in the evolving crises."
The DP said South Africa must now peacefully extricate herself
from the situation and said every effort must be made to provide
humanitarian assistance to the refugees who have flooded across the
Lesotho border into South Africa.
@ DRCONGO-ZIMBABWE
HARARE, Sept 27, Sapa-AFP
ZIMBABWEAN TROOPS SET SIGHTS ON REBEL AREAS IN DRC: REPORT
Southern African troops backing President Laurent Kabila of the
Democratic Republic of Congo have set their sights on rebel-held
areas in the east of the country, Zimbabwe's state-controlled news
agency Ziana reported Sunday.
In a despatch with a Kinshasa dateline, the agency attributed
the report to Major-General Mike Nyambuya, commander of the
Zimbabwean forces who entered the DRC along with troops from Angola
and Namibia in the name of the Southern African Development
Community (SADC).
"For as long as the east is still occupied by the invasion
forces our mission is not complete," the agency quoted Nyambuya as
saying.
The Zimbabwean government describes the DRC conflict as an
"invasion" and not a rebellion, accusing Uganda and Rwanda of
backing mainly-Tutsi rebels who launched a drive from the east
towards the capital Kinshasa in August.
"I can assure you that plans are being made to cater for the
accomplishment of the mission," Nyambuya told Ziana.
The agency said "part of the plans for the eastern offensive
appeared to include a massive training and re-organisation
programme for the Congolese armed forces."
The SADC troops sent to support Kabila are seen as having
played a major role in foiling the rebels' march on the capital in
August.
@ LESOTHO-MANDELA
CAPE TOWN September 27 1998 Sapa
MANDELA CONVINCED LESOTHO INTERVENTION WAS THE RIGHT THING
President Nelson Mandela on Sunday said he was convinced the
Southern African Development Community intervention in Lesotho had
been the right thing to do, and the peacekeeping exercise would
succeed.
Addressing a press conference in Cape Town on Sunday afternoon
after arriving back from a gruelling overseas trip, a tired-looking
Mandela said it appeared, however, that some people in Lesotho did
not want peace.
Referring to the SADC military intervention in the mountain
kingdom this week, he said when such action was taken one had to be
sure that it was correct.
Mandela said no-one could blame acting president Mangosuthu
Buthelezi for the intervention because he had consulted himself,
Deputy President Thabo Mbeki and the relevant officials.
He said if it was a mistake, "we are all involved".
Mandela said according to the charter of the Organisation for
African Unity, no recognition would be given to a government which
came to power by a coup.
Mbeki had worked hard to achieve a political settlement in
Lesotho. He had held lengthy discussions with the government,
opposition and King Letsie III in an attempt to reach a peaceful
settlement.
Mandela said the situation, however, became worse when Lesotho
Defence Force soldiers dismissed their officers and attempted to
take over the government.
He said the situaton in Lesotho was a virtual coup which had
resulted in Prime Minister Phakalitha Mosisili appealing to the
SADC, and not South Africa, for intervention. South Africa was
there to find a peacefull settlement.
Mandela said he was convinced the leaders of Lesotho would
realise that a peaceful political settlement was the way to go.
Detractors of South Africa's participation in the intervention
were not properly informed about what was happeneing in Lesotho, he
said.
SADC forces, comprising South African and Botswana troops,
invaded Lesotho last Tuesday, but met heavy resistance from rebel
LDF soldiers.
The opposition claims the country's election was rigged and has
rejected the Langa commission report on alleged election
irregularities.
Referring to the incident in Canada when he appeared to be
suffering from exhaustion, Mandela said he had consulted his
doctors and they had given him a clean bill of health. On Sunday he
had check-ups by three doctors.
He said it had only been fatigue which had overwhelmed him.
Mandela added he would be in the office at least until the next
election and would fully participate, if not lead, the campaign.
The president has just completed a lengthy trip which started
in Mauritius with a meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement, which
South Africa chairs, followed by an SADC summit and addresses to
the United Nations, the United States congress and the Canadian
parliament.
@ LESOTHO-BOTSWANA
MASERU September 27 1998 Sapa
BOTSWANA MINISTER CALLS FOR A REFORMED LESOTHO ARMED FORCE
Botswana Foreign Minister Mompati Merafhe on Sunday said calls
to reform the Lesotho Defence Force and to discipline its soldiers
should be given urgent priority.
Speaking on the British Broadcasting Corporation radio service,
Merafhe said the need for this transformation was fuelled by the
fact that Lesotho and its nationals had for many years been held to
ransom by "indisciplined young gun-totting soldiers".
He stressed that the Southern African Development Community
task force would remain in Lesotho as long as it took to bring back
law, order and stability.
"We, together with South Africa and Zimbabwe, are the
guarantors of peace and stability in Lesotho and our troops will,
therefore, have to stay there until this mission is achieved," he
said.
Lesotho foreign minister Tom Thabane told Sapa on Sunday
afternoon that the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy government
was not happy with the slow progress in transforming the LDF.
He said the government had sent people abroad for training with
a view to professionalising the army.
"But with what has happened in recent weeks, the intensity of
the programme has to be changed, particularly to uproot indicipline
within members," said Thabane.
He said it appeared not all in the army had caught up with the
message of staying apolitical and loyal.
Following the February 1994 army mutiny, investigations by the
SADC discovered that, among others, political interference was the
major cause of the uprising.
A summary of that report, which was not made public, also said
several political figures had paid LDF senior officers perks which
made them breach their oath of allegiance and job descriptions.
When the junior officers mutinied in early August they cited
the same reasons - accusing LDF army chief Lieutenant-General
Makhula Mosakheng and 28 seniour officers of serving the political
interests of the LCD government.
"They (the government) must have been shocked with the latest
development in the army. But they must carry the blame as they have
sown division within LDF members," a lawyer who asked for anonymity
said.
He claimed the government unreasonably increased the salaries
of the senior officers to buy their allegiance.
"The issue here in Lesotho is not about a quest for development
but it is mainly of power."
@ UDM-EASTCAPE
EAST LONDON September 27 1998 Sapa
UDM LAUNCHEDS MDANTSANE BRANCH
United Democratic Movement leaders Bantu Holomisa and Roelf
Meyer on Sunday launched the party's Mdantsane branch in the
Eastern Cape.
Holomisa at the launch predicted that the 1999 election would
be a contest between the UDM and the African National Congress.
He accused the government of failing to deliver on election
promises and urged a crowd of about 500 at Sisa Dukashe Stadium to
vote the ANC out of power.
"While the UDM did not exist during the struggle against
apartheid, its membership consisted of diverse people, some of whom
were oppressed, took part in the fight for liberation or served in
the former homelands.
"We are not a party that seeks to topple the present government
or sees other parties as enemies, but we strive to work
constitutionally and will continue to oppose the lack of delivery
and fight injustices," he said.
Also at the launch were UDM secretary-general Sifiso Nkabinde
and provincial chairman Dumisani Gwadiso.
@ LESOTHO-TAIWANESE
LADYBRAND September 27 1998 Sapa
TAIWANESE WANT TO RECONSTRUCT LESOTHO ECONOMY
The Taiwanese crisis committee on Sunday expressed the need to
be involved in the reconstruction of the Lesotho economy, ruined in
the wake of this week's political turmoil.
The committee in a statement released in Ladybrand in the Free
State said it was prepared to help the Lesotho government rebuild
the country.
It said in order to take the process forward it needed
corporate financial assistance from the international community.
"We feel that an urgent decision should be made on insurance
policy payouts," said the statement. "The Lesotho government should
play an important role in looking at the situation as the losses
and damages happened in their country."
The committee said members of the Southern African Development
Community, the Lesotho government and other stakeholders should
give it guidance on what direction to take in starting the
rebuilding process.
The Taiwanese community was prepared to apply their skills and
experience towards the economic reconstruction and upliftment of
Lesotho.
The committee added the Taiwanese had been working with the
Lesotho government since 1969 and presently 20,000 jobs were
provided and R10 million was paid out in monthly salaries.
@ LESOTHO-MINISTERS
MASERU September 27 1998 Sapa
ZIM, SA, BOTSWANA DEFENCE MINISTERS EXPECTED IN LESOTHO MONDAY
The defence ministers of South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe
are expected in Maseru on Monday as the ruling Lesotho Congress for
Democracy and opposition parties remain squared up over resolving
the political crisis in Lesotho.
South African Defence Minister Joe Modise and his counterparts
from Zimbabwe and Botswana will be briefed by the joint operation
centre commanders on the latest developments following this week's
bloody intervention in the mountain kingdom.
Their arrival will coincide with the return of the Lesotho
Defence Force soldiers who, upon the arrival of the SADC troops in
Lesotho, went home.
The troops were asked to report at their headquarters in Maseru
on Monday and were told to bring their weapons.
Government offices were expected to be opened on Monday as
civil servants would be returning to work following a week's
absence due to the crisis.
The Lesotho government over the weekend called on public
servants to report for duty Monday morning so that a clean up
operation could commence.
+-----------------------------------------------------------+
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A N C D A I L Y N E W S B R I E F I N G
WEDNESDAY 30 SEPTEMBER 1998
PLEASE NOTE: This News Briefing is a compilation of items from South
African press agencies and as such does not reflect the views of the
ANC. It is for reading and information only, and strictly not for
publication or broadcast.
To unsubscribe from the ANC Daily News Briefing mailing list send a
message to 'list...@wn.apc.org'. In the body of your message put
'unsubscribe ancnews'.
@ LESOTHO-TALKS
PRETORIA September 29 1998 Sapa
LESOTHO POLITICAL PARTIES TO RESUME TALKS: MAMOEPA
Talks aimed at moving the process of a negotiated settlement
between the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy and opposition
parties will resume on Friday, Deputy President Thabo Mbeki's
office announced on Tuesday.
Mbeki's spokesman, Ronnie Mamoepa, told Sapa the talks would be
held at the United Nations offices in the Lesotho capital Maseru.
Mamoepa said the resumption of talks followed behind the scenes
contact between the Southern African Development Community
delegation with LCD leaders and the opposition parties.
He said the meeting would discuss the way forward flowing from
the Langa Commission report which investigated allegations of
election rigging.
@ LESOTHO-DAMAGE
MASERU September 29 1998 Sapa
MORE PUBLIC SERVANTS RETURN TO WORK IN LESOTHO
Relative normality returned to the Lesotho capital Maseru on
Tuesday morning with more public servants returning to work.
Some goverment departments were taking stock on damage caused
to their buildings.
Damage caused by the looting and arson was estimated to run to
more than R700 million.
Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa on Monday pledged to
canvass financial support for Lesotho but said business people
should claim from the looters.
@ HEALTH DEPARTMENT SERVICE EXCELLENCE CONFERENCE
Issued by: Gauteng Provincial Government
INVITATION TO MEDIA
GAUTENG HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S SERVICE EXCELLENCE CONFERENCE
Quality service to the public is the obvious, but
hard-to-achieve, purpose of major government departments.
It is particularly challenging in the health service, where
contact with out customers is of a specially personal kind; where it
often takes place in emergency conditions; and where patients are
frequently very dependent on the professional health worker.
The national Batho Pele campaign for customer-centred service
takes on a special character in relation to health, where quality
service must combine:
* Competent treatment, resulting in favourable outcomes in terms
of the patient's health
* Humane care which protects the patient's dignity when he or
she is most vulnerable.
The Gauteng Department of Health is holding a special three-day
conference this week to take a in-depth look at how to improve the
quality of our services.
The Khanyisa Conference on Service Excellence starts on
Wednesday September 30 at 8h30 ad continues until to 14h00 on Friday
October 2.
About 250 managers and senior clinicians will participate in the
three-day meeting which, it is hoped, will serve as a spring-board
for the launch of practical strategies for more effective service
delivery.
"More and more, members of the public are voicing the demand for
quality service from government," comments Dr Laetitia Rispel, chief
director for strategic management in the Gauteng Health Department.
"We cannot hope to meet these public expectations unless we put
better service delivery right at the centre of our transformation
plans."
The conference has been designed to assist participants in:
* Identifying management-level obstacles to good service
delivery.
* Supplementing their skills with workable approaches to quality
care.
* Supporting front-line managers to develop quality care.
"It would be naive to ignore the constraints and pressures which
make it difficult to sustain quality care in the public sector,"
says Dr Rispel. "But there are many initiatives in our institutions
which prove service excellence is viable in government-run hospitals
and clinics. Our aim is to make sure that it is not simply viable -
but that it begins to flourish."
Members of the media are welcome to attend the three morning
sessions of the conference where delegates meet in plenary session.
The afternoon workshops will not be open to the media, as we would
like delegates to feel unconstrained in their deliberations.
Your are also invited to a function at 18h00 on Thursday October
1, when the MEC for Health will launch annual awards for service
excellence.
No prior notification of attendance by journalists is necessary.
Just check in at the registration desk when you arrive.
PROGRAMME
Wednesday September 30
8h30 Opening address by the MEC for Health, Mr Mondli Gungubele
9h10 A responsive public health service, Dr Gwen Ramakgopa, Chair
of the Gauteng Standing Committee on Health
9h30 Total quality management: A paradigm shift, Professor William
Pick and Professor Joe Veriawa of Wits University Medical
School
TEA
10h30 Creating a quality culture, Mr S Sidloyi of the Department of
Public Administration
11h15 Customer service strategies for leaving the competition
behind. Ms L Kasselman of Vodacom
Thursday October 1
8h30 Implementing quality initiatives in health: Experiences from
the UK, Ms Anne Williams of Kettering General Hospital NHS
Trust, England
9h15 Demonstrating quality leadership in support of customer
service, Roy Nolan of Eskom
TEA
10h30 Implementing service excellence in the face of service
constraints, Dr Gill Hurst of Addington Hospital in Durban
11h15 Information management & technology - a tool for
bench-marking, Ms Luci Abrahams, head of national Department
of Welfare
Friday October 2
8h30 Summary input: Emerging themes and key recommendations, Dr
Laetitia Rispel of Gauteng Department of Health
9h00 Reflection for implementation, Ms Anne Williams (UK)
Small group discussions follow until 12h00, when there is a report
back with ratification of decisions.
Released by the Directorate for Health Promotion & Communications
More information from: Jo-Anne Collinge (082 574 5510)
Lebo Taunyane (011 355 3876)
@ LESOTHO-NDUNGANE
CAPE TOWN September 29 1998 Sapa
ARCHBISHOP NDUNGANE TO VISIT LESOTHO
Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town Njongonkulu Ndungane was
expected to arrive in Lesotho on Tuesday to visit victims of last
week's incursion by Southern African Development Community forces,
his office said in a statement.
He was also expected to meet the church and political
leadership of that country.
Ndungane would be accompanied by the Dean of the Province and
Bishop of Swaziland, Lawrence Zulu, and the Bishop of Lebombo,
Mozambique, Dinis Sengulane, the statement said.
On Wednesday, Ndungane and his delegation were expected to meet
King Letsie III, Lesotho Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili and
leaders of opposition political parties.
On his return, Ndungane would also visit injured members of the
SADC forces hospitalised in Bloemfontein, the statement said.
@ SA GREEN PROJECTS COULD BE THE ENVY OF THE WORLD
GRAHAMSTOWN (ECN) - Environmental projects in South Africa had
the potential to be "the envy of world", Minister of Water Affairs
and Forestry Kadar Asmal said last night.
He was addressing the opening of the the 38th bi-annual African
Congress of the Institute of Environment and Recreation Management
(IERM) held for the first time at the 1820 Settlers Monument.
Asmal stressed the need to focus on the urban environment in
South Africa.
"There are huge environmental challenges facing us," said Asmal,
referring to the rapid population growth in urban areas, and the
lack of amenities and housing.
"Large scale development (is) part of the regeneration of South
Africa," he said.
"Constructive local environmental and recreational management
will serve the social and developmental needs of the whole country."
Asmal believes that improving the working environment through
affordable environmental management standards in urban planning will
not only improve the lives of urban dwellers but will also draw
investors.
"We are now part of the global community, and we have to move
fast to deal with the challenges and be competitive with the best."
"There are no easy, quick and facile solutions. If there were we
would have done them already. Solutions require innovation and
creativity."
Some of these solutions are challenges he put forward to IERM.
Development and communication of a deeper understanding of the
environment should aim at achieving sustainable development such as
local Agenda 21 initiatives, based on the UN Earth Summit in 1992.
"The key is involvement and participation, even if it is painful
and difficult," sathe roles of
local government and NGO's such as IERM, are just as important as
that of central and provincial government.
He also stressed the need to focus on the youth, who play a
vigorous and growing role in society.
By making access to facilities such as parks and museums
cheaper, Asmal believes that there will be a significant
recreational impact upon the youth.
At the ceremony, Christo Coetzer was inducted as the new
president of IERM. He is also president-elect of the International
Federation of the Park and Recreation Administration, the second
South African nominated for this post.
This is the first time that the congress has been held in
Grahamstown, and the 1820 Settlers Monument has been transformed
into a veritable garden, as large interior landscape displays and
exhibitions occupy every conceivable space.
Quinton Coetzee of television programme 50/50 and Prof Nicky
Padaychee, chairman of the International Council for Local
Environmental Initiative are among the speakers.
Topics to be discussed include environmental education, the use
of San methods in management, the developing of a culture of
science, management skills and cultural festivals as a means of
recreation.
Horticulturist Malcom Kitt, international gold medal winner and
panel floral art judge in KwaZulu-Natal, will present a floral art
display related to the congress theme of "2000 and Beyond".
Talent from local schools and the President's Awards gumboot
dancers will provide entertainment, and tickets for the congress and
the various events can be bought through the Rhodes University
Marketing and Communications Department. - ECN Kydaar 29/9/98
@ ZIM-ECONOMY-TOBACCO
HARARE September 29 1998 Sapa-AFP
LOWER TOBACCO PRICES HIT ZIMBABWE'S STRUGGLING ECONOMY
Zimbabwe has seen prices drop this year for its main foreign
currency earner, tobacco, adding to its woes as it struggles with a
collapsing currency.
At the close of the auction season Monday 215 million
kilogrammes of flue-cured tobacco had been sold at an average price
of 173.6 US cents a kilo, compared to last season's 233.26 cents a
kilo.
Despite the fact that the volume of sales was higher this year
than last year's 196 million kilos, receipts are down by some 30
million US dollars and far below the projected figure.
Analysts blame the underperformance of the tobacco auctions in
part for the slide of the Zimbabwe dollar, which has lost about 50
percent of its value in a year - much of that in the past few
weeks.
In turn, the crash of the Zimdollar has faced Zimbabweans with
huge projected price increases even on basic foods - a prospect
which some commentators fear could spark violence.
@ LESOTHO-UDM
CAPE TOWN September 29 1998 Sapa
LESOTHO INTERVENTION WAS AN INVASION: HOLOMISA
The deployment of South African troops in Lesotho was an
invasion of a sovereign state by a foreign country, United
Democratic Movement president Bantu Holomisa said on Monday.
He called for a judicial commission of inquiry into the
military incursion in the mountain kingdom and warned that South
African taxpayers could be made to foot the bill for the damage,
without being told about it.
"As taxpayers... it is our right to be told the exact truth
before our taxes can be engaged in rebuilding Lesotho."
The judicial commission should probe the circumstances under
which South African troops were killed in Lesotho, and who
authorised the incursion and the Southern African Development
Community's role in it, Holomisa said in a statement.
South Africa's role in Lesotho had been less than exemplary
from the time the "discredited" Langa commission of inquiry had
investigated allegations by opposition parties that the May 28
elections were rigged, he said.
Holomisa described Deputy President Thabo Mbeki's response to
criticism of South Africa's role as "out of line and arrogant".
@ PRETORIA REGION HELD ITS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Issued by: African National Congress Pretoria Branch
29 September 1998
The ANC Pretoria Region held its annual general meeting in
Broederstroom from 25 - 27 September 1998. Two hundred and eighty
two (282) delegates attended the conference from all branches and
representatives from alliance structures.
The conference deliberated and debated a number of both
organisational and local government issues ranging from increasing
membership and building the organisation to matters related to local
governance.
Among the major decision taken by conference is the resolution
in support of the SADC intervention in Lesotho, to restore law and
order and ensure peace and stability. Conference also extended
condolences the families and friends of SANDF members who lost
their lives in skirmishes with the mutineer soldiers.
The ANC formally took a decision to establish Pretoria as a
mega-city in terms of the future local government dispensation. This
mega-city will include areas that surround Pretoria to ensure
economic integration and sustainability. The transformation of local
government also received priority attention.
The extension of primary health care and provision of social
welfare facilities to all residents on a non-discriminatory basis
was also agreed to by conference. The ANC will also engage in an
educational campaign and advocacy work on the HIV/AIDS epidemic
especially among young people. We believe that this epidemic will
affect economically active people in the next fifteen years and if
this happens it will spell disaster for the economy of the country.
Members and branches committed themselves to reviving their
structures well ahead of the 1999 elections. All branches will step
up their election preparation and engage in campaign and voter
registration process henceforth. We pledge ourselves to ensure a
two-thirds majority victory for the ANC.
Lastly the conference elected the following people into offices:
Chairperson: Peter Maluleka
Deputy Chair: David Kiba Kekana
Secretary: Bheki Nkosi
Secretary Deputy: Khorombi Dau
Treasurer: Benii Ntuli
@ LESOTHO-FUNERAL
CAPE TOWN September 29 1998 Sapa
TOP GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ATTEND FUNERAL OF SA SOLDIER
The funeral of the first of the South African soldiers killed
in Lesotho last week, Sergeant Jerome Sax, was held in Simon's Town
on Tuesday.
About 200 mourners incluing Deputy Defence Minister Ronnie
Kasrils and Western Cape premier Gerald Morkel attended a service
in the chapel at the naval dockyard.
Sax, 24, an operational medic attached to 44 Parachute
Battalion was shot on September 22, the first day of the South
African incursion into Lesotho.
Kasrils said Sax laid down his life in the act of caring for
his wounded comrades, and had done so in the prime of his young
life.
"Any parent would say that such a sacrifice was not worth it,
so perhaps one should ask instead whether his death had served a
purpose.
"And to that our answer is yes. What he did in Lesotho had to
be done and there was no other way to do it than by sending in our
soldiers."
The aim had been to save a legitimately-elected neighbouring
government which was in danger of being overthrown. Sax and his
comrades served a just and noble aim, and they did so with
distinction.
He said that on behalf of President Nelson Mandela and Defence
Minister Joe Modise he expressed the nation's deep sorrow at Sax's
tragic death.
The South African toll has risen to nine with the announcement
that a soldier died in a Ratel accident on Sunday night.
@ NAMIBIA-SWAPO
WINDHOEK September 29 1998 Sapa
CALL ON NAMIBIA'S STATE BROADCASTER FOR THIRD TERM FOR NUJOMA
Namibia's ruling South West African People's Organisation on
Monday used the state-owned broadcaster to appeal for a third term
of office for President Sam Nujoma.
Party secretary-general Hifikepunye Pohamba appeared on the
Namibian Broadcasting Corporation's 8pm television news to make a
lengthy statement which concluded with a call for Namibians to vote
en masse for Nujoma in next year's presidential elections.
"I call on the Namibian people... not to be misled by people
who do not wish our country and people well. We must all go on a
full campaign drive to have His Excellency President Sam Nujoma
re-elected by popular vote for another term of office," Pohamba
said.
The Namibian Constitution does not provide for a third term of
office for the president.
Pohamba said the party would initiate a change to the
Constitution in the National Assembly "as per instructions of the
majority of the Namibian people".
Swapo won a two-thirds majority in 1994 and believes it has the
right to change certain parts of the Constitution, even without
holding a referendum. This includes the clause relating to a third
term for the president.
Pohamba said Nujoma's first term of office, when he was elected
by the Constituent Assembly, should not be bound by the supreme
law's restriction of two terms for the president.
He argued that in order to serve his first term of office
Nujoma was elected only by the Constituent Assembly in 1989 and not
by popular vote.
"What we are seeking... at present is to make provision for
legal and constitutional means to recognise this reality and to
allow President Nujoma to serve the two terms of office as provided
for in the Namibian Constitution," he said.
"I am, therefore, appealing to you to be consciously involved
in this process and not to be distracted by those who do not want
you to make your democratic choice," he said.
@ MANDELA-BOESAK
CAPE TOWN September 29 1998 Sapa
MANDELA CONFIRMS HE HELPED RAISE FUNDS FOR BOESAK'S DEFENCE
President Nelson Mandela on Tuesday said he and Dr Allan
Boesak's other friends would do everything in their power to ensure
that the cash-strapped former anti-apartheid activist had the
necessary resources to prove his innocence in court.
Speaking at Genadendal after talks with King Letsie III,
Mandela said he hoped the news that he had helped raise funds for
Boesak's defence would not prejudice the cleric's further
application to the Legal Aid Board.
Reports that Boesak had received donor funding had once before
prompted the board to withdraw its financial support, and he did
not want this to happen again.
"We do want Dr Boesak to establish his innocence."
Stressing that he was not prejudging the trial, Mandela said
Boesak's senior counsel Mike Maritz has been able to prove up to
now that there was no case against Boesak.
Maritz' cross-examination of the prosecution witnesses had been
"absolutely devastating".
"Its is quite clear that they (the prosecution) have not been
able to establish even a prima facie case against Dr Boesak.
"All of us, who are the friends of Boesak, will do everything
in our power to ensure that he has the resources to be defended to
establish his innocence."
Later Mandela made an indirect appeal for people to donate
money to Boesak's defence fund.
"I do hope that all the friend of Dr Boesak, including the
president, will do their best to ensure that he has the resources."
Mandela did not say whether he had personally donated money.
Director-general in the president's office, Jakes Gerwel, told
Sapa earlier on Tuesday that Mandela had managed to raise funds for
Boesak in the interest that the cleric received a fair trial.
Maritz withdraw from the case earlier this month after Boesak,
who is facing fraud and theft charges, ran out of funds to pay him.
@ CRIME-SAIRR
JOHANNESBURG September 29 1998 Sapa
SAIRR WELCOMES ORGANISED CRIME BILL BUT URGES ITS DEVELOPMENT
The SA Institute of Race Relations on Tuesday welcomed the
Prevention of Organised Crime Bill, but expressed concern about
details and how its provisions would be implemented.
In a submission on the Bill to the portfolio committee on
justice, the SAIRR said the Bill had good and acceptable intentions
but could result in problems if not adequately implemented.
The Bill proposed to combat organised crime in three ways, the
SAIRR said in a statement.
Firstly, associating with criminals would in itself be a crime
under certain circumstances; secondly, the State would be empowered
to confiscate assets that were tainted by illegal conduct; and
thirdly, membership of a street gang would be seen as an
aggravating factor for sentencing purposes.
The SAIRR said the Bill proposed to create a new offence,
namely, that a person who managed the operation of an organisation,
and who ought reasonably to have known that any person employed by
the organisation was participating in the organisation's affairs
through a pattern of illegal conduct, would be guilty of an
offence.
"The idea is to convict crime bosses against whom there is no
direct evidence of criminal activity, but where there is evidence
that they associated with people who engage in a pattern of illegal
activities through an organisation," the SAIRR said.
"The SAIRR supports this provision in principle but proposes
that organised crime be narrowly defined. The situation might arise
that the State could prosecute leaders of political parties if any
members participate in the party's affairs through a pattern of
illegal conduct."
Similarly the Bill, the SAIRR said, could be used to prosecute
leaders of environmental organisations, some of whose members
damaged property belonging to polluting industries.
It said it would be crucial to the Bill's success that police
officers and prosecutors dealing with it were properly trained and
informed of its provisions.
The SAIRR said organised crime bosses had the resources to hire
the best legal counsel to defend them in court.
"It would be tragic if the first trials held in terms of the
Bill result in court judgments which result in the acquittal of
guilty accused," the SAIRR said.
"This would result in a further loss of trust people have in
the criminal justice system - something the State can ill afford."
To prevent this happening, the SAIRR proposed that structures,
investigation teams, training courses and the requisite personnel
be adequately developed and trained prior to the promulgation of
the Bill.
@ BOESAK-DP
CAPE TOWN 29 Sapa
DP QUESTIONS MANDELA'S INVOLVEMENT IN BOESAK CASE
President Nelson Mandela's personal involvement in raising
funds for Dr Alan Boesak's legal fees compromised his
constitutional role in terms of which he had the right to pardon
criminals, the Democratic Party's justice spokesman Douglas Gibson
said on Tuesday.
Boesak stands accused of misappropriating R1,1 million of
foreign donor funding.
"While Mr Mandela is entitled to use the money at his disposal
for whatever purpose he deems fit, including his friends in
trouble, it seems odd that Dr Boesak, who has already received R1
million from a donor to aid his defence and substantial amounts
from the Legal Aid Board, should be regarded as a deserving case."
The president should realise his involvement in the case left
him open to allegations that he was applying political pressure
within the legal system, Gibson said in a statement.
@ FIVAZ-FORUM
PRETORIA September 29 1998 Sapa
TOKEN AFFIRMATIVE APPOINTMENTS IN POLICE SHOULD STOP: BOF
Senior black police officers want an end to what they regard as
token affirmative appointments in the police, Black Officers' Forum
president Mpho Mmutle said on Tuesday.
He said in Pretoria the matter would be high on the agenda in
planned talks between the forum and national police commissioner
George Fivaz.
"We want affirmative training for officers before they are
selected for management positions so that they are equipped to do
the job. The current pattern of token affirmative appointments must
be reversed."
Mmutle said conditions conducive to fruitful talks with
management were created in a meeting between the forum and Fivaz on
Monday.
Fivaz called Monday's meeting after a dispute with the forum
over a media statement the organisation issued last week. It
resulted in an agreement between the two parties to hold talks as
soon as possible.
The forum was formed earlier in the year to promote the
interests of black police in management positions. It claims to
represent almost half of black officers in such posts.
Mmutle said the forum also wanted policing in formerly
disadvantaged areas to be beefed up, and transformation in the
police to be expedited.
"Another concern we will put on the table is the relationship
between our forum and police management," Mmutle said.
Denying earlier allegations that the forum was racially
exclusive, he said white officers supporting the cause of the
organisation were welcome to join.
Mmutle said the forum regarded itself as a short-term
organisation.
"As soon as our concerns are addressed, there will be no reason
for our existence."
A date for the talks with Fivaz was still to be fixed, Mmutle
said.
@ LESOTHO-SANDF
PRETORIA September 29 1998 Sapa
SANDF NAMES NINTH CASUALTY IN LESOTHO
The ninth South African soldier who died while doing
peacekeeping duty in Lesotho was on Tuesday named as Rifleman
Simanga Gumede, 25, of KwaZulu-Natal, by SA National Defence Force
in Pretoria.
He was based at 1 SA Infantry Battalion in Bloemfontein.
Gumede died when a Ratel armoured car towed by another vehicle
overturned between Alwynskop and Mohaleshoek on Sunday afternoon.
Three other soldiers were seriously injured in the accident, SANDF
spokeswoman Lieutenant-Colonel Laverne Machine said.
Eight South African soldiers were killed and 17 were injured
last week in clashes between dissident Lesotho soldiers and a
Southern African Development Community task force from South Africa
and Botswana.
The force entered Lesotho on Tuesday to quell rising unrest
over perceived irregularities in Lesotho's May 23 general election.
As mopping-up operations continued, the SANDF reported that
more than 100 tons of weapons and ammunition had by Tuesday morning
been retrieved from Lesotho military bases.
Machine said it was not clear who stockpiled the weapons.
"There is a big question mark over the large number of arms
found. We have our theories and are investigating the matter."
Machine said about 30 truckloads of arms and ammunition had so
far been taken to South Africa, where they would be accounted for
in terms of SANDF logistical procedures.
A political decision would determine the next step in dealing
with the weapons.
Machine said about half of the Lesotho defence force's 3000
soldiers reported at their bases on Monday.
"The task force will process these soldiers before handing them
over to the Lesotho Defence Force, where they will either be
employed or retrained."
Machine said Lesotho was quiet on Tuesday.
"There were no sniper shots from straying Lesotho soldiers
yesterday, and (we) believe that only a handful are still wandering
around, if at all."
@ FARMERS-KWANATAL
DURBAN September 29 1998 Sapa
THOUSANDS MARCH AGAINST CRIME IN KWAZULU-NATAL
About 3000 KwaZulu-Natal farmers and supporters on Tuesday
marched in the Pietermaritzburg city centre to protest against the
high levels of crime in the country.
KwaZulu-Natal Agricultural Union president Graham McIntosh said
the march was part of the national programme which started on
Monday and would end on Friday.
The programme was launched by the SA Agricultural Union.
The marchers - under the slogan "We want to live in a new
South Africa - was led by a tractor pulling a coffin covered with
a South African flag.
"We are sending a strong message to the government that
criminals should be severely punished," McIntosh said.
He said farmers demanded a commission of inquiry into the death
penalty and also want the government to deal with unlicensed
firearms which were continuously used in the farm attacks.
The protestors handed a memorandum to provincial department of
safety and security head Wynand van der Merwe.
McIntosh said the memorandum outlined concerns about the
security of the rural community and farmers and contained positive
proposals on how crime could be curbed.
McIntosh said representatives of Business Against Crime, People
Against Gangsterism and Drugs and farm workers participated in the
march.
The marchers gathered at the Royal Show Grounds and proceeded
to the deparment of safety and security's offices in Long Market
Street where the memorandum was handed to Van der Merwe.
KwaZulu-Natal midlands police spokesman Superintendent Henry
Budhram said the march was peaceful and no incidents were reported.
The National Party Women's Action on Tuesday expressed its full
support for the SAAU protest action.
Women's Action spokeswoman Sheila Camerer said the party would
be participating in various support actions and efforts at
provincial level.
"We pay tribute to women in agriculture who bravely stay on
their farms supporting their farmer husbands or farming in their
own right," she said in a statement.
Camerer said the women's action condemned a statement
attributted to the Congress of SA Trade Unions, distancing its
members from the protest action on the basis that some white
farmers had ill-treated their workers.
"Cosatu misses a point. This is a protest against brutal crimes
being committed against the farming community. Farmers and their
workers of all races have suffered at the hands of these
criminals," she said.
The women's action called on President Nelson Mandela and
Deputy President Thabo Mbeki to distance themselves from these
sentiments if "they want the farming community to accept the
sincerity of their expressed concern about farm killings".
@ LESOTHO-MANDELA
CAPE TOWN Sept 28 Sapa
MANDELA, LESOTHO KING CALL FOR PROTESTERS TO GO HOME
President Nelson Mandela and King Letsie III of Lesotho on
Tuesday appealed to anti-government protesters camped in the
grounds of the royal palace in Maseru to return home.
The appeal was made after a 90-minute meeting between the two
at Mandela's Cape Town residence Genadendal.
The presence of the protesters at the palace has raised
questions about the king's impartiality in Lesotho's political
battle.
The protesters, supporters of Lesotho's opposition parties who
claim the May 23 elections were rigged, have sought refuge at the
palace for nearly two months, saying they fear for their safety.
Mandela said he would make a statement assuring the protesters
that they would be safe when they left the palace grounds.
The issue of the palace protesters was an important part of the
discussions with the king.
There would be clarity on when South African and Botswanan
troops were expected to leave Lesotho after Friday's scheduled
meeting between its government and opposition parties.
"We don't have the resources to keep our forces there
indefinitely," Mandela said.
@ LESOTHO-JOURNALISTS
JOHANNESBURG September 29 1998 Sapa
INSTITUTE CALLS FOR THE PROTECTION OF JOURNALISTS IN LESOTHO
The Freedom of Expression Institute on Tuesday called on all
parties involved in the conflict in Lesotho to ensure the safety of
journalists covering the unrest.
