ANC News Briefing
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A N C D A I L Y N E W S B R I E F I N G
TUESDAY 24 NOVEMBER 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
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@ ELECTION-DP
CAPE TOWN November 23 1998 Sapa
DP THREATENS COURT ACTION OVER ELECTION
The Democratic Party on Monday said it was seriously
considering going to court to break the bureaucratic logjam over
identity documents for the 1999 general election.
Chairman of the DP's federal council Douglas Gibson, said the
party was consulting senior counsel and could launch an urgent
court application to set aside the section of the Electoral Act
making bar-coded ID books the only valid identification for voters.
However, he said the party might hold off its application if
the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) postponed voter
registration to allow people time to get bar-coded books.
Voter registration takes place over three days from November
27, and people need either a bar-coded book or a temporary
registration certificate to register.
Gibson said hundreds of thousands of voters could be denied
their democratic right to vote because there was so little time
before then to get the bar-coded document.
He said many people who applied for bar-coded books did not
receive temporary registration certificates, even after the law was
changed, and would now have to go back to home affairs to get their
certificates.
"We cannot stand idly by and allow that even a single qualified
DP supporter is denied his or her right to register or exercise a
vote.
"The department of home affairs can expect a flood of
last-minute applications in the coming week, placing serious strain
on their ability to meet the deadline," he said.
@ NO VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN REACHED ENDEMIC IN SA
Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS)
Violence against women has reached endemic proportion in South
Africa. It is estimated that one out of every four women in South
Africa are victims of domestic violence. Violence against women is a
community problem which needs to be addressed at all levels of
society. 25 November marks the beginning of a series of actions
aimed at redressing violence against women, these actions will run
during the 16 days of activism to end violence against women,
culminating on 10 December 1998. These actions or themes are drawn
from the SADC Prevention and Eradication of Violence against Women
Addendum to the Declaration for Gender and Development adopted at
the SADC Summit in Mauritius on 14 September 1998.
The whole day on Wednesday, 25 November 1998 is devoted to a
National Conference of Commitments to the SADC Addendum. The
proceedings begin at 08:30 on the grounds of the Union Buildings.
The keynote speech will be by President Mandela at 10:00. The
proceedings come to an end at 16:00
A press conference will be held on Wednesday, 25 November 1998
at 11:00, R153, Union Building, West Wing, Pretoria. The press
conference will be hosted by the Deputy Minister of Justice, Dr ME
Tshabalala-Msimang, the Gender Commission and the Human Rights
Commission's National Action Plan Committee.
The aim of the press conference is to inform the media about the
16 days of activism leading up to 10 December 1998 which marks the
50th Anniversary of the UN Declaration of Human Rights. The main
theme of the conference will be No Violence Against Women.
Contact persons: Faizal Dawjee: (012) 314-2133 (office hours)
083 254 2923 (after hours)
Petra Wiese: (012) 314-2452 (office hours)
082 565 8062 (after hours)
Issued by the Government Communication and Information System
(GCIS)
@ CHURCH-CONFERENCE
JOHANNESBURG November 23 1998 Sapa
SA CHURCH LEADERS TO ATTEND CONFERENCE ON RESTORING MORAL FIBRE
A conference of church leaders will be held in Rustenburg in
February to discuss ways of restoring the country's moral fibre,
the chairman of the Consultation of Church Leaders in South Africa,
Bishop Mvume Dandala, said on Monday.
"South Africa could be free of corruption, crime and debt if
people just stopped their endless cycle of despair, negative
criticism and self-flagellation," Dandala said in a statement
released in Johannesburg.
Christians were not driven by the existing moral crisis, but by
the vision of what South Africa could become, he said.
According to the statement, churches from across the spectrum
had responded positively to the idea of a conference, and had
expressed an interest in attending.
Dandala said he and his deputy chairman, Dr Isak Burger, would
be supported at the conference by a steering committee and council
of elders.
"We need to challenge Christians, especially those who are
demoralised by the current state of the country, to find courage to
stand up for their beliefs. This is essential to rebuild the
nation," Dandala said.
Issues that will be addressed by top speakers in their fields
include human responsibility and human rights, education, poverty,
crime and justice, ethics in business, respect for life and moral
conduct.
@ ZIM-LAND
HARARE November 23 1998 Sapa-AFP
VILLAGERS ARRESTED FOR BESIEGING WHITE-OWNED FARMS
Police in Zimbabwe have arrested 12 villagers for failing to
comply with court orders to vacate white-owned farms they have
invaded, a daily paper reported Monday.
The villagers were last week served with eviction orders to
leave the farms they had seized and occupied in recent weeks.
The Herald reported that on the expiry of the deadline, armed
anti-riot police descended on the farms forcing the villagers out,
but a defiant 12 were arrested at the weekend.
The 12 are due to appear in court Monday.
Hundreds of villagers, led by veterans of Zimbabwe's
independence war, have in recent weeks invaded white farms and in
some instances threatening violence against the farm owners.
The veterans said they were taking matters into their own hands
because President Robert Mugabe had failed to fulfil his promise to
resettle them on white-owned land.
@ TOBACCO-REGULATIONS
CAPE TOWN November 23 1998 Sapa
TOBACCO REGULATIONS MAY BE READY BY JANUARY
The health department has begun working on the regulations to
accompany tough new anti-smoking legislation, and hopes they will
be ready by the end of January.
The department's acting director of health promotion, Nogolide
Nojozi, said on Monday that immediately after the Tobacco Products
Control Amendment Bill was passed by Parliament this month,
stakeholders were invited to make inputs on the regulations.
Health Minister Dr Nkosazana Zuma is empowered to make
exemptions to the ban on smoking in public places, to regulate the
phasing out of tobacco sponsorships or contractual obligations, and
to set maximum levels of tar and nicotine in tobacco products.
Nojozi said organisations had responded to the invitations, but
that some had raised concerns about the bill rather than making
suggestions on the regulations themselves.
The department was still busy drafting the regulations, but had
not yet had a chance to meet the minister, who would make final
decisions.
She said the department hoped the regulations would be ready
for publication by the end of January.
At parliamentary hearings in October, the Federated Hospitality
Association of South Africa urged that hotels, restaurants, pubs
and similar institutions be allowed to decide whether to become
exclusively smoking or non-smoking establishments, or to
accommodate smokers and non-smokers through "regulated and
effective" segregation.
The bill has been sent to President Nelson Mandela for
signature, and is being considered by his legal advisers.
@ MPUMA-PHOSA
NELSPRUIT November 23 1998 Sapa
PHOSA WILL NOT REST UNTIL CORRUPT ELEMENTS REMOVED IN MPUMA
Mpumalanga premier Mathews Phosa on Monday said he would not
rest until all corrupt elements were eliminated from his
administration.
In a speech prepared for delivery at the launch of Business
Against Crime at Waterval Onder in Mpumalanga, Phosa appealed to
businessmen not to tempt officials into becoming partners in crime.
"The saying that 'If you can't beat them, join them' is
definitely not applicable here," Phosa said.
Mpumalanga had to ensure that a safe environment was created in
which businessmen could create new jobs.
"If we are serious about bringing prosperity and peace to the
people of Mpumalanga, we must eliminate the corrupt and criminal
factors, and uproot them from our society."
Phosa said the high level of crime in the country had a
negative impact on local and international investment. The crime
wave in the province had resulted in uneasiness and restraint on
the tourism industry, he said.
"This results in lack of personal security and, in the end, the
departure of business people and academics from our country."
The premier said it was important that everyone was involved in
fighting crime. "Effective crime prevention and combating implies
that the South African Police Service remains the main stakeholder.
"We, as individuals, and also the different communities in our
provinces, should join hands with the... police in finding these
criminals and bringing them to justice."
@ GDP-SA
JOHANNESBURG November 23 1998 Sapa-INet-Bridge
S AFRICA Q3 GDP DOWN 2.3% Q/Q, DOWN 0.3% Y/Y
According to the latest preliminary es-
timates, the total seasonally adjusted real gross domestic prod-
uct (GDP) at market prices decreased by an annualized rate of
2.3% during the third quarter of 1998 compared with the second
quarter of 1998, Statistics South Africa (SSA) said today.
Economists had expected a decline with the consensus at -1.5%
with the range from flat to -3.0% from a 0.3% rise in the second
quarter on the first quarter.
SSA said this was the sharpest decline since a 2.9% decline
in the first quarter 1994, just prior to the first all-race elec-
tions in April 1994.
For the first 9 months of the year, real gross domestic prod-
uct was 0.3% higher than the same period last year.
At factor incomes, the quarterly decline in the third quarter
was an annualized 2.5%.