FXI spokeswoman Nanagolo Leopeng said the institute was deeply
alarmed at the treatment meted out to journalists last week.
"Some of the journalists believe that they were deliberately
targeted and fired on by (Lesotho Defence Force) snipers," said
Leopeng in a statement.
She said although journalists were aware of the risks of
reporting in conflict situations and of being caught in the cross
fire, the fact remained that they were unarmed combatants carrying
out their professional duties of keeping the public informed.
During last week's widespread looting and arson in Maseru, nine
journalist had their vehicles hijacked, were harassed by mobs and
shot at by some members of the LDF who were fighting Southern
African Development Community intervention troops.
@ MEDIA-NASA
JOHANNESBURG September 29 1998 Sapa
MOVES TO REGULATORY CONTROL OF MEDIA MUST BE FOUGHT: NASA
The government's moves towards regulatory control of the media
were "unhealthy" and demanded a co-ordinated response, Newspaper
Association of Southern Africa chairman Hennie van Deventer said on
Tuesday.
In his chairman's report at the association's annual general
meeting in Johannesburg, he said proposed restrictions on tobacco
advertising, statements on cross-ownership and enforced diversity
in media ownership were signs of this trend.
"I need not say more about the financial implications for our
industry of a ban on tobacco advertising, except that they are
enormous.
"But I must record my serious concern at the undermining effect
of this and other proposed legislation on democratic principles.
South Africa will be poorer and less free if organisations such as
the Print Media Association, Nasa and others do not put up
effective opposition," he said.
Press freedom needed to be reinforced by constant public
reminders that it was essential to a free society, Van Deventer
said.
To this end, Nasa set up a joint press freedom committee with
the SA National Editors' Forum. The committee also focused on
enhancing media diversity.
This year, Nasa also set up an educational fund from which it
had funded the Freedom of Commercial Speech Trust, Van Deventer
said.
@ EU-ANGOLA
VIENNA September 29 1998 Sapa-AFP
EU FEARS RESUMPTION OF ANGOLAN WAR, BLAMES UNITA
The European Union on Tuesday said there
was a "real risk of a return to war" in Angola, and primarily blamed
UNITA for the stalled state of the peace process in the ravaged
country.
The Austrian EU presidency called on the National Union for the
Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) to lay down its weapons and
comply with international agreements, after recent serious unrest.
"The EU expresses its deep concern over the marked deterioration
in the politico-military situation in Angola," a statement by the
Austrian foreign ministry said.
"There appears to be a real risk of a return to war and of a
further widespread suffering of the Angolan people."
The long-time rebel UNITA movement, which fought the ruling
People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) after
independence in 1975 and signed peace protocols in the Zambian
capital Lusaka in November 1994, this month saw a serious split in
its ranks.
The movement, led by Jonas Savimbi, theoretically totally
disarmed and became the main political opposition in March, but
hundreds of people have since died in clashes and the Luanda
government has claimed that UNITA still has more than 30,000
combat-ready men.
Savimbi last Friday lost the support of 55 of his movement's 70
members of parliament in a new blow to his authority, after many of
his former top aides formed a breakaway "renewal committee", which
the Luanda government now recognises as its only valid negotiating
partners.
"Clearly the blame for the current impasse in the peace process
rests primarily with UNITA and therefore ... the EU calls upon the
UNITA leadership to comply immediately and without conditions with
its obligations under the Lusaka Protocol and relevant resolutions
of the UN Security Council," the Austrian statement added.
These include "the complete demilitarization of its forces and
full co-operation in the immediate and unconditional extension of
state administration throughout the national territory."
UNITA troops have maintained strongholds in central Angola,
where Savimbi has remained based, refusing for years to go to Luanda
on security grounds, while the movement has also been fighting
government troops in northern and eastern mineral-rich parts of the
country.
The United Nations has imposed a series of sanctions on UNITA
for non-compliance with the Lusaka accords, but the UN mission in
the country and the troika of nations overseeing the peace process
- Portugal, Russia and the United States - have remained overtly
neutral on the disavowal of Savimbi.
@ MAYOR
CAPE TOWN September 29 1998 Sapa
MFEKETO ELECTED NEW MAYOR OF CAPE TOWN
Nomainda Mfeketo, chairwoman of the Cape city council's
executive committee, was on Tuesday elected mayor of Cape Town.
Her election follows the resignation from council earlier this
month of Theresa Solomon who is to take a seat in the Western Cape
provincial legislature.
Saleem Mowzer was elected new exco chairman.
In her acceptance speech Mfeketo said non-racialism was the key
to development, prosperity, a sense of unity and to the common
identity that was so vital to the city of Cape Town.
"The days when only Africans could represent the interests of
Africans, only whites the interests of whites and only Coloureds
the interest of Coloureds, must end.
"I stand in front of you not as a black mayor, but as your
mayor.
"I am proud to be a black African woman, but I am even more
proud to be a Capetonian. I call on all Capetonians, of all
backgrounds, of all races, and all communities, to unite and to
bring this city together." Mfeketo said.
She said she would continue the efforts of her predecessor and
make fighting crime a top priority.
@ BOESAK-NP
CAPE TOWN September 29 1998 Sapa
MANDELA A "SOFTIE" OVER BOESAK, SAYS NP
The intervention by President Nelson Mandela to ensure funding
for Alan Boesak's legal team was further proof that he was a real
"softie" when it came to his old African National Congress
comrades-in-arms, National Party justice spokeswoman Sheila Camerer
said on Tuesday.
Boesak stands accused of misappropriating R1,1 million of
foreign donor funding.
For the president's spokesman, Parks Mankahlana, to claim the
intervention was in Mandela's "private capacity" was a red herring,
Camerer said in a statement.
"In this sort of action, the president cannot separate his
private from his public persona."
The sort of signal given by such a publicised act was
questionable, particularly against the background of the current
levels of crime and corruption in the country.
"The ANC leadership should be more chary of associating with
alleged criminals.
"(Justice Minister Dullah) Omar's public embrace of Boesak on
his return to South Africa is another case in point," she said.
@ MANDELA-N/L-LESOTHO
CAPE TOWN September 29 1998 Sapa
KING LETSIE REMAINS SILENT IN INTERESTS OF PEACE
The impartiality of Lesotho's King Letsie III was central to
the success of renewed peace efforts in the troubled kingdom,
President Nelson Mandela said on Tuesday.
Speaking after 90-minute talks at Genadendal, Mandela appealed
to journalists not to put questions to the king, saying he feared
this might compromise the monarch's political neutrality and create
difficulties for him.
Throughout the half-hour long press conference, the young
monarch - dressed in a navy blue suit and blue shirt - sat
expressionless on Mandela's left.
Mandela noted that in terms of the Lesotho constitution, the
king was a constitutional monarch who was "not expected to take
part in political debates".
"I appeal to you, do not put questions that will compromise his
majesty's impartiality
When a journalist did attempt to question the king, Mandela
chided her for ignoring his earlier call.
Mandela said there was a perception - not only in Lesotho, but
throughout most of the Southern African Development Community -
that King Letsie was part of the kingdom's political problems.
This was the reason why Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili had
not consulted the king about foreign military intervention in
Lesotho, he said.
"Rightly or wrongly, they regarded his majesty as being part of
the problem."
Mandela said the issue of anti-government protesters seeking
refuge in the grounds of the royal place had been an important part
of his talks with the king.
The presence of the protesters had fueled a perception that the
king had sided with the country's opposition.
He and the King would issue a statement appealing to the
remaining protesters to return home, paving the way for Friday's
peace talks between government and opposition.
Mandela said King Letsie's involvement was critical to the
success of Friday's meeting.
"I have had a very fruitful discussion with him about the role
he should continue to play, because he has been playing a positive
role and I wanted him to continue to play that positive, especially
now that the process of negotiations has started."
It was important for King Letsie to ensure that the peace
efforts succeeded, as the Basotho people themselves needed to "sit
down and explore a political solution to their country's problems",
Mandela said.
He also questioned whether South Africa should be expected to
help rebuild Lesotho's economy when it was the Basotho people
themselves who were responsible for destroying their capital.
The government had yet to receive a formal request to help
rebuild the kingdom's economy, which was devastated in unrest
following military intervention by the Southern African Development
Community.
The South African government would listen sympathetically to
such a request, but its response would depend on whether "we can
afford the resources that are required in order to repair the
damage that has been done".
"SADC went there in the spirit of peace and those are things
that have to be considered: whether the Basotho can actually start
destroying their capital and expect us to be responsible for that
damage."
Although he was not blaming anybody, "everybody knows who is
responsible for that destruction".
The SADC intervention force, made up of South African and
Botswanan soldiers, had gone to Lesotho in peace.
"They were shot at; the firing did not start from SADC,"
Mandela said.
He hoped the SADC troops would withdraw from Lesotho in due
course.
"We don't have the resources to keep our forces there
indefinitely.
"We want a speedy resolution to save our scarce resources for
things that are essential for bettering the lives of our people."
On criticism that South Africa had jeopardised Lesotho's
independence and sovereignty, Mandela said: "We have no intention
whatsoever of undermining the independence and sovereignty of
Lesotho."
@ HEALTH-LEPROSY
PRETORIA September 29 1998 Sapa
AGREEMENT SIGNED BY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, LEPROSY BODY
An agreement aimed at eradicating leprosy in South Africa was
signed by the Health Department and the Leprosy Mission Southern
Africa in Pretoria on Tuesday.
In terms of the agreement, the department would set up a
national leprosy task group, and determine a policy to deal with
the disease, a health statement said.
The department said the agreement would promote the diagnosis,
treatment, rehabilitation and aftercare of leprosy patients.
The document was signed by Health Minister Nkosazana Zuma and
executive director of the leprosy body Pieter Laubscher.
In 1995, 128 cases of leprosy were reported in South Africa,
compared to 827 in 1944. The drop was largely due to an improvement
in general hygiene, vaccination and treatment, the department said.
"However, a number of cases remain undetected and early
recognition and correct treatment can prevent serious disability
and the spread of the disease," it said.
@ LESOTHO-MOTIONS
NCOP September 29 1998 Sapa
NP CALLS FOR SPECIAL NCOP DEBATE ON LESOTHO
The National Council of Provinces should have a special debate
on South Africa's military operation in Lesotho, Dr Gerhard
Koornhof (NP) proposed in a notice of motion on Tuesday.
Louis Swanepoel (NP) gave notice of a motion that the House
should deplore the loss of soldiers' lives and extend its
condolences to their next-of-kin.
It should also extend best wishes for a speedy recovery to
injured soldiers.
Ms Vuyiswa Tyobeka-Lieta (ANC) gave notice of a motion that the
House should express its attitude towards the Lesotho issue as
being in line with that of Deputy President Thabo Mbeki, and state
that the accusations against the South African government by the
"DP and NP media" were uncalled for.
@ DRCONGO-ZIM
HARARE September 29 1998 Sapa-AFP
ZIMBABWE BLASTS FOREIGN MEDIA OVER DR CONGO CONFLICT
Zimbabwe, which has troops in the Democratic Republic of Congo
(DRC), accused the international media Tuesday of distorting the
conflict in that country.
Deputy Foreign Minister Nicholas Goche said foreign media
ignored evidence of atrocities by rebels while hardly mentioning
the fact that southern African forces were observing the Geneva
conventions on warfare.
"Dominant elements of the international media sometimes take
partisan positions in line with national interests rather than
truly reflecting the reality on the ground," Goche said.
"There is ample evidence that allied forces are loved by local
people, and rebels who surrendered were treated well.
"In spite of all this, elements of the international media have
remained hostile to the allied forces," Goche was quoted as saying
by the state news agency Ziana.
He did not accuse any countries or media by name, but the
Harare government is known to be unhappy with at least one
western-based international television news channel which, in its
view, has not given it credit for an intervention of which it is
proud.
The "allied forces" referred to by Goche are those of Zimbabwe,
Angola and Namibia, which went to the assistance of DRC President
Laurent Kabila when rebels advanced on his capital Kinshasa in
early August.
All four countries are members of the 14-nation Southern
African Development Community (SADC), which broadly sanctioned the
intervention after some initial dispute.
The "allies" accuse Uganda and Rwanda of supporting the mainly
Tutsi rebels, who launched their offensive from eastern DRC near
the borders with those two countries.
Goche was speaking at the opening of a seminar organised by the
International Committee of the Red Cross on integrating
humanitarian law in military training programmes in SADC.
The seminar is being attended by participants from 11 SADC
member countries.
@ FIGHT-DEPLORE
NCOP September 29 1998 Sapa
NCOP DEPLORES NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FISTICUFFS
The National Council of Provinces on Tuesday unanimously agreed
to a motion that it deplore the incident in the National Assembly
on September 17 which resulted in fisticuffs between National Party
MP Dr Manie Schoeman and African National Congress MP Johnny de
Lange.
The motion, moved by ANC chief whip Henry Makgothi, further
stated that the House should approve the disciplinary steps taken,
and express its view that the dignity of Parliament should be
preserved.
@ STATEMENT BY THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
The Amnesty Committee of the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission's spotlight will fall on the 1993 murder of a Grahamstown
lawyer Mr Allistair Weakley and his brother Glenn near Port St Johns
and the mystery behind a spate of armed attacks on farmers near
Stutterheim in the 1990s during its sitting in East London early
next week.
Pumelele Hermanus, Mlulamisi Maxhayi, Lungile Mazwi and
Fundisile Guleni are seeking amnesty for their role in an ambush in
which the Weakley brothers were shot dead and Mr Keith Rumble was
wounded. Two boys, Thomas O'Keeffe, 11 and Mr Rumble's son Brett, 7
escaped unscathed. The Weakley brothers were returning to their
cottage at a holiday resort after a fishing expedition near Port St
Johns when their bakkie came under heavy gunfire.
Hermanus Maxhayi and Mazwi are serving 25 years imprisonment
following
their conviction of murder and attempted murder.
The Amnesty Committee will also hear amnesty applications
relating to a number of related but separate farm attacks in
Stutterheim in 1990. Mr Hansel, 60 was assaulted, robbed of his
belongings including a firearm by a group of armed men while on his
farm Greenlands on January 31, 1991. His assailants cut telephone
wires and left him tied up in his bed.
A week later, another farmer, Mr Eric Kobus, 74 was fatally
attacked on his farm Sunrise. A few days later, attackers pounced on
Spes Bona, a farm owned by Mr and Mrs Pretorius and left Mr
Pretorius dead and his wife injured.
Later, Mrs Klackers, who ran a trading store on her farm End
Well was injured when she was attacked on her farm in the same
month.
Mrs Marillier, 65 was also attacked on her farm Bush View near
King William's Town in March 1990. She was wounded after she was
shot in the chest. Her house was later ransacked by her assailants.
Melumzi Nokawusana, Jimmy Nokawuzana, Randile Bhayi, Bonakele
Bhayi and Mziyanda Ntonga are seeking amnesty for their role in the
attacks. The Amnesty Committee will also hear amnesty applications
relating to sporadic incidents which occurred in the rural areas of
the former Ciskei following the shooting of scores of ANC supporters
by soldiers loyal to Brigadier Oupa Gqozo in 1993.
The hearings will take place at the Catholic Centre, Queen's
Street, Cambridge in East London from October 5 to 9.
Media inquiries : Vuyani Green, 082 452 7858
@ EDUCATION
NCOP September 29 1998 Sapa
NCOP APPROVES EDUCATION BILL
Draft legislation regulating the employment of teachers and
other matters related to their conditions of service was
unanimously approved by the National Council of Provinces on
Tuesday.
Introducing debate on the Employment of Educators Bill,
Education Minister Sibusiso Bengu said it clarified the issue of
who the employer was in education.
The bill also established clearly where responsibility for the
creation of posts for educators lay, as well as the distribution of
these posts to schools.
- The bill was previously approved by the National Assembly,
and will now go to the president to sign into law.
@ LABOUR-SKILLS
CAPE TOWN September 29 1998 Sapa
NCOP LABOUR COMMITTEE APPROVES SKILLS DEVELOPMENT BILL
The National Council of Provinces' labour committee on Tuesday
approved the Skills Development Bill, which proposes a one percent
training levy on company payrolls.
The legislation, which has already been passed by the National
Assembly, is scheduled to be debated in the NCOP on October 8.
All political parties support the bill.
@ GAMES-AFRICA
JOHANNESBURG September 29 1998 Sapa
NEW ALEXANDRA VILLAGE A LEGACY OF ALL AFRICA GAMES
The construction of 1700 housing units in Alexandra, north of
Johannesburg, got underway on Tuesday when Sport Minister Steve
Tshwete and Gauteng housing and land affairs MEC Dan Mofokeng
opened the All Africa Games' athletes village and housing project.
The completion of the village is scheduled to coincide with the
openeing of the All Africa Games next September.
"This signifies that from next year we will have a different
Alexandra," Tshwete said during a symbolic "turning of the sod"
ceremony on the Far East Bank.
"This project represents the beginning of a spiritual change
within the Alexandra community. It will be a legacy left behind by
the All Africa Games that will not only benefit sport, but the
community as well."
Mofokeng said the project represented South Africa's largest
joint housing venture, incorporating national, provincial and local
government as well as the corporate sector and the community.
The village, which would provide accommodation for 6000
visiting athletes and officials, would cover 88,4 hectares and
would include parks, a shopping centre, a community centre and a
primary school.
"Sport and development are fundamentally linked," Mofokeng
said. "The village, which will be accessable as housing to locals
after the games, represents how sport and development are
fundamentally linked and how this link is vital for the emergence
of a healthy and prosperous community."
The Gauteng housing department made R25,5 million available for
the project, with the balance of R60 million budget being made up
by various stakeholders. Additional sponsors would also be sought.
The Gauteng housing department would also provide technical
assistance with a project team.
Tshwete said the success of the All Africa Games, to be staged
at venues in and around Johannesburg next Septmeber, would demand a
national commitment, especially from the private sector.
"These games will reflect to the rest of the world the
capability of our country to organise and present an event of this
magnitude," he said.
"We must avoid the disgraceful display by South Africans who
stayed away from the IAAF World Cup in Athletics (in Johannesburg
in early September).
"We want to wipe out the perception that we are incapable of
organising big events. To achieve this we need a readiness from the
private sector to dig deeper into their pockets, especially to
assist in the restoration of facilities in the historically
underpriveleged areas.
"This would assist in the endeavour that an event like the
Africa Games does not pass through our country like a circus and
leave a desert in its wake. We must spread the games into these
areas and leave behind facilites and a sense of awareness to
prepare the soil for the emergence of young talent."
"In line with an affordable long term housing strategy, the
project is an innovative breakthrough for solving the low cost
housing needs in Gauteng, while at the same time providing a Games
village for 6000 visiting athletes," said Slumko Sowazi, chief
executive of the Tsepo Development Corporation, shareholders of the
contract.
@ ANGOLA-SADC
LUANDA September 29 1998 Sapa-AFP
SADC MILITARY CHIEFS TO MEET IN LUANDA
The Angolan army on Tuesday said ahead of a meeting of SADC
armed forces chiefs of staff that military involvement in member
countries was appropriate to ensure stability in the region.
"We hope the entire region can be involved in creating the
conditions needed to reestablish military security," army spokesman
General Joao Manuel Jota told reporters.
The military officials of the Southern African Development
Community were expected to discuss the crises in the Democratic
Republic of Congo, Lesoth and Angola.
The meeting, initially set for Tuesday morning, was rescheduled
for the afternoon because of late arrivals by many of the invited
military chiefs.
The head of South African military intelligence, General Mojo
Motau, for his part recognized the "responsibility" of the 14 SADC
countries' armed forces to secure the region. "We are ready to make
our contribution," he told reporters.
Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos was to meet with the
military chiefs before the start of the meeting, officials said.
Zambia may be represented by Defense Minister Chitalo Sampa,
who is chariman of SADC's inter-statal committee on defense and
security, they said.
Sampa was expected to deliver the meeting's keynote address,
the Angolan army said.
Tanzanian army chief of staff Nicolas Fulko arrived in Luanda
late Monday.
SADC groups Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique,
Namibia, the DRC, Lesotho, the Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland,
Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
@ NURSES
PRETORIA September 29 1998 Sapa
NURSES IMPORTANT FOR TRANSFORMING SA'S HEALTH SYSTEM: ZUMA
Nurses should play an important role in transforming South
Africa's health system, Health Minister Nkosazana Zuma said on
Tuesday.
She told the SA Nursing Council in Pretoria that it should be
geared for changes guided by the country's needs.
"Based on the South African transformation process, health is a
right and therefore every citizen should be assured of safe health
care within the ambit of the constitution," Zuma said in a speech
prepared for delivery.
She said the council would have to accept challenges from a
society which had high expectations of quality care.
"The council has a mammoth task as nurses constitute the
highest percentage of professional health personnel and are
therefore the backbone of health services in this country."
Zuma said the role of nurses could expanded to save money in
health care.
"Most of the services in the proposed minimum package of health
services can be delivered by nurses and midwives. Nurses are
therefore ideally positioned to become key players in improving the
cost-effectiveness of health care systems."
Zuma said nurses should begin focusing on primary health care
to prepare themselves for a role in the community, and not only in
hospitals.
She also advised them to enhance their skills, expertise and
education to equip themselves for the changing job market.
@ N/L-LESOTHO
JOHANNESBURG September 29 1998 Sapa
MANDELA QUESTIONS WHETHER SA SHOULD HELP REBUILD LESOTHO
President Nelson Mandela on Tuesday questioned whether South
Africa should be expected to help rebuild Lesotho's economy - he
said it was the Basotho people themselves who were responsible for
destroying their capital.
Speaking in Cape Town after a 90-minute meeting with Lesotho's
King Letsie III at his Cape Town residence, Genadendal, Mandela
said the government had yet to receive a formal request to help
rebuild Lesotho's economy, which was devastated by unrest following
military intervention by the Southern African Development
Community.
He expected the subject to be raised at Friday's peace talks
between the rival parties, brokered by mediators from Botswana,
South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
The South African government would listen sympathetically to
such a request, but its response would depend on whether South
Africa could afford the resources needed to repair the damage.
"SADC went there in the spirit of peace and those are things
that have to be considered: whether the Basotho can actually start
destroying their capital and expect us to be responsible for that
damage," Mandela said.
Mandela and the king appealed to anti-government protesters
camped in the grounds of the royal palace in Maseru to return home.
The protesters, supporters of Lesotho's opposition parties who
claim the May 23 elections were rigged, have sought refuge at the
palace for nearly two months, saying they feared for their safety.
Mandela said he would make a statement assuring the protesters
they would be safe when they left the palace grounds. The presence
of the protesters had fueled a perception that the king had sided
with the country's opposition.
Mandela asked journalists not to put questions to the king,
saying he feared this might compromise the monarch's political
neutrality, and create difficulties for him.
He said there was a perception - not only in Lesotho, but
throughout most of SADC - that King Letsie was part of the
kingdom's political problems.
According to Mandela there would also be clarity on when SA and
Botswana troops were expected to leave Lesotho after Friday's peace
talks, aimed at moving the process of a negotiated settlement
between the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy and opposition
parties forward.
The talks will be held at the United Nations offices in Maseru.
In Maseru on Tuesday morning more public servants returned to
work and some goverment departments began taking stock of damage -
estimated to run into more than R700 million.
The SA National Defence Force on Tuesday named the ninth SA
soldier who died while doing peacekeeping duty in Lesotho as
Rifleman Simanga Gumede, 25, of KwaZulu-Natal.
Spokeswoman Lieutenant-Colonel Laverne Machine said Gumede, who
was based at 1 SA Infantry Battalion in Bloemfontein, died when a
Ratel armoured car towed by another vehicle overturned between
Alwynskop and Mohaleshoek on Sunday afternoon.
Three other soldiers were seriously injured in the accident.
Eight SANDF soldiers were killed and 17 were injured last week
in clashes between dissident Lesotho soldiers and the SADC task
force.
One of those killed, Sergeant Jerome Sax, was buried in Simon's
Town earlier on Tuesday.
Sax, 24, an operational medic attached to 44 Parachute
Battalion, was shot on September 22, the first day of the South
African incursion into Lesotho.
The SANDF denied allegations published on Tuesday that its
fatality rate during Operation Boleas in Lesotho over the past week
was a lot higher than had been announced.
It said the operation was conducted as transparently as
possible under the prevailing operational circumstances, and under
these circumstances it was impossible for the SANDF to conceal its
casualties.
As mopping-up operations in Lesotho continued, the SANDF
reported that more than 100 tons of weapons and ammunition had by
Tuesday morning been retrieved from Lesotho military bases.
Machine said about half of the Lesotho defence force's 3000
soldiers also reported at their bases on Monday.
An Anglican bishops' delegation, led by Cape Town's Archbishop
Njongonkulu Ndungane, on Tuesday consoled and prayed with Lesotho
refugees housed at various centres at Ladybrand, just across the
border in South Africa.
He pledged the church's support to help alleviate the
sufferings of people following fierce fighting in Maseru last week.
@ HEALTH-CHOPPERS
JOHANNESBURG September 29 1998 Sapa
MONEY OWED BY PROVINCES WOULD FUND GAUTENG HELI AMBULANCES: NP
The Gauteng health department should recover the money owed to
it for the treatment of patients from other provinces before
depriving seriously injured people of the air ambulance service,
the National Party said on Tuesday.
NP leader in the Gauteng legislature Johan Kilian in a
statement said Gauteng was owed vast amounts for the treatment of
patients referred from other provinces.
"The millions of rands outstanding and carried forward from
year to year have a crippling effect on the Gauteng health budget
and can no longer be ignored," he said.
Kilian was reacting to reports that the province might axe its
emergency helicopter service "Flight for Life" because of a
shortage of money.
In a letter to Gauteng health MEC Mondi Gungubele, Kilian urged
the department to intervene to prevent the suspension of the
helicopter ambulance service. He said the department should raise
the matter with the Department of Finance before the tabling of the
supplimentary budget in Parliament in the first week of November.
In the letter, of which a copy was sent to Sapa, Kilian said:
"If needs be the money owed to us could be deducted by the
Department of Finance prior to allocations being made to
provinces."
Kilian said it was unacceptable that Gauteng should be forced
to scale down its already faltering health service while other
provinces continued to receive their fair share of the health
budget.
He said the air ambulance service benefited all road users and
patients from previously disadvantaged communities.
The contract to operate the service was up for tender following
a disputed tender award last year. Earlier this year a number of
companies submitted tenders but no decision had been made yet.
Europ Assistance, which at present runs the service for the
province, on Monday announced that Gauteng was considering
terminating the emergency helicopter service from the end of the
month.
@ TRUTH-LONDON
PRETORIA Sept 23 Sapa
LONDON BOMBERS RAN INTO HITCHES, TRC HEARS
The squad of policemen who blew up the ANC offices in London in
1982 ran into a number of hitches that almost jeopardised their
mission, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission heard in Pretoria
on Tuesday.
This emerged during testimony by former Vlakplaas police base
commander Eugene de Kock who, along with seven other former
policemen, is applying for amnesty for the blast.
De Kock told the TRC's amnesty committee he and John Adam were
stopped at Heathrow by suspicious customs officials. He said they
both had false names and documents, but the customs officials
suspected they were dealing in drugs or contraband because they had
large amounts of cash with them.
De Kock said they were detained and intensely interrogated for
about three hours before being released. However, they were kept
under surveillance for a few days.
De Kock said this had not worried him that much, but Adam was
nervous. He described how the leader of the operation, Brigadier
Piet Goosen - who has since died - was robbed by pickpockets
while walking in the streets of London. Goosen was also stopped
when leaving the country because he bought a collection of axes he
planned to use for wood carving. This made customs officials
suspicous but he was eventually allowed to leave.
"Goosen and I were like country bumkins, but Craig Williamson
was streetwise and really knew his way around," he said.
Another member of the squad, James Taylor, told the committee
he entered Britain as a book dealer on his way to a book fair in
London. He said the necessary letterheads and business cards were
made for him to support his false identity.
Taylor said he and the others took several days driving around
London in order to acquaint themselves with the routes to and from
the African National Congress offices and the airport.
The hearing, in which Williamson is also applying for amnesty
@ LESOTHO-NP
CAPE TOWN September 29 1998 Sapa
APPOINT COMMISSION INTO LESOTHO CRISIS, NP LEADER URGES MBEKI
National Party leader Marthinus van Schalkwyk on Tuesday urged
Deputy President Thabo Mbeki to appoint a public commission of
inquiry into South Africa's involvement in Lesotho.
In a letter to Mbeki, following a visit on Monday to the Free
State-Lesotho border area, he said this was necessary to ascertain
the truth in view of the uncertainty and differing versions of the
events leading to the military intervention.
In the interests of long-term stability it was imperative to
achieve a political settlement to the Lesotho crisis, Van Schalkwyk
wrote in the letter, a copy of which was released to the media.
>From meetings with the Ladybrand community on Monday it was
evident that the disaster aid promised by central and provincial
government had not yet reached its destination.
The regional economy had clearly been dealt a mortal blow and
the South African government had to investigate ways to help the
business community.
Van Schalkwyk attached to the letter an updated version of
earlier NP proposals on how to resolve the Lesotho crisis,
including appointing a commission empowered to re-establish the
rule of law in that country.
The NP also proposes that new elections be held in Lesotho
under independent international supervision.
@ DP LASHES OUT AT NEW GRAHAMSTOWN FINANCE COMMITTEE
GRAHAMSTOWN (ECN) - A row is brewing between rival ANC and DP
councillors here over the appointment of chairman of the TLC's
finance committee.
In a strongly worded statement, DP councillors said yesterday
(subs: Tue) the appointment of councillor Jonathan Walton to the
position of chairman of the finance committee made a mockery of the
committee and was not in Grahamstown's best interests.
They said: "If the idea was to empower councillor Walton, he
has shown no interests in being empowered."
They claim that in the two years Walton has been deputy-chairman
of the finance committe he has failed to take an interest in its
activities, attend most of its meetings, or develop an understanding
of "the workings of the treasury department or the budgeting
process".
"His only contribution has been to undermine the finance
committee and discredit the treasury officials in council meetings
without first establishing the relevant facts."
They said his appointment was made for "party political purposes
with a view to the forthcoming election".
An angry Walton dismissed the DP's claims as being "absolute
bulls..t" and "cheap politicking".
He said it was a personal, racist attack and that the DP seemed
to feel that financial matters "were for white people only".
He said the DP had had the opportunity to state their case at an
open meeting on Monday but had chosen to "act like sissies".
Walton said the move had been political suicide for the DP in
the town as they would not get any black or coloured votes in
Grahamstown in next year's elections.
He said: "I don't know how these whities think sometimes."
Walton said he was committed to transparency and democracy and
would see to it that things were done properly and probed where
necessary. - ECN Tuesday 29/9/98 FARCE
@ PREMIER FAILS TO PUBLISH CRITICAL LAWS
BISHO (ECN) - All provincial government expenditure from April
to August this year was illegal because the Premier Makhenkesi
Stofile's office forgot to publish the 1998/99 Appropriation Bill as
promulgated in the Government Gazette.
And the government has also failed to pay millions to the
Government Printer which has to publish the bills.
This was revealed in an answer by Finance and Provincial
Expenditure MEC Enoch Godongwana to a question by provincial
Democratic Party leader Eddie Trent.
According to Section 123 of the Constitution, "a bill assented
to and signed by the Premier of a province becomes a provincial Act,
must be published promptly and takes effect when published or on a
date determined in terms of the Act".
In his response to Trent, Godongwana said it appeared "that
there was a an oversight in the processes within the Premier's
Office".
Godongwana said failure to publish an Act delays the taking into
effect of that Act up until such time that it is published or on a
date determined in terms of the Act.
The failure to publish the Act is not consistent with
constitutional requirements.
He also said the Interim Appropriation Bill and the Second
Adjustment Appropriation Bill had not been published because of the
oversight in the Premier's Office.
Godongwana also revealed that the provincial government owed
R11,5-million to the Government Printer.
Of this amount R6-million was owed to Pretoria's Government
Printer, while R5,4-million was owed to the Government Printer in
Umtata.
Trent called the fundamental oversight of Stofile "a mockery of
the government's accountability" and said that if he was an
"honourable man" he would resign.
"Whilst on the one hand the Finance Committee is attempting to
crack down on accounting officials who are guilty of incurring
unauthorised expenditure, on the other, the Premier's oversight in
this matter pronounces him guilty of effectively rendering his
entire budget to be unauthorised."
Trent said the failure to publish the 1998/99 Appropriation, the
Interim Appropriation and the Second Appropriation Bill's in the
Government Gazette meant that Stofile and his entire administration
had spent billions of rands of the tax payers money illegally. He
said it was obvious Stofile was not going to bring about an
efficient and accountable administration anymore than his
predecessor Raymond Mhlaba.
"The ANC in this province has betrayed the people who voted for
them in 1994 and has added to the injury of apartheid, a corrupt,
bloated and grossly innefficient administration."
Referring to the failure to pay the government printer, Trent
said: "To add further insult to injury the ANC government has failed
to pay the Government Printer, the very publication in which these
Bills should have been published." - ECN Tues 29/09/98 Gazette
@ PREMIER WILL ACCEPT FARMERS' DEMO MEMO IN BISHO
BISHO (ECN) - Eastern Cape Premier Makhenkesi Stofile will
accept the memorandum from the Eastern Province Agricultural Union
(EPAU) tomorrow in Bisho.
This was confirmed by his spokesman Gay Khaile.
The EP Herald yesterday that that thousands of people were
expected to take part in agriculture industry-initiated protests
against crime in Port Elizabeth and Bisho today. (subs: Weds)
Union chairman Pieter Erasmus said they had asked Stofile to
accept a memorandum from the protestors at Bisho, but he (Stofile)
indicated that they should approach thepolice.
Erasmus urged Stofile not to desert his people in the Eastern
Cape and said that if Stofile did not turn up it would clearly show
that fighting crime was not a priority for him.
However, Khaile said Stofile would accept the memorandum today,
while Safety and Security MEC Dennis Neer would accept the
memorandum in Port Elizabeth.
He said the organisors of the protest march had not yet got back
to the Premier's Office to inform them where and what time the
memorandum would be delivered.
Khaile said no special security arrangements have been made for
the marches. - ECN Tues 29/09/98 Appear
@ NP LEADER LASHES OUT AT MPLs
BISHO (ECN) - NP legislature leader Anne Nash has lashed out
MPLs who fail to attend essential standing committee meetings.
A visibly angry Nash told ECN there was no quorum at a Corporate
Services standing committee yesterday (subs: Tues) because only
chairman Gloria Barry and herself arrived for the meeting.
Twelve officials from the Corporate Services Department - which
is part of the Premier's Office - waited in vain for MPLs to
arrive. Barry eventually had to postpone the meeting to another
date. The committee was today meant to conduct a financial oversigto
he department for the period April to August 1998.
Other members of the committee include Zingisa Goduka, Deputy
The The 1998 legislature directory lists the committee membetrs as
speaker Max Madlingozi, Mkangeli Matomela, Sylvia Mdutyana, Nomhle
Mahlawe, Wilton Mkwayi and Mlungisi Ndamase.
Nash said a search was conducted for the other committee members
without any luck.
Referring to MPLs in the legislature, she said: "Everyone wants
a job in the government or the legislature, but once they've got the
job they don't want to do the work."
"The wheels have been coming off the legislature in the last
year." Nash also highlighted the fact that the MPLs conducted
oversights over government departments, but there was "no one" to
oversee the work of MPLs. - ECN Tues 29/09/98 Account
@ HUNDREDS OF E CAPE GOVERNMENT CARS ABUSED
BISHO (ECN) - Six hundred and sixty-five Eastern Cape government
vehicles have been abused by officials in the period April to
September 1998.
This was revealed by provincial Transport permanent secretary Dr
Vanguard Nkosana in a Transport standing committee meeting today. Dr
Nkosana told the committee that seven of these vehicles belonged to
Transport.
Committee chairman Litho Suka told ECN afterwards that some of
the cases of abuse related to officials not having valid driving
licences, while others did not have trip authority cards or permits.
Dr Nkosana said the department would take disciplinary action
against those officials who abused vehicles. - ECN Tues 29/09/98 Car
@ MPUMALANGA-STANDERTON
NELSPRUIT September 29 1998 Sapa
A COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINS AGAINST STANDERTON
A committee would be appointed to investigate complaints of a
lack of action by the Standerton town council, Mpumalanga housing
MEC Graig Padayachee said in Nelspruit on Tuesday.
Standerton residents on Monday in a memorandum accused the
councillors of doing nothing for development since local government
elections in 1995.
They gave the provincial administration 48 hours to institute a
commission of inquiry, threatening to secede from the province and
join Gauteng.
Over 100 demonstrators drove 400km from Standerton to premier
Mathews Phosa's office in Nelspruit to deliver the warning.
Padayachee on Tuesday said commissions of inquiry were too
expensive and could not be initiated without substantial evidence.
He said the committee to be appointed would investigate housing
developments and the awarding of tenders. He also appealed to the
Sakhile community to produce any evidence of maladministration.
A department head would visit the town on Wednesday.
"It is surprising that while we are in a process of
investigating all sorts of allegations, we are pressurised by
memorandums that have no clear evidence of accusations," he said.
Referring to the financial status of Standerton, Padayachee
said people who may be receiving summons were those who had not
responded to council calls for service payments.
"No council can survive and deliver services without the
financial support of its community. Those who cannot afford to pay
should always be responsible to communicate with their councillors"
he said.
Standerton is one of the towns that received instructions to
shape up their finances from Padayachee.
@ ELECTION-ERMELO
JOHANNESBURG September 29 1998 Sapa
FREEDOM FRONT AND ANC FIGHT ERMELO MUNICIPAL BY-ELECTION
The Freedom Front and the African National Congress will face
each other in a municipal by-election in Ermelo in Mpumalanga on
Wednesday, FF chairman Dr Pieter Mulder said in statement on
Tuesday.
e van der Walt is the candidate for the FF while Faizel
Jassat is the ANC's candidate.
The previous by-election in the ward was won by the National
Party, but the candidate for the NP decided to vacate his position.
The NP will not contest the election.
The by-election will take place in Ermelo's ward 11, which
consists mainly of the electorate in the Indian suburb of Cassim
Park. Voting will take place in the Cassim Park hall between 7am
and 10pm.
According to Mulder anything could happen. "The FF recently
managed to win against the ANC in a similar by-election at
Standerton."
He said the party recently successfully contested a by-election
against the NP in Akasia in Pretoria.
@ NP-MBEKI
CAPE TOWN September 29 1998 Sapa
MBEKI'S ECONOMIC RENAISSANCE OUTDATED: NP
The African National Congress' hostility towards a market
economy was outdated, National Party leader Marthinus van Schalkwyk
said in a statement on Tuesday.
He said Deputy President Thabo Mbeki's statement on Monday that
the notion of the market as "the modern god" had to be challenged,
and that intervention had its place was a step back from the
positive position Mbeki had taken on the economy in recent months.
"It seems as if he has had difficulties in taking the
ANC/SACP/Cosatu alliance along with him and that he has now decided
to appease the socialist elements in his alliance," Van Schalkwyk
said.
"This will not contribute to confidence in the economic
management of South Africa."
Van Schalkwyk said the "modern god" statement fell in the same
category as Finance Minister Trevor Manuel's remark some time ago
one ANC's hostility toward a market economy is outdated," he
said. "The unqualified call for intervention is ill-considered at a
time when there is dropping levels of confidence in the ability of
the ANC to manage the SA economy."
Instead of complaining, Mbeki should display real leadership
and get South Africa's macro-economic growth plan, Gear, on track.
@ MPUMALANGA-DISABLED
NELSPRUIT September 29 1998 Sapa
PHOSA LAUNCHES DISABILITY FUND
Mpumalanga premier Mathews Phosa, who is recovering from a car
crash, on Tuesday launched a special fund in his name for the
economic empowerment of disabled people in the province.
In a speech prepared for delivery at a function at Greenway
Woods near White River, Phosa said he was launching the Mathews
Phosa Development Fund for Persons with Disabilities because the
constitution was ignoring the plight of disabled people and because
of personal experience with disability following his accident.
The first project would be to raise funds for the establishment
of Nantithuba, a project to focus on the emerging enterprises and
self-employment of disabled people and their employment equity.
Phosa also announced that he had agreed to become the patron of
four organisations for the disabled in Mpumalanga - Disabled
People of South Africa, Disabled Children Action Group, the Deaf
Federation of South Africa and the Mpumalanga Council for the
Blind.
He called for better access for the disabled to public places
and said a strategy was being prepared by provincial education
authorities to would allow disabled children of school-going age to
enter school.
@ DRCONGO-CHAD
N'DJAMENA, Chad September 29 1998 Sapa-DPA
CHAD BECOMES LATEST COUNTRY TO INTERVENE IN CONFLICT IN CONGO
The central African country of Chad
Tuesday confirmed that it has sent troops to the Democratic Republic
of Congo to support the government of President Laurent Kabila in its
fight against the rebels.
Chad said it had sent about 1,000 soldiers to the war-torn country
where troops from Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe are already fighting
alongside Kabila's forces.
According to Congolese rebels, more than 2,000 Chad soldiers were
flown to the country on board Libyan military planes.
Chad would extend "unconditional and comprehensive" assistance to
Kabila in his fight to crush the "aggression from outside",
government spokesman Sekimbaye Bassane said in N'Djamena.
Kabila has accused both Uganda and Rwanda of backing rebels who
recently launched a bid to oust him from the eastern part of Congo,
formerly known as Zaire.
Uganda has admitted stationing three battalions in the east of the
Congo to fight anti-Uganda rebels it claims are being supported by
the Kabila government.
The Kabila government meanwhile announced that its troops, backed
by allied forces, would launch "a comprehensive offensive against the
aggressors" in the east of the country.
Both Uganda and Rwanda have denied the charges, but conceded that
they back the anti-government rebel alliance.
The rebels, which have been fighting the Kabila government since
the start of August, control large parts of the east of the third
largest African country.
Angolan, Namibian and Zimbabwean troops have however forced them
to retreat from the region around the capital Kinshasa.
Rwanda meanwhile charged that a large number of ex-soldiers of the
now ousted Rwandan Hutu government, who in 1994 participated in the
slaughtering of more than half a million ethnic Tutsis in Rwanda
before fleeing to Congo, had been recruited by Kabila.
The Hutu units were under the command of General Augustin
Bizimungu, who as former commander of the old Rwandan Hutu-dominated
army led the massacre against the Tutsis, the Rwandan news agency RNA
reported in Kigali.
Congolese rebels said Sudan had also flown several thousand
soldiers to the DRC with the help of Libyan air force planes to
participate in the planned offensive. Sudan and Kongo denied this.
Ugandan newspaper reports meanwhile said a plane carrying high-
ranking Ugandan military officers disappeared last Friday while on
its way to the Congo amid fears it might have been shot down.
The chartered Cessna aircraft has not been heard from since it
left Uganda's Entebbe airport September 25 for the town of Bunia,
held by rebels fighting the Kabila government.
Among those on board was Colonel Jet Mwebaze, a military adviser
to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, according to the independent
newspaper The Monitor.
Ugandan military circles believe the plane could have crashed into
the jungle or was shot down by troops loyal to Kabila, the newspaper
reported.
@ STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO OPPOSITION PARTIES
Issued by: African National Congress
Proposals by opposition parties on the resolution of the current
political crisis in Lesotho are reflective of the severity of their
ignorance and confusion regarding the situation in Lesotho and
initiatives of the SADC aimed at finding a peaceful negotiated
settlement.
Both the National Party and the UDM claim that the SADC's
intervention in Lesotho undermines the country's sovereignty but at
the same time they propose solutions which would in fact constitute
an imposition to the people of Lesotho.
It would also appear from the remarks of the opposition parties
that they only became interested in the problems of Lesotho when the
SADC decided to send troops to stabilise the security situation.
They either conveniently forgot or are ignorant of the SADC's
initiatives, which include the appointment of the Langa Commission.
They also want to create an incorrect impression that the SADC wants
to apply a military strategy to solve a political problem.
The ANC reiterates the view that the people of lesotho
themselves can and must solve their political problems. The ANC
respects the sovereignty of Lesotho and does not view the SADC's
military intervention as an invasion of Lesotho or as undermining
its sovereignty.
The ANC remains convinced that the political leadership of
Lesotho will rise to the occasion and put the interest of the people
of Lesotho first above party political interests with the view of
taking the country out of the current political impasse.
For more information contact Thabo Masebe at 082 575 3978
Issued by Department of Information and Publicity
P.O. Box 61884
Marshalltown
@ EASTCAPE-SPENDING
EAST LONDON September 29 1998 Sapa
BISHO GOVERNMENT SPENDING MONEY ILLEGALLY: DP
The Bisho government was spending money illegally because
premier Makhenkesi Stofile's office had failed to have the 1998/99
Appropriation Act, which authorises government expenditure,
published in the Government Gazette, Eastern Cape Democratic Party
leader Eddie Trent said on Tuesday.
Trent said if Stofile was an honourable man he would resign.
Confirming that the Act was not gazetted, finance MEC Enoch
Godongwana said the premier's office was responsible for the
publication of all primary legislation.
"It appears that there was an oversight in the process within
the premier's office. An instruction has been given to publish all
outstanding Acts," Godongwana said in a written reply to a question
asked in the legislature by Trent earlier.
Reacting to Godongwana's reply, Trent said Stofile's often
quoted promise of an efficient administration had to be seriously
questioned.
Trent accused the government of failing to have the Act
published and of spending billions of rands of taxpayer's money
illegally.
"While on the one hand the finance committee is attempting to
crack down on accounting officials who are guilty of incurring
unauthorised expenditure, the premier's oversight in this matter
pronounces him guilty of effectively rendering his entire budget to
be unauthorised," said Trent.
He said it was clear Stofile would not bring about an efficient
and accountable administration.
"The ANC in this province has betrayed the people who voted for
it in 1994 and has added insult to the injury of apartheid - a
corrupt, bloated and grossly inefficient administration," he said.
Godongwana said failure to have the Act published delayed it
taking effect until such time as it was published. "Such action is
not consistent with constitutional requirements," he said.
Trent said by not complying to the laws government opened the
way for corruption. "Why bother to have these laws and
regulations?"
Godongwana also admitted that the Interim Appropriation and
Second Adjustment Appropriation Bills had not been published in the
Government Gazette.
He further confirmed that the Bisho government owed the
national government printer R11,5 million. He said R6 million of
this amount was owed to the government printer in Pretoria while
the balance was owed to the government printer in Umtata.
Government printer Mesuli Dondolo said he was not in a position
to comment. Questions would have to be faxed to him as he would
have to consult other departments as well.
Dondolo said the Umtata office also resorted under his control.
@ LABOUR-NUMSA
JOHANNESBURG September 29 1998 Sapa
NUMSA, SAMIEA RESUME TALKS AS MONTH-LONG STRIKE CONTINUES
The National Union of Metalworkers of SA and the SA Motor
Industry Employers' Association were locked in talks until late on
Tuesday evening in an all-out effort to resolve their month-long
wage dispute.
Numsa spokesman Dumisa Ntuli said if agreement was not reached
by Tuesday night the talks would continue on Wednesday.
It was urgent for the two parties to reach an agreement as the
strike was costing about R150 million a day, he said.
The talks are being conducted through the Commission for
Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration.
About 50,000 Numsa members in the motor industry have been on
strike since September 1, affecting petrol stations, panelbeating
shops, spare parts firms and car component manufacturers.
@ MEDIA RELEASE ON THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN YOUTH FORUM
Issued by: African National Congress
The ANC Youth League will be hosting a Conference of the
Southern African Youth Forum on October 2nd to 4th, 1998, at the
Elija Barayi Training Centre in Yeoville, Johannesburg.
The Conference will discuss the concept of African Renaissance
and the role of young people in the initiative. The meeting will
also discuss Globalisation, Democracy and Good Governance, Education
for sustainable development in Africa.
The President of the ANC, Thabo Mbeki will deliver an opening
address at the conference on Friday 2nd October 1998.
Organisations that will be attending are: SWAPO Youth League
(Namibia); ZANU PF Youth (Zimbabwe): SWAYOCO (Swaziland); JMPLA
(Angola); UNIP Youth (Zambia); BNF Youth (Botswana); SPPF Youth
(Seychelles); CCM (Tanzania); FRELIMO Youth (Mozambique); SASCO;
COSAS; YCS; SUCA; SASPU; NANSO other organisations still to confirm
their attendance are Madagascar, UDF of Malawi; Mauritius and
Lesotho.
ISSUED BY : ANC YOUTH LEAGUE
8th FLOOR CHIEF ALBERT LUTHULI HOUSE
51 PLEIN STREET
JOHANNESBURG
CONTACT : JOE MASWANGANYI / MALUSI GIGABA
083 627 2552 082 572 7306
@ LESOTHO-MODISE
JOHANNESBURG September 29 1998 Sapa
MODISE DENIES RUMOURS OF MORE SA SOLDIERS KILLED IN LESOTHO
Defence Minister Joe Modise on Tuesday denied allegations by
United Democratic Movement deputy president Roelf Meyer that the SA
National Defence Force was lying about the number of South African
troops killed in Lesotho.
Modise in a statement said Meyer, as a former defence minister,
should know it was extremely difficult to deviate from the truth
when it came to announcing the deaths of soldiers.
Meyer was quoted in an English daily on Tuesday as saying more
South African troops had died during the invasion into Lesotho than
was admitted by the SANDF.
Meyer, after returning from a meeting at Ladybrand over the
weekend, said Lesotho opposition leaders, businessmen and
representatives of King Letsie III were adamant that more South
African soldiers had been killed.
One businessman allegedly told him he saw 17 dead South African
soldiers at the start of the fighting, Meyer was quoted as saying.
Modise on Tuesday said one could not stop grieving families in
a democracy from publishing death notices in the papers, and
therefore it would be impossible to suppress the figures of
soldiers killed.
"That was the case in his time, when the National Party tried
and failed to suppress news of SADF border deaths - and it is even
more so now that the press is truly free for the first time,"
Modise said.
He said three press statements revealing the names of eight
soldiers killed in action were released during the Southern African
Development Community operation.
The name of the ninth soldier killed was released on Tuesday.
"It is disgraceful that Roelf Meyer should try to cheapen the
honourable deaths of nine South African soldiers for the sake of
some petty political agenda of his own," Modise said.
In reaction to Modise's statement, Meyer on Tuesday night told
Sapa the unprofessional handling of the invasion by the SANDF had
created grounds for such speculation.
"I never stated it as a fact that more soldiers had died. This
was the allegation that was being made by the people in Lesotho.
"The people who made these allegations were convincing. The
fact of the matter is that a lot of unconfirmed information still
exists around the whole invasion and as long as the SANDF continues
to act clumsy in this regard, these rumours will persist.
"The SANDF brought about their own disfavour with the public
because of the unprofessional way they dealt with the invasion."
@ LESOTHO-ANC
JOHANNESBURG September 29 1998 Sapa
SA OPPOSITION PARTY PROPOSALS ON LESOTHO ARE IGNORANT: ANC
Proposals by opposition parties on the resolution of the crisis
in Lesotho reflected ignorance and confusion, the African National
Congress said on Tuesday.
"Both the National Party and the UDM (United Democratic
Movement) claim that the SADC's (Southern African Development
Community) intervention in Lesotho undermines the country's
sovereignty, but at the same time they propose solutions which
would in fact constitute an imposition to the people of Lesotho,"
spokesman Thabo Masebe told Sapa.
"Both the National Party and the United Democratic Movement
have proposed that the solution would be for Lesotho to hold fresh
elections, but that proposal should come from the Lesotho people
themselves," he said.
Masebe was responding to statements on Monday by NP leader
Marthinus van Schalkwyk and UDM deputy president Roelf Meyer.
Van Schalkwyk said Lesotho should acknowledge an inability to
govern and should hold new elections as soon as possible.
Meyer said the invasion was unnecessary and took place before
all available democratic efforts at attaining a peaceful solution
had been tested.
Masebe said it appeared as if the opposition parties only
became interested in the problems of Lesotho when the SADC decided
to send troops to stabilise the security situation.
"They either conveniently forgot or are ignorant of the SADC's
initiatives, which include the appointment of the Langa Commission,
and they also want to create an incorrect impression that the SADC
wants to apply a military strategy to solve a political problem."
He said the ANC reiterated the view that the people of Lesotho
could and would have to find solutions to their own problems.
"The ANC respects the sovereignty of Lesotho and does not view
the SADC's military intervention as an invasion of Lesotho or as
undermining its sovereignty."
UDM leader Bantu Holomisa on Tuesday afternoon called for a
judicial commission of inquiry into the military incursion in the
mountain kingdom, and warned that South African taxpayers could be
made to foot the bill for the damage without being told about it.
He described Deputy President Thabo Mbeki's response to
criticism of South Africa's role in the Lesotho crisis as "out of
line and arrogant".
@ COURT-NORTHPROV
PRETORIA September 29 1998 Sapa
HIGH COURT RULES N PROV EDUC DEPT MUST PAY R17 MILLION
The Northern Province's cash-strapped education department was
on Tuesday ordered by the Pretoria High Court to pay about R17
million to three computer suppliers for 1600 computers delivered
over two years ago.
Judge SW McCreath ordered the department to pay about R4,1
million each to computer equipment suppliers Advanced Business
Systems, Telcotec and Mago Business Systems, interest on the
amounts dating back to April and July 1996, as well as legal costs.
He ruled there had been a valid contract between the suppliers
and the department and that, by implication, there had been proper
delegation by the provincial tender board to certain officials to
conclude contracts for the equipment.
The judge said the suppliers had been given the impression that
the officials who gave them the contract had the authority to do
so.
But the department claimed junior officials had concluded the
contracts for "finishing schools" without the necessary authority
and that proper tender procedures had not been followed.
The suppliers claimed there was a valid contract which the
department was trying to get out of as a result of a "policy
decision".
They said the director-general of the Northern Province
administration, John Malatje, ratified the contracts and undertook
to pay them.
The computers were delivered to "finishing schools" in the
province in 1996, some of which had no electricity and were "under
trees", the suppliers said.
The province's former education MEC, Aaron Motsoaledi, however,
claimed he knew nothing about the purchase and the department had
not budgeted for it.
He immediately ordered an investigation. Several of the
department's top officials, although acquitted of any wrongdoing by
a tribunal, were suspended for two years before they were
reinstated. Motsoaledi was sacked but was recently appointed as the
provincial transport MEC.
McCreath said it was clear the real reason for the internal
disciplinary inquiry was that a large supplier, who had in the past
donated free computers to the department, felt aggrieved because it
had not been given an opportunity to tender.
He accepted the plaintiffs' evidence that they had acted on the
reliance that the representations made to them were correct.
It had been their understanding that the contract, which they
were told was urgent, would be valid once official order forms had
been issued - which was done.
They also acted on the grounds of previous dealings with the
department under a general exemption of the tender board, which
dispensed with the need for advertised tenders or three quotations.
McCreath said it was clear that this general exemption had been
used not only for small acquisitions but for the acquisition of a
whole range of items.
In the present case the secretary of the tender board had
indicated that the general exemption would apply.
Evidence before the court showed that a "haphazard" procedure
was followed by the Northern Province government for procurements,
and proper tender procedures were not always followed.
Large orders were sometimes placed over the telephone and one
supplier even got a contract after the date for tenders had already
been closed.
@ LESOTHO-CALM
MASERU September 29 1998 Sapa
LESOTHO FAST RETURNING TO NORMAL
Lesotho's razed capital Maseru on Tuesday appeared to be
returning to normal with no incidents of violence being reported by
police or government.
Magistrates' courts across the country on Tuesday began hearing
cases against people accused of last week's rampant arson and
looting.
Lesotho police commissioner Bolutu Makoaba told Sapa more and
more people were being arrested as ordinary citizens were now
starting to co-operate with police in identifying perpetrators.
Maseru streets were full as hundreds of people came to the
capital to do banking and survey the damage. Maseru's banks and
post office were untouched by the looters.
Government offices - reopened on Monday - were busy as more
public servants returned to work. Opposition party supporters
forced the closure of government offices in the weeks before the
Southern African Development Community intervention last Tuesday.
Cross-border movement increased as Basothos crossed to
neighbouring South Africa to buy supplies.
Meawhile, opposition parties and the government continued to
prepared for Friday's meeting, called to find a way to solve the
country's politcal impasse.
Deputy President Thabo Mbeki's spokesman, Ronnie Mamoepa, told
Sapa the talks would be held at the United Nations' offices in
Maseru.
Mamoepa said the resumption of talks followed behind the scenes
contact between the Southern African Development Community
delegation with Lesotho Congress for Democracy leaders and the
opposition parties.
@ AWARDING OF ANC ELECTIONS COMMUNICATIONS CONTRACT
Issued by: African National Congress
The African National Congress has awarded the contract for its
1999 general election communication campaign to a joint venture
agency consisting of Azaguys Mentjies Parker and TBWA Hunt Lascaris
agencies.
This follows a thorough and competitive process during which a
number of agencies were given the opportunity to present proposals.
The Azaguys Mentjies Parker and TWBA Hunt Lascaris joint venture was
found to be the best in terms of the ANC needs.
Azaguys Mentjies Parker and TBWA Hunt Lascaris will work with
the ANC with immediate effect until the elections in 1999.
For more information contact Robbie Mopp at 337 2621 or Thabo Masebe
at 082 575 3978.
Issued by Departement of Information and Publicity
P.O. Box 61884
Marshalltown
2107
@ ANC-CONTRACT
JOHANNESBURG September 29 1998 Sapa
ANC AWARDS COMMUNICATION CONTRACT TO JOINT VENTURE AGENCY
The African National Congress on Tuesday awarded the contract
for its 1999 general election communication campaign to a joint
venture agency consisting of Azaguys Meintjies Parker and TBWA Hunt
Lascaris advertising agencies.
In a statement released in Johannesburg on Tuesday night ANC
spokesman Thabo Masebe said the decision followed a thorough and
competitive process during which a number of agencies were given
the opportunity to present proposals.
"The Azaguys Meintjies Parker and TWBA Hunt Lascaris joint
venture was found to be the best in terms of the ANC's needs,"
Masebe said.
Azaguys Meintjies Parker and TBWA Hunt Lascaris will work with
the ANC with immediate effect until the election in 1999.
@ BOESAK-DELILLE
CAPE TOWN September 29 1998 Sapa
MANDELA INVOLVED IN BOESAK CASE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS: DE LILLE
President Nelson Mandela was setting a potentially dangerous
precedent in raising funds for cleric Alan Boesak's legal fees, Pan
Africanist Congress spokeswoman Patricia de Lille told SABC TV news
on Tuesday.
De Lille was responding to criticism from the Democratic Party
and the National Party, who said Mandela's personal involvement in
raising money for the cash-strapped former anti-apartheid
activist's defence on fraud charges compromised the president's
constitutional role in terms of his right to pardon criminals.
Boesak stands accused of misappropriating R1,1 million of
foreign donor funding.
De Lille said Mandela, as head of state, was setting a
dangerous precedent as he was "setting out to raise funds for
someone alleged to be involved in criminal activities and fraud".
She said should Mandela be involved in raising funds for Boesak
in his capacity as a member of the African National Congress he was
"entitled to raise funds for who ever he pleased".
NP justice spokeswoman Sheila Camerer said this was an incident
in which Mandela could not separate his private from his public
persona.
Camerer said the signal given by such a publicised act was
questionable, particularly against the background of the current
levels of crime and corruption in the country.
Speaking at Genadendal after talks with King Letsie III,
Mandela said he and Boesak's other friends would do everything in
their power to ensure Boesak had the necessary resources to defend
himself in court.
Mandela said he hoped the news that he had helped raise funds
for Boesak's defence would not prejudice the cleric's further
application to the Legal Aid Board.
Reports that Boesak had received donor funding had once before
prompted the board to withdraw its financial support and he did not
want this to happen again.
+-----------------------------------------------------------+
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| Dept Information & Publicity |
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A N C D A I L Y N E W S B R I E F I N G
THURSDAY 1 OCTOBER 1998
PLEASE NOTE: This News Briefing is a compilation of items from South
African press agencies and as such does not reflect the views of the
ANC. It is for reading and information only, and strictly not for
publication or broadcast.
To unsubscribe from the ANC Daily News Briefing mailing list send a
message to 'list...@wn.apc.org'. In the body of your message put
'unsubscribe ancnews'.
@ CONFERENCE ON CULTURE IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS)
The World Bank convened an historic conference on Culture in
Sustainable Development in Washington DC on September 28, 1998. The
various bodies represented at the conference include amongst others
UNESCO, the Inter America Development Bank, Universities, the World
Tourist Organisation and the United Nations Development Program.
Ms Mabandla, Deputy Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and
Technology, Representing South Africa at the conference, today said
that she was encouraged by the World Bank's attempt to address to
economic opportunities and requirements to promote investments in
culture and heritage. Noting that the deliberations included
attention to the questions of equity, social inclusion and
opportunities to redress conditions of poverty through cultural
industry. Ms Mabandla said today that the Bank's increasing
recognition of the economic import of culture in developing
countries is commendable.
Participating in an Africa Roundtable, Ms Mabandla outlined the
DACST's developmental programs. She discussed the development
efforts to promote cultural industry. The development of new
monuments and museums through the Legacy Project, and DACST's
contribution to the Sustainable Development Initiative through the
development of crafts, cultural and heritage tourism.
Ms Mabandla's paper was enthusiastically received by conference
delegates and the World Bank expressed interest in support South
Africa's cultural programs.
Ms Mabandla will launch South Africa's cultural Industries
Growth Strategy (CIGS) later this year. CIGS is the first
comprehensive strategy for the promotion of the craft, music, film
and publishing industries in South Africa. It is based on extensive
research which points to the enormous employment and wealth creating
potential of these industries in South Africa.
Ms Mabandla's paper will be available at a later stage, from the
department.
For further information please contact Andile Xaba at 012 337-8313.
@ PARTNERSHIP AGAINST AIDS MANDELA ADDRESS TO NATION
Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS)
The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Aids met in Pretoria
yesterday and has issued a call to all those who attended Deputy
President Thabo Mbeki's September 11 Briefing on Aids to double
their efforts to ensure that all South Africans maximise their
commitment to fight this deadly disease.
Intensive preparations are underway for President Nelson
Mandela's Address to the Nation on October 9 at 12 noon. On that
day, for 10 minutes, all South Africans are called upon to stop
whatever they may be doing, switch on a radio or television set, and
listen. Organisations are also called upon to find creative ways of
mobilising their members/staff to, on that day, rededicate
themselves to fight against the spread of Aids wherever possible.
In order to consolidate the Partnership Against Aids,
representatives of business, labour, youth, women, non-governmental
and community-based organisations, the religious, sports and
entertainment sectors will gather together in sectorial briefings
later this week to identify practical commitments they could make to
fight against Aids.
Invest 10 minutes for the life of the nation on October 9!
For further information, please contact the following people:
Aids information/guidance as to what your organisation could do on
October 9: Karen Bulsara: 0834506137
Media enquiries or arrangements for live feed on October 9 (GCIS):
Faizal Dawjee (012) 3142133 or 0828958714
Portia Maurice-Mopp (012) 3142108 or 0825754132
Information about sectorial briefings (Department of Health):
Rose Smart 0825781515
@ INFLATION:PPI
JOHANNESBURG September 30 1998 Sapa
AUG PPI RISES TO 4,5 PERCENT
The country's annualised production price index rose 4,5
percent in August - 0,8 percent higher than the July increase,
Statistics South Africa said on Wednesday.
The annual rate of increase in the PPI for locally produced
goods for the month was four percent, which was 0,5 percent higher
than the July figure.
The annualised PPI for imported commodities increased 6,7
percent, mainly due to the monthly increase of 0,4 percent.
@ LESOTHO-TALKS
PRETORIA September 30 1998 Sapa
RIVAL LESOTHO PARTIES CLOSER TO SETTLEMENT: MUFAMADI
Rival political parties in Lesotho were poised to move closer
to a settlement when they meet in Maseru on Friday, Safety and
Security Minister Sydney Mufamadi said on Wednesday.
He told reporters in Pretoria that talks behind the scenes had
secured sufficient common ground for the parties to find each
other.
"We are optimistic that a basis has been laid for the Friday
meeting to extricate Lesotho out of the current impasse."
Mufamadi heads a team of Southern African Development Community
mediators trying to broker an agreement between the ruling Lesotho
Congress Party and an alliance of opposition parties.
The two camps have been at odds over perceived irregularities
in Lesotho's May 23 general election. Rising unrest over the issue
last week prompted a SADC military task force from South Africa and
Botswana to intervene in the kingdom.
progress towards a negotiated
settlement had been made since the last formal meeting between the
SADC team and the rival camps.
At that occasion they put forward what he described as
competing proposals in reaction to the Langa Commission findings on
the May 23 election.
"Behind-the-scenes consultations by the extended SADC trioka
were crowned with success, hence the meeting scheduled for Friday,"
Mufamadi said.
"The contact we maintained with the parties helped to take the
search for a negotiated solution to reassuringels of optimism."
The Langa Commission, set up by the SADC to probe allegations
that the poll was rigged, expressed concern about apparent election
irregularities but was unable to conclude that the election was
invalid.
Mufamadi said the Lesotho parties would on Friday consider how
these findings should be dealt with.
They would also discuss the contribution each party could make
to helpd how the reconstruction of
the country should be tackled.
All the parties agreed that stability was imperative in order
for Lesotho's problems to addressed, Mufamadi said.
Asked about reports that the Lesotho government was not
prepared to discuss the opposition's demands for a government of
national unity, Mufamadi said: "We were not informed that anybody
is coming there with preconditions."
He said King Letsie III would not be taking part in Friday's
talks, although the monarch would be kept informed of the process.
Mufamadi reiterated that SADC forces were not liable for damage
caused during last week's unrest, but said it was unlikely that the
region would turn its back on Lesotho's problems.
"Lesotho is a SADC member, and SADC feels that it has a role to
play in solving that country's problems."
Mufamadi said the SADC's intervention had already achieved
much. The Lesotho people were themselves helping to clean up
Maseru, and relations between them and SADC troops were improving.
"(But) I don't think at this stage we can say that everything
has gone back to normal in Lesotho," he said.
@ LABOUR-NUM
JOHANNESBURG September 30 1998 Sapa
NUM MEMBERS LOCKED OUT AT IMPALA PLATINUM HOURS BEFORE STRIKE
Impala Platinum at Springs on Wednesday locked out Nnal
Union of Mineworkers members hours before a legal strike, and the
union said the move was provocative.
NUM spokesman George Molebatsi told Sapa Implats was well aware
that the strike was protected, and strikers would stage a
demonstration.
Implats in a statement on Wednesday said it tried to get
commitment from the union for its members to abide by an agreement
signed in April on behaviour during protected strikes.
No response was received from the union by Tuesday evening, and
Implats told about 400 NUM members not to report for duty on
Wednesday, but they would be paid until the strike began at 1pm.
The strike would affect Implats only at Springs, the company
said.
Molebatsi said the lock-out showed that Implats was not
co-operative. "Things might go a little bit bad because the
management is showing signs of aggression."
If an agreement was struck between the two parties the strike
would be called off immediately, Molebatsi said.
The strike is over wages and follows attempts to settle the
dispute at the Commission for Conciliation, Arbitration and
Mediation. The union is demanding 9,9 percent and Implats is
offering 8 percent.
@ PROSPERITY-COSATU
JOHANNESBURG September 30 1998 Sapa
COSATU INVESTS IN PROSPERITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Prosperity Insurance Company Limited, the first black-owned
life insurance company licensed in South Africa by the Financial
Services Board in 1951, has formed a strategic alliance with Kopano
Ke Matla, the investment arm of the Congress of South African Trade
Unions.
Kopano Ke Matla has acquired a 50 percent shareholding in
Prosperity Insurance Company.
Prosperity said in a statement Wednesday it would preserve its
corporate independence and identity, but would style products for
COSATU's 2-million members, empowering them to determine product
and price, and provide input to develop products for the changing
needs of blue collar workers.
Agrippa Mayaba, chairman of Prosperity Insurance Company says:
"Prosperity has emerged successfully from its extended period of
isolation and entered a most exciting growth phase. The company
sustained and empowered itself during the apartheid era when it was
restricted to trading in Transkei. Since our readmission to trade
throughout South Africa, we have successfully transformed the
company, making it a suitable partner for South Africa's trade
union giant, COSATU."
Kopano's CEO Tumelo Motsisi says: "Prosperity is a credible,
financially sound, authentic black-owned financial services
company, ideally suited to provide insura to our trade union
membership. The political climate which created problems for it
under the apartheid regime, has given it an influence
disproportionate to its present size. Prosperity's history has been
difficult, yet they have empowered themselves and are eager to
develop new business relationships and increase distribution
channels."
The statement said the synergy between Prosperity and Kopano
would enhance both companies' social and empowerment initiatives.
@ GANGS
CAPE TOWN September 30 1998 Sapa
JUSTICE COMMITTEES HEAR EVIDENCE ON ANTI-GANGS BILL
Communities needed to be sent a clear message that peer
pressure and socio-economic reasons were no justification for
joining a criminal gang, Parliament's justice committees were told
on Wednesday.
The National Council of Provinces' select committee on security
and justice, and the National Assembly's portfolio committee on
justice, were hearing submissions on the Prevention of Organised
Crime Bill.
Western Cape Anti-Crime Forum member Gaynor Wasser said,
further, that a system was needed which would allow witnesses to
ve evidence on gangs.
There also had to be a balance between the rights of victims
and criminals.
Her colleague, John Cloete, said some sort of community service
should be considered for convicted gangsters.
Portfolio committee chairman Johnny de Lange (ANC) said the
bill pulled together matters dealing with gangsters and syndicates
into one piece of legislation; to his knowledge the first time this
was being done in the world.
But there was a misconception that gang membership itself was
being criminalised.
It was the way the gangs operated that was being targeted, De
Lange said.
The Banking Council of South Africa said it welcomed the bill,
which reinforced the maxim that "crime does not pay".
Given the bill's focus on organised crime and gang activities,
summonses should be served on alleged gangsters by policemen rather
than by messengers of the court.
Chairman of the select committee Mohseen Moosa said the scourge
of crime on the Cape Flats needed to be dealt with.
He asked that organisations such as the Anti-Crime Forum focus
on practical ways of implementing the bill, prior to formal
consideration of the measure by the justice committees on October
15.
@ FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS OF THE LATE MEC NDEBELE'S AIDES
Issued by: African National Congress
The ANC is saddened to announce the funeral arrangements of the
two cadres of our movement, Constable Sthembiso Khawula and Bongani
Makhas'omdloti Ntsele, aides of Sbu Ndebele, ANC KwaZulu-Natal
Provincial Chairperson and MEC for Transport. These cadres were
killed in a car crash at Ashburton near Pietermarizburg last Monday.