SSA said the decrease was mainly due to a 5.2% annualized de-
cline in manufacturing, with 5 of the 10 main sectors showing a
decline.
The other sectors showing an annualized quarter-on-quarter
decline were agriculture (-19.5%), construction (-4.2%), mining
(-2.1%), electricity (-0.4%) and trade & catering (-0.3%).
Sectors representing 63.4% of gross domestic product in 1990
therefore showed a quarterly decline.
Community services (1.7%), transport & communication (1.4%),
"other producers" (1.4%) and finance & real estate (1.2%) showed
increases, while general government was steady. End
@ DRCONGO-FIGHTING
KINSHASA November 23 1998 Sapa-AFP
ZIMBABWEAN WARPLANES SINK DRC REBEL BARGES CARRYING 600 MEN
Zimbawean military allies of DRC President Laurent Kabila
killed at least 600 rebels in air strikes on barges they were using
for a redeployment in the east, independent sources said Monday.
The sources in Kinshasa said that Zimbabwean pilots had on
Saturday spotted and attacked four barges each carrying more than
100 men as well as military equipment on Lake Tanganyika in the
eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
On Sunday, the aircraft attacked two similar vessels
transporting rebel troops from Kalemie, the southernmost rebel base
in the mineral-rich Katanga province, to Moba, also on the
lakeshore some 140 kilometres (about 85 miles) further south.
One source said that "everybody perished" when the barges were
strafed and sunk.
For a week before the attacks, Moba had seen heavy fighting
between the Tutsi-led rebels and the Congolese Armed Forces (FAC)
loyal to Kabila.
The rebels, who landed there from the lake since FAC troops
control the road from Kalemie to Moba, claimed last week to have
seized control of Moba after a day of heavy fighting.
Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia and Chad have all sent troops to back
Kabila against the rebels who began their uprising on August 2. The
Kinshasa regime has accused neighbouring Uganda and Rwanda to the
east of invading the DRC, playing down the role of the rebels
themselves in the conflict.
Private aviation sources in the capital said that Zimbabwean
combat planes have for 10 days been regularly attacking rebel
positions in the Kalemie region, some 1,600 kilometres (1,000
miles) east of Kinshasa, and in nearby areas in Maniema province
further north.
Lake Tanganyika marks the border of the DRC, Burundi and
Tanzania and lies south of the DRC frontiers with Rwanda and
Uganda.
@ ANC STATEMENT ON DRC PEACE PROCESS
Issued by: African National Congress
The ANC welcomes the outcome of the ground breaking peace talks
involving the Southern African Development Community and the
Democratic Republic of Congo rebel delegation which ended on
Saturday 21 November 1998 in Botswana.
The decision of the DRC rebel movement to throw its full weight
behind the peace process aimed at resolving the political impasse in
the Democratic Republic of Congo gives more hope for the full
implementation of the cease-fire agreement.
The ANC reiterates its confidence in the ability of the SADC,
the OAU and the United Nations to facilitate the peace process aimed
at finding a lasting peaceful solution to the Democratic Republic of
Congo's political impasse.
The ANC reiterates its support for the continued role of the
South African government in close collaboration with the other SADC
member states in the peace process. The ANC rejects with contempt
the notion that the South African government has been taking sides
in the DRC conflict.
We remain hopeful of a peaceful settlement of the DRC problems,
which should enable the people of the DRC to continue with the
reconstruction and development of their country.
Issued by ANC Department of Information and Publicity
For further information contact Thabo Masebe at 330 7082 or 082
575 3978
23 November 1998
@ SAPA PR -
Issued by: East Cape News (Ecn)
@ RUSSIA-SAFRICA
MOSCOW November 23 1998 Sapa-AP
MANDELA TO VISIT RUSSIA IN 1999
South African President Nelson Mandela will visit Russia in
April, 1999 for meetings with Russian leaders, his vice president
announced Monday.
The Interfax News Agency said Vice President Thabo Mbeki said
the visit had been set for next spring. Mandela canceled a visit to
Russia last winter amid concerns about his health.
Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov said the invitation to
Mandela had been extended on the instructions of Russian President
Boris Yeltsin.
"We are looking forward to his visit," Primakov said.
Primakov said his talks with Mbeki on improving ties had gone
well and there were good opportunities to expand relations.
"We rejoice at South Africa's successes and are glad that the
changes that have taken place in that country lately were not
accompanied by any bloodshed and the country is stable," he said.