Another aide, Thapelo Nteshane who was injured in the crash has
been discharged from hospital.
A joint funeral service will be held on Sunday, 04 October 1998
at Durban Light Infantry (DLI) next to Greyville Race course, Durban
starting at 09h00. The body of the late Bongani Ntsele will be laid
to rest at Redhill Cemetery and Sthembiso Khawula at Wentworth
Cemetery.
Both Ntsele and Khawula served in the liberation movement with
distinction. Ntsele, former MK cadre and ex-Robben Islander was
deployed as an organiser in the trade union movement namely FAWU
then to SACCAWU after his release from Robben Island in the 80's.
Khawula was an active member of COSAS and Umlazi Youth League
(UMYOLE) in the 80's and later joined the ranks of Umkhonto we Sizwe.
In 1994, he was integrated into the SAPS VIP Protection Unit.
The ANC dips its revolutionary banner in memory of our fallen
freedom fighters who died in pursuit of struggle to transform our
country towards attaining a Better Life for All.
The ANC sends its heartfelt condolences to the families,
relatives, friends, to its provincial leader and MEC for Transport,
Sbu Ndebele and the colleagues of the deceased and the injured aide.
Issued by: ANC KwaZulu-Natal Department of Information and
Publicity
30 September 1998
Contact Mlungisi Ndhlela, ANC Provincial Media Officer at 082
5519 184
@ LESOTHO-DP
CAPE TOWN September 30 1998 Sapa
DON'T LET MUFAMADI LOOSE ON LESOTHO: DP
Safety and Security Minister Sydney Mufamadi should not be
allowed to carry on "like a bull in a china shop" in the coming
Lesotho negotiations, Democratic Party safety and security
spokesman Douglas Gibson said on Wednesday.
Mufamadi's lack of success at diplomacy was a matter of public
record, as Lesotho lay in ruins, he said in a statement.
Foreign Affairs Minister Alfred Nzo should take Mufamadi's
place in the South African delegation due in Maseru for the start
of talks on Friday.
However, Nzo was "once again apparently not entering the
frame".
In the period leading up to last week's military incursion,
when decisive diplomacy was called for, Nzo had been "nowhere in
sight", and shuttle diplomacy had been handled by Mufamadi, who was
not equipped for such a delicate task.
"If there is to be hope for peace in Lesotho and in the rest of
the Southern African region, we need a constructive and engaging
foreign policy geared to negotiation rather than force," Gibson
said.
@ MONETARY-SA
JOHANNESBURG September 30 1998 Sapa-INet-Bridge
MONEY MKT RATES STABLE AS SARB SIGNALS CAUTION
South African money market rates were stable today as the South
African Reserve Bank (SARB) signalled caution by offering 400
million rand worth of 30-day debentures.
The offer came in the wake of a 25 basis points cut in US
interest rates on Tuesday evening.
The debentures drain liquidity from the money market and
clearly signal that the SARB is not yet ready to allow South
African lending rates, which are at record high levels, to fall.
Outstanding 30-day debentures now total 1 billion rand.
The average rate on the debentures was 21.23% compared with
last week's 21.120%.
The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) offered repos worth 6.7
billion rand compared with the estimated daily liquidity
requirement of 6.8 billion rand.
The SARB has been under-providing the market since late June,
and since early September, the under-provision has consistently
amounted to 100 million rand.
On Friday the estimated daily liquidity requirement dropped
below 7 billion rand for the first time since May 19.
At the beginning of September the estimated daily liquidity
requirement was 11.2 billion rand.
The money market shortage has eased almost 10 billion rand
since late May, when the daily liquidity requirement surged to
16.75 billion rand, raising the chance of a cut in the prime
lending rate after it had been hiked by 40% or 725 basis points
from 18.25% per annum in mid-June to 25.50% per annum in early
September.
The average repo rate fell marginally today-by one thousandth
of a percentage point-to 21.855% from 21.856% on Tuesday.
One dealer said: "Because it is month-end, we did not see a
good response to the debenture tender. The money market today saw
lots of tax payments and cash flowing out."
The SARB indicated notes and coins in circulation 244 million
rand higher at 23.106 billion rand on Tuesday from 22.862 billion
rand on Monday.
The commercial banks quoted 3-month NCDs were steady at
21.35/20.85%.
The 6-month NCD rates were stable in a 21.75/21.20% range.
The 9-month and 12-month NCDs were unchanged at 21.55/21.05%.
The 3-month Bankers' Acceptance rate was unmoved at
20.75/20.55%.
@ AVENTURA
CAPE TOWN September 30 1998 Sapa
AVENTURA PRIVATISATION ON TRACK
The privatisation of state-owned holiday resorts company
Aventura took another step forward on Wednesday when Parliament's
two public enterprises committees unanimously adopted a resolution
approving its sale.
Public Enterprises Minister Stella Sigcau told a joint meeting
of the National Assembly's and National Council of Provinces'
committees that in terms of the Overvaal Resorts Limited Act, the
privatisation process could only go ahead with the concurrence of
the minister of finance and the approval of Parliament.
Finance Minister Trevor Manuel has already agreed, and the
decision of the committees now has to be ratified separately in the
two Houses.
According to the resolution, Sigcau may dispose of 75 percent
of Aventura's share capital to the Congress of South African Trade
Unions' investment arm, Kopano ke Matla, allocate 10 percent to
employees by setting up an employee share trust, and allow the
remaining 15 percent to be acquired by the National Empowerment
Fund.
Kopano ke Matla was one of the final five bidders to be
evaluated and was declared the preferred bidder on May 29 this
year.
Sigcau told the committees that when the privatisation process
had started the department had set certain standards and criteria
for bidders, which had been adhered to throughout, regardless of
who the bidders were.
@ DRCONGO-NP
CAPE TOWN September 30 1998 Sapa
KEEP OUT OF DRC, SAYS NP
The National Party on Wednesday warned the government not to
"repeat the same folly committed in Lesotho" in the Democratic
Republic of Congo.
Referring to media reports that South Africa was planning to
send troops to the DRC, NP foreign affairs spokesman Dr Boy
Geldenhuys said Laurent Kabila was a self-appointed president who
came to power through the barrel of a gun.
"He has little or no political support at grass-roots level and
to try to prop up such a regime is a serious violation of what
democracy stands for," Geldenhuys said in a statement.
@ DRCONGO-UGANDA
KAMPALA September 30 1998 Sapa-AFP
AMIN'S SON COMMANDING UGANDAN REBELS: NEW VISION
The son of Uganda's former dictator Idi Amin is commanding a
unit of Ugandan rebels deployed in the eastern Democratic Republic
of Congo (DRC), the New Vision newspaper claimed here Wednesday.
Quoting DRC rebel sources, the official paper said that Taban
Amin was identified at the weekend by four men who said, after
being arrested by the rebels, that they were under his command in
Kindu, the Kinshasa government's military headquarters in the
region.
The paper named the four arrested men as Mambo Japio, Paulo
Likambo, Tomasai Pasile and Atanasi Nsimileimana.
Nsimileimana is said to have been recruited from Burundi's CNDD
rebel group, while the rest were Ugandan rebels of the West Nile
Bank Front (WNBF).
The WNBF is commanded largely by Amin's former soldiers,
including his former foreign minister, Colonel Juma Oris.
The Ugandan rebels had well-organised bases in government-held
territory in southern Sudan until last year when they were
destroyed in a joint offensive mounted by Ugandan troops and rebels
of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA).
The paper claimed that Taban, who has lived in exile in the DRC
for many years, was a founder-member of the WNBF.
DRC President Laurent Kabila is currently fighting rebels in
the east of his country who, he claims, are backed by Rwanda and
Uganda.
Kabila is aided by troops from Angola, Chad, Namibia and
Zimbabwe.
But Uganda claims that Kabila is also supported by at least
3,500 troops from Sudan, including at least 700 Ugandan rebel
fighters, drawn from a number of Sudanese-backed Ugandan rebel
groups.
Sudan has denied the claims, saying it was giving only
diplomatic support to Kabila.
Idi Amin's reign of terror in Uganda lasted from 1971 to 1979.
@ LABOUR-NUMSA
JOHANNESBURG September 30 1998 Sapa
EMPLOYERS'INTRANSIGENCE IS NOT IN PUBLIC INTEREST: NUMSA
The National Union of Metalworkers of SA would seek independent
arbitration and ask the labour ministry to intervene if Wednesday's
talks with the SA Motor Industry Employers' Association were again
deadlocked, said Numsa spokesman Dumisa Ntuli.
"This is in the public interest... both parties should go to
the CCMA with concessions, and we have made concessions, but the
employers have stayed with their original position."
"It must come out now which party does not want to move," he
said.
On Tuesday talks over a wage dispute between the union and
Samiea resumed through the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation
and Arbitration.
But they broke down when Samiea reneged on an agreement in
principle reached last week in informal talks, Ntuli said.
He said Samiea agreed last week that wages next year would be
increased on actual rates of pay, but on Tuesday retracted the
agreement and returned to their orginal position that increases be
based on minimum rates for the next two years.
The negotiations also stuck on the issue of guaranteed
increases for workers earning above the minimun wage level, he
said.
Responding to Samiea's position that the industry could not
afford increases based on actual pay rates, he said that, in terms
of the Labour Relations Act, smaller employers could apply for
exemption from this agreement. This could be done through the
exemption committee, an arm of the industry's bargaining council,
Ntuli said.
About 50,000 Numsa members in the motor industry have been on
strike since September 1, affecting petrol stations, panelbeating
shops, spare parts firms and car component manufacturers.
Employers say the strike is costing about R150 million a day.
@ LESOTHO-MORRISON
MASERU September 30 1998 Sapa
LESOTHO OPPOSITION OPTIMISTIC ABOUT FRIDAY'S TALKS WITH GOVT
Lesotho's opposition parties on Wednesday said they were
optimistic about the outcome of Friday's meeting with the
government, Network Radio News reported.
Coalition spokeswoman Mamello Morrison said the success of the
negotiations would depend on the neutrality of the chairman. It was
still not clear who will chair the talks, which are due to be held
under the auspices of SA Development Community.
The Langa Commission report into alleged irregularities in the
country's May general election is expected to be discussed. So is
the issue of whether or not SADC should help rebuild Lesotho's
devastated economy.
South Africa's Safety and Security Minister Sydney Mufamadi
earlier signalled that the rival political parties were poised to
move closer to a settlement. But Morrison insisted a lot would
depend on who chaired the meeting.
She said all that was necessary was an impartial, fair
chairman, who would not be dictated to by either side. She said
perhaps Mufamadi should chair the meeting, but the position could
also be elevated and handed to Deputy President Thabo Mbeki, or
reduced to the level of a director-general.
@ FARMERS-MANDELA
JOHANNESBURG September 30 1998 Sapa
SAAU TO PRESENT MEMORANDUM ON CRIME TO MANDELA
The South African Agricultural Union will on Friday morning
present President Nelson Mandela with a memorandum urging the
government to eradicate crime.
In a joint statement with the Automobile Association on
Wednesday, the SAAU said the memorandum would be handed to Mandela
during a peaceful protest in Pretoria.
The action is part of the SAAU's national programme of protest
against crime which started in over 60 towns in the Western Cape on
Monday and is expected to end on Friday.
August du Preez of the SAAU said: "The protest is widely
supported by business, employees, religious"
The AA appealed to motorists nationwide to switch on their
vehicle headlights on Friday morning to show their support for the
protest.
The SA Taxi Drivers' Association and the Road Freight
Association also appealed to their respective members to drive with
lights on on Friday morning.
@ LESOTHO-SAHRC
JOHANNESBURG September 30 1998 Sapa
SOUTH AFRICA'S INVOLVEMENT IN LESOTHO OUTSIDE OUR SCOPE:
PITYANA
The South African Human Rights Commission on Wednesday said SA
National Defence Force activities in the Lesotho conflict were not
something the commission could directly get involved in.
In a statement, SAHRC chairman Barney Pityana said the
commission has a mandate to look after South Africa's domestic
affairs in respect of developing and promoting a culture of human
rights.
"(However), the commission has been involved in a study of
human rights and foreign policy. A discussion document was produced
by Dr Danny Titus of Technikon SA (in this regard)," said Pityana.
He said the document on human rights and foreign policy would
form the basis of a discussion with government and various experts
before the end of the year.
"Clearly South Africa's involvement in Lesotho and reports that
it might join the fray in the Democratic Republic of Congo adds
urgency to this quest," said Pityana.
@ LESOTHO-NDUNGANE
MASERU September 30 1998 Sapa
NDUNGANE TELLS LESOTHO POLITICIANS TO HEAL THEIR NATION
Lesotho politicians should rise above their political interests
and work towards healing the traumatised Basotho nation, said
Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town Njongonkulu Ndungane on Wednesday.
"Friday's talks between government representatives and
opposition leaders present the right opportunity for these leaders
to heal the pain of this nation," he told Sapa after a short prayer
service in Maseru.
Talks aimed at resolving the political impasse in Lesotho are
scheduled for Friday between the government and the opposition.
Ndungane and an Anglican Church delegation arrived in Maseru on
Wednesday morning for a series of meetings with government
officials, opposition leaders, King Letsie III, chiefs, and
religious leaders.
Ndungana said a preliminary assessment was that many people
were traumatised, families were displaced, and a lot of property
was damaged.
"During my visit to a refuge centre in Ladybrand (in South
Africa) on Tuesday I saw a lot of children without parents, women
who don't know the whereabouts of their husbands and families,
returning home but fearing that their loved ones could have been
killed.
"There is a lot of pain in this nation and there is a need for
a lot of praying and healing."
The archbishop said it was time politicians bit the bullet and
reformed Lesotho's Electoral Act to avoid a recurrence of political
upheavals whenever there was an election.
He urged South Africa to export its negotiation and mediation
skills to Lesotho to resolve the impasse.
"Friday's talks must go on and South Africa should use what it
is best known for... mediations and negotiations in order that the
talks can produce results which will be (for the) well-being of the
Basotho nation."
The prayer service was joined by representatives of the Lesotho
opposition.
An opposition spokesman said Ndungane was requested to ask
President Nelson Mandela to immediately withdraw SADC intervention
troops from Lesotho.
"We asked him to tell Mandela that there would be no peace and
stability in our kingdom as long as these forces of aggression are
over our heads," said opposition alliance spokesman Vincent Malebo.
He confirmed the opposition would be at the Friday talks.
@ FARMERS-MPUMA
ERMELO September 30 1998 Sapa
MPUMA FARMERS DEMAND MORE MONEY FOR ARMY'S RURAL PROTECTION
PLAN
The Mpumalanga Agricultural Union on Wednesday handed a
memorandum to the provincial safety and security department
demanding that a special budget allocation be given to the SANDF
commando wing to bolster its rural protection plan.
According to the memorandum, 60 murders, 75 attempted murders,
136 rapes, 35 car hijackings, 170 robberies and 670 housebreakings
are committed in South Africa daily, African Eye News Service
reported.
"The government and the private sector must work together to
quell rural crime," MAU deputy president Jan Rautenbach said
shortly after submitting the memorandum.
The memorandum further states that between January and August
this year about 104 murders were committed nationally during 490
attacks on white and black farmers, their labourers and families.
"The government and all stakeholders in the campaign against
crime should consider visiting other countries to see the criteria
that they use to punish serious crime offenders," suggested the
document.
The MAU also called for urgent and improved protection
programmes for state witnesses against crime.
The union said the issue of political motives behind farm
killings needed to be addressed.
It suggested that if government investigations into farm
attacks did not succeed within three months, a judicial commission
should be appointed.
@ MOZAMBIQUE-EU
MAPUTO, September 30 1998 Sapa-AFP
EU ENVOY URGES CONFLICT-STRICKEN AFRICA TO LOOK TO MOZAMBIQUE
The European Union's envoy to the Great Lakes region and former
UN special representative in Mozambique, Aldo Ajello, said
Wednesday that Mozambique is regarded internationally as a model of
conflict resolution and implementation of democracy.
Ajello, who is on a southern African tour for contacts with
regional leaders on the conflict in the Democratic Republic of
Congo, was speaking after meeting Mozambican Prime Minister Pascoal
Mocumbi in the capital, Maputo.
He said he hoped countries faced with conflicts would follow
the example and even make use of Mozambique's experience.
Mozambique emerged from a 16-year civil war in 1992 following a
peace agreement reached in Rome between President Joaquim
Chissano's government and rebels.
Although the peace process experienced a series of obstacles,
including violations of the Rome agreement, there was no return to
war as both sides were committed to lasting peace.
Two important steps towards implementation of democracy have
also been taken. Multi-party elections were held in 1994 and this
year Mozambicans voted in a municipal election for the first time
ever.
Ajello stated African conflicts must be solved politically and
not militarily.
On Thursday, Ajello was due to be received by President Joaquim
Chissano.
He will subsequently leave Mozambique to visit Namibia, Zambia,
Angola and Rwanda.
@ LABOUR-SACOB
JOHANNESBURG September 30 1998 Sapa
SACOB WORRIED BY SPATE OF STRIKES
The SA Chamber of Business on Wednesday expressed concern at
the wave of strikes bedevilling industry, saying this was deterring
foreign investment.
Speaking at a news conference in Johannesburg, ahead of the
chamber's annual convention in Durban from October 11 to 13, SACOB
president Humphrey Khoza said business was also worried about the
length of strikes, and their tendency to be come violent.
Of further concern to the chamber was the fact that there was a
pending general election, a situation that SACOB feared could
result in political parties taking advantage of the strikes.
Commenting on developments in Lesotho following the Southern
African Development Community's military intervention in that
country - and the subsequent looting and torching of businesses -
SACOB director-general Raymond Parsons said the chamber would meet
affected South African companies in Johannesburg on Friday to
discuss the situation.
This meeting would be followed by consultations with the
government to map the way forward. SACOB wanted to see the
restoration of sound bilateral relationships between the two
countries as soon as possible.
On the forthcoming jobs summit, Parsons said there should not
be too many expectations that the October 30 meeting would
immediately translate into the creation of jobs.
It was also his hope that participants would come to the summit
with open minds, and not to score political points.
The chamber's Durban convention will bring under the spotlight
the country's spiralling crime, and strategies to deracialise the
ownership and control of businesses, among many other issues.
@ DRCONGO-DENY
CAPE TOWN September 30 1998 Sapa
MI HEAD IN CONGO TROOPS DENIAL
The head of military intelligence, General Mojo Motau, has
denied suggesting South Africa is ready to send troops into the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, the department of foreign affairs
said on Wednesday.
Spoksewoman Adri Cronje said she understood Motau, who has been
attending a meeting in Angola of chiefs of staff of Southern
African Development Community armed forces, planned to issue a
formal denial.
He had in fact said nothing "either way" about South African
intervention in the conflict, she said.
The SADC military officials were expected to discuss the crises
in the DRC, Lesotho and Angola.
Motau told reporters on Tuesday that he recognized the
"responsibility" of the 14 SADC countries' armed forces to secure
the region. "We are ready to make our contribution," he was quoted
as saying.
A spokesman for the defence ministry said he was trying to
contact Motau about the statement and the context in which it was
made.
Spokesman for Deputy President Thabo Mbeki Ronnie Mamoepa said
he was unsure of the context of the remarks, and was not in a
position to comment on them.
The National Party, reacting earlier to what it said were media
reports "that South Africa is planning to send troops to the DRC",
warned the government not to "repeat the same folly committed in
Lesotho".
NP foreign affairs spokesman Dr Boy Geldenhuys said the DRC's
Laurent Kabila was a self-appointed president who came to power
through the barrel of a gun.
"He has little or no political support at grass-roots level and
to try to prop up such a regime is a serious violation of what
democracy stands for," Geldenhuys said in a statement.
Freedom Front foreign affairs spokesman Dr Pieter Mulder said
the time had come for the government to say clearly what its
foreign policy was.
"After the fiasco in Lesotho, there must be clarity on whether
South Africa is also going to try to meddle militarily in the DRC,"
he said.
@ FARMERS-MPUMALANGA
PIET RETIEF September 30 1998 Sapa
GOVERNMENT SHOULD REALLOCATE R2 BILLION TO FIGHT CRIME: FARMERS
The government should reallocate an additional R2 billion to
the police, defence force, correctional services and the justice
department if it is serious about fighting crime, the Piet Retief
District Agricultural Union said on Wednesday.
Handing a memorandum to the town's chief magistrate, the police
and traditional leader David Mthethwa, the union called for the
empowerment of police officers through a retraining porgramme.
Speaking after leading about 1500 farmers in a motorcade of
over 350 cars through the town, union spokesman Eckhardt Paul
warned that escalating crime was negatively affecting fixed
investment by both foreign and local organisations.
The demonstration formed part of a national week of protest
against crime by farmers, African Eye News Service reported.
The memorandum said high levels of corruption in the police,
under-funding of the police and the government's refusal to
reinstate the death sentence were the root causes for the rise in
rural violent crime.
"The premature release of hardened criminals adds to an already
bad situation and helps to convince criminals that crime does pay
because it is so difficult to actually be arrested or convicted,"
Paul said.
"And even if by some chance criminals do land up in jail, they
are almost guaranteed to get short sentences and be released
early."
Rural developers and investors were being frightened away by
the wave of farm killings and government's inability to prevent
them, he said.
In other demonstrations in Mpumalanga, various community
organisations in Standerton submitted eight memorandums to the
police station commander calling for action against the rise in
crime.
Groups of Nelspruit businessmen and farmers submitted a similar
memorandum to premier Matthews Phosa.
@ HEALTH-CONFERENCE
JOHANNESBURG September 30 1998 Sapa
HEALTH DEPARTMENT WORKERS SHOULD IMPROVE SERVICE TO PATIENTS
Complaints about bad treatment of patients by Gauteng health
workers were being reported frequently, said Gauteng health MEC
Mondli Gungubele on Wednesday.
Speaking at the opening of the Gauteng health department's
service excellence conference in Johannesburg, Gungubele said the
primary health care concept should not mean poor service to people.
"It is quite heartbreaking for me to listen to people
complaining day in and day out about bad treatment they receive
from uncaring and unhelpful staff."
Gungubele said numerous problems had been identified on service
delivery in the health sector, including staff members being
uncaring towards patients, and the fact that facilities and systems
for receiving patients were seldom welcoming.
There were no proper channels of communication between staff
and patients, and formal complaint mechanisms were rare.
"We need to work with one another on a new identity for the
public service, especially that of our department.
"The challenges facing the civil service are clear: becoming
competitive in an ever-open world economy in a manner that
engenders equality, the delivery of good and excellent service, and
developing the skills of employees," Gungubele said.
The excellence conference, with 250 delegates, will examine how
best to improve the quality of health services.
The conference will run until Friday, when decisions and
recommendations by delegates will be ratified.
@ AGED
CAPE TOWN September 30 1998 Sapa
GOVERNMENT COMMITTED TO PROTECTING AGED: MOLEKETI
Government would ratify the United Nations declaration on the
rights of older persons and was introducing legislation to protect
these rights, Welfare Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi said on
Wednesday.
In a statement to marking International Day of Older Persons on
October 1, she said the tabling of the Aged Persons Amendment Bill
would address matters important to the well-being of the elderly.
The legislation sought to upgrade measures protecting the aged
from abuse.
@ FARMERS-NORTHWEST
RUSTENBURG September 30 1998 Sapa
NORTH-WEST FARMERS PROTEST AGAINST HIGH CRIME
About 300 North-West farmers and their employees on Wednesday
marched on police stations in Koster, Swartruggens, Zeerust and
Groot Marico to protest the high incidence of crime.
Police at Rustenburg said the groups handed memorandums over at
the various police stations.
The memorandums called for the reinstatement of the death
penalty and included proposed actions by the government.
There were no protests at Marikana and Boshoek, the other towns
in the area.
The marches formed part of a nationwide campaign against crime
launched this week.
@ VAT
CAPE TOWN September 30 1998 Sapa
VAT EXPORT INCENTIVES STAY FOR NOW
Collection of VAT on imports from Botswana and Namibia, due to
have begun on Thursday, has been postponed indefinitely, the SA
Revenue Service (SARS) announced on Wednesday.
SARS earlier said that from October 1 the VAT export incentive
scheme would be withdrawn, and VAT collected at designated
commercial ports on imports from Botswana and Namibia.
VAT on Lesotho and Swazi imports would have followed on
November 1.
However, in Wednesday's statement the service said that in
response to representations it had agreed to hold back the measure
to allow further consultation with stakeholders and more time for
importers and exporters to adjust.
"It follows that the existing VAT export incentive scheme
remains in operation until further notice," SARS said.
The moves were part of its attempts to counter "harmful
cross-border activities" including VAT evasion and fictitious
export of goods.
@ UPGRADE
CAPE TOWN September 30 1998 Sapa
CITY TO SIGN R300-M LOAN DEAL
The Cape Town City Council is to sign a R300-million loan deal
with the Development Bank of Southern Africa on Thursday to finance
upgrading of municipal services in neglected and developing
suburbs.
A council spokesman on Wednesday said the loan would be spread
over three years.
The allocations were 70 percent for roads, stormwater and
sewerage systems, and water supplies, and 30 percent for civic
amenities such as community halls, libraries and parks.
Suburbs to benefit include Philippi, Crossroads, Mitchell's
Plain and Guguletu on the Cape Flats.
@ FARMERS-NP
JOHANNESBURG September 30 1998 Sapa
NP CRITICISES SHILOWA FOR STATEMENTS AGAINST FARMERS
The National Party on Wednesday criticised Congress of SA Trade
Unions president Sam Shilowa for saying he could not support the
nationwide anti-crime protest by farmers because farmers themselves
killed people and mistreated their employees.
NP agricultural spokesman Adriaan van Niekerk in a statement in
Johannesburg said it was unacceptable for Shilowa to use unfounded
statements to criticise the protest action.
The action was launched by the SA Agricultural Union this week
to focus attention on the high crime rate, and especially crimes
against farmers.
Shilowa on Tuesday morning on the radio programme Monitor
expressed himself strongly against the protest action, saying it
would focus too much attention on farmers who themselves killed
people and treated farmworkers badly.
Van Niekerk said Shilowa should face the truth and realise his
statement could have a negative effect on the numerous workers he
represents.
"Growth and employment in South Africa is being curtailed. The
workers he represents are not the only people in South Africa. The
unemployed are also affected by his statements," Van Niekerk said.
Van Niekerk said so-called criminal farmers who killed people
and treated workers inhumanely should be brought forward for the
law to take its course.
If this could not be done, Shilowa and the others owed South
Africa an apology, he said.
@ HUNDREDS OF FARMERS DEMONSTRATE IN PE
GRAHAMSTOWN (ECN) - Rallying to the slogan "South Africa Stand
up Against Crime," more than 5 000 Eastern Cape farmers, supporters
and spectators marched to the Bisho Legislature and the Port
Elizabeth law courts yesterday (subs: Weds) protesting farm murders
crisis and increasing levels of crime.
The protest march, organised by the Eastern Province
Agricultural Union (EPAU) was part of a nation-wide programme
launched by the SA Agricultural Union that began Monday and will end
on Friday. The Port Elizabeth march, taking the form of a 4km
motorcade, began at Telkom park at 12 noon.
The 517 vehicles included bakkies, lorries, taxis and tractors
complete with make-shift coffins and gallows.
Displaying slogans "Bring back the death penalty" and "Where's
our right to life Mr Mandela?" - the procession made its way to the
New Law Courts at 2pm where EPAU chairman Mr Pieter Erasmus,
delivered a memorandum issuing an ultimatum demanding increased
security. The memo was received by Safety and Security MEC Dennis
Neer. In Bisho a 400-vehicle motorcade served Premier Makhekesi
Stofile at the Legislature the same mandate. Stofile said he would
forward the memorandum to Parliament as the call for a reinstitution
of the death penalty is a national matter.
Erasmus, in an interview yesterday, emphasised the
need for the government to take serious measures against rampant
violence.
"People are being forced to flee the country because the
violence is so out of hand. I don't know why the government is so
worried about what's going on in other countries when the violence
here is worse than in the Congo or Lesotho."
Erasmus said the march was not a platform for anti-government
sentiment.
"The protest was not political or anti-government, but
anti-crime. Its purpose is to promote safety and security in South
Africa. I think we delivered a clear and good message that SA is fed
up with violence."
Mr Robby Cairncross of the Christian Coalition delivered a
speech at the courts urging government to implement strategies to
increase security.
Mr Peter Wiley, whose father was killed last month in a farm
murder, spoke on behalf of victims.
A PE police spokesperson said the march was well received and
that the motorcade was "brilliantly" organised.
Meanwhile, the Cosatu and its affiliated Agricultural Plantation and
Allied Workers Union (SAAPAWU) distanced their members from the
protest action condemning the protest movement for catering soley to
farmers.
SAAPAWU Provincial Secretary Sicelo Ndevo said: "The very people
that are marching are the ones imposing curfews and employing
commandos to interrogate and threaten their workers. "High
unemployment levels have made violence a problem that effects the
entire country, not just the farmers. Sectionalizing the problem is
not the solution." - ECN protest 30/9/98
@ FARMERS-MINEWORKERS
JOHANNESBURG September 30 1998 Sapa
MINEWORKERS' UNION ADDS VOICE TO PROTEST AGAINST CRIME
The Mineworkers' Union on Wednesday joined the SA Agricultural
Union in protesting against crime in the country, specifically
crime against the farming community.
MWU secretary Flip Buys on Wednesday in Johannesburg said crime
was not a national problem, but a national crisis.
"The MWU and its 60,000 members today adds its voice to the
protest against the unacceptable high levels of crime in the
country."
Buys said the crime tolerance level of people in the street was
reaching saturation point.
"The government will urgently have to intervene to prevent
frustrations from boiling over because the perception exists that
the rights of criminals currently weighs heavier than that of law
abiding citizens.
"This imbalance must be corrected," Buys said.
The MWU would on Thursday hand over memorandums in five of
South Africa's largest industries - Telkom, Eskom, Iscor, Sasol
and the mining industry.
Buys said companies would also be asked to join the MWU in
taking a stand against crime and placing pressure on the government
to take drastic action.
@ LD-GANGS
CAPE TOWN September 30 1998 Sapa
NADEL SLAMS GANGS BILL
Proposed legislation to clamp down on organised crime and gangs
had been drawn up in a context of "near hysteria against crime",
and was unconstitutional, the National Association of Democratic
Lawyers (Nadel) told a parliamentary hearing on Wednesday.
In a submission to Parliament's justice committees on the
Prevention of Organised Crime Bill, Nadel said it accepted that
organised crime and gang activities were serious social problems.
But the causes of crime were structural, and required an
integrated and multi-pronged approach, such as that offered by the
National Crime Prevention Strategy (NCPS).
Nadel said the bill fundamentally contradicted the NCPS in a
number of key respects, and was unconstitutional in that it
breached the due process of law and a number of freedoms in Bill of
Rights.
These included the rights to freedom of opinion, religion and
belief, to freedom of association, to the free use and practice of
language and culture of choice, to privacy, and to property.
"Nadel finds it disingenuous to use the rights in the Bill of
Rights, as the preamble of the... bill does, to justify measures
that effectively attack the same rights," the organisation said.
The bill provides for forfeiture of property suspected of
having been gained through criminal activity, and criminalises the
"wilful promotion" of criminal gang activity.
The Western Cape Anti-Crime Forum told the committees that
communities needed to be sent a clear message that peer pressure
and socio-economic reasons were no justification for joining a
criminal gang.
Forum member Gaynor Wasser said a system was needed which would
allow witnesses to feel safe to come forward and give evidence on
gangs.
Her colleague, John Cloete, said some sort of community service
should be considered for convicted gangsters.
National Assembly justice portfolio committee chairman Johnny
de Lange said the bill pulled together matters dealing with
gangsters and syndicates in one piece of legislation.
To his knowledge this was the first time this was being done in
the world.
But there was a misconception that gang membership itself was
being criminalised. It was the way the gangs operated that was
being targeted, De Lange said.
The Banking Council of South Africa said it welcomed the bill,
which reinforced the maxim that crime did not pay.
Given the bill's focus on organised crime and gang activities,
summonses should be served on alleged gangsters by policemen rather
than by messengers of the court, the council said.
Chairman of the National Council of Provinces' justice
committee Mohseen Moosa said the scourge of crime on the Cape Flats
needed to be dealt with.
He asked that outside organisations come up with practical ways
of implementing the bill before the committees formally considered
it from October 15.
@ FARMERS OUTRAGED AS PREMIER STANDS HIS GROUND
BISHO (ECN) - What started out as a peaceful agriculture
industry-initiated protest march ended in angry verbal exchanges
between Eastern Cape Premier Makhenkesi Stofile and members of the
Eastern Cape farming community.
About 1 600 people including both black and white farmers and
labourers travelling in 230 vehicles took part in the protest
action.
Farm trucks, tractors and bakkies with slogans and posters
adorning their sides converged on the provincial legislature where
Eastern Province Agriculture Union (EPAU) vice-president Jimmy
Lawana was to hand over their memorandum to Rev Stofile.
One truck carried a coffin, while a hearse also drove with the
procession.
Two white farmers and two black farm workers carried the coffin
and placed it in front of Stofile and Agriculture MEC Max Mamase.
NP East London-King William's Town regional chairman Boeije
(subs Boeije) De Wet, provincial DP Leader Eddie Trent and DP
Federal Councillor for the province Stuart Farrow were also there.
The memorandum demanded that accredited international expertise
be obtained to investigate the crime situation in South Africa and
make recommendations to rectify it.
It also demanded that government enact effective deterrents and
measures aimed at the prevention, investigation and punishment of
violent crime.
The memorandum stated that:
* A subsidy for farm protection had to be made available by the
government as a matter as extreme urgency;
* Serious consideration be given to the immediate reinstatement
of the death penalty for a period of five years after a referendum
and changes to the constitution;
* Further actions should include the implementation of corporal
punishment, hard labour, community service and the exercise of
certain emergency powers for the prevention of crime;
* Stricter measures be implemented to combat the involvement of
juveniles in crime and;
* Government must act more strongly against illegal immigrantss
and people in possession of illegal firearms.
It said that the question surrounding possible political motives
behind farm killings needed to be answered unequivocably.
In his response to the memorandum - amidst angry jeers -
Stofile said the memorandum belonged to Pretoria and Cape Town where
changes or ammendments to the constitution were made.
He said that if farmers did not understand this, they should
read the Constitution once again.
He said the South African Police Services (SAPS) were under the
control of central government and not his provincial government.
Stofile also highlighted that the national police commissioner
George Fivaz and provincial commissioner Nico Slabber should receive
the memorandum.
He said Safety and Security MECs throughout the country only
applied a monitoring function over the SAPS.
The Premier said farmers, particulary those living on isolated
homesteads, should improve communication with their neighbours in
order to combat crime.
He said his government would take action against criminals.
At this point an angry farmer wearing a cap interjected: "You
killed my daughter and son-in-law!"
A visibly disturbed Stofile retorted in Xhosa and English: "That
guy with a cap on being silly, we will throw the law book at him!"
Stofile said he would take the farmer to court if he repeated
the statement.
The farmer again shouted : "Your government's lack of action
killed my daughter and son-in-law."
Then loud jeers of "You're side-stepping the problem" interupted
the Premier's speech.
When Stofile thanked the protesters for the memorandum, the
irate mob shouted: "Thanks for niks (nothing)!"
Afterwards, victims of farm attacks reacted angrily to the
Premier's speech.
Warren Tarr, whose father was gunned down by criminals in his
farming trading store in the Lower Albany District about eighteen
months, told ECN: "It's ludicrous. The Premier is passing the buck.
If Pretoria and Cape Town are responsible for all this, why do
they even have buildings here to manage the province."
Bathurst farmer Walter Duncan, whose cousin Adrian Palmer -
also a Bathurst farmer - was shot dead while watching TV in his
home said he was "disgusted" by the Premier's response.
"He (Stofile) told us nothing. He passed the buck."
Johan Breetzke - chairman of EPAU's Safety and Security
committee and protest organisor, who himself was wounded while one
of his farm labourers was killed by criminals - said he was angered
by Stofile's attack against the farmer whose daughter and son-in-law
were killed.
"Instead of sympathising with the gentleman, he threatened to
take him to court. He gave the impression he did not feel anything."
Bedford farmer Athol Trollip - whose wife's brother was
murdered - said: "The Premier offered no positive solutions and
chose to enter into a semantic debate about who was responsible for
what."
"We feel the Premier abdicated all responsibility which we hoped
he would show today."
Ernest Pringle - also a Bedford farmer whose elderly uncle was
brutally gunned down in his bed room - said: "It's pathetic. I'm
disgusted. He does not understand that the drive against crime
should start at provincial level. He's Premier of a province, don't
tell me he can't do anything."
Both the NP and DP lashed out Stofile's response.
De Wet said Stofile "jumped around like a circus clown trying to
avoid responsibility".
"As the Premier, it was a disgrace that he threatened the one
farmer who shouted about his daughter's murder."
"The Premier and the ANC don't have the political will to combat
crime and look into the issue."
Trent said: "I attended this demonstration as a concerned
citizen and I'm absolutely appalled at the Premier's lack of
statemanship."
"Instead of showing empathy for the rural people who initially
conducted themselves in a very disciplined and dignified way, he
chose to abdicate all responsibility."
Trent said he thought that Stofile would have shown sympathy,
outrage and solidarity with the victims of farm attacks.
He had also expected the Premier to give the gathering his
absolute assurance that he would convey their suggestions to
President Nelson Mandela and national Safety and Security Minister
Sydney Mufamadi. - ECN Wed 30/09/98 Huge
@ ANGOLA-SADC
LUANDA September 30 1998 Sapa-AFP
SADC MILITARY CHIEFS SAY ANY THREAT JUSTIFIES INTERVENTION
Armed forces chiefs of staff on Wednesday declared that any
threat to a member of the 14-nation Southern African Development
Community (SADC) could justify intervention by its allies.
Following a meeting in Angola of the chiefs of staff of 10 SADC
nations, the Zambian representative chairing the session, Solomon
Mumbi, said that if such intervention took place in some countries,
he saw no reason why it should not occur in others.
Mumbi added that the armed forces' leaders had drawn up a
series of recommendations for submission to SADC heads of state to
ensure better regional security, but would not disclose what they
were.
His statement on justified intervention was an allusion to
backing for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by Angolan,
Zimbabwean and Namibian troops to help President Laurent Kabila
against Tutsi-led rebels, and also to last week's deployment in
Lesotho of soldiers from South Africa and Botswana to quell an army
mutiny related to disputed election results.
Wednesday's pro-government press in Luanda stated that the
government could, in current circumstances, call on fellow SADC
members to help it against diehard rebel troops of UNITA leader
Jonas Savimbi, who has been disavowed by former senior aides but is
blamed for clashes which have killed hundreds of Angolans since
March.
The SADC meeting began here Tuesday amid calls for increased
military support for Kabila, who has been fighting a Tutsi-led
rebellion that began on August 2 and won allied support at the end
of the month to stave off an attack on Kinshasa and its
southwestern supply region.
Angola's defense minister, General Pedro Sebastio, had said
Tuesday that, in accordance with decisions taken at a SADC summit
in Mauritius two weeks earlier, reinforcements would be added to
the foreign SADC troops already in the DRC.
One of the Kinshasa strongman's sons, Joseph Kabila, who is
head of the DRC's armed forces, led his country's delegation to the
talks.
In Angola, the government charges that Savimbi's National Union
for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) still has at least
30,000 men in arms though the movement claimed to have totally
demobilised in March in line with peace protocols signed in Lusaka,
Zambia, in November 1994.
UNITA has been subjected to international sanctions over its
failure to abide by the Lusaka accords, notably also in handing
over its strongholds to central administration, and in the past
month saw the emergence of a dissident wing which charges that
Savimbi is a warmonger and has disavowed his leadership.
SADC groups Angola, Botswana, the DRC, Lesotho, Malawi,
Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, the Seychelles, South Africa,
Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
All but four - Botswana, Mauritius, Mozambique and Lesotho -
were represented here by their military chiefs.
@ LESOTHO-BUSINESS
MASERU September 30 1998 Sapa
LEADERS URGED TO TALK AS LESOTHO BUSINESS COUNTS LOSSES
The Lesotho business community on Wednesday urged the country's
political leaders to attend Friday's talks and find solutions that
would put the mountain kingdom above the leaders' own interests.
"These leaders must realise that without a long-lasting
political solution there cannot exist in Lesotho a conducive
climate for the private sector to economically and socially develop
this country," the business people said in a statement after a
meeting in Maseru.
The meeting, held under the auspices of the Lesotho Chamber of
Commerce and Industry, noted the devastation of businesses through
looting in Maseru and other towns in the wake of a Southern African
Development Community military intervention last week.
The statement called for calm and restraint on all sides of the
political spectrum, and political leaders were urged to desist from
making inflammatory statements that could only worsen matters.
A crisis committee was formed at Wednesday's meeting. It called
upon all business people whose shops were destroyed and looted to
assess the damage and forward information to the chamber, to the
Association of Lesotho Employers or to their own business
organisations as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, the Lesotho Tourism Board said the number of
tourists to the country had decreased due to last week's uprisings.
LTB marketing manager Bofihla Matsoso said the situation in the
country had paralysed tourism, adding that tourists from South
Africa, the United States, Germany and Asia had already cancelled
their holidays.
Matsoso advised those wishing to visit Lesotho to wait until
the situation had stabilised.
Rival political parties in Lesotho will meet a group of SADC
mediators, chaired by South African Safety and Security Minister
Sydney Mufamadi, on Friday in an effort to end the impasse.
The opposition has claimed the country's election was rigged in
favour of the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy.
@ N/L-FARMERS
JOHANNESBURG September 30 1998 Sapa
THOUSANDS JOIN FARMERS' PROTEST ACTION AGAINST CRIME
The rolling mass action by farmers protesting against high
crime levels gained momentum on Wednesday when thousands of people
took to the streets in three provinces to add their voice to the
action, the SA Agricultural Union said.
The demonstrations took place in several towns in the Eastern
Cape, Mpumalanga and North-West, and were part of a week-long
nationwide protest against the upsurge in violent crime, especially
against farmers.
The action was launched by the SAAU on Monday and began in 60
towns in the Western Cape. On Tuesday about 3000 KwaZulu-Natal
farmers and supporters marched in the Pietermaritzburg city centre.
SAAU spokesman August du Preez on Wednesday said the protest
was widely supported by businesses, employees, taxi organisations,
religious groups and civic organisations.
"We are sending a very strong message to government that people
are taking a stand against crime.
"So far 35 organisations have already signed the memorandum we
will hand to President (Nelson) Mandela on Friday during our
national march in Pretoria," Du Preez said. The Pretoria march will
mark the end of the week-long action.
Du Preez said protest action was expected to continue on
Thursday.
The Mineworkers Union, which has 60,000 members, on Wednesday
gave its support to the anti-crime action. It said it would on
Thursday hand over memorandums to five major industries - Telkom,
Eskom, Iscor, Sasol and the mining industry.
Some 6000 people participated in protest marches in Bisho and
Port Elizabeth, according to Eastern Cape Agricultural Union
president Pieter Erasmus.
In Port Elizabeth the action was supported by taxi
associations, the Christian Coalition, churches and the Ubuntu &
Environmental Trust.
A memorandum was handed to premier Stofile Makhankhesi in
Bisho. He was accused of indifference towards the victims of
violent crimes after threatening a victim's family member with
legal action.
Stofile apparently told protesters that policing was a national
rather than a provincial government function after which someone
from the crowd shouted at him: "What did you do when my daughter
was murdered."
Stofile threatened to take court action if the statement was
repeated.
The march in Bisho also drew abusive racist remarks from some
members of the public watching the march, with one black bystander
shouting: "You used to kill us and now you can't stand it when it
is your turn."
A white man hurled an insult at the bystander, after which a
fierce argument ensued which nearly led to physical confrontation.
Many black people accused farmers of taking advantage of a
transparent government.
EPAU deputy president Jimmy Lawana said it was only a handful
of farmers who were still treating their workers badly, and if such
cases came to the attention of the organisation those farmers would
be dealt with.
In Piet Retief in Mpumalanga, 2000 people participated in a
protest march marked by a two kilometre-long motorcade.
The Piet Retief District Agricultural Union in a memorandum
called on the government to reallocate an additional R2 billion to
the police, defence force, correctional services and the justice
department if it was serious about fighting crime.
The memorandum said high levels of corruption in the police,
under-funding of the police and the government's refusal to
reinstate the death sentence were the root causes for the rise in
rural violent crime.
Marches were also held in Ermelo, Standerton and Nelspruit,
where more than 500 people participated.
The Mpumalanga Agricultural Union on Wednesday in a memorandum
to the provincial safety and security department demanded that a
special budget allocation be given to the SA National Defence Force
commando wing to bolster its rural protection plan.
According to the memorandum, 60 murders, 75 attempted murders,
136 rapes, 35 car hijackings, 170 robberies and 670 housebreakings
were committed in South Africa daily.
It further stated that between January and August this year
about 104 murders were committed nationally during 490 attacks on
white and black farmers, their labourers and families.
In North-West farmers gathered in at least 15 towns, where they
gave memorandums to police and provincial officials.
According to Mooi River police spokesman Captain Louis Jacobs
about 4500 farmers joined protests in the area.
About 2000 people gathered at the Lichtenburg town hall to meet
North-West premier Popo Molefe, who told them the government
supported any drive against crime.
Marches were also held at Marico, Swartruggens and Zeerust.
The North-West Agricultural Union said it was satisfied that
the whole community turned out to protest against farm attacks.
The African National Congress in the province said it was
satisfied with the performance of provincial law enforcement
agencies, particularly the police.
It said the ANC government was concerned about crime, as was
demonstrated by government intervention in the problem, including
the meeting recently between Mandela and agricultural unions.
The Automobile Association appealed to motorists nationwide to
switch on their vehicle headlights on Friday morning to show their
support for the protest.
The SA Taxi Drivers' Association and the Road Freight
Association made a similar appeal to their members.
The National Party criticised Congress of SA Trade Unions
president Sam Shilowa for on Tuesday saying he could not support
the protest.
Shilowa on the radio programme Monitor expressed himself
strongly against the protest, saying it would focus too much
attention on farmers who themselves killed people and treated
farmworkers badly.
NP agricultural spokesman Adriaan van Niekerk said it was
unacceptable for Shilowa to use unfounded statements to criticise
the action.
@ LABOUR-COSATU
JOHANNESBURG September 30 1998 Sapa
COSATU SUPPORTS OF SACCAWU AND NUMSA STRIKES
The Congress of SA Trade Unions on Wednesday said it supported
striking members of the SA Commercial, Cartering and Allied
Workers' Union and the National Union of Metal Workers of SA for
better wages.
About 50,000 Numsa members in the motor industry have been on
strike since September 1, affecting petrol stations, panelbeating
shops, spare parts firms and car components manufacturers.
Representatives of Numsa and the SA Motor Industry Employers'
Association met in another round of talks on Wednesday after
Tuesday's deadlock. The talks stuck on the issue of guaranteed
increases for workers earning above the minimum wage.
Saccawu members at Edgars downed tools on Monday to protest
against a wage freeze.
Cosatu spokeswoman Nowetu Mpati in a statement in Johannesburg
said Cosatu found it hard to understand that Edgars could not find
the money to meet workers' demands but spent millions on
advertisements to defend its stand of refusing to address wage
increases.
"We do not buy the argument that says managers' salaries were
frozen as early as last year. The fact is, as part of their
business plan they know very well that workers cannot continue to
work for the same slavery salaries for the rest of their lives,"
she said.
Cosatu disagreed with Edgars' notion that since the chain store
could not make a 100 percent profit workers should suffer.
The fact that managers had agreed to the freezing of their
salary increases was because they earned far better and could
survive under the current economic conditions.
She said the workers' demands were reasonable and within the
employer's means.
Workers demanded an R450 across-the-board increase, minimum
R1800 salary at entry point, 12 percent employers' contribution to
the provident fund and a 13th cheque.
Cosatu called on thousands of members of its affiliates to
embark on a consumer boycott against Edgars outlets.
It also commended Numsa members for continuing with the strike
despite what it called the intransigence and arrogance of
employers.
@ CRIME-NP
JOHANNESBURG September 30 1998 Sapa
GOVERNMENT UNREALISTIC ABOUT CRIME PROBLEM: NP
The National Party on Tuesday said the government was
portraying an inaccurate picture of the country's serious crime
levels.
A statement released by the NP in Johannesburg said the vast
majority of South Africans from all communities were experiencing
an unacceptable upsurge in criminality.
The latest police statistics revealed that robbery with
aggravating circumstances had increased from 169 per day to 206 per
day since September last year, said party spokeman Piet Mathee.
He said burglary from residential premises had increased from
just over 685 per day to almost 710 per day during the same period.
Incidents of murder decreased slightly over from just over 65
per day to just over 64 per day, while attempted murder stayed
virtually the same at just over 75 per day.
"It is therefore clear that we are faced with a national
crisis," Matthee said, adding: "The government has to acknowledge
this and start treating the safety and security of all people in
South Africa as its highest priority."
@ LESOTHO-CHIEFS
JOHANNESBURG September 30 1998 Sapa
LESOTHO CHIEFS, KING'S BROTHER WANT AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION
The Lesotho Council of Chiefs and King Letsie III's brother on
Wednesday called on the government to amend the constitution to
enable the king to intervene in the political crisis, SABC
television news reported.
They said it was time for the king, who had been silent during
the political turmoil in the mountain kingdom, to speak to his
people.
The chiefs and the king's brother, Seeiso Seeiso, also called
for a general amnesty to be declared for the so-called mutineers,
saying as long as the rebel soldiers feared prosecution they would
not be able to return to their bases.
They said it would take the country three years to reconstruct
its industry, which was razed during looting after Southern African
Development Community troops entered Lesotho and engaged in battle
with rebel Lesotho soldiers.
@ ANC-POLICE
JOHANNESBURG September 30 1998 Sapa
ANC CRICISES SPENDING IMBALANCE ON WEST CAPE POLICE STATIONS
The African National Congress on Wednesday in a statement in
Johannesburg criticised the imbalance of government spending on
police stations in the Western Cape.
ANC spokeswoman on community safety Theresa Solomons said after
a visit to Western Cape police stations: "A striking contrast is
Sea Point police station which serves a population of 100,000 and
has 94 uniform personnel, including six captains and 26 vehicles.
"Manenburg police station, on the other hand, which serves a
community of 130,000 has only 74 uniform personnel, two captains,
two vehicles and shares other resources with seven other
surrounding police stations.
"The ANC has veen vindicated in its assertion that areas most
affected by crime have been seriously neglected. It is clear that
unless resources are urgently deployed to these areas there will be
no stability in our province."
The ANC called for a focus on 11 police stations in the Western
Cape which it believed were under-resourced.
It said it would call for a snap debate on the matter in the
legislature next week.
@ LUYT
JOHANNESBURG September 30 1998 Sapa
LUYT ANNOUNCES NEW POLITICAL GROUPING
Former SA Rugby Football Union president Louis Luyt on
Wednesday announced the formation of a new political grouping, the
Federal Alliance, to contest next year's general elections.
Luyt made the announcement at the Midrand Chamber of Business
on Wednesday night and said individuals as well as political
parties could join the alliance.
He said he had discussed the new alliance with National Party
leader Marthinus van Schalkwyk and Democratic Party leader Tony
Leon and hoped to announce on Friday which political parties would
join.
However, chairman of the DP's federal council, Douglas Gibson,
said he was amazed that the DP was mentioned as potentially forming
part of Luyt's alliance.
"The DP has learned with amusement and amazement of the
formation of the FA party," he said in a statement
"Amusement because Mr Luyt seems to think that it is a simple
matter to form a new political party."
He said Luyt had asked for a meeting with Leon several months
ago, and they had a pleasant chat. Luyt had been simply "testing
the water", Gibson said.
"No offers were made. Nothing concrete was discussed, and no
agreement was reached," he said. "We have not heard from Mr Luyt
since that time."
Gibson said the DP would fight the next election under its own
name, and would take on allcomers, including Luyt's alliance if
necessary.
United Democratic Movement deputy national secretary Annelise
van Wyk said her party, led by Roelf Meyer and Bantu Holomisa,
would not join the alliance.
"We are going the road alone," Van Wyk said. "We were not
approached. Even if we were we would not be interested."
Kallie Kriel, spokesman for Freedom Front leader General
Constand Viljoen, said the FF had already signed a co-operation
agreement with the DP and did not think there was room for another
political party in South Africa.
He said the FF was in discussions with other parties for
further co-operation agreements to prevent the ANC from gaining a
two-thirds majority and to weaken its position in its less powerful
provinces.
ANC spokesman Thabo Masebe said the 1994 elections had seen the
formation of a plethora of political parties.
"Some of those parties lacked any vision and disappeared with
the 1994 elections. We hope the proposed party to be lead by Louis
Lyut will survive the judgement of 1999."
Masebe said the ANC believed it still had the confidence of the
majority of South Africans.
"Our people will make their judgement in 1999 and we have
nothing to fear, including the proposed party to be lead by Louis
Luyt."
The NP said the ANC would be the only party to benefit from
Luyt's alliance because the opposition would be further divided by
the formation of a new party.
Spokesman Renier Schoeman confirmed Luyt had held discussions
with the NP on the issue of forming an alliance.
"He was to have come back to the new National Party with regard
to his proposals, but this has not happened yet," he said.
Inkatha Freedom Party spokeswoman Lauretta Ngcobo said: "There
is nothing going on between us and Louis Luyt. I have not heard a
single person say anything about it."
The Federal Alliance would contest the 1999 general election on
a law and order ticket, according to Luyt's spokeswoman, Susan
Kruger.
She said there was a total breakdown of law and order in South
Africa and the alliance would push for the reinstatement of the
death penalty.
"It's not only the white people; the blacks themselves are
feeling it," she said.
The formation of the alliance followed approaches to Luyt from
farmer's organisations, churches, women's groups and security
companies.
She said the alliance's manifesto would be released next week.
An emblem had been chosen and would be unveiled soon.
Luyt, who was not taking calls from the press on Wednesday
evening, is no stranger to political battles.
Earlier this year President Nelson Mandela was cross-examined
in the Pretoria High Court when Luyt challenged the appointment of
a government commission to investigate irregularities in the
administration of rugby.
Judge William de Villiers ruled in favour of Sarfu and set
aside the commission.
The court victory cause widespread discontent in rugby circles
and broader criticism that the president had suffered an insult by
being forced to testify. The court decision was followed by Luyt's
ousting as the chief of Sarfu.
Soon after his defeat within Sarfu, Luyt made noises about a
possible move into politics to "take on the ANC".
@ ERMELO-ELECTION
ERMELO September 30 1998 Sapa
FREEDOM FRONT TAKES ERMELO BY-ELECTION
The Freedom Front on Wednesday night won the by-election in
Ermelo's Ward 11, formerly controlled by the National Party.
FF leader General Constand Viljoen said Kotie van der Walt
received 349 votes compared to 176 votes gained by Faizel Jassat of
the African National Congress.
The NP did not nominate a candidate.
This was the eighth election victory for the FF in the space of
14 weeks, Viljoen said.
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A N C D A I L Y N E W S B R I E F I N G
FRIDAY 2 OCTOBER 1998
PLEASE NOTE: This News Briefing is a compilation of items from South
African press agencies and as such does not reflect the views of the
ANC. It is for reading and information only, and strictly not for
publication or broadcast.
To unsubscribe from the ANC Daily News Briefing mailing list send a
message to 'list...@wn.apc.org'. In the body of your message put
'unsubscribe ancnews'.
@ LESOTHO-PAC
JOHANNESBURG October 1 1998 Sapa
SA INTERVENTION IN LESOTHO WAS DIPLOMATIC, MILITARY BUNGLE: PAC
South Africa's involvement in the recent military intervention
in Lesotho was a military and diplomatic disaster, the Pan
Africanist Congress of Azania said on Thursday.
Party deputy president Motsoko Pheko however said South Africa
had a chance of redeeming its image and correcting its mistakes at
the up-coming political parties meeting in Maseru on Friday.
"he Lesotho affair is a bungled diplomatic and military
operation. To defend this fiasco is to refuse reason.
"It is to undermine the intelligence of the people of this
country who are being fooled into believing that Lesotho is to
blame for the damage of their country," Pheko said.
"One way forward for Lesotho is to abolish the constituency
system and opt for proportional representation... it will not
really help much to give executive powers to the constitutional
mornarchy as political parties could try to manipulate him."
Pheko said heaping blame for the Lesotho crisis on the Basotho
people and their army was being untruthful.
The Basotho parties were still prepared to solve the crisis
when the South African troops, under the mandate of the Southern
African Development Community, intervened.
"The Langa Commission inspired confidence in the political
parties of Lesotho. The ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy
itself undertook to dissolve the government and call for fresh
elections if the commission found evidence that elections were
fraudulent."
He said this positive attitude was dashed by the way the South
African government handled the commission's report - delaying its
release and the absence of both President Nelson Mandela and his
deputy, Thabo Mbeki.
Pheko accused Safety and Security Minister Sydney Mufamadi -
tasked by South Africa to handle the political situation after the
release of the report - of double standards.
"Arrangements were made that they (the political parties)
should meet Sydney Mufamadi. But on that very morning, South
African troops entered Lesotho."
Mufamadi on Wednesday admitted he and other SADC mediators knew
of the raid before he told a media briefing that every effort was
being made to avoid a military intervention.
@ FEATURE-AFRICA-RENAISSANCE
JOHANNESBURG Sept 30 Sapa-IPS
AFRICA: THE AFRICAN RENAISSANCE DEBATE GAINS MOMENTUM
As talk of the African Renaissance gains momentum, academics
say there is need to pause and reflect on why the continent needs
to be reborn.
Ghanaian academic, Peter Ewang, says among the factors
responsible for Africa's collapse are international development
programmes that were not relevant or geared towards the need of the
continent.
"... these activities ignore the fact that in African countries
the constraints of development are not caused solely by economic
factors but by institutional weaknesses, low level social
awareness, education and healthcare," he says.
"Development is a term that means something distinctly
different to those being developed and those doing the developing,"
he adds.
The economic structure of Africa has been geared not to feed
its own population but meet import needs of industrialised nations
that have reduced the continent to recurring famine and
unserviceable debt.
An example is how Sudan evolved from being food self-sufficient
for centuries before independence but was encouraged to grow cotton
after 1956 to supply British textile mills. And when the world
cotton market fell, so did Sudan's economy.
Ghana touted by the World Bank as one of the success stories of
structural adjustment is in decline because of the fall of coffee
prices. Coffee is the country's most important cash crop,
accounting for 70 percent of exports.
The World Bank is now advocating Ghana shift its emphasis to
large-scale commercial fish farming for export - and cheap fish
the primary source of Ghanaians has begun to disappear from the
local market.
"At best the aid programmes of the past were not effective, at
worst they have been part of the problem," argues Ewang in a paper
prepared for the African Renaissance conference held in
Johannesburg this week.
Because of development programmes that have failed to get off
the ground, many African countries today owe much more money to the
international community than they did 20 years ago.
Africa's debt increased from 6 billion US dollars in 1970 to
243 billion dollars in 1994.
As a percentage of gross domestic product (gdp), sub-Saharan
Africa's debt is the highest of any developing region. As a result,
Africa has lost all its credit-worthiness and ratings on which
foreign investors rely.
The exponents of the African Renaissance are pushing for the
continent to break away and emancipate itself from the choking hold
Western countries and institutions continue to exert, in order to
avoid a cycle of unsustainable development.
When in 1993 the World Bank introduced a four-tier
classification of sub-Saharan countries in order to assess the
adjustment experience, it identified 15 countries thought to have
been able to put in place 'fairly good" economic policies.
However the Bank is now realising that the contribution of the
majority of these countries to the current economic recovery on the
continent fell short of expectation.
"... most of the countries that were thought to be pursuing
relatively sound policies at the time are not among the strong
performers today," notes the UN Conference on Trade and
Development.
Bad advice, notes Ewang, but the real problem is that African
governments continue to follow these prescriptions.
"The major problem about the debate about the African
Renaissance is not really coming from the Africans themselves, but
from aliens trying either to discourage the concept or attempting
to define what Africans are or should be," says William Makgoba of
Johannesburg's University of the Witwatersrand.
The parley, held on Sept 28-29, brought together leading
academics and intellectuals from the continent to examine the
origins of the renaissance, its objectives and its implications.
@ FEATURE-DRCONGO-EU
JOHANNESBURG Sept 30 Sapa-IPS
EU, DENMARK WILL REVIEW THEIR AID TO DR CONGO'S BELLIGERENTS
Denmark has joined the European Union (EU) which has announced
that it will review its aid to countries involved in the conflict
in the Democratic Republic of congo (DRC).
The Danish international development minister, Paul Nielson,
told a South African radio this week that his country cannot
indirectly foot the bill of the DRC war.
"If African governments opt for violent means Danish taxpayers
cannot fund such action," Nielson said. "This is a general
warning."
Zimbabwe and Namibia have said they will only withdraw their
troops from the diamond-rich central African country when there is
permanent peace in that country. The DRC government has advised its
people to brace for a long war.
The European Union, which recently announced its plan to review
its aid, has this year pledged 565 million ECUs (One ECU is equal
to 1.17 US Dollar) for Zimbabwe, Namibia and Angola, which also has
sent troops to prop up the embattled government of president
Laurent-Desire Kabila.
"The figure could be more as a number of European states have
their own individual, bilateral contributions," says Mary Mcauthey
of the EU mission in South Africa.
Since 1979, Angola has received 490 million ECU from the EU,
Namibia has been given 157 million ECU since 1976, and Zimbabwe 578
million ECU since 1980.
The European Union is the major trading partner of Namibia and
Zimbabwe who enjoy preferential access into the EU market under the
Lome Convention.
In order to receive aid, the European Union has urged the
region to use peaceful means to resolve conflict. At least seven of
the 14-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC)
countries are in a state of war.
While the war in the DRC is reportedly costing the Zimbabwe
government more than one million U.S. dollars a day to maintain
Zimbabwean troops there, the country is appealing for food aid to
assist thousands of its citizens faced by starvation in the
country's southern Matabeleland province.
Zimbabwe recently organised a donors meeting to raise 40
billion Zimbabwe dollars for its land reform and resettlement
programme but only one country, China, pledged 12 million Zimbabwe
dollars worth of tractors and grinding mills. Zimbabwe's
involvement in the DRC was partly blamed for the donors' poor
response, say analysts.
One US Dollar is equal to 32 Zimbabwe dollars.
The war, which erupted on Aug 2, is threatening to spill into
the rest of the continent with the possibility of Libya, Sudan and
even South Africa being sucked in.
South Africa which recently intervened militarily in
neighbouring Lesotho receives the biggest single EU vote in the
sub-region, 125 million ECUs annually.
The review will also affect Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi which
have troops in the DRC, backing the rebels; as well as Chad, which
is supporting Kabila.
The review is likely to affect Zimbabwe more than the rest of
the southern African countries.
"It would be bad news for Zimbabwe as we desperately need an
injection of funds from donors not only for our balance of payments
but also for a number of projects in the country," says John
Makamure, an economist with the Zimbabwe National Chamber of
Commerce (ZNCC).
"Because the EU is one of our major donors, a decision to stop
funding could influence other donors as well," he says. The
International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said it will look at the
fiscal implication of the DRC intervention when it meets with
Zimbabwean officials in Washington in November.
Zimbabwe needs 53 million U.S. dollars from the IMF for its
balance of payments support.
"If the EU and IMF review their support downwards then that
would be disastrous," adds Makamure.
Enraged Namibian president, Sam Nujoma, called the EU countries
"selfish, imperialists and liars," after the announcement.
In an hour-long impromptu speech at a ruling Swapo Party rally
held at the black township of Katutura recently, Nujoma stated: "We
cannot allow Africa to be ruled by foreigners. Africa must be
controlled by its African people.".
"Disturbance in the Great Lakes and the Congo is instigated by
white imperialists who want to control the country, take out its
riches while the Congolese people live in poverty. This can no
longer be allowed to continue," he said.
@ FEATURE-DRCONGO-CHAD
COTONOU October 1 1998 Sapa-IPS
POLITICS-AFRICA: DRC CONFLICT SPREADS NORTHWARD
The conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has
spread further with the decision by Chad to send troops to help the
Kinshasa and its Southern African allies fight rebels backed by
Rwanda and Uganda.
A communique issued Tuesday in the Chadian capital, Ndjamena,
stated that the authorities in the Central African nation had
decided to provide unconditional support to DRC President Laurent
Kabila by placing a military contingent at his disposal.
"We approached Kabila to see to what extent we could give him
support, including military support," Chad's Communication
Minister, Seki Mbaye Bessane, said in an interview with the French
radio station, Radio France Internationale (RFI).
Mbaye, who is also the government spokesman, did not say how
many soldiers Ndjamena was sending to the DRC, but independent
sources in Kinshasa said about 1,000 Chadian troops were already
there. Mbaye said his country had decided to join the fray because
it wanted the territorial integrity of the DRC, a country of the
sub-region, to be respected.
"We are a regional country. If another country of the region
feels destabilised, our turn is certainly not far away," Mbaye
said. He added that the decision to intervene was taken jointly
with other Central African nations at a summit held on Sep. 24 in
Libreville, Gabon, to clarify the position of the sub-region's
Francophone nations on the DRC crisis.
At that meeting - to which Rwanda was not invited, while
Burundi's president did not attend - Francophone leaders from
Central Africa implicitly condemned the rebellion in the DRC.
The insurgency was launched on Aug. 2 by DRC troops of ethnic
Tutsi origin after Kabila sent home the Rwandan army soldiers who
had helped him seize power in May 1997. The Congolese Democratic
Movement (CDM) insurgents were joined by other Congolese opposed to
Kabila and supported by Uganda and Rwanda.
As the rebels advanced on Kinshasa, Kabila appealed for help to
the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the regional
integration grouping that the DRC joined after Kabila ousted late
dictator Mobutu Sese Seko last year. Zimbabwe, Angola and Namibia
responded by sending troops to shore up the DRC government.
The Libreville meeting was attended by the presidents of Gabon,
Chad, Congo-Brazzaville and Equatorial Guinea, the prime minister
of Cameroon and Angola's foreign minister. SADC was represented by
Namibia President Sam Nujoma.
Many of the countries that attended made joint commitments on
the DRC question, according to Mbaye. He did not elaborate but said
President Omar Bongo of Gabon was particularly supportive of the
involvement of Chadian troops in the DRC. The Central African heads
also proposed the establishment of a regional peace-keeping force
in Central Africa.
Some observers say the Francophone countries opted to send
Chadian troops because they are feared throughout the region as a
result of their years of experience fighting rebels in the
conflict-ridden country. They have also received much training from
France.
It is not the first time the Chadian army is intervening in the
region. It was deployed in June 1997 in the Central African
Republic (CAR), when a section of the CAR army staged a mutiny.
A Chadian contingent also played a major role last year in the
June-October civil war in Congo-Brazzaville: the Chadians fought
alongside then rebel leader Denis Sassou Nguesso, who went on to
proclaim himself president after winning the war.
Before that, Chad sent troops to shore up the then Rwandan
regime during the April-June 1994 civil war and genocide there.
Observers say Chad's intervention in the DRC is dictated by the
interest the Francophone movement, especially France, has in
Central Africa's biggest country.
The DRC and most other former Belgian countries are members of
the Francophone family, a club of nations led by France that have
French as their official language or one of their main tongues,
although the group also includes exceptions like Equatorial Guinea,
whose official language is Spanish.
The Francophone movement had lost ground in Central Africa over
the past four years.
The victory in 1994 in Rwanda of rebels who had grown up as
refugees in English-speaking Uganda, coupled with the help France
had given to the ousted Rwandan regime led Kigali to distance
itself from the Francophone family.
After Rwanda helped Kabila oust late dictator Mobutu Sese Seko,
the DRC leader, too, turned his back on the Francophone family,
threatening to withdraw from it and accusing France of trying to
destabilise his regime. Relations between the DRC and France became
even colder when Kinshasa joined the mainly English- speaking SADC,
turning his back on neighbouring Central African leaders, who had
supported Mobutu.
But the two-month-old insurgency has caused Kabila to do an
about-face and seek the assistance of the Francophone bloc,
possibly because the military support received from Angola, Namibia
and Zimbabwe has not been enough to overcome the rebels.
The involvement of the three SADC states is apparently dictated
by their desire to safeguard their political and economic interests
in the DRC.
Zimbabwe, for example, has reportedly invested 240 million
dollars in the DRC: Kinshasa has contracted huge debts with
Zimbabwean state corporations that produce weapons, while top
Zimbabwean officials and senior Congolese military officers
reportedly have a stake in a joint diamond company in the DRC.
Moreover, the ruling parties in Zimbabwe, Angola and Namibia
are said to be part owners of a commercial bank in Kinshasa.
Angola's intervention also has to do with the fact that the
opposition National Union for the Total Independence of Angola
(UNITA) has been raiding Angolan territory from the Congolese side
of the Angola-DRC border. Cutting UNITA off from its rear base
would give the Angolan government a strategic advantage.
On the other hand, Rwanda and Uganda have thrown their weight
behind the CDM with a view to protecting their territories from
their insurgents who had been using the DRC as a springboard for
bloody attacks on them.
@ FEATURE-EU-ACP
BRUSSELS October 1 1998 Sapa-IPS
DEVELOPMENT: NEGOTIATIONS OVER FUTURE ACP-EU RELATIONS START
Formal negotiations over the future of the Lome Convention, the
European Union's giant trade and aid pact with the 71 countries of
the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of nations, are
finally under way.
European Union officials are suggesting substantial changes to
the Convention, the world's largest trade and aid pact. It expires
in February 2000 and must be revised to meet the World Trade
Organisation (WTO) global free trade rules.
Although the final EU negotiating directive, released ahead of
the negotiations, which began Wednesday, asserts that the EU "will
examine all alternative possibilities," European ministers are
backing the 'Free Trade Areas' (FTAs) option.
The FTAs, as envisaged by the EU, would link those ACP
countries which have already achieved a certain level of
development, and aim at establishing regional agreements between
the EU and sub- regions of the ACP.
David Jessop, executive director of the Caribbean Council for
Europe says that "for the ACP, the new arrangement must be about
development and greater equity between sovereign states of
differing sizes and wealth."
"Unfortunately, it appears that for the EU, the negotiations
seem to be about encouraging the ACP towards compatibility with
World Trade Organisation rules and creating new political and
economic conditionalities," adds Jessop.
Under the EU proposal, access to the EU market would remain the
same as now enjoyed under Lome, but the ACP states would be
expected to match this by opening up their own markets to EU
exports, after a transitional period of 10 to 15 years which would
start in 2004.