Primakov hailed the improvement in relations since the end of
white-minority rule.
"Both sides want this. We are no longer sizing each other
up," he said at the start of talks.
The two sides signed agreements covering protection of capital
investments, cooperation in tourism and sport.
Mbeki, who is expected to succeed Mandela when elections are
held next year, is scheduled to deliver a speech at Peoples'
Friendship University.
The school was a magnet for African students during the Soviet
era, when it served the government's policy of promoting communism
in Africa. Since the Soviet collapse, it has fallen on hard times.
@ ELECTION-NP
CAPE TOWN November 23 1998 Sapa
VOTER REGISTRATION DESCENDING INTO ANARCHY: NP LEADER
The voter registration campaign, scheduled to take place on
Friday, Saturday and Sunday, was threatening to descend into
anarchy, National Party leader Marthinus van Schalkwyk said on
Monday.
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) could not plan a
proper registration process, or an election, if it was not
sufficiently empowered by the government to do so, he said in
speeches during visits to Worcester and De Doorns in the Western
Cape.
Van Schalkwyk said he had warned as far back as February this
year about what would happen if the government did not get its act
together.
"Judging by the confusion and disarray that has now emerged, it
seems evident that we have never had an election or referendum in
this country so sub-standard in nature."
The blame for this had to be placed squarely on the African
National Congress government's shoulders, Van Schalkwyk said.
As things stood, he could not see a proper registration process
taking place at the end of the week, he said.
The best scenario was one where registration could proceed in
some provinces but not in others.
This would be highly unsatisfactory as it meant that all South
Africans would not have the same opportunity to register and to
exercise their constitutional rights, he said.
@ HEALTH-OMAR
DURBAN Nov 22 Sapa
OMAR PRAISES ZUMA FOR COURAGE IN IMPLEMENTING HEALTH
POLICIES
South Africa's health policies aimed to give equitable access
to health services to all and to protect the health of all
community members, Justice Minister Dullah Omar said on Sunday.
Speaking at an international colloqium on public health law in
Durban, he praised Health Minister Nkosazana Zuma for her
commitment and courage in implementing these policies.
"She has steadfastly promoted the controversial legislation
which controls the use and advertising of tobacco products in the
face of unprecedented local and international commerical and
political pressure because she believes it is in the interest of
public health."
Regarding accusations that the Bill was prejudicial to the
economy, Omar said: "Her accusers ignore the fact that the good
health of the population is a requisite for a country's economic
health and the enormous cost to the state of treating those who
suffer from diseases caused by the use of tobacco products."
She had also promoted the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy
Act of 1996, despite threats of constitutional challenge, because
she understood the plight of millions of women and children who had
suffered the adverse effects of unwanted pregnancy, he said.
However, scarcity of resources meant that hard choices had to
made on allocation.
"It is important for instance, to maintain the excellence of
academic hospitals, yet the resources which would have to be used
for that purpose may be desperately needed elsewhere."
"Unfortunately the sectors from which resources may need to be
diverted are vocal and receive a great deal of media publicity, but
scant attention is paid to the thankful prayers of the
disadvantaged majority to whom these resources are diverted," he
said.
On the balancing of rights and resources, Omar also referred to
the constitutional court ruling this year - in Soobramoney v
Minister of Health, KwaZulu-Natal - that the state was not obliged
to provide expensive dialysis treatment to a man who would die
without it.
The right of access to health care services did not mean the
state was obliged to provide free medical treatment for all
citizens, but it did mean the cost had to be reasonable.
In this respect, Zuma's decision to make medicine available at
affordable prices by making the sale of generics legal, despite the
protest of international drug companies, was also courageous, Omar
noted.
@ DRCONGO-ANC
JOHANNESBURG November 23 1998 Sapa
ANC WELCOMES OUTCOME OF DRCONGO REBEL TALKS
The African National Congress on Monday welcomed Saturday's
decision by the rebel movement in the Democratic Republic of Congo
to back the Southern African Development Community's peace process.
"The decision of the DRC rebel movement to throw its full
weight behind the peace process, aimed at resolving the political
impasse in the Democratic Republic of Congo, gives more hope for
the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement," ANC spokesman
Thabo Masebe said in a statement.
SADC executive secretary Kaire Mbuende on Saturday said
although the two-day meeting in the Botswana capital of Gaborone
ended inconclusively, it laid a basis for moving the Congolese
peace process forward.
The meeting brought together a rebel delegation and
representatives from South Africa, Tanzania and Mozambique, as well
as the Organisation of African Unity and United Nations envoys.
Also on Saturday a rebel leader, Bizima Karaha, told
journalists his movement would now seriously embark on the peace
process in the DRC, and was ready to talk to DRC President Laurent
Kabila at any time.
Masebe said the ANC remained confident in the ability of SADC,
the OAU, and the United Nations, to facilitate the peace process.
He reiterated the ANC's support for the South African government's
involvement with other SADC states in the process.
Masebe said the ANC rejected criticism that the South African
government took sides in the DRC conflict.
@ TRAFFIC-CAMPAIGN
JOHANNESBURG November 23 1998 Sapa
1998 ARRIVE ALIVE CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED IN JOHANNESBURG
Motorists using the country's highways during the festive
season should expect harsh penalties for traffic offences,
Transport Minister Mac Maharaj said on Monday.
The maximum number of traffic officials would be patrolling the
country's highways, in marked and unmarked vehicles equipped with
the latest in technology, to ensure compliance with road safety
laws, he said, speaking at the launch of the 1998 Arrive Alive
campaign in Johannesburg.
"Road users should commit themselves to taking responsibility
for their own and other people's safety."
The high number of road fatalities that occurred every year
during the December holiday season was unacceptable, he said.
The 1998 campaign would be conducted along the N1, N2, N3 and
N4 routes, and would provide up-to-the-minute information on
traffic and road safety during peak traffic times.
This would involve the nine provincial traffic authorities
which would also be introducing new and innovative law enforcement
equipment during the holiday period.
Maharaj also announced the involvement of two companies in a
traffic safety campaign complimentary to the Arrive Alive campaign.
"Traffic safety awareness points will be established at Engen
garages along the four national highways," Maharaj said.
Motorists would be able to access information on road and
travelling conditions through a hotline set up by Philips' cellular
phone division.
Monday's launch took the form of a demonstration of new and
improved traffic-law enforcement technology, including hi-tech
breathalyser equipment to test drunken motorists and video cameras
installed in helicopters and police vehicles to film speeding cars.
"All traffic departments will have the new breathalyser
equipment, which gives us an instant printout, and does away with
the need for any blood test or waiting period," Department of
Transport spokeswoman Marleen Ronalds told Sapa.
She said the breathalyser printouts were admissable in a court
of law, and would save a great deal of time and money.
"We plan to set up as many roadblocks as possible during the
holiday season, and motorists should know that they can expect to
see these roadblocks at any time of the day or night."
One of the main focuses of the Arrive Alive campaign would be
to check vehicles for roadworthiness, Ronalds said.
"We will be on the lookout particularly for overloaded,
unroadworthy minibus taxis, as these are often the cause of serious
accidents."
Ronalds urged motorists to wear their seatbelts. Drivers who
neglected to do so would be heavily fined.
She also said the Department of Transport hoped to be enforcing
set penalties for specific traffic offences soon.
"We need to make the roads safer for everyone who uses them,
and we will not tolerate irresponsible, selfish driving. Motorists
should remember that from now on, the driver behind them could be a
traffic officer in an unmarked car."
@ ELECTION-KWANATAL
DURBAN November 23 1998 Sapa
VOTING STATIONS IN KWAZULU-NATAL TO BE KNOWN BY WEDNESDAY: IEC
Voters in KwaZulu-Natal should know by Wednesday or Thursday
where they would be able to register for next year's general
election, the Independent Electoral Commission said on Monday.
Posters indicating the points throughout the province where
voters could register on Friday, Saturday and Sunday would be put
up at supermarkets and other venues, an IEC official told Sapa.
Provincial IEC organisers could not be reached for comment as
they were all attending meetings, the official said.
The Daily News newspaper reported that training of registration
officials was due to start on Tuesday, giving the IEC only three
days in which to train them properly.
Concern was also raised that not enough civil servants would
volunteer their services to assist in registration as requested by
Deputy President Thabo Mbeki.
KwaZulu-Natal was expected to have approximately 2900
regisration or voting stations, each to be managed by five IEC
staffers.
In a statement on Monday the African National Congress called
on civil servants to render their services as registration
officials.
"It is a mammoth task that our civil servants have to fulfil.