The EU proposal is to grant special agreements only to the
Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and the small island states within
the ACP, which have the most fragile economies.
Among the 71 ACP states, 39 are LDCs, which already benefit
from zero-tariff access to EU market, and 20 are small island
economies for which the EU hopes to set special rules.
Philip Lowe, director general for development at the European
Commission, recently said the plan was to open the EU market, on a
non-reciprocal basis, for all products coming from the ACP LDCs
which have not signed Regional Free Trade Agreements by 2004.
The proposed solution for the LDCs is the granting of
'enhanced' preferences, or completely tariff-free access to the
European market, under the EU's existing Generalised System of
Preferences (GSP).
ACP countries acknowledge the need to be integrated and
competitive in the world economy, but they are expected to propose
"more realistic time scales" in respect of phasing out
preferential trade agreements.
The failure to reach an agreement in trade talks between the EU
and South Africa, after the 22nd round of negotiations here this
month, suggests that ACP-EU negotiations over FTAs may not be as
quick as hoped by the EU's executive Commission, which will
negotiate on behalf of the EU.
Glenys Kinnock, a member of the European Parliament, echoed
this view by recently saying that "in the current hostile climate,
it is unrealistic to believe that ACP countries will be able to
prepare and negotiate Free trade Agreements with the EU in five
years."
For NGOs campaigning for poverty reduction, the overall
emphasis on free trade is worrying. NGOs say that under a system of
regional FTAs the advantage will lie with the EU's globalised
exporters, not the ACP states, whose membership includes some of
the poorest nations in the world.
"It (trade and investment) is an area over which there is
considerable concern by ACP and European civil society about the
EU's real intention," said this week to the European Parliament
Development Committee Simon Stocker, Director of Eurostep, a
network of European NGDOs.
Stocker noted that IMF predictions for African economies are
bleak. The IMF estimates say that exports from Africa, after a year
of stagnation in 1997, will fall 2.7 percent this year. The IMF
also predicts a fall in Foreign Direct Investment over the same
period from 10.3 billion dollars to 9.7 billion dollars.
European NGOs say that the timetable proposed by the EU could
do "serious damage" to the economies of ACP states. Under the
finalised FTAs, ACP countries would lose their present preferential
access to EU markets and would be forced to open up to EU exports.
"The move of ACP countries towards regional integration can
benefit from EU support, but it cannot be driven from outside"
said the European Centre of Development Policy Management, an
independent foundation based in Maastricht in the Netherlands, in a
recent comment.
The Commission aims to finalise the first regional FTAs by
2015, starting with those groups of countries which have already
begun a process of regional integration. Caribbean countries may
form a FTA based on the existing CARICOM and CARIFORUM agreements
and Southern African countries may build upon their SACU-SADEC
customs union agreements.
More time would be needed to form FTAs in West Africa, building
upon the UEMOA monetary union, in East Africa, between neighbouring
Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, and in the Pacific.
The Commission suggests that a transitional period of 10 years
or more could start in 2005 during which time it could implement
the regional economic partnership agreements. These would also need
WTO approval, and even then WTO would only give it if the FTAs were
purely temporary and that trade access to the FTA member nations
would be free for all by the end of the ten years.
- ACP foreign ministers said Saturday the Lome Convention and
international human rights conventions are violated in the EU on a
regular basis, and they asked the EU to take action to stop the
harassment of immigrants.
The ministers condemned the "inhuman, cruel and degrading
treatment" inflicted on Semira Adamu, who died on Tuesday after
police held a cushion over her face while trying to deport her.
They said the death of a Nigerian refugee in Belgium reflected
the "inhuman practices" their citizens face across the EU.
@ ARRIVE ALIVE PEDESTRIAN MONTH
Issued by: Sasani Communicationss
Thursday, 1 October, 1998
The Department of Transport today (1/10/19898) launched
Pedestrian Month as part of its overall ARRIVE ALIVE road safety
campaign.
The Minister of Transport, Mac Maharaj, said Pedestrian Month
was launched to raise public awareness of the approximately 3 800
pedestrians who die on South Africa's roads every year.
"Pedestrian fatalities contribute to nearly 40% of all road
fatalities and to increase awareness, as part of the ARRIVE ALIVE
campaign, the Department of Transport has declared October 1998
Pedestrian Month."
"It is important that our pedestrian become aware their own
responsibilities when they use the roads. By arming them with
knowledge, we equip them to use the roads safely. Knowledge,
followed by a change in attitude by this group of road users, will
assist in reducing the totally unacceptable unsafe situation on our
roads," he said.
To highlight the carnage of pedestrians on South Africa's roads
and to Educate them on basic pedestrian safety rules, the
Department
of Transport will utilise a variety of alternative communications
mediums such as street theatre, graffiti walls and taxi rank
promotion. Some provinces have also arranged street parades,
community workshops and lectures to community organisations to
supplement these ARRIVE ALIVE activities.
A street theatre group, North West-based GBR, will perform at
two venues per province. GBR will also conduct workshops with local
theatre groups in order to empower local artists to conduct their
own performances of the script, aimed at educating pedestrians.
Community-based artists have been commissioned to paint
`pedestrian messages' on walls located in identified "black spots"
-
25 areas throughout the country were the majority of pedestrian are
killed.
In support of Masakhane Awareness week, nine Arrive Alive
branded mobile kiosks will tour high traffic areas in each province
and distribute information pamphlets on pedestrian road safety from
12 to 18 October 1998.
Each kiosk will keep a register in which members of the public
can pledge their commitment to `look before crossing a road'
thereby
encouraging greater pedestrian safety.
The national Department of Transport will supply a manual and
flip chart to educate pedestrians to provincial road safety
offices.
Personnel from the provinces will train people within the community
to use these educational tools/
Issued on behalf of : National Department of Transport
Contact : Godfrey Maluleke
Telephone : 083 737 6270
Issued by : Sasani Communications
Contact : Desiree Pooe
Telephone : 011 784 2598
Fax : 011 783 4735
e-mail : des...@msomi.co.za
@ FEATURE-AFRICA-ANNAN
UNITED NATIONS October 1 1998 Sapa-IPS
POLITICS: PROGRESS IN AFRICA ERODED BY RENEWED CONFLICTS
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan is worried that limited
political achievements in Africa are being eroded by renewed
violence in the continent.
Annan noted this week that he was happy at the political
transition in Nigeria but regretted the new border conflict between
Ethiopia and Eritrea.
"Recently there have been positive developments in a number of
African countries seeking to escape conflict, or to make the
transition from dictatorship to democracy," Annan said Monday. "But
the move away from the rule of the gun, has seemed the exception
rather than the rule in recent months."
On the positive side, the United Nations recently convened two
international conferences - one on Guinea and the other on Sierra
Leone
- to seek economic assistance to restore peace and stability in
these
two countries. The world body also authorised two new peacekeeping
operations, one in the Central African Republic and the other in
Sierra Leone, to begin a process of nation-building in both
countries.
But these gains have been whittled away by fighting in several
African countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Guinea-Bissau and Angola.
At a ministerial meeting on Africa last week, the 15-member
U.N. Security Council welcomed the political progress made in three
countries, namely Sierra Leone, the Central African Republic and
Burundi. It expressed serious concern, however, over the number and
intensity of current conflicts in Africa - particularly the border
war between Ethiopia and Eritrea, the resurgence of violence in the
the Congo and the impasse in the peace process in Angola.
Additionally, it was critical of the continued violence in
Sierra Leone and the complex humanitarian emergencies in Somalia
and Sudan.
"These situations, which in some cases threaten the stability
of large parts of the continent, call for concerted action by
African states, the international community and the U.N. system, to
prevent further tragedy," the ministers said in a statement.
Annan argues that without the determination of the parties
themselves to reach political accommodation, there is little the
United Nations can do except offer "the band-aid of humanitarian
assistance."
"What will it take for Africa's leaders finally to reject
military solutions to political challenges? When will the
realisation arrive that not one - not a single one - of these
conflicts can end in the absence of compromise, tolerance and
peaceful solution of disputes?," Annan asks.
"When will the time come when we can say that we did our best
for Africa - that its leaders came together and resolved peacefully
their differences, and that we in the international community
finally did our part to help secure durable peace and ensure
lasting development?"
Such questions., however, remain unanswered even as fighting
re-surfaces in old conflicts - as in Angola and Sierra Leone - just
as when peace appeared to be at hand.
The Security Council has called on African states, and all
parties concerned, to "urgently" demonstrate the political will to
settle their disputes by peaceful rather than military means and to
respect international humanitarian law and the sovereignty,
political independence and territorial integrity of states in the
region.
At a news conference last week, President Blaise Compaore of
Burkina Faso, chairman of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU),
argued that although Africa was now torn by more conflicts than at
any time before, "the continent had never been so free in terms of
controlling its own destiny and stability."
He said that Africa's relative stability of 30 years ago had
been brought about by the international struggle between Eastern
and Western ideological blocs. "But now, for the first time,
Africans held responsibility for their continent's stability," he
added.
In a report released in July, Annan warned that conflict in
Africa poses "a major challenge" to U.N. efforts designed to ensure
global peace, prosperity and human rights for all.
"Although the U.N. was intended to deal with inter-state
warfare," he said, " it is being required more and more often to
respond to intra-state instability and conflict."
In these conflicts, he pointed out, the main aim, increasingly,
is the destruction not just of armies but of civilians and entire
ethnic groups.
"Preventing such wars is no longer a matter of defending states
or protecting allies. It is a matter of defending humanity itself,"
he noted.
Since 1970, more than 30 wars have been fought in Africa, the
vast majority of them intra-state in origin. In 1996, 14 of the 53
countries of Africa were afflicted by armed conflicts, accounting
for more than half of all war-related deaths and resulting in more
than eight million refugees, returnees and displaced persons.
"The consequences of those conflicts have seriously undermined
Africa's efforts to ensure long-term stability, prosperity and
peace for its peoples," Annan said.
@ LABOUR-LEON
Johannesburg Sept 30 Sapa
TRADE UNIONS' POWERS MUST BE CURBED: LEON
The only way to address South Africa's unemployment crisis was
to curb the excessive powers of its trade unions, Democratic Party
leader Tony Leon said on Thursday.
The DP believed secondary strikes and picketing should be
banned, unions should be held liable for profit losses as a result
of strike action, and workers should be balloted in secret before
any strike started, he said in an address to the Roodepoort Country
Club.
Unions should also be held responsible for the actions of their
striking members, and the safety of those who did not want to
strike or replacement workers should be ensured.
There should be a legal presumption whereby trade unions would
have to discharge responsibility when acts of assault and vandalism
occurred during a strike, Leon said.
This would allow for swift, strong civil and criminal action to
be taken against workers guilty of misconduct.
Such measures had curbed excessive union power in the United
Kingdom in the 1980s, and the fact that the country's Labour
government had not repealed any of them was proof of their economic
benefits, Leon said.
"It is time the ANC government started governing this country in
the interests of all its citizens, with a single-minded commitment
to economic growth renewal - not to on elite whose actions...
sabotage our future and our prosperity."
Leon said the strike this month by the National Union of Metal
Workers of South Africa was costing vehicle manufacturers more than
R2 million in daily revenue, and some plants had already closed
down while others were operating at reduced capacity.
@ SA-NETHERLANDS
PRETORIA October 1 1998 Sapa
SA GETS R62 MILLION FROM THE NETHERLANDS FOR RDP
South Africa would receive R62 million towards its
reconstruction and development programme from The Netherlands in
terms of an agreement signed between the two countries in Pretoria
on Thursday.
In a joint statement, the South African Finance Ministry and
The Netherlands Embassy said the funds would be channeled to
various government departments to support democratisation, youth
and rural development, and education in the 1998/99 financial year.
The grant was a continuation of Dutch support for the RDP
programme, which received a total of R140 million from The
Netherlands between 1995 and 1997.
"In addition to the government to government co-operation, the
Netherlands continues to support the transformation process in
South Africa through civil society," the statement said.
"In this regard, approximately 200 projects, mainly run by a
wide variety of non-governmental organisations, received financial
aid to a total value of R78 million per annum."
South Africa received a total of more than R530 million in aid
grants from The Netherlands since 1995.
The South African government expressed its appreciation for the
consistent support from The Netherlands for socio-economic
development.
The agreement was signed by Shaheed Rajie, chief director in
the Finance Department, and Dutch Ambassador Herman Froger.
@ LUYT-CP
PRETORIA October 1 1998 Sapa
LUYT GOING NOWHERE WITH HIS NEW POLITICAL PARTY: CP
Former SA Rugby Football Union president Louis Luyt was going
nowhere with his new political grouping, the Conservative Party
said on Thursday.
"This is underlined by the clumsy way in which he handled the
formation of his party. He simply plunged in," CP spokesman Pieter
Aucamp said in Pretoria.
Luyt reportedly told the Midrand Chamber of Business on
Wednesday that he would form a new political group, the Federal
Alliance, to contest next year's general election.
Political parties were welcome to join the alliance, he said.
Aucamp said Luyt's grouping would have little impact on
Afrikaner politics. At most, it would only divide voters not
supporting the notion of self-determination.
"He might be a strong leader in the world of business and
rugby, but he will soon find out that politics is a different ball
game."
Aucamp said Luyt had not approached the CP beforehand about
joining him.
"He held talks with CP leader Ferdi Hartzenberg earlier in the
year, saying he was considering setting up a party with broad
appeal. But we were never invited to join any alliance," Aucamp
said.
@ LESOTHO-AMNESTY
JOHANNESBURG October 1 1998 Sapa
SADC TROOPS, LESOTHO GOVT SHOULD OBSERVE HUMAN RIGHTS: AMNESTY
Amnesty International of SA on Thursday called on SADC troops,
the Lesotho Defence Force and police in the kingdom to adhere to
international human rights obligations and standards while
restoring order in the embattled country.
In a statement, Amnesty spokeswoman Joan Muller said all
arrested civilians or LDF soldiers should be taken into custody by
properly constituted authorities who would ensure they were
promptly charged with recognizably criminal offences.
"They should also be given full access to legal representation,
independent medical care, family visits and be guaranteed fair and
prompt trials," said Muller.
She said no one should be sentenced to death as a result of
such a trial.
"(Amnesty) has frequently and publicly expressed concern at a
longstanding pattern in Lesotho of arbitrary arrests, ill-treatment
and torture, sometimes leading to deaths in police custody," said
Muller.
Following statements from the ruling Lesotho Congress for
Democracy construing all opposition as criminal, there were fears
amongst the opposition parties that these statements would spark a
wave of arrests, she said.
The organisation questioned the wisdom of not including
opposition party leaders in the multi-military committee
established last week to restore law and order in the kingdom.
The committee comprised LDF senior officers, Souther African
Development Community troop commanders, LCD government officials
and senior Lesotho police officers.
"There is a danger that these operations will be perceived or
used as instruments of political repression by the reinstalled LCD
government," said Muller.
The Basotho were left in a state of tension and fear, as well
as great material deprivation, following massive violence triggered
by the intervention of SADC troops led by South Africa and Botswana
last Tuesday.
Humanitarian organisations were experiencing difficulty in
confirming the civilian death toll as thousands have fled the
country, some for fear of reprisal from political opponents.
Amnesty expressed concern that some of the LDF soldiers who
resisted the SADC intervention last week, and who were still hiding
in the mountains, could be in need of medical care.
"The multi-military committee should ensure that those under
their command only use the minimum force necessary to arrest them,"
said Muller.
@ WELFARE-SASH
CAPE TOWN October 1 1998 Sapa
BLACK SASH SLAMS SA's WELFARE SYSTEM
There was little difference between the old and the new South
Africa in the delivery of welfare to the poor, Black Sash Trust
chairwoman Sheena Duncan said on Thursday.
It was inexcusable that four years after the new government
came into being, things were still dragging along as they used to,
she said in a statement.
Duncan was reacting to Welfare and Population Development
Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi's declaration of October as
"Welfare Month".
This was a public relations exercise in the face of a crisis in
the delivery of welfare to the poor, she said.
"Our clients come to us in the thousands, complaining about
arbitrary suspension of grants, administrative chaos, long waiting
times for the processing of grants and the lack of grants at all
for many not reached by development projects," Duncan said.
Inefficient and corrupt administration of social security left
many of the poor without access to one of the most important
poverty alleviation mechanisms.
"Nor do we understand why it is taking so long to eliminate the
corruption in the system and to make the administration efficient
and honest.
"There is not a whole lot of difference between the old South
Africa, when the national government shed its responsibilities for
welfare to self-governing or independent homelands ... and the new
South Africa, where the buck is tossed between national government
and provincial administrations," she said.
The Black Sash had noted that according to an auditor-general's
report, the welfare department was unable to spend its budget
allocation for the 1996/97 financial year, and as a result had
forfeited R52 million.
"The buck stops nowhere," Duncan said.
@ BOE-GEAR
CAPE TOWN October 1 1998 Sapa
BOE URGES POLICYMAKERS TO IMPLEMENT GEAR POLICIES MORE RAPIDLY
The last month provided some relief to investors and
policymakers in South Africa, according to an executive summary
issued by the Board of Executives (BoE) on Thursday.
The Rand recovered quite strongly, bond yields fell sharply,
and the stock marketrallied.
"These positive short-term trends partly reflect the fact that
the currency and financial markets had become extremely oversold,
as well as being a reaction to signs of stabilisation in global
markets," BoE said.
BoE said the lifting of pressure may also reflect a growing
realisation that South Africa's fundamentals were in many respects
sounder than those in most emerging markets.
"This realisation has been assisted by the robust policy
response to the economic crisis, where policymakers have not
flinched from painful measures," BoE said.
More impressive was the refusal to budge from adherence to the
GEAR programme.
"We have consistently urged policymakers to implement GEAR
policies more rapidly, and there has been a price to pay for the
gradualist approach."
BoE said that in view of the stresses recently imposed on the
economy by external forces, and the strong political pressures that
arose from that, it was remarkable that no backward steps had been
taken or were contemplated in the economic reform programme.
"The continued commitment to removal of exchange controls is
particularly significant. If this adherence to GEAR is maintained,
and we are confident it will be, South Africa's ability to attract
and retain capital will ultimately have been greatly increased,"
BoE said.
@ KWANATAL-SPEED
DURBAN October 1 1998 Sapa
KWANATAL TRANSPORT LAUNCHES FOUR-MONTH CAMPAIGN AGAINST
SPEEDING
The KwaZulu-Natal transport department on Thursday again
declared its zero tolerance approach to traffic offences by
launching a four-month campaign targeting speedsters.
Transport MEC S'bu Ndebele said the department would increase
speed timing exercises by from Thursday (today) until January 31
next year.
He said the campaign was enhanced by the passing of the
Administrative Adjudication of Traffic Offences Act which allow
traffic officers to use a demerit system so that drivers who
violate road regulations could be deprived of their licences.
Ndebele said the programme was aimed at reducing violations of
the speed limit which was estimated at 40 percent in the province.
Speed was the major cause of the 2000 deaths and 7000 serious
injuries resulting from road accidents every year.
"It is for this reason that we have embarked on this project to
intensify speed enforcement," Ndebele said.
About 178 traffic cameras will be switched on in October and a
further 378 during the following three months.
Ndebele said a fully equipped camera office was set up in
Pinetown, outside Durban, to co-ordinate the enforcement programme.
A special unit was also established to follow up on traffic
fines and to contact offenders by telephone to encourage them to
settle their fines.
"We are determined to get rid of this culture of impunity where
people commit offences and get away with it," Ndebele said.
He said the campaign was aimed at reducing road deaths in the
province by at least 50 percent by 2002.
@ TRANSPORT-PEDESTRIANS
PRETORIA October 1 1998 Sapa
DEPARTMENT LAUNCHES DRIVE TO CURB PEDESTRIAN DEATHS
An awareness campaign to curtail pedestrian deaths on South
African roads was launched in Pretoria on Thursday.
Scheduled to run until the end of the month, the drive would
employ a wide range of techniques to educate people about
pedestrian safety, the Department of Transport said in a statement.
These included making use of graffiti walls, street theatre,
parades, workshops and promotions at taxi ranks. Mobile kiosks
would also tour each of the nine provinces to hand out information
pamphlets.
Dubbed Pedestrian Month, the campaign would highlight the fact
that pedestrian deaths accounted for almost 40 percent of all road
fatalities, Transport Minister Mac Maharaj said.
About 3800 pedestrians die on South African roads every year.
"It is important that our pedestrians become aware of their own
responsibilities when they use the roads. By arming them with
knowledge, we equip them to use our roads safely," Maharaj said.
@ EDUC-UNESCO
PRETORIA October 1 1998 Sapa
BENGU HEAD SA DELEGATION TO WORLD EDUCATION CONFERENCE
Education Minister Sibusiso Bengu would head a South African
delegation to the World Conference on Higher Education in Paris,
France, next week, the Education Department said on Thursday.
A statement said the gathering, which is organised by the
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation,
would be attended by more than 100 education ministers from all
over the world.
About 2000 experts, teachers, students and business
representatives would also be present.
The department said the aim of the conference would be to map
out principles for far-reaching reform of higher education
world-wide.
"Decisions to be taken at the forum are expected to constitute
a landmark for the renewal of education."
The conference will run from Monday to Friday next week, and
Bengu will deliver a speech on Tuesday.
@ ZAMBIA-TB
LUSAKA October 1 1998 Sapa
TB CASES INCREASE TENFOLD IN ZAMBIA
Tuberculosis cases have increased tenfold in Zambia in the last
decade, delegates at a three-day international meeting for TB
researchers and scientists in Lusaka were told on Thursday.
For every 100,000 person in the country, 3500 were suffering
from the disease, compared to 350 10 years ago.
Zambian Health Minister Professor Nkandu Luo warned of rising
TB cases in the country and challenged the Central Board of Health
to develop a research agenda - now lacking among Zambian
scientists.
He said medical researchers should give the deadly disease top
priority and devise new approaches of addressing it, more
especially with the advent of its affliction with HIV.
Fourty delegates from 20 European and African countries were
attending the meeting to evaluate a 10-year research programme's
findings on characteristics of HIV impact on TB in Zambia.
@ FEATURE-ZIM-BRAINDRAIN
HARARE October 1 1998 Sapa
THIRD WORLD ECONOMIC EXILES RETURNING HOME
A number of third world countries are probably in various forms
of economic decay because most of them continue to lose skilled
personnel to industrialised countries due to unfavourable
conditions at home, Ziana news agency reports.
With their economies in a state of apoplexy due to skewed
macro-economic policies, civil strife coupled with falling
currencies, most developing countries, Zimbabwe included, fail to
retain skilled and experienced personnel.
And as the exodus continues, efforts are being made to reverse
the brain drain which has seen those working in foreign countries
at times being harassed for stealing the jobs of locals.
However, home is always best and some of the country's skilled
personnel in the diaspora are packing their bags and returning to
their roots.
The past months have seen Zimbabwe's economic exiles returning
home through the facilitative efforts of the Swiss-based
International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
Founded in 1951 in Geneva, Switzerland, IOM offers incentives
to returnees through the purchase of air tickets, shipment of goods
and "reintegration" allowances for those professionals willing to
return home.
According to head of IOM Harare office, Thomas Weiss, priority
is given to those professionals whose skills are in great demand in
their respective home countries.
Vacancies at home are identified through consultations with the
private and public sectors and applications are submitted to IOM
offices in the United Kingdom, America and France.
Weiss says the organisation's 15 African offices had recorded
overwhelming response in its efforts to reverse the south-north
drift by highly skilled middle-age Africans.
The facility is, however, only extended to those who would have
worked and gained experience in the host countries without
renouncing their indigenous citizenship.
Worldwide, the organisation has helped more than 150 million
experts return and secure jobs in their home countries.
As for Zimbabwe, Weiss says since the opening of its Harare
offices in 1983, more than 500 professionals have benefited from
the programme securing jobs in various sectors throughout the
country.
Ziana caught up with one of the IOM returnees, Medicine
Masiiwa, an agricultural project officer with a non-governmental
organisation, who says he is happy to be back home from Germany
where he studied and worked since 1994.
Masiiwa says chances of accumulating wealth in Germany were
there for the picking considering his qualifications as an
economist, but he had never entertained setting permanent residence
in that country.
"Life is not only about having material things. I am now having
a normal social life here although I am earning less money compared
to what I was earning in Germany."
More continue to return home with 60 professionals having
either returned or applied for the IOM offers this year despite the
negative publicity overseas on Zimbabwe's economic woes.
Jaquiline Sibanda, a public relations and communications
executive with a local insurance company and an IOM beneficiary,
says she decided to come back and help contribute to the
development of her mother country.
Weiss says hundreds of Zimbabweans, most of whom went to Europe
as students, were willing to return home, but cannot immediately do
so because of prohibitive shipping costs. Others are also not sure
of the employment opportunities at home.
Figures released by the central statistical office in July 1998
indicated that 1682 professionals left the country in 1994, most of
them destined for the United Kingdom, with neighbouring South
Africa as a second preference. During the same period in 1997, the
country lost 993 professionals to greener pastures abroad.
It is against this background that captains of Zimbabwe's
industry and commerce have welcomed the IOM efforts to reverse the
brain drain as it is helping them employ highly qualified and
experienced personnel.
A business executive with First Mutual Life assurance, John
Smith, says the IOM programme had greatly assisted them in engaging
the services of one of the company's most qualified employees.
"Next time we need someone to fill in a challenging post we
will definitely turn to IOM.
"I am not hesitant to recommend the organisation to any company
executive in search of highly qualified personnel, which is an
asset to every company," says Smith.
Meanwhile, Sibanda does not regret her decision to return home
where she is always among friends and relatives unlike in Europe
where the dictate is for one to mind one's business.
Home is always best.
@ MANDELA-KAHN
CAPE TOWN October 1 1998 Sapa
MANDELA'S REMARKS ABOUT BOESAK TRIAL INAPPROPRIATE: KAHN
President Nelson Mandela's remarks about the trial of former
Western Cape African National Congress leader Dr Allan Boesak were
inappropriate, Western Cape attorney-general Frank Kahn said on
Thursday.
However, he fell short of saying they amounted to contempt of
court.
"The remarks attributed to the president are obviously
inappropriate, coming as they do during the course of a trial,"
Kahn said in a statement.
"The president has, however, stated that he does not wish to
prejudge the issue and I am looking into the matter."
Speaking to reporters earlier this week, Mandela said that
while he did not want to prejudge the case, it was quite clear the
prosecution had not yet been able to establish a prima facie case
against Boesak.
Mandela was responding to questions that he had mobilised funds
for Boesak to retain his senior advocate.
Boesak is standing trial on fraud and theft charges in Cape
Town's High Court.
@ ANNUAL ADRESS MINISTER NZO
Issued by: Departement of Foreign Affairs
ANNUAL ADDRESS BY FOREIGN MINISTER ALFRED NZO TO THE
SOUTH AFRICAN INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
IN JOHANNESBURG ON THURSDAY, 1 OCTOBER 1998
Mr Chair
Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen
Having only returned yesterday from New York where I was
attending the 53rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly, I
am pleased to be able to use this opportunity tonight to look
forward into the new millennium, building on the achievements which
have been attained during this year. South Africans are able to look
back on 1998 and note how many of our foreign policy objectives were
achieved and how successfully we pursued our foreign policy
priorities. Here I would like to point to only a few, including: -
the hosting of the Non-Aligned Movement Summit; - the chairing of
the UN Commission on Human Rights; - our continued leadership of
Southern African Development Community (SADC) and United Nations
Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD); - the contributions
made to the climate change negotiations; - the expansion of
telecommunications in Africa; - the participation of the President
and Deputy President on numerous foreign stages, including the World
Economic Forum in Davos and the 50th Anniversary of the World
Trading System in Geneva; - our role in the conclusion of a UN
Agreement on Human Rights Defenders after 13 years of stalemate; -
our continued pressure for disarmament; - our positive contributions
in the debate regarding the restructuring of the institutions
involved in global governance, - and our myriad bilateral contacts
and effort, from Libya to East Timor.
As you can see, our work over the past year has steadily
cemented our role as a key player on the international stage, a role
for which we did not initially volunteer, but one which was accorded
to us by the international community. The past year has seen us
continue to pursue our foreign policy objectives through concrete
actions.
However, I do not want to dwell this evening on past performance
or achievements. Instead, I wish to use my Annual Address this
evening to clearly outline to you the course we are charting for the
future.
A course which we will develop and promote not only as South
Africa, but also as chairperson of NAM, SADC and UNCTAD, and as a
committed member of our continent and the family of nations.
Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen
What drives South Africa's foreign policy?
In short, it is the promotion and attainment of a state of peace
and prosperity for our own citizens as well as the citizens of our
region, continent and planet, which will allow us to outgrow our
designation as a developing country.
This is derived from the fundamental belief that there can be no
prosperity without peace, but also no peace without prosperity, both
within countries and between countries, as well as between the
developed and developing worlds.
We view this vision as an all encompassing call to arms, not
only for ourselves but also for the South as a whole. No longer can
the South be left to stand on the sideline as the pillars of our new
global society and world economy are being erected. We will continue
our efforts to ensure that the South plays a central role in the
advancement of humanity in this new age of renewal and renaissance;
that our development agenda informs the development agenda of the
whole international community, that we approach the new challenges
with an open mind and a willingness to search for new answers. South
Africa continues to believe in the necessity to generate a grounds
well of actions which will inspire all people to work towards this
vision of improving the human condition.
Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen
Let me now turn to more specific objectives which make up our
foreign policy and which will form the basis for our actions as we
enter the new millennium.
When we look at the world, three things strike us.
First, the apparently untouchable direction of the twin
processes of globalisation and liberalisation; the dominance of the
market and the concomitant decrease in the sovereignty of states.
Second, the apparent inability or unwillingness of some to act
to bring to an end to political oppression, human rights abuses,
conflicts within and among states and corruption in all its facets.
Third, the realisation that nothing will change without us, the
developing world, leading a global offensive to place our concerns
and needs centre stage and working concretely for the very real
possibility to end poverty in the world. Coupled to this, the
realisation that the institutions of global governance, central to
the achievement of our aims, must be restructured and refocused as a
matter of priority, and that our interventions into such
organisations must be radically reviewed.
Working from these three observations, we can clearly see how
South Africa's foreign policy priorities are aimed at addressing the
identified challenges.
South Africa is committed to the reversal of the marginalisation
of the weakest countries, especially the Least Developed Countries
or LDCs, the majority of whom are in Africa. We are also committed
to addressing the adverse consequences currently evident amongst too
many of the world's population. Earlier this week, when,
representing the NAM Chair, I addressed a Ministerial Meeting of the
LDCs at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, I had the
following to say on this subject, and I quote:
" The importance of the adequate provision of resources to
finance development on a predictable, assured and incremental basis
is compelling.
The utility of Official Development Assistance in creating an
enabling environment to assist LDCs, in particular, in their
developmental efforts is pivotal in its strategic link to other
development elements such as external debt, multilateral development
finance, balance of payments support, private capital flows and the
role of multilateral financial institutions." .
We maintain the position that globalisation cannot merely be
allowed to prescribe solutions, insisting on uniformity and ignoring
our social development requirements. We have sought to show the need
for the impact of globalization to be effectively channelled so as
to become a truly positive force for development, as well as making
concrete proposals in this regard.
We also maintain the position that liberalization cannot be used
by the North to merely weaken and take over economies of the South,
whilst new trade barriers are erected in the North. The new dynamics
present in the global economy have provided us with a clear
opportunity to qualitatively expand the world economy beyond the old
centres to Asia, Latin America and Africa.
South Africa has consistently pointed to the need for all
countries to engage actively and positively with the powerful
processes of globalisation and liberalisation. It is of no use to
turn our back on the reality we now face nor to wish away the
present. It is only by actively pursuing a positive agenda aimed at
addressing the needs and aspirations of developing countries through
international organizations such as the WTO, IMF, World Bank and UN
as well as with other economic actors, and with governments in the
North that we in the South can bring about a measurable and
meaningful shift in the impact that these forces have on us and can
rectify the deficiencies of the market in addressing our human
development needs.
But for this opportunity to be taken, resources must flow to
these new centres to allow them to develop, not to strip them of
resources.
The negative impact of short-term capital flows, and the
effective transfer of wealth from the South to North in this way as
well as through the untenable debt burden faced my many developing
countries directs us to work as a matter of urgency for the
restructuring of the IMF and World Bank as well as the establishment
of some form of rules governing capital flows.
For South Africa this also means the effective promotion of our
economic and trading capacity, the development of new markets and
alliances and the attraction of the right types of investment to the
country and the region.
Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen
Do human values have any place in the ordering of our global
society as we enter the new millennium.
South Africa firmly believes "yes".
We, together with too many others across this planet have
endured centuries of colonialism, oppression, aggression,
exploitation and neglect. South Africa's track-record on fighting to
right these wrongs is clear.
We will continue to oppose terrorism, exaggerated ethnicity,
chauvinism and xenophobia in all their forms. We will continue to
fight for the transformation of international relations so as to
eradicate aggression, the usurping of power, unilateral coercive
measures and unfair economic practices, foreign occupation and the
use of force. We will focus on ensuring justice for the oppressed,
equality for women and protection of children everywhere.
At this point I can find no more eloquent way of putting our
commitment to human rights to you than to quote from the Durban
Declaration tabled by South Africa at the recent NAM Summit and
adopted by acclamation by the meeting:
"As we mark the 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration
Human Rights, nothing should be used as a convenient mask to hide
genocide, gross violations of Human Rights and crimes against
humanity... We must seek a world order of compassion for the weak,
of human rights and development for all."
We will continue to work to ensure that the values of
democratisation, good governance, a principled opposition to
corruption and the abuse of power are promoted through all means
possible.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen
Human Rights and democracy do not, of themselves, automatically
bring a better world. They require an environment of peace and
development. We must continue to work as hard as we can for a world
order free from weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear
weapons. We must ensure that indiscriminate killers such as
landmines are effectively banished and that the flood of small arms
and conventional weapons is turned back.
Related to these efforts is the fight against terrorism, against
transnational crime, against drug trafficking and against the
ongoing attempts by groups to seize power by force or by some
Governments to still participate in or give their support to such
actions.
A case in point concerning our commitment to the goals and
principles I have set out above, is reflected in our handling of the
Lesotho emergency. We were not willing to stand by, for fear of
regional mandate, and see certain groups in Lesotho refuse to
explore all peaceful means of dispute resolution, rather trying to
win enough time to violently overthrow the government. This is not
the way the modern world works, and we will act in an appropriate
manner to each situation that arises. There is no greater threat to
our collective efforts to build peace and prosperity than these
types of rogue elements.
But human development also requires the pursuit of other equally
essential goals. These include eradicating famine, stopping
environmental degradation, AIDS and other diseases, as well as
renewing the focus on the development and utilisation of science and
technology and on the rapid development of human resources and
endogeonous capacity in the South.
Key in the pursuit of these goals is effective South-South
Cooperation, built up through strong regional integration and
topical cooperation as well as covering a wide range of issues. It
is essential, however, that this must be coupled to a serious,
in-depth and equal dialogue by the South with the North. The
interdependence of the world leaves both sides with no choice but to
come together to grapple for common answers to problems which will
impact on both sides, including unemployment and structural problems
in the North as well as poverty, deprivation and social dislocation
in the South. South Africa is committed to ensuring that South South
Cooperation is placed on a practicable footing, and that a serious
dialogue with our partners in the North is effectively pursued. Part
of this effort will have to include a recommitment to the philosophy
that development assistance will not be accepted as charity nor to
create subservient dependency. Aid is an essential catalyst for
economic and social development in a great many regions of the world
due to the lack of infrastructure and private capital at the present
moment.
How will we work towards achieving our objectives and promoting
our goals?
In our pursuit of the goals and objectives set out above, as
well as in our efforts to carry outwards our principles on the
issues affecting us today, we have a full hand at our disposal.
South Africa maintains friendly relations with all the countries
of the world, and we are, on a continuous basis, ensuring that our
relations with these countries are being placed on an ever sounder
basis. Why this focus on a wide spectrum of bilateral relations?
Because strong bilateral relations and mutual understanding of each
other is of immense value during times of crisis, need and the
resolution of potential conflict situations.
We believe that our strong focus on our region, Southern Africa,
and its cooperation mechanism, SADC, is the only way for us to
approach our wider relations with the rest of the world. We will
continue to strengthen our practical cooperation efforts in the
region.
Linked to this is our commitment to our continent.
South Africa is also committed to use all the instruments of
multilateral diplomacy placed at our disposal. Whether it be through
the General Assembly and its thematic Committees, through the other
main bodies of the UN, through the Specialized Agencies of the UN or
through other international organisations, South Africa will ensure
that our aims and principles are fully reflected in the debates,
dialogue and policy formulation which take place.
But we will not stop here - we have further ensured that our
inputs to the Group of 77, our leadership of NAM and our upcoming
leadership of the Commonwealth are harnessed to achieve our
objectives and those of the South.
The value to international diplomacy of these myriad avenues for
formal and informal dialogue and personal contact should never be
underestimated.
Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen
At this stage I also wish to point to another tenet of our
foreign policy.
South Africa firmly believes in the value and contribution to be
made by non-state actors, that is the civil society and the business
community.
As the world is changing, so is the role of the state and the
role and responsibility of non-state actors. We will continue to
develop our relationships in this area as we also point others to
the benefits to be found through this contact.
The Department of Foreign Affairs is already working to achieve
the goals we have set for ourselves. We may not always draw
attention to ourselves, and other actors on the foreign policy stage
may seem to be making all the running, but let me assure you here
tonight - My Department knows what it has to do and is hard at work
to meet the challenges it has been set.
In support, we are actively pursuing a transformation process
which will see more efficient utilization of resources as well as
the development and enhancement of the modern skills required to
achieve the tasks effectively.
We have our assignment and we aim to achieve it through our own
actions and in collaboration with the other role players.
Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen
I hope I was able to sketch for you tonight an outline of what
we will be occupied with in the future. We are achieving results
everyday and will not flag in our efforts to achieve more. A Session
such as this one, and interaction with other institutions such as
the SAIIA, provides a splendid opportunity for us to share views on
these crucial issues. I therefore wish to thank you for your
attention, your presence and hopefully for your better understanding
of the way forward for the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Thank you.
@ LESOTHO-MUFAMADI
MASERU October 1 1998 Sapa
OPPOSITION LEADERS QUESTION MUFAMADI'S IMPARTIALITY
Lesotho's opposition leaders on Thursday sent a letter to South
African Safety and Security Minister Sydney Mufamadi, questioning
his impartiality as chairman of Friday's conciliatory talks in
Maseru.
In the one-page letter faxed to Mufamadi at his Johannesburg
home, opposition alliance chairman Vincent Malebo raised issues he
said the minister needed to bear in mind "as we begin the difficult
task tomorrow".
"It would be unfortunate if we could proceed for talks without
a common knowledge on the issue of looting, and a common
understanding of the timing of the (Southern African Development
Community) invasion (in regard to) the Langa report."
The opposition's concern was based on a Wednesday night SA
Broadcasting Corporation television interview in which Mufamadi
said the raid was planned as early as September 11.
Malebo said according to Mufamadi's interview this attack was
seemingly planned long before Lesotho Prime Minister Pakalitha
Mosisili requested intervention.
"This effectively suggests that even before the Langa report
was delivered plans for the raid were already in motion," the
letter said.
Malebo said the opposition was also disturbed by Mufamadi's
repeated references to the legitimate, democratically-elected
government of Lesotho, when that very legitimacy was the subject of
the Langa inquiry, which would be be discussed on Friday.
South African deputy Constitutional Court president Justice
Pius Langa and a SADC team were invited to Lesotho to investigate
claims that the May 23 general election was rigged in favour of the
ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy.
The Langa report found irregularities, but did not say the
election was rigged.
The LCD's scoop of 79 of the 80 seats contested sparked a
series of protests by opposition supporters.
The demonstrations culminated in a siege at the royal palace in
Maseru and a military operation by South Africa and Botswana
beginning on September 22, in which there were more than 100
casualties, and the centre of Maseru was destroyed by looters.
"We look forward to the meeting tomorrow and hope that these
observations will be taken in the spirit in which they are offered,
and will assist your task as chairperson." Malebo said.
@ FARMERS-MWU
JOHANNESBURG October 1 1998 Sapa
MWU HANDS CRIME MEMORANDUM TO ESKOM
The Mineworkers' Union on Thursday handed a memorandum
protesting against South Africa's high crime levels to Eskom,
asking the company's support in their campaign.
The MWU action was in support of a call by the SA Agricultural
Union on Monday for a national protest against crime, particularly
crime against farmers.
The union, which represents about 60,000 workers, on Wednesday
announced that it would hand memorandums to five of South Africa's
biggest industries - Telkom, Eskom, Iscor, the mining industry and
Sasol.
On Thursday union president Leon Viviers handed memorandums to
Eskom, Iscor, Telkom, Sasol and about 30 other smaller industries
including Nampak, the Atomic Energy Corporation, Abbakor, ABB
Powertech and Highveld Steel.
A memorandum will be handed to the Chamber of Mines on Friday.
In the memorandum the MWU says the crime level in South Africa
has reached an unacceptably high level.
"During the past four years up to August 31 this year, there
were 2355 attacks and 553 murders of farmers, farmworkers and
family members.
"This means that one farmer and his dependants are murdered in
South Africa every third day."
The union said the entire community was affected by the
senseless crime wave. Statistics showed that 60 murders, 73
attempted murders, 136 rapes, 35 car hijackings, 170 robberies and
670 housebreakings were committed daily.
"There is a growing belief that crime pays in this country in
that the chances of being arrested, convicted and effectively
sentenced are negligible.
"It has now become urgent and in (the) national interest that
communities join forces to convey a clear message to criminals and
the government," the union said.
MWU general secretary Flip Buys said the union joined the SAAU
campaign because it believed the government was no longer able to
protect its citizens against crime and therefore was also no longer
able to govern.
Accepting the memorandum, Eskom senior general manager for
human resources Duncan Mbonyana said the company supported the
action.
He said Eskom received a letter from the SAAU last week,
calling on the company to support the anti-crime initiative.
In reply the company told the SAAU that it had a stance against
crime and was at the forefront of the Business Against Crime
initiative.
"We will support any non-political and peaceful initiative by
any company against crime," Mbonyana said.
Since the launch of the national campaign by the SAAU on
Monday, thousands of farmers, workers, business people and
supporters have taken to the streets to protest against crime.
The campaign ends on Friday with a march in Pretoria when
farmers will hand a memorandum to President Nelson Mandela.
@ AGRIC-COSATU
BLOEMFONTEIN October 1 1998 Sapa
SHILOWA'S REMARKS ON FARMERS UNCALLED-FOR: GOUS
The remarks of Cosatu general secretary Mbhazima Shilowa,
saying that farmers were responsible for murders and abuse of
farmworkers, were uncalled-for and irresponsible, said Dr Pieter
Gous, president of the Free State Agricultural Union, in
Bloemfontein on Thursday .
Gous said Cosatu - an ally of the ANC-led government - was
showing its true colours with its "despicable" remarks about
farmers: the same farmers who had provided millions of farm
labourers with work, housing and other benefits.
Shilowa on Tuesday said he did not support Wednesday's farmers'
protest against crime, because they themselves killed people and
treated farmworkers badly.
Cosatu's intimidation and interference was one of the reasons
for the drastic drop in employment in the agricultural sector, said
Gous.
Shilowa's statement that he was to attend a conference on
safety on farms now had to be viewed in a different light. The SA
Agricultural Union must carefully reconsider its proposed
participation in the meeting, because groups such as Cosatu, which
were seen by many farmers as inciting murder, would also be
present.
@ ZIM-TAX
HARARE October 1 1998 Sapa
ZIMBABWEAN IMPORT DUTIES HIKED AGAIN
The Zimbabwean government has raised import duties again -
only six days after the last increase - in a bid to protect the
collapsing Zimbabwe dollar.
Customs and Excise director Ranga Munyaradzi on Thursday said
an across-the-board increase of 10 percent in duties on all
imported goods announced last week had been increased to 15
percent.
He said in the state-controlled daily newspaper, The Herald,
that the new tariff would be added on to increases announced last
week of between 20 and 100 percent on a limited range of
non-essential imported goods.
Imported vehicles appeared to be the worst effected.
Excluded from the latest round of increases were capital goods
- mainly machinery and equipment - as well as intermediate
products, including partially finished items imported for final
processing in Zimbabwe.
Economists were surprised by the move.
"We are afraid they might do it again," said John Makamure,
economist for the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce. "We need
to know now where we are heading."
The country's economy has been in turmoil since the currency
started crashing in November last year through a combination of
severely weakened export earnings, government threats of a mass
confiscation of white-owned land and President Robert Mugabe's
order to pay an unbudgeted ZD4,2 billion in pension benefits to
guerilla war veterans.
Munyaradzi said Finance Minister Herbert Murerwa had decided to
raise import duties "to reduce imports and increase the revenue
collection base."
@ MPUMALANGA-RESIGN
NELSPRUIT October 1 1998 Sapa
MPUMA FINANCE MEC RESIGNS
The Mpumalanga MEC for finance, Bushang Modipane, on Thursday
announced his resignation following recent allegations about the
involvement of politicians in ventures that might have benefited
from government contracts.
Mpumalanga premier Mathews Phosa on Thursday said in a
statement he accepted the resignation. Phosa said he had discussed
Modipane's decision with him in a cordial and constructive spirit.
"I accept this resignation as the decison of a person who takes
full responsibility for his actions within the agenda of effective
governance and accountability," Phosa said.
Modipane's annoucement follows allegations against him and
several other high-profile officials of involvement in commercial
ventures that might have benefited from government contracts as
well as the issuing of promissory notes by the Mpumalanga Parks
Board.
The scandal has also seen the parks board chief Alan Gray
suspended for allegedly issuing six illegal promissory notes worth
R1,3 billion in return for offshore loans.
According to reports Gray allegedly set up a partnership with
Modipane, environment MEC David Mkhwanazi and South Africa's
ambassador to Mozambique, Mangisi Zitha.
Phosa announced that the MEC for sport, arts, culture and
recreation Lassy Chiwayo, would act as MEC for finance and central
services until a new finance MEC was appointed.
@ LESOTHO-SACP
CAPE TOWN October 1 1998 Sapa
LESOTHO'S POLITICAL ELITE TO BLAME FOR CRISIS: SACP
The main culprits behind the crisis in Lesotho were getting off
too lightly, the South African Community Party said on Thursday.
The condemnation of the Southern African Development
Community's initiative in Lesotho had generally been grossly
unbalanced and unfair, it said in a statement.
"In the judgment of the SACP the burden of culpability must
lie, in the first instance, with the Lesotho political elite."
Lesotho's key political players, from all the main parties and
institutions, had emerged from the episode in a very poor light.
While the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) was the
obvious beneficiary of an extremely flawed election in May, the
irony was that it would almost certainly have won the elections in
any case, the SACP said.
"The LCD has not helped its own case by being extremely
arrogant about the elections and about its own right to rule."
The opposition parties clearly had a case when calling into
doubt the fairness of the May elections, the SACP said.
Yet, they, and King Letsie III, were prepared to play a highly
reckless game in pursuit of their various objectives.
The call for fresh elections, or at the very least by-elections
in many constituencies, was absolutely legitimate, as was the mass
mobilisation around such demands.
"But the fostering of a creeping coup, the use of the junior
ranks of the Lesotho Defence Force (historically a problematically
partisan army with allegiances to the Basotho National Party) to
undermine the unity of the army, and to terrorise the police, went
way beyond the legitimate."
On the king's role, the SACP said he had been active in
attempts to dissolve Lesotho's democratically elected government in
1994.
"This time around he has played a similar game, hoping that a
melt-down in the multi-party electoral system would promote the
political role of the monarchy."
The tardiness of the Botswana Defence Force in making its way
(at a speed of 40 km per hour) to Lesotho was another reality that
had received little public attention, the SACP said.
The BDF was meant to have secured the safety of the city while
the South African National Defence Force focused on the tougher
military objectives.
"All of this is not to say that there was not some serious
clumsiness on the SANDF side of the operation in Lesotho."
The SACP called for new elections to be held as a way to
entrench democracy and stability in Lesotho.
Although a general election would be preferable, at the very
least by-elections should be held in all constituencies in which
there were demonstrable and serious irregularities.
The existing Electoral Commission could not be entrusted with
new elections, and a much more effective and reliable electoral
management and oversight mechanism was essential, the SACP said.
Lesotho should also look at changing it electoral dispensation
and consider some element of proportional representation to foster
greater political inclusiveness.
The SACP also rejected punitive measures against rebel
soldiers.
While the king had a symbolic and nation building role, any
attempts to politicise the monarchy further also had to be
resisted, it said.
@ CHAD-CONGO
N'DJAMENA October 1 1998 Sapa-AP
LIBYAN JETS FERRY CHADIAN TROOPS TO CONGO
Libyan Ilyushin transport aircraft continued Thursday to ferry
Chadian troops to Congo in an attempt to supress an eight-week
rebellion against President Laurent Kabila.
The Libyan aircraft have been rotating between N'Djamena
airport and Congo for the past several days carrying members of the
elite Presidential Guard to an undisclosed location in Congo.
At the beginning of the week, the government of President
Idriss Deby confirmed in a statement that it was sending 1,000
troops to back Kabila.
Other sources place the number of troops being sent at closer
to 2,000.
Deby is in Libya in connection with celebrations commemorating
Moamar Gadhafi's 1969 overthrow of the monarchy.
There are unconfirmed reports that Libya is footing the bill
for Chadian involvement in the Congo conflict.
Reports in independent Chadian newspapers claim that Libya is
replacing France as the source of operating funds for Deby's
cash-strapped government.
On Wednesday from its stronghold in eastern Congo, the rebel
Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD) issued a strong protest against
Chadian intervention.
Zimbabawe, Angola and Namibia have already sent troops to
support Kabila, who took power in May 1997 after rebels backed by
Rwanda and Uganda ousted longtime dictator Mobutu Sese Seko.
Kabila claims Rwanda and Uganda are now backing the rebels
trying to get rid of him.
Rwanda no longer denies the claim, and Uganda says it has
troops in Congo to defend its own security interests.
The RCD statement said the crisis in Africa's third-largest
nation is a "Congolese-Congolese affair."
"The Chadian military involvement is a result of Kabila's
desire to continue to internationalize the crisis ..." it said.
The rebels - a coalition of Congolese ethnic Tutsi fighters,
other Conglese soldiers disgruntled at Kabila's leadership and
political opponents of the government - claim Kabila is arming
former Rwandan Hutu soldiers and militiamen who participated in the
1994 genocide in Rwanda in which at least half a million people,
mainly minority Tutsis, perished.
@ LABOUR-NUM
JOHANNESBURG October 1 1998 Sapa
IMPLATS TAKES NUM TO THE CCMA
Impala Platinum in Springs has referred a dispute with the
National Union of Mineworkers to the Commission for Conciliation
Mediation and Arbitration, saying NUM did not abide by an agreement
signed in April on behaviour during protected strikes.
Implats spokeswoman Isle Meiring on Thursday said this was
because NUM members assaulted workers not on strike, and prevented
them from entering or leaving the plant on Wednesday.
"If necessary, we will seek a Labour Court interdict ordering
compliance with the agreement in order to ensure the safety of
non-striking workers," said Meiring.
NUM spokesman George Molebatsi on Thursday said he could not
confirm or deny the allegations. He said he has not been informed
about incident and when he visited the plant on Wednesday
"everything was positive".
On Wednesday Implats locked 400 NUM members out of the plant,
saying NUM would not commit itself to the behaviour agreement.
NUM began a strike on Wednesday following a deadlock in
negotiations. The union is demanding a 9,9 percent and Implats is
offering 8 percent.
@ BILL-REFUGEES
PARLIAMENT October 1 1998 Sapa
REFUGEE BILL TABLED
Draft legislation setting out a new system for dealing with
refugees in line with United Nations standards and under the
supervision of an independent refugee affairs committee, was tabled
in Parliament on Thursday.
The main object of the Refugees Bill is to introduce a "refugee
regime" that is rights and solution oriented, according to an
accompanying memorandum.
The bill proposes the establishment of special refugee
reception offices, with qualified staff who will interview asylum
seekers before deciding whether to grant refugee status.
Applicants will be able to ask for review by an appeal board,
but will still have the right to take their case to the courts.
The entire administrative procedure should not take longer than
six months, the memorandum says.
Pending a decision, asylum seekers will be issued with permits
allowing them to stay, and in certain cases work or study, in South
Africa.
The refugee affairs committee will be appointed by the minister
of home affairs, with powers to draw up procedures for granting
asylum, supervise the reception offices, liaise with the UN high
commissioner for refugees, and give advice to the minister.
It will also be able to take fast-track decisions on
applications that should clearly be either approved or rejected.
The bill says no applicant for refugee status should be
detained for longer than is reasonable, and that any detention of
more than 30 days must be approved by a High Court judge.
It defines a refugee, in essence, as anyone unable to return to
his or her country "owing to a well-founded fear of being
persecuted by reason of his or her race, tribe, religion,
nationality, political opinion or membership of a particular social
group", or displaced by turmoil in that country.
@ LESOTHO-NZO
JOHANNESBURG October 1 1998 Sapa
SA WILL NOT ALLOW ROGUE ELEMENTS TO THREATEN REGIONAL PEACE:
NZO
South Africa would not allow rogue elements to scupper regional
efforts to build peace and prosperity, Foreign Affairs Minister
Alfred Nzo said in Johannesburg on Thursday.
Explaining the country's role in last week's regional military
intervention in Lesotho, he said South Africa was not prepared to
allow the violent overthrow of the Lesotho government.
"We were not willing to stand by... and see certain groups in
Lesotho refuse to explore all possible means of dispute resolution,
rather trying to win enough time to violently overthrow the
government," Nzo told the SA Institute of International Affairs.
"There is no greater threat to our collective efforts to build
peace and prosperity than these types of rogue elements."
Nzo said South Africa would act in an appropriate manner in
response to each situation that arose.
Human rights and democracy would not automatically bring a
better world. For these principles to flourish, an environment of
peace was required.
"We will continue to fight for the transformation of
international relations so as to eradicate aggression, the usurping
of power... foreign occupation, and the use of force," Nzo said.
@ MDLALOSE-IFP
DURBAN October 1 1998 Sapa
IFP DENIES IT FORCED KWAZULU-NATAL IFP SPEAKER TO RESIGN
The Inkatha Freedom Party on Thursday denied it pressured IFP
KwaZulu-Natal Speaker Gideon Mdlalose to resign his position in the
provincial legislature.
IFP spokeswoman Lauretta Ngcobo said: "It is not true that we
forced him out. He remains a highly prominent member of the IFP."
Ngcobo said Mdlalose would remain a member of the provincial
legislature.
In a statement the National Party deplored what it termed
Mdlalose's resignation at the insistence of the IFP caucus.
"The obvious reason why he was directed to resign was that he
refused to toe a party line as Speaker.
"This Speaker was appointed with the consent of all political
parties and it does not augur well for (the legislature) if a
Speaker is ousted through one-sided pressure by one political
party, in this case, the IFP, for the reason of not toeing a
political party line," the NP statement said.
Mdlalose announced his resignation in the legislative assembly
in Ulundi on Wednesday.
News reports said a row broke out between the IFP and the
African National Congress after the announcement - the ANC
apparently asked whether Mdlalose's decision was voluntary or in
response to pressure from the IFP.
The ANC's Ina Cronje described Mdlalose's resignation as a
constructive dismissal.
KwaZulu-Natal premier Dr Ben Ngubane said the IFP advised
Mdlalose to step down from his position, which he volunteered to
do.
On Thursday Ngcobo told Sapa Mdlalose, who was in his late
seventies, had not been well for almost a year and it was the IFP's
responsibility to consider the well-being of its members.
She said it was unfortunate that the ANC, who had recently
expelled at least two of its leaders, was seeking to score
political points through the issue.
Mdlalose could not immediately be reached for comment.
@ MARCH-NP
CAPE TOWN October 1 1998 Sapa
NP TO JOIN ANTI-CRIME MARCH
The National Party in Gauteng would join Friday's anti-crime
protest by farmers at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, NP safety
and security spokesman Piet Matthee said on Thursday.
He called on President Nelson Mandela, Cabinet ministers and
senior government officials to join the march, so that they could
also experience the emotions and hardship of people who had lost
loved ones.
This would send a clear message to government that ordinary
South Africans were fed up with high crime levels in the country.
Matthee said in a statement that people expected a commitment
by government to stop the crime wave engulfing the country.
Surveys showed that most South Africans believed crime was
completely out of hand.
The government and its officials were out of touch with crime
victims and those who had lost loved ones at the hands of
murderers, he said.
@ UNHEALTHY SPENDING TO TIP SCALES AT R100-MILLION
BISHO (ECN) - The Eastern Cape health department will overspend
by R100-million by the end of the 1998/99 financial year.
Bisho legislature health committee chairman Themba Manyosi told
ECN today this was revealed in a meeting earlier this week.
Health MEC Dr Trudy Thomas and department officials were present
at the meeting where the committee conducted a financial oversight
of the department's financial report for April to August this year.
Manyosi said the department's budget allocation for this
financial year was R2.8-billion, but its actual projected
expenditure is R2.9-billion.
The department's personnel budget for the year is R1.7-billion,
but Health will have to spend R1.8-billion this year.
Manyosi said the department was in dire need of expertise at
management level, but the budget was just not enough to appoint any
more staff.
Health is also not able to build any more clinics or employ any
more doctors.
He said there was one doctor for every 8 000 people in the
Eastern Cape, while in Gauteng there was one doctor for every 400
people.
Manyosi said that while it was illegal for a department to
overspend, it was a statutory obligation to pay staff salaries.
"It's a very serious situation."
He said Dr Thomas had made submissions to the provincial
treasury requesting reconsideration of the department's budget
allocation. - ECN Thurs 1/10/98 Snort
@ MILES AND MILES BUT STILL NO RELIEF FOR POOR
GRAHAMSTOWN (ECN)- Yesterday marked the beginning of welfare
month throughout the country, but some destitute Port Elizabeth
residents seem to have more faith in the local Black Sash office
than the welfare department.
When impoverished Missionvale informal settlement residents
asked their local church minister for assistance, he referred them
to the Port Elizabeth Advice Office instead.
Yesterday, more than 50 men and women left their homes at 4am
and walked 15km down the Uitenhage Road to Port Elizabeth's city
centre in search of poverty relief.
Clutching crumpled pieces of paper bearing the names and
addresses of Black Sash fieldworkers, they descended upon the Advice
Office hoping to return home with blankets, food and water.
But Black Sash regional director Jean Murcott said: "We really
aren't a charity organization. We're here to help citizens
understand their rights".
Those seeking poverty relief were sent home with little more
than words of advice, but those looking for social security and jobs
were told to return again next week.
Their minister should have directed the group to the welfare
department where plans for relief programs during the month are
underway. The department has identified shops throughout the region
that will give food in exchange for vouchers. Implementation of this
program is set to begin next week.
Welfare district deputy director Thembiso Mbewu plans to convene
a meeting next week in Missionvale to publicise the department's
programmes.-ECN 10/1/98 Need
@ UDM-ANC
CAPE TOWN October 1 1998 Sapa
HOLOMISA ACCUSES ANC OF `BRIBING' ELECTORATE
United Democratic Movement president Bantu Holomisa on Thursday
claimed the African National Congress planned to use the R800
million set aside in this year's Budget for poverty relief and
infrastructure development to accelerate delivery in areas where
the ANC felt the UDM was strong
The ANC parliamentary caucus had been briefed two weeks ago by
the party leadership that Finance Minister Trevor Manuel had
approved the allocation of the money, he said in a statement.
"As a result of the approved money, the ANC MPs are busy
compiling reports in order to make requisitions to deliver services
in the UDM flashpoints."
Water Affairs Minister Kader Asmal had at the same meeting
reportedly conceded that the ANC had made a mistake by expelling
him (Holomisa) from the party, and encouraged his colleagues to
come up with damage control programmes, Holomisa said.
"The UDM welcomes this apparent panic by the ANC.
"However, if this institutionalised corruption is to be allowed
to carry on without being challenged, the so-called moral
regeneration conference, organised by the ANC government and
religious leaders on 22 October 1999, will be a farce."
Parliament's finance committee should verify the authenticity
or otherwise of "this corrupt practice of bribing the electorate",
Holomisa said.
ANC national spokesman Thabo Masebe said there was no need for
his party to bribe the electorate.
"When we came into government we had clear policies, on the
basis of which we implemented clear programmes.
"We have been implementing them ever since; we continue to do
so now and we will continue to do so next year."
Masebe said the ANC expected the electorate to renew the
mandate his party was given in 1994 to ensure a better life for
all.
"Everything we are doing, we are simply carrying out our
mandate."
Announcing the allocation of the R800 million last month,
Manuel told reporters that the largest cut, R274 million, would go
the department of public works, with R149 million for poverty
relief programmes and the balance for infrastructure development.
A large slice of the public works allocation would go towards
rural access roads.
"It is one of the areas we have become aware is in need of
major attention. Often these issues should have been dealt with
more adequately by provinces and have not, so the R247 million will
be dealt with in this way," Manuel said then.
@ ESACK
CAPE TOWN October 1 1998 Sapa
AVOID GENERALISING ON RELIGIOUS GROUNDS, SAYS MUSLIM ACADEMIC
The challenge facing everyone was to avoid generalising on the
grounds of religion, prominent Western Cape Muslim academic and
theologian Dr Faried Esack said on Thursday.
Addressing the Cape Town Press Club, he said many observers -
including members of the media - tended to think of Muslims, or
Jews, as being a distinct group of people sharing the same
characteristics.
As a result, some had immediately thought Muslims were behind
the recent Planet Hollywood bombing, or the pipe bomb attacks in
the Western Cape.
"What we are dealing with is the essentialisation of a
particular community," Esack said.
"We need to ask which Muslims are being demonised, and by which
press."
Saudi Arabia, for instance, which disenfranchised women and did
not allow them to drive cars, enjoyed a far better Western press
than did Iran, where women had such freedoms.
This could be ascribed to Saudia Arabia being an important ally
of the West.
"Often we are looking through the eyes of global geopolitical
players."
The Muslim community had existed in South Africa - and more
specifically the Western Cape - for 340 years and was part of a
larger, fractured community in the Western Cape, which was a
"peculiar place".
On a global level, colonialism had had a tremendous effect on
different societies, and Muslims had often dealt with suppression
in their own peculiar way.
Esack said he did not believe the so-called extremist movement
Qibla existed, or was behind the violence in the Western Cape.
@ JOBS-SUMMIT
JOHANNESBURG October 1 1998 Sapa
PREPARATIONS FOR JOBS SUMMIT IN FULL SWING
The public will be given the opportunity to make proposals on
the forthcoming presidential jobs summit at hearings to be held in
all nine provinces between October 12 and 16.
The hearings, details of which will be advertised in newspapers
at the weekend, are to be held under the auspices of the provincial
labour departments.
Preparations for the one-day summit, due to take place at
Gallagher Estate in Midrand on October 30, are in full swing.
About 500 delegates will be invited to attend; President Nelson
Mandela, Labour Minister Shepherd Mdladlana and Trade Minister Alec
Erwin, the summit's co-ordinator, are expected to be among the
speakers.
The labour department is responsible for the logistics of the
gathering and has several preparatory committees working on it.
The summit, which was first mooted more than a year ago, is
expected to produce a list of short-term programmes and long-term
policy measures for job creation.
Labour, business and government have all presented their
proposals, and these are being discussed in the National Economic
Development and Labour Council (Nedlac).
A range of agreements reached between the social partners are
expected to be announced at the summit, and these will be linked to
either existing policies, or ones to be implemented.
Submissions have also been received from groups not represented
at Nedlac, such as churches, the unemployed, stokvels and
unaffiliated trade unions, and these will also be considered along
with proposals made at the public hearings.
Government has stressed that it views job creation as an
ongoing process, and "it will not rain jobs" after the summit.
A number of state-backed job-creation programmes already exist,
such as the Working for Water project and the so-called spatial
development initiatives.
The summit will also look at these and consider whether they
were working to maximise job creation.
Also up for discussion will be an appropriate mechanism to
monitor implementation of measures agreed to at the summit.
@ AIDS-KWANATAL
DURBAN October 1 1998 Sapa
NATIONAL YOUTH COMMISSION LAUNCHES AIDS KWANATAL CAMPAIGN
The National Youth Commission on Thursday launched a national
Aids campaign in KwaZulu-Natal by persuading people to buy pieces
of cloth and write messages for their friends and relatives
infected by the disease.
Provincial youth commissioner Pinky Kunene said the campaign
was aimed at arresting the spread of the epidemic in the country.
During the launch, at the Durban city hall, she said the public
would be urged to buy pieces of cloth for R1 each and write on them
messages for the victims of Aids.
Kunene said the pieces would be incorporated into a quilt to be
unveiled by Minister of Health Nkosazana Zuma on World Aids Day on
December 1.
"The whole idea behind this rests on the production of the
quilt to raise awareness and educate the public," she said.
In a speech read on his behalf, health MEC Zweli Mkhize urged
people to have blood tests for Aids.
"We can never win against something we are even scared to talk
about. Let's encourage people to go out and get tested," Mkhize
said. He said the only way to stop Aids was to educate, inform and
empower people.
Durban mayor Obed Mlaba became the first person to buy a piece
of cloth and write a message.
@ EDUC-PARENTS
PRETORIA October 1 1998 Sapa
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SEEMS READY TO WORK WITH NEW PARENT BODY
The government appeared to be prepared to co-operate with a new
body aimed at promoting parents' interests in education matters,
the founders of the Democratic Parent Education Council of SA said
on Thursday.
"We have already received a positive response from the
Education department," said Hennie van Deventer, interim chairman
of the newly-formed Depsa.
"Chief director Chris Madiba has stated that the department
would be willing to work closely with Depsa," Van Deventer said in
Pretoria.
The organisation's next step was to obtain an appointment with
Education Minister Sibusiso Bengu to discuss statutory recognition
for Depsa.
Van Deventer said Depsa's interim executive comprised leading
members from communities of all population groups.
It included Joe Khumalo, chairman of a school governing body in
Mamelodi, and former education official Walter Seboni of Soweto.
"At its first meeting, the executive decided to include parents
of all types of schools, including independent and extra-curricular
schools," Van Deventer said.
He said the members of the executive had received hundreds of
calls from parents wishing to join Depsa, which was formed last
month.
"The response is very encouraging, and we are convinced that we
are on the right track. We have already started organising at
various places in Gauteng, including townships in Pretoria and
Johannesburg," Van Deventer said.
@ LABOUR-COSATU
JOHANNESBURG October 1 1998 Sapa
PROTRACTED STRIKES CAUSE IRREPARABLE DAMAGE: SHILOWA
The new trend of protracted strike action, which has
characterised this year's collective bargaining process, does not
auger well for the country's industrial relations, the Congress of
SA Trade Unions said on Thursday.
Addressing a media conference in Johannesburg on strike actions
at Cosatu's head office, union federation general secretary
Mbhazima Shilowa said although the number of strikes had dropped,
their intensity and duration had increased.
"It is a fact that long drawn-out strike actions not only
frustrate workers but also make a speedy negotiated settlement very
difficult and sometimes lead to workers venting their anger on
non-striking workers," Shilowa said.
Shilowa's remarks came a day after the SA Chamber of Business
expressed concern at the wave of protracted industrial actions,
saying this deterred investment.
The year saw protracted strikes by members of the Transport and
General Workers' Union, the Chemical Workers' Industrial Union, the
National Union of Metalworkers of SA, the SA Commercial Catering
and Allied Workers' Union and the National Union of Mineworkers.
Some of the strikes were characterised by violence, resulting
in the loss of life and millions of rands worth of property.
However, Shilowa said it was not proper to blame the workers
for the strike impasse.
Employers' intransigence and dishonesty were also to blame, he
said.
"Once a strike goes over a week, the chances of a settlement
diminish as both parties feel they might as well go the extra mile.
"Relationships between workers and management also get damaged
and these do take time to heal. Employers must not see the
collective bargaining process as a chess game where they can spent
several weeks trying to out manouevre the workers," he said.
"The employment of scab labour in industries where workers are
on strike also inflammes the already vulnerable situation... this
exercebates the problem and effectively minimises the chances of a
settlement," said Shilowa.
Shilowa urged workers to resist the temptation of violence
during protest actions.
He urged the various sectors that make up the Cosatu federation
to unite and carry out solidarity industrial actions should
employers fail to come to the negotiating table.
@ STATEMENT BY THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
STATEMENT BY THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION`
The Amnesty Committee of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
has identified a number of people who might be considered as victims
of gross human rights violations arising out of information provided
by applicants whose amnesty applications have been processed so far.
The names of these people or their next of kin have been
referred to the TRC's Committee on Reparations and Rehabilitation
for consideration. Those found to be victims, as defined in the
Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act, will be
immediately eligible to apply for interim reparations to the
President's Fund.
The Commission has managed to contact some people whose names
have been mentioned in these amnesty applications. However, there
are others which the Commission has not been able to trace due to
the paucity of details provided by perpetrators in their amnesty
applications. The TRC appeals to the following people or their next
of kin to contact its Cape Town office urgently so that they can
provide the Commission with additional information before they can
be eligible for reparation.
These people are; Anne Foster, Ngxumza Solethu Mpisane, Anderson
Bongani Mpisane, Ndimphiwe Ntekiso, Eric Xeketwana, Peter Anderson,
Ian Bodington, Shane Butler, Mr Cullis, Arno DeBruin, David Du Toit,
Stefanie Greef, Michael Louw, Michael Mihuru, Karen Padley, Willem
Swanepoel, Brenda Till, Derek Tobin, Greshna Williams, Makwarel
Dobani, Wilson Dobin, Maria Claudine Roux, Charles Zenzile Joseph
Dlamini, George Mkomane, Thulebona Phoswa, Singiphelile Sithole,
Dumisani Mthembu, Felaphi Phillip Dlamini, Muntu Mkhize, Bheka
Phoswa, Mahawu Anthon Shezi, Andile Ngcobo, Mavis Ngcobo, Nomkahes
Ngcobo, Peter Ngcobo, Phakamile Mavis Ngcobo, Thandazi Ngcobo,
Mahluleli Makhanya, Patrick Bheki Zwane, Simiso Msomi, Bernard
Dumisani Ndebele, Jerome Dlamini, Zakhele Wilson Dlamini, Phucuyise
Doyisa, Thokozani Catherine Lufundo, Gabriel Livingstone Mbhele,
Dumisane Thulani Mchunu, Lindiwe Memela, Wiseman Mnqayi, Justice
Siphiwe Mthembu, Fundeyakhe Isaac Mtshali, Nichalas Kwaziwakhe
Ngema, Sipho Richard Zulu, Wanton Matshoba, Cyprion Sazise Qheliso,
J Oostenhuizen, Pretorius Ferdinand Van Heerden, David Mayeko, Mr
Sgotlo, Erica Shelly Basson, Michael Belehe, Mark Casey, Johannes
Van Niekerk, Masusu Ntema, Albert Seabata, Hendrik Grobelaar, Mr
Makoloi, Nomsa Hanabe, Foli Bushula, Mpumelelo Mbinqo, Archie Booi
Swartland, Mbulelo Vellem, Mkuseli Vellem, Wazina Yekani, Nomangwana
Mandita and Nomsa Mpangisa.