This clarion call is a challenge to our civil servants which they
have to respond (to) positively," the statement said.
@ WATER-ALIENPLANTS
JOHANNESBURG November 23 1998 Sapa
WATER RESOURCES UNDER ATTACK FROM ALIEN PLANTS
An estimated 10 million hectares of land in South Africa are
infested by invading alien plants, which use about 3,3 billion
cubic metres of water more than indigenous plants would, a study
carried out by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
has found.
The preliminary results of the study, which was commissioned by
the Water Affairs Department and funded by the Water Affairs
Commission, will be released on December 7 at a function in
Pretoria, the department said in a statement.
The CSIR examined the severe impact invading alien plants have
on the country's environment and water resources, options for
clearing them and how much that would cost, and what the likely
benefits would be.
It estimated that alien plants used up almost seven percent of
the country's water run-off, which necessitated large-scale
intervention.
The study forms part of the department's working for water
programme, one of the world's largest programmes to clear alien
vegetation.
It has been estimated that about 750,000 hectares of land will
have to be cleared of alien plants annually to eliminate them over
a period of 20 years.
Left unchecked the alien plants would spread rapidly and pose a
threat to South Africa's limited water resources and rich
biodiversity, the statement said.
@ KOPANA-ACQUIRE
JOHANNESBURG November 23 1998 Sapa
KOPANA LE MATLA GETS 20 PERCENT IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE CLINIC
Kopana Le Matla, the investment arm of Cosatu, has signed a
deal with Carewell to acquire 20 percent of Primary Health Care
Clinic Group.
Carewell financial director Ernie Visser said in a statement
Monday: "As an added value strategic partner, Kopana le Matla
further enables us to make accessible to more of the previously
disadvantaged people of South Africa, quality affordable health
care."
Carewell have already opened eight clinics and plan to
establish 74 Primary Health Clinics by March of 2000.
@ FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME LAUNCH IN OUDTSHOORN
Issued by: Department of Health
The Department of Health cordially invites you to the Launch of
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome on Wednesday, 25 November 1998. Deputy
Director General, Dr JHO Pretorius will deliver a keynote address at
the function.
VENUE: Oudtshoorn, Civic Centre
TIME: 10:00
DATE: 25 NOVEMBER 1998
RSVP: Mini Vusani
Cell No: 083 516 6475
Rhoda: Tel No: 044 874 2172
@ TRUTH-APLA
JOHANNESBURG November 23 1998 Sapa
PAC BLESSED THE MONEY-STEALING OPERATION: TRC TOLD
The Pan Africanist Congress gave its blessings to its military
wing, the Azanian People's Liberation Army's operation in the 1980s
to steal everything that was worth money to raise funds to buy
weapons, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's amnesty
committee heard on Monday.
Two Apla cadres, Patrick Thapelo Maseko and Hlalele "Page"
Hlelesi, made the claim while applying for amnesty at hearings in
Mayfair, Johannesburg.
The weapons were to be used to undermine the "settler" regime
of that time.
"We stole cash, jewellery, cars and everything worth money so
that we could fund Apla's operations, and this we carried out
successfully," Maseko, then Apla commander in Westonaria, told the
committee.
He said upon returning from military training in Tanzania, Apla
soldiers had no weapons, and were told to rob people to get money
for arming cadres.
They formed a unit dubbed the Beauty Salon, which reported
directly to Apla's director of operations, Letlapa Mphahlele.
In the process of carrying out the operations, people were
killed, especially the whites who at that time were regarded as
enemies of black people, Maseko said.
"South Africa was under an oppressive regime at that time."
In his application, he said they robbed the Libanon Gold Mine
Fresar's Stores of R16000, the Elsburg mine of R6000 and the Cala
hotel of R11000. He also mentioned attacks on various police
stations in and around Soweto.
The group robbed the Transkei University of R500000. A
policeman was killed and two more were injured during this
operation.
Maseko's affidavit before the committee listed 24 operations
the four-member unit carried out, but he said there were more
operations.
The other members of the unit were Donga Maleka (code-named
Lumumba), Christopher Botshabelo (code-named Small Baby) and a
Tefo, who was apparently an SA National Defence Force member at De
Brug.
During cross-examination, Maseko denied they were a group of
tsotsis (criminals) who wanted to enrich themselves by carrying out
robberies.
"We were committed cadres who wanted to raise funds for our
liberation movement so that it could carry on with the mzabalazo
(liberation struggle)."
On what they did with the large amount of cash they amassed
during these operations, Maseko said they used it for buying
weapons, as well as for their personal survival, since they were
told to get the money by all means.
Hlelesi, said - together with a group of other Apla cadres -
they attacked the Niewenhuizen home in the East Rand following a
tip off by a gardener that a lot of weapons could be find there.
A Mrs Niewenhuizen was shot dead and her domestic worker Emily
Mokoena injured in the attack. Mokoena has since died.
Hlelesi was in March 1994 imprisoned for 40 years on murder,
robbery and possession of illegal firearm charges.
He insisted they were actind under the instructions of Apla
commanders, and that they were committed to seeing the oppressive
white rule ending in South Africa.
PAC sports and recreation secretary, Jabulani Khumalo -
testifying for the applicants - said the funds accumulated in this
way were intended to fund the organisation's struggle for
liberation during apartheid.
He said units were created to carry out the "repossession"
operations.
"The PAC made it very clear that because it did not have money,
discretionary and creative methods needed to be adopted by cadres
that would raise funds to push forward the struggle," he told the
committee.
"The PAC gave its blessings to this operation."
Khumalo said the PAC hierachy were well aware of the monies
being collected, but the commanders of the units did not how it was
utilised.
"It's important to highlight (that) in a guerilla warfare there
are no logistical arrangements... and therefore you cannot expect
the comrades to be accountable under the circumstances."
The commission reserved its decision on both applications.
@ DR ZUMA TO ATTEND CONFERENCE IN LONDON
Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS)
Pretoria- Health Minister, Dr Nkosazana Zuma will leave for
London, UK later this evening, November 23, 1998 to attend the Sixth
International Telemedicine Conference.
The Telemedicine Conference, takes place from 24 - 29 November
1998 and will attract delegates from around the globe.
Delegates are expected to focus on the applicability of telecare
and telemedicine in their countries and how best this technology can
be utilised to advance health and education.
Dr Zuma will return home on Sunday, November 29. During her
absence Dr Zola Skwiyiya, Minister of Public Service &
Administration will be the Acting Minister of Health.
For more information contact: Mr Khangelani Hlongwane 082 557 0978
@ TRADE-OCT
JOHANNESBURG November 23 1998 Sapa
SA RECORDS R0,5 BILLION TRADE DEFICIT IN OCT
After a swift recovery in South Africa's trade balance in
September, the country recorded a R511,5 million trade deficit in
October.
Figures released by the SA Revenue Service on Monday showed the
country's total exports for the month at about R13,04 billion,
against total imports of R13,55 billion.
Similarly, there was an accummulated trade deficit of R622,6
million for the 10 months to the end of October after the country
imported about R121,16 billion worth of goods during the period and
only achieved exports we balance of R146 million was recorded in September
following a huge deficit of nearly R3 billion in August.
However, Standard Bank Investment Corporation said then that it
was unwise to read too much into the SARS monthly trade data as
there were serious underlying problems in the figures.
Not only was the monthly trade data erratic, but there were
huge disparities between the SARS figures abd those published by
the SA Reserve Bank, it said.
@ SWAZI-BOMB
MBABANE November 23 1998 Sapa
SWAZI GOVERNMENT VOWS TO FIND BOMBERS
The Swaziland government on Monday vowed to find those
responsible for the bombing of the deputy prime minister's office
building in Mbabane last Friday and bring them to justice.
The bombing left a young security guard dead and two other
people badly injured.
After broadcasting a message to the nation on Monday, Prime
Minister Sibusiso Dlamini announced a reward of R50,000 for
information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killers.
Dlamini declined to comment on a claim by an unknown group
calling themselves The Tigers that they planted the bomb.
The claim was made in a telephone call to the Times of
Swaziland on Saturday by an anonymous caller who said his group was
unhappy with the system of government.
It is understood the dead security guard was a school leaver
who recently started his first job with a local security company.
@ LET LAW TAKE ITS COURSE
BISHO (ECN) - The provincial ANC will investigate the cases of
East London councillors allegedly possessing fraudulent driving
licences once the law has taken its course. This was said by East
Cape ANC spokesman Mcebisi Bata in reaction to a Daily Dispatch
report which said that another East London councillor was arrested
for having a forged licence. The report said that Joseph Nelani, who
was arrested at the weekend, was one of four councillors awaiting
the attorney-general's decision on whether they should be prosecuted
for possession of fraudulent driver's licences.