They may contact Gail Van Breda at 021-245-161.
@ LESOTHO-NDUNGANE
CAPE TOWN October 1 1998 Sapa
NDUNGANE MOOTS TRC FOR LESOTHO
Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town Njongonkulu Ndungane on
Thursday mooted a process similar to South Africa's Truth and
Reconciliation Commission to heal and reconcile the people of
strife-torn Lesotho.
Speaking in Cape Town on his return from a visit to Ladybrand
and Maseru where he discussed the crisis in the kingdom, he said
Lesotho was a nation whose heart and soul had been deeply wounded.
The magnitude and complexity of the hurt that the Basotho
people were experiencing was enormous.
Sensitivity, calm and even-handedness were needed for the scars
to begin to heal, he told a media briefing.
"I think what has happened has shocked the people of Lesotho.
Sometimes God shocks us in a situation for us to sit down and take
note."
Ndungane - accompanied by two senior bishops - said he had
met people across a wide spectrum including government, opposition,
civil society and King Letsie III.
"What I sensed was a genuine desire to move forward together
and find a permanent solution," he said.
The facilitators of this process had to do so with tremendous
care and sensitivity.
Referring to peace talks, he said: "My own appeal is that we
should not be in the business of scoring points. Of saying who was
wrong and who was right. That has got its own time."
There was some indication now that government, opposition and
the Southern African Development Community would move forward
towards peace and stability, Ndungane said.
"Perhaps at some later stage there can then be a review and an
evaluation of what took place in the kind of way that we in South
Africa set up the mechanism of the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission".
"It's a process that will have to come back later in the life
of the people of Lesotho."
Measures that would help restore peace and stability in Lesotho
included the reform of the electoral system to guarantee fairness
and impartiality, Ndungane said.
It was crucial to sort out this problem within 18 months to two
years so that fresh elections could be held.
He would not comment on what should happen in the interim.
Ndungane said there was also an urgent need for humanitarian
relief in the form of food and medical supplies, particularly for
the poorest of the poor living in villages beyond Maseru.
The entire Southern African region should also assist in
rebuilding the economy of Lesotho.
There was no way that Lesotho was going to be able to recover
without help from its more powerful and richer neighbours, Ndungane
said.
On the role of the king in Lesotho, he said there was a need to
clarify the understanding of the monarch in African society and its
role in modern democracies.
Ndungane said he wanted a meeting with President Nelson Mandela
and had asked South Africa's High Commissioner in Maseru Japhet
Ndlovu to facilitate this.
@ RATES-MANUEL
OTTAWA October 1 1998 Sapa-AFP
SOUTH AFRICAN MINISTER WELCOMES US INTEREST RATE CUT
South African Finance Minister Trevor Manuel welcomed Thursday
this week's quarter-point cut in US interest rates as a signal to
the rest of the world.
Talking to reporters during a meeting of Commonwealth Finance
Ministers here, Manuel said: "Leave aside the quantum of the move,
what the world has been waiting for is a signal.
"And the signal came from Alan Greenspan and the Federal
Reserve."
Manuel said he believed the "signal" would encourage investors
to look around the world for potential investment and this would
benefit countries such as South Africa.
Nevertheless, Manuel admitted that his government's prediction
of a 3.5 percent increase in South Africa's gross domestic product
would now be "a very difficult target to meet, an exceedingly hard
target."
The economic and monetary situation had stabilized somewhat
over the past couple of weeks, he said, and "you've seen the rand
crawl back a bit."
He anticipated giving a new economic growth target in the first
week of November when the South African parliament resumes sitting.
@ COMMISSION-MAGISTRATES
JOHANNESBURG October 1 1998 Sapa
NEW MAGISTRATE'S COMMISSION MEMBERS ANNOUNCED
The 16-member Magistrate's Commission was announced by Justice
Minister Dullar Omar on Tuesday.
The commission will be chaired by Judge Bernard Ngoepe.
Other members include the Justice Department's deputy
director-general Vusi Pikoli; Association of Regional Court
Magistrate's of SA chairman TW Levitt; Port Elizabeth Regional
Court president AVM Lugaju; Johannesburg chief magistrate MC Bashe;
Bloemfontein chief magistrate J Raulinga; Durban magistrate RE
Laue; Mogwase magistrate ME Kgafela; advocate DA Kunny; advocate
Nona Goso; P van Rooyen; Wits University Professor Cheryl Loots and
Justice College head Cecile van Riet.
Other members nominated by the National Assembly include DM
Bakker, WA Hofmeyer, DP Jana and JH van der Merwe.
Omar said the new members would assume office from October 1.
They would serve a term of three years before others are nominated.
@ PRESIDENT MANDELA ON LEAVE
Issued by: Office of the President
President Mandela commenced a ten day leave period yesterday.
The leave will end on 11 October 1998.
The President is currently on vacation in Maputo, Mozambique
until the 8th October 1998. He will return to Umtata after paying a
brief courtesy call on the royal family in Swaziland.
On the 10th October 1998 the President will attend the funeral
of Queen Mtirara in Umtata.
President Mandela will return to Cape Town on Sunday 11th
October.
All appointments that had been set for this period have either
been cancelled or postponed.
ISSUED BY THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
1 October 1998
Enquiries: Parks Mankahlana, 082 553 4569, 012-3191517
Priscilla Naidoo, 082 555 8339, 021-4642231
@ LESOTHO-NYANDA
PRETORIA October 1 1998 Sapa
LESOTHO CRITICISM COMES FROM OWN OPINIONS: NYANDA
Criticism by senior defence force officers of last week's
military intervention in Lesotho was their own opinion, SA National
Defence Force chief Siphiwe Nyanda said on Thursday.
"None of them were involved, nor have they received briefings
on the conduct of the operation," the general said in a statement
in Pretoria.
"Opinions expressed by these members... are their own personal
opinions."
Senior officials on Wednesday said the army went into Lesotho
blindfolded and were not prepared for the aggression they
encountered by the country's population.
They were speaking at a presentation in Middelburg by the Army
deputy chief General Roland de Vries on the transformation of the
SANDF.
Chief of Special Forces, Brigadier General Borrie Borman, said
the operation should serve as a wake-up call to politicians and the
Army command that its members needed more training.
Nyanda said the defence force would hold its own debriefing on
lessons learnt from the operation.
"I welcome informed criticism from members of the SANDF, but
would obviously require these opinions to be expressed in fora
where they can be evaluated before being made public," he said.
@ LUYT-ANALYSTS
CAPE TOWN October 1 1998 Sapa
TOO LITTLE TOO LUYT: EXPERTS
Former rugby supremo Louis Luyt's new political movement had
little chance of making an impact in next year's general election,
analysts said on Thursday.
Luyt announced the formation of his Federal Alliance (FA) on
Wednesday, to contest the polls on an anti-crime ticket and a
return to the death penalty.
However, Stellenbosch University political scientist Prof
Hennie Kotze said the alliance would "fly like a lead balloon".
It seemed that the FA would be positioned to the right of the
National and Democratic parties, and there was no space for it on
the South African political scene.
It was also unlikely that Luyt's grouping would attract
representative leaders. It would be seen as a "gripe" party, set up
in the wake of Luyt's row with the government over the affairs of
the SA Rugby Football Union.
Luyt was not a well-loved figure, and the alliance would not
receive the financial support from the business community which was
essential for any party.
Although he had no political background (other than rugby
politics) he could find support in sectors of the rugby fraternity,
and under the proportional representation system might get enough
votes to make it into Parliament.
Head of politics at the University of Natal in Durban Prof
Alexander Johnston said he did not think any party headed by Luyt
had much chance of success.
Voters disaffected with the ANC were more likely to go to the
UDM than to Luyt, and competition for the limited number of voters
in the largely white opposition was already intense.
A small number of Afrikaner voters might respond to the
"rumbustuousness" of Luyt's approach, but he did not appear to be
making an overt pitch for their support.
"All in all, it's very hard to see his party making much of an
impression," Johnston said.
Prof Zola Sonkosi of the University of Durban-Westville's
political science department doubted whether the alliance would
have any impact on the elections.
Luyt's area of expertise was rugby and possibly crime, but not
politics.
"You can't have a party based on rugby and crime. I don't think
he will succeed," Sonkosi said.
Political analyst Harald Pakendorf said he found Luyt's move
"interesting", as a forerunner of possible long-term political
realignments, but that he did not think it was important.
The electoral system made it possible for oddball parties to
emerge.
"We had the Kiss and Soccer parties last time; maybe this time
we will get rugby," he said.
Luyt's plans were met with scorn and amusement on Wednesday by
the major political parties represented in Parliament.
On Thursday the Conservative Party added its voice, saying Luyt
was going nowhere and would have little impact on Afrikaner
politics.
CP spokesman Pieter Aucamp said Luyt held talks with CP leader
Ferdi Hartzenberg earlier in the year, saying he was considering
setting up a party with broad appeal.
"But we were never invited to join any alliance," Aucamp said.
Luyt has said he hopes to reveal on Friday which parties will
be part of the FA.
His spokeswoman Susan Kruger said on Thursday Luyt was too busy
talking to newspapers and radio stations to be interviewed by Sapa.
@ DRCONGO-LIBYA
TRIPOLI, Oct 1, Sapa-AFP
KADHAFI WANTS AFRICAN FORCE TO REPLACE UGANDAN TROOPS IN FORMER
ZAIRE
Libyan leader Moammar Kadhafi said Thursday that the
participants of a four-way meeting here will try to get Uganda to
agree to a joint African force replacing the Ugandan troops
fighting in the former Zaire.
"During our four-way meeting we discussed the question of the
Great Lakes and the Horn of Africa, and we hope to put into action
an agreement with the Ugandan president on the formation of an
African force to replace the Ugandan and Rwandan forces in (the
Democratic Republic of) Congo to avoid possible massacres," Kadhafi
said.
Kadhafi met with Chad President Idriss Deby, Niger President
Ibrahim Bare Mainassara and Eritrean head of state Isaias Afeworki
late Wednesday, all of whom violated for the second time in a month
the six-year-old UN air embargo imposed on Libya.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni flew to Libya on Tuesday to
hold separate talks with Kadhafi.
Congolese President Laurent-Desire Kabila has enlisted the help
of forces from Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe in his government's
conflict with rebel troops he says are receiving backing from
Rwanda and Uganda.
Rwanda denies it has any troops in Congo while Uganda insists
its forces are solely engaged in fighting Ugandan rebels using
rearbases there.
Kabila was in Tripoli earlier this month for two meetings with
Kadhafi and to mark the 29th anniversary of the overthrow of the
monarchy, official news agency JANA said.
At least eight African heads of state have travelled to Tripoli
since September 1, the date from which the Organisation of African
Unity agreed to defy the air embargo.
Islamic delegations from Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger and
Nigeria also arrived in Libya on Wednesday to "express the support
of the people of their countries against the unjust sanctions,"
Libyan state television said.
The UN Security Council earlier this month expressed its
concern over the growing number of violations of the UN air embargo
imposed in 1992 over Libya's refusal to hand over two Libyan
nationals suspected of carrying out the 1988 bombing of a Pan Am
jet over Lockerbie, Scotland, which left 270 dead.
@ AIRSHIP-GRANT
PRETORIA October 1 1998 Sapa
SA AIRSHIP PROJECT GETS R1 MILLION FROM THE GOVERNMENT
A South African project to build the world's largest rigid
commercial airship received a R1 million boost from the Department
of Trade and Industry on Thursday.
Confirming the grant, the Industrial Development Corporation
said the money was given in terms of its support programme for
industrial innovation.
Spokesman Darryl Aberdein said in Johannesburg that IDC experts
had thoroughly evaluated the project initiated by the Hamilton
Airship Company.
"We inspected the prototype they have developed, and we are
satisfied that the project is innovative and that they have a
reasonable chance of commercialising it."
The grant was a once-off donation, Aberdein said.
Company spokesman Philip Claasen said from Cape Town that the
total cost of building the first airship would amount to about R85
million.
The prototype was undergoing air trials at Waterkloof air base
outside Pretoria. It had so far accumulated flying time of more
than six hours with a crew of two.
Air trials without a ground cable would be undertaken before
the end of the month. Once the prototype had passed all tests, it
would serve as a blueprint for the first airship, dubbed Nelson.
"We hope to have Nelson in the air before the end of next
year," Claasen said.
Expected to have a mass of 55 tons, the airship was set to
depart on a three-and-half-day journey from Johannesburg to New
York before the turn of the century. The duration of the trip would
exclude stopovers.
Claasen said the airship would be fitted with 24 cabins, each
sporting its own toilet, shower and other amenities found in luxury
hotel accommodation. It would be 15 times the size of a Boeing 747
airliner, and would be able to carry between 28 and 200 passengers.
The Nelson would cruise at 90km/h at an altitude of 150m,
propelled by two turbo-prop engines and a piston engine.
"As the airship's structure will consist of fatigue-free
materials, maintenance costs over a 20-year lifespan will be as low
as R600 per hour at 200 flying hours a month," Claasen said.
Non-flammable helium contained in 23 bags made from a material
that cannot be penetrated would keep the Nelson in the air.
Its range would vary from between 2000 and 10000km, depending
on the number of passengers and cargo on board.
"Likened to cruise liners where the journey becomes part of the
pleasure, airships will offer a scenic alternative to air travel.
We believe it can become the chosen mode of travel for the
discerning tourist," Claasen said.
@ MANDELA-LEAVE
CAPE TOWN October 1 1998 Sapa
MANDELA TAKES A BREAK
President Mandela began a ten day holiday on Wednesday, his
office said in a statement on Thursday.
All appointments during this period had been cancelled or
postponed, the statement said.
The break comes after fatigue forced him to cut short an
official trip to the United States and Canada at the end of last
month.
Mandela, 80, has however reportedly been given a clean bill of
health by doctors.
Over the past month he has hosted a state visit by Cuban leader
Fidel Castro, chaired a Southern African Development Community
summit in Mauritius, visited North America and played a role in the
Lesotho crisis.
His office said Mandela would be on holiday in Maputo until
October 8, when he would travel to Umtata after paying a brief
courtesy call on the Swazi royal family.
He would return to Cape Town on the 11th.
Mandela's spokesman Parks Mankahlana said the president's
schedule had been rearranged after Canada to allow him to take the
break.
@ Police were unable to confirm on Thursday that fugitive Colin
Chauke was among a group of robbers arrested at Karibib in northern
Namibia on Wednesday.
Special investigation unit head Director Bushie Engelbrecht
said he had heard rumours of Chauke's arrest from reporters.
Between seven and ten people were arrested shortly after a
multi-million rand robbery at Karibib airfield on Wednesday
evening. On initial information it appeared that South Africans may
be among the group, Engelbrecht said.
Coin Security spokeswoman Vanessa Hatton said a group of
robbers hijacked a Coin Namibia aircraft upon landing and took 33
cash containers. They fled in four vehicles.
After a brief search involving a helicopter and a light
aircraft, Namibian police arrested the robbers and retrieved all 33
cases with the cash still inside, she said.
Engelbrecht said he had been in contact with Namibian police in
Windhoek.
"We are working together in this investigation. They still have
to send me fingerprints and identikits of those arrested."
He said his team would go to Windhoek if invited by Namibian
police.
Chauke is believed to be linked to a number of cash-in-transit
heists in South Africa. He escaped with five others from Pretoria
Central Prison in December after holding a prison warder hostage
with a handgun.
Police in June said he would be recaptured before Christmas.
@ MUENDANE-EMPOWERMENT
JOHANNESBURG October 1 1998 Sapa
INSTITUTE LAUNCHED TO CORRECT APARTHEID LEGACY OF NEGATIVITY
The African Institute for Personal Excellence and Leadership
was launched in Johannesburg on Thursday to correct negative
mindsets inherited from the apartheid era, Aipel founder Ngila
Michael Muendane said.
A former Robben Island prisoner and secretary-general of the
Pan Africanist Congress, Muendane said: "We have established that
the mindset that is characteristic of African behaviour in this
country arose from deliberate social engineering initiated by those
who shaped the Union of South Africa."
This was illustrated in a speech made by prime minister Hendrik
Verwoerd in 1952 when he said: "Natives should be taught from
childhood to realise that equality with Europeans is not for them.
What is the use of teaching the Bantu mathematics when it cannot
use it in practice."
Muendane said: "Verwoerd's speech marked the beginning of a
social programme that lasted for enough time to significantly and
disastrously narrow the horisons of opportunity for the black
people of this country by using techniques that almost destroyed
their self-esteem and self-image."
"On the other side of the coin, the apartheid programme of
education was designed to create a false sense of superiority in
the mind of the white child.
"There is mutual fear and mistrust which has bedevilled many an
attempt to integrate our society in all vital areas such as the
civil service and other public service organisations, as well as
the corporate world."
Aipel will use positive thinking, destressing and motivational
techniques in programmes aimed at all sectors of society and plans
to have offices throughout the country.
Muendane said the overall aim of the programme was to make
people feel better about themselves and more prepared to take on
leadership roles, and for this to manifest itself in better
tolerance and less crime, frustration and violence in the country.
Details of the programmes are available from (021) 4033566.
@ OUDEKRAAL
CAPE TOWN October 1 1998 Sapa
WE WILL HAVE FINAL SAY ON OUDEKRAAL DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL: MECs
The final decision on any development proposal for Oudekraal on
the slopes of Table Mountain would have to be made by the MECs for
planning and environmental affairs and not Cape Town's city
council, the Western Cape provincial government said on Thursday.
It was reacting to a proposal made to the council by
Oudekraal's owner Kassie Wiehahn to donate R2 billion for low cost
housing in the city, if his extensive development proposals were
approved.
"An invitation is directed to the mayor of Cape Town to discuss
this important issue very urgently," the MECs for environmental
affairs, planning and housing said in a joint statement.
The principle of tapping part of the proceeds of an up-market
development to assist in addressing the many problems of the
province was fully supported, the statement said.
"Proper and responsible management of land-use calls upon us
not to be manoeuvered into a situation where development approvals,
which may be detrimental to the environment and broader economy of
the area and the province, can be `bought' by huge cash offers to
relieve emotionally loaded social problems."
The implications of such a `deal' went further than the
boundaries of Cape Town and therefore could not be managed by one
local authority alone.
The provincial interest in the issue had to be "declared up
front," the MECs said.
"We would therefore like to caution against unrealistic
expectations and handling of this interesting proposal in an
irresponsible manner."
@ FARMERS-PROTEST
PRETORIA October 1 1998 Sapa
35 BODIES TO JOIN FARMERS IN PRETORIA ANTI-CRIME PROTEST
More than 35 organisations, ranging from taxi drivers to
businessmen, would join farmers in an anti-crime protest march in
Pretoria on Friday, the SA Agricultural Union said on Thursday.
Urging all victims of crime to take part, SAAU president Chris
du Toit said he believed South Africa was rising up against crime.
The demonstration would be the culmination of protest actions
staged by farmers in at least five provinces during the past week.
Du Toit said farming people from all population groups who had
lost family members in criminal rural attacks would join Friday's
march to the Union Buildings.
"Other next-of-kin are also welcome to take part in the
protest, wearing black mourning bands."
However, political parties would not be welcome. "No political
parties will be allowed to participate in the peaceful protest
against crime to be held in Pretoria tomorrow," an SAAU statement
said.
No political party emblems, colours or signage would be
allowed.
Du Toit said farmers from all over the country had indicated
that they would turn up to highlight their frustration with the
government's apparent inability to stem crime.
The procession would assemble at the corner of Park and
Eastwood streets before walking to the Union Buildings to hand over
a memorandum outlining the SAAU's demands for urgent action against
lawnessness.
Du Toit said organisations geared to take part included
representatives of taxi associations, business chambers, banking
organisations, hostel groups and other community bodies.
SAAU spokesman Kobus Visser said the union had asked President
Nelson Mandela to receive the document personally.
Presidential spokesman Parks Mankahlana said Mandela would not
be present, adding: "We don't really plan for demonstrations.
Whoever is available at the time will receive the memorandum."
Two demonstrations took place in KwaZulu-Natal on Thursday.
These included a 150-vehicle motorcade by farmers from all
population groups from Ballito to Stanger in KwaZulu-Natal.
At Bergville, more than 1000 farmers presented a memorandum to
the local magistrate.
"Most of the protesters were black farmers," the SAAU said.
@ LESOTHO-FUNERAL
MASERU October 1 1998 Sapa
LESOTHO KING ATTENDS FUNERAL FOR SLAIN CIVILIAN
King Letsie III on Thursday attended the funeral of one of the
civilians killed during the Southern African Development
Community's military intervention in Lesotho last week.
Seitlheko Monaheng, 28, employed in Lesotho's civil service,
was killed by opposition protesters on the first day of the arrival
of the SADC intervention force.
There were no speeches from political leaders. The sermon was
delivered by the resident minister of the Lesotho Evangelical
Church, the reverand Moreke Moreke.
The thousands who attended the funeral came from all sectors of
Maseru society and included chiefs who wield much influence in the
country.
A memorial service was held for Monaheng on Wednesday which was
attended by Letsie's mother, Queen Mamohato.
@ PETROL
PRETORIA October 1 1998 Sapa
FUEL LEVY HIKE CRITICISED BY POLITICAL PARTIES AND AA
Thursday's announcement that an expected 10,6c a litre
reduction in the petrol price would be virtually wiped out by an
Equalisation Fund levy increase has been criticised by political
parties and the Automobile Association.
According to a statement from the chief director of liquid
fuels at the Minerals and Energy Department, Dr Rod Crompton, the
levy on petrol would be increased by 7,6c a litre to 8c a litre,
and the levy on diesel would be hiked by 7,5c a litre to also reach
8c a litre.
This meant the petrol price would be reduced by only 3c a litre
from Wednesday next week, while diesel users would pay 5c a litre
more.
Crompton confirmed that the proceeds would be channelled to
Sasol and Mossgas.
National Party minerals and energy spokesman Adriaan Blaas said
it was disappointing that the reduction in fuel prices would not be
passed on to consumers, especially in view of the economic climate.
His Democratic Party counterpart, James Selfe, said: "It was
bad planning to have indicated a decrease, and then increase the
government levy and leave consumers with only a 3c decrease."
It was especially those heavily dependent on transport for
their livelihood who would suffer.
The Automobile Association of SA said the "government's
decision to hive off the expected 11c a litre reduction in the
petrol price due next week in order that the funds may accrue to
the Equalistion Fund" was objectionable.
The AA understood that the fund was operating on a negative
balance, but thought the timing premature.
Mossgas had recently received a large cash injection, the AA
said, and South African motorists had already contributed R11
billion towards the project, from which they would never benefit.
Crompton said changes in the exchange rate and the
international price of petrol and diesel were responsible for "this
temporary adjustment to the levy." The levy would be reduced as
soon as conditions allowed.
He said government's tariff protection strategy for the
synthetic fuel industry was to be reviewed by mid-2000.
It was expected that future adjustments to the levy would be
more gradual as a result of the adoption of new rules governing the
Equalisation Fund, he said.
@ TELKOM-SATELLITE
PRETORIA October 1 1998 Sapa
TELKOM PLANS WORLDWIDE MOBILE SATELLITE PHONES FOR THE POOR
Telkom plans to provide a worldwide mobile satellite telephone
system, GlobalStar, to give the poor access to telecommunications,
the company said on Thursday.
Telkom in a statement in Pretoria said the system would have
its station in Delareyville in North-West.
GlobalStar is a low earth orbit satellite-based digital
telecommunications system that will offer wireless telephone and
other telecommunication services worldwide from the beginning of
1999.
The system currently comprises 48 low earth orbit satellites.
GlobalStar Southern Africa project director Ben Higson said:
"This earth station will be the hub for GlobalStar's system in
Southern Africa. It will extend the cover of GSM (Global System
Mobile) cellular networks throughout the region."
Higson expected the station, which would have four satellite
dishes, to go live in the third quarter of 1999.
Telkom chief executive Sizwe Nxasana told the station's
launching ceremony in Delareyville on Thursday that the network
would take access to telecommunications to a new level, including
rural areas where the cost of infrastructure inhibited the ability
of operators to extend services as quickly as they would like to.
He said Telkom had the responsibility, particularly in Africa,
to ensure provision of telecommunication tools to encourage
development.
@ LESOTHO-CASUALTIES
MASERU October 1 1998 Sapa
EIGHTEEN LDF SOLDIERS WERE KILLED, SAYS ARMY CHIEF
The Lesotho Defence Force on Thursday afternoon announced that
it suffered 18 casualties in fierce gunbattles between rebel LDF
soldiers and Southern African Development Community intervention
troops last week.
"Eighteen of our soldiers died when SADC troops came into our
country," LDF chief Lieutenant-General Makhula Mosakeng told Sapa
on Thursday.
The figure contradicts the one given earlier to the South
African government. President Nelson Mandela announced while in New
York that 58 LDF soldiers had died.
Asked to comment, Mandela's spokesman Parks Mankahlana on
Thursday said Mandela, when referring to the 58, was talking about
the total loss of life.
"When the president said 58 lives had been lost, he did not
refer to nationals of any country."
Mosakeng said a press conference would be held in Maseru on
Friday morning to outline further details on LDF casualties.
Lesotho government officials earlier this week said 47
civilians had been killed and 15 others seriously injured.
Nine SANDF soldiers were killed in battles with LDF rebels.
@ LESOTHO-UN
UNITED NATIONS October 1 1998 Sapa-AP
AFTER INSURGENCY, LESOTHO SAYS ITS ARMY MUST BE OVERHAULED
Lesotho's foreign minister said Thursday that a military
insurgency in his poor African country that led to armed
intervention from neighboring South Africa underscored the need to
overhaul Lesotho's armed forces.
Tom Thabane said in speech to the U.N. General Assembly that
whenever a political party was in power in his country, it had
filled the army with its own supporters.
"As a consequence, our army has found great difficulty in
submitting to the authority of a different master. Recent events
have underscored the urgent need to overhaul the Lesotho army, as
was done under international supervision in Haiti."
Disputes between the Lesotho government and opposition parties
led to an army mutiny and a bloody intervention by South Africa
last week.
Thabane said his country was in "a state of virtual coup
d'etat" when the government appealed for help from other African
nations. On Sept. 22, South Africa and nearby Botswana sent about
1,000 troops into Lesotho.
The government and the opposition have since agreed to
negotiations.
Thabane said the violence had caused more than dlrs 200 million
in damage. He appealed for international help, saying the cost was
a "heavy burden" for Lesotho, a landlocked kingdom of 2 million
surrounded by South Africa.
@ MPUMALANGA-SUSPENSIONS
NELSPRUIT October 1 1998 Sapa
ANC SUSPENDS TWO SENIOR PROVINCIAL LEADERS IN MPUMALANGA
The African National Congress on Thursday suspended two more of
its senior provincial leaders in Mpumalanga following news reports
about their alleged complicity in irregularities.
African Eye News Service reported that Mpumalanga premier
Mathews Phosa, who is the ANC provincial chairman, announced the
suspensions at a news conference in Nelspruit.
He said the party decided to suspend finance MEC Jacques
Modipane and legislature member David Mkhwanazi. He said this
followed a great deal of deliberation.
Modipane and Mkhwanazi have also been relieved of their
government duties, pending an ANC disciplinary hearing on Tuesday
night.
Modipane has resigned from the provincial executive council. He
explained in a letter to Phosa that his job had become impossible
because of allegations of unethical business interests and his
disputed role in the R1,3 billion illegal promissory note saga.
He reiterated his rejection of all charges.
ANC provincial spokesman Jackson Mthembu said the party would
cross-examine Modipane regarding his alleged role in the issue of
six promissory notes on Tuesday, and would examine whether he
neglected his duty to inform the provincial executive, the national
loans co-ordinating committee and Finance Minister Trevor Manuel
about the scheme.
The ANC would also attempt to verify news reports that Modipane
allegedly had a secret business partnership with Mkhwanazi, South
Africa's ambassador to Mozambique, Mangisi Zitha, and other
office-bearers.
Said Mthembu: "We want to know whether or not he unethically
entered into some ownership of the Air Excellence helicopter
partnership and whether or not the partnership did business or had
contracts with government.
"We need to know whether they enriched themselves or not."
Phosa said this aspect of the probe would later be broadened to
include all Modipane's and Mkhwanazi's alleged business dealings.
The charges against Mkhwanazi centre on whether he abused his
elected position as former environmental affairs MEC, whether he
engaged in nepotism and whether he enriched himself while still in
office.
Mkhwanazi was forced to resign in May after news reports that
he hired his wife, daughter, sister-in-law and cousin, as well as
the relatives of other senior provincial leaders.
Mkhwanazi said in a letter addressed to Phosa from his lawyers
that he accepted his suspension and welcomed the opportunity to end
his drawn-out "trial by media".
Phosa said: "We're not being nasty by suspending these guys.
The post of MEC is a highly responsible one and there must be
severe punishment if anyone in the post is found to be on the wrong
side of the ethical line.
"I'm not saying that we don't make human errors but there are
limits," said Phosa.
@ SADC DELEGATION ARRIVES IN LESOTHO FOR TALKS
Issued by: Office of the Deputy President
The SADC delegation led by Minister Sydney Mufamadi arrived in
Lesotho this afternoon ahead of talks to be held tomorrow (Friday)
with the Lesotho government and opposition parties. The SADC
delegation comprises of Minister Mufamadi, High Commissioners
Armando Panguene (Mozambique), Nelson Moyo (Zimbabwe), Oteng Tebape
(Botswana), Frank Chikane, Jackie Selebi, and Mojanku Gumbi.
The purpose of the talks is part of the process to ensure that
peace and stability is achieved in Lesotho.
In addition to the above, Deputy President Thabo Mbeki, will be
addressing the nation in a live radio and television transmission
tomorrow (Friday) at 19.30, SABC2. He will be addressing the
situation in Lesotho.
Issued by: Office of the Deputy President
Date: 1 october 1998
Contact: Ricky Naidoo
Cell phone: 083 5555 189
@ EURO-CFA
PARIS, Oct 1, Sapa-AFP
EU ASSURES AFRICAN NATIONS CONCERNED OVER ADVENT OF EURO
The European Union assured finance ministers of Africa's
15-member Franc Zone here Thursay that their national currencies
would be secure under the European single currency, the euro, which
comes into effect next January 1.
Franc Zone members, mostly in west and central Africa, had
feared that their CFA franc, up to now guaranteed by the French
treasury and linked to the French franc, would be made to float
freely with the advent of the euro.
They also feared the African unit would be devalued before
being linked to the euro.
The currency, used by some 80 million people across 15
countries, already lost half its value in January 1994, when it
went from 50 CFA francs to the French franc to the current 100.
The French authorities have repeatedly assured their African
partners over the future of the CFA franc, stressing that the
Maastricht Treaty did not prevent the linkage of the CFA franc to
the euro.
"The passage of the euro has no effect on the value of the CFA
franc and on the Comoran franc," said a statement issued late
Thursday after the meetings.
"Parity with the euro," said the statement, "will be deduced
arithmetically from the parity to be fixed on January 1 between the
French franc and the euro and does not modify the monetary
cooperation accords linking France to African countries in the
franc zone."
The announcement was made after Austrian Finance Minister
Rudolf Edlinger, current chairman of the EU council of finance
ministers, pointedly came here to reassure the Franc Zone's
semi-annual ministerial meeting, the last before 11 of the European
Union's 15 member states begin using the euro on January 1.
French Finance Minister Dominique Strauss-Kahn called
Edlinger's participation in the meeting "a strong symbolic act"
aimed at allaying the fears that persist in Africa concerning the
consequences of the euro.
The communique said Edlinger presented to the African ministers
the "political accord signed July 6 1998 among EU finance ministers
stipulating the terms and the official acknowledgement by European
institutions of the perenniality of the accords that founded the
franc zone."
"On that basis," said the statement, Edlinger indicated that
the franc zone will continue to function without interference from
the European Union, insofar as these accords remain in their
current state.
"France's European partners should be regularly informed of
their implementation," it said.
Strauss-Kahn told a press conference that, in the case of new
members joinging the franc zone, the pertinent accords would need
to be modified accordingly.
The minister also announced that the European Central Bank
(ECB) had approved the securing of the CFA franc to the euro,
saying this would permit the July 6 accord "to be put into official
form" by the end of the year.
French Cooperation Minister Charles Josselin, who was at the
meeting, earlier told Thursday's Les Echos financial daily that
Africa had "benefitted from the effects of the euro's security."
The continent, he said, is "less affected than America and Asia
(by world financial crises), very simply because it depends less on
the world economy. Tightly tied commercially to Europe, it benefits
from the security of the euro."
The 15 CFA franc zone countries are Benin, Burkina Faso,
Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo,
Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger,
Senegal and Togo.
Talks to revamp the Lome Convention, the 23-year-old
trade-and-aid pact which governs relations between the EU and the
ACP countries, made up largely of former colonies, opened in
Brussels on Wednesday.
The convention's system of trade preferences, under which ACP
countries enjoy a degree of tariff-free access to the EU's vast
internal market, accounts for nearly half these countries' exports,
and is seen as no longer sustainable by the EU.
The negotiations are expected to last a year.
@ LABOUR-NUMSA
JOHANNESBURG October 1 1998 Sapa
NUMSA AND SAMIEA AGREE TO PROPOSAL THAT MAY END STRIKE
The National Union of Metalworkers and the SA Motor Industry
Employers' Association on Thursday said they had formulated a
proposal which could bring the union's month-long strike to an end.
Numsa and Samiea were reluctant to reveal the contents of the
proposal which has to be ratified by their members over the
weekend.
The latest round of talks between the two parties resumed on
Tuesday through the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and
Arbitration. The parties are expected to report back to the CCMA on
Monday next week.
The announcement of a possible resolution comes a day after
Numsa spokesman Dumisa Ntuli threatened to call for independent
arbitration and to ask Labour Minister Shepherd Mdladlana to
intervene when it looked as though talks had again deadlocked.
Samiea spokesman Vic Fourie said a breakthrough was achieved at
7pm on Wednesday.
"Just when it seemed that the dispute was never going to be
resolved, we were able to identify common areas of agreement," said
Fourie.
"I am not suggesting we have a firm agreement as yet, but we
are cautiously optimistic that we have the basis of an agreement."
Ntuli was reluctant to pre-empt union members' reaction to the
proposal, but admitted that the union would not have agreed to
present the proposal to its members unless it believed the proposal
was reasonable.
Final details regarding the proposal were discussed on
Thursday.
Fourie said both groups were concerned about resolving the
issue. "Both the trade union's side and our side are battle weary
and would like to see the end of it, so we can begin to tend to
matters of business," he said.
Numsa is expected to hold a press conference at 10am on Sunday
to discuss the outcome of talks with its members. A venue has not
yet been announced.
About 5000 Numsa members in the motor industry have been on
strike since September 1, the strike affecting petrol stations,
panelbeating shops, spare parts firms and car component
manufacturers.
Employers say the strike is costing about R150 million a day.
+-----------------------------------------------------------+
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