Bata said the ANC "believed the law should take its course", but
if the councillors were found guilty of the offences, the ACN would
hold an investigation. "We've stated repeatedly that we cannot be
represented by people with criminal offences."
@ NO HASTE IN CORRIDORS OF POWER
GRAHAMSTOWN (ECN Business) - While Eastern Cape chokka fishermen
count the cost of the delays in the issuing of chokka fishing
permits - reported last week as totalling R13m - Directorate of
Sea Fisheries officials responsible for issuing the permits work
normal days and go home comfortable that they, at least, will have
food on the table this month. ECN made repeated attempts to
establish what the state of play was regarding the issuing of chokka
licenses but drew a complete blank yesterday. The
Directorate of Sea Fisheries was telephoned repeatedly all day and
messages were left with secretaries and promises elicited - the few
times the telephone was picked up! - that calls would be returned
and the required information furnished. At four o'clock a final call
was made and we were told: "Sorry, can you call back tomorrow -
they all went home at quarter-to-four."
It was reported last week that that crews on the chokka boats
were set to lose R13m while the country would lose R48m in foreign
exchange if the Department of Sea Fisheries did not get round to
issuing licences timeously. The chokka season should have opened
yesterday (subs: Mon) but it was reported in the EP Herald that
hundreds of chokka boats had remained in their harbours. If boats
attempt to fish without permits their owners risk having their
rights confiscated permanently. It was reported yesterday (subs:
Mon) that the SA Squid Management Industrial Association (Sasmia)
had said 35 percent of the catch came within the first three weeks
of the three-month season and many adult squid would die by end
December and be lost to the industry for good.. The Department of
Sea Fisheries had told fisherfolk on October 13 that their permit
applications had to be in on original forms by October 23.
Because of delays in issuing the chokka permits workers in the
industry are now not earning any money. Urgent pleas had been send
to Environmental Affairs Minister Pallo Jordan and the Sea Fisheries
Department to extend the application dates. The department had said
it would do everything in its power to process applications by the
due date. It was reported yesterday that Sasmia was considering
employing an advocate to compel Jordan to intervene in terms of his
rights under the new Living Marine Resources Act. They want him to
allow current perrmit holders to get back on the water while the
problems being faced are addressed.
@ FRANCE-DRCONGO
PARIS, Nov 23, Sapa-AFP
DR CONGO REBEL DELEGATION ARRIVES IN PARIS
A rebel team from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
arrived on Monday in Paris, led by one of their political chiefs,
Arthur Zahidi Ngoma, four days ahead of this year's Franco-African
summit.
The rebels, who took up arms against President Laurent Kabila's
Kinshasa regime on August 2, have not been officially invited to
the summit, but the French foreign ministry made clear that nothing
stopped them sending delegates to Paris.
Ngoma, who was accompanied on Monday by Jim Balikwisha, the
rebels' deputy leader for mobilisation and Crispin Kabasele
Tshimanga, an advisor on foreign relations, came to Paris from
Brussels.
A member of the team said that it would be joined on Tuesday by
the rebels' diplomatic chief, Bizima Karaha, who was formerly
Kabila's foreign minister, by Emungu Ehumba, responsible for
justice and human rights, and by Bwana Tabwe, simply described as
an advisor.
Kabila was himself on Monday in Rome on the first full day of a
European tour. He cancelled a press conference scheduled to take
place in the Italian capital in the morning, officially because he
was behind schedule on his programme.
The rebels, who hold a large swathe of the east of the DRC and
have a political wing known as the Congolese Rally for Democracy,
have military backing from Rwanda and Uganda.
Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia and Chad have deployed troops to back
Kabila.
The conflict in the deeply impoverished but mineral-rich former
Belgian colony sprawling across central Africa will be a key issue
on the agenda of the two-yearly summit between France and mainly
French-speaking African nations.
The gathering takes place from Thursday to Saturday.
@ ELECTION-ANC
CAPE TOWN November 23 1998 Sapa
WCAPE LACKS WILL OVER REGISTRATION: ANC
The Western Cape's National Party-controlled government lacked
the administrative will needed to make a success of this weekend's
three-day registration blitz, the African National Congress said on
Monday.
Following a meeting with its alliance partners on Sunday, the
ANC was convinced there was enough of a reservoir of goodwill among
officials in the province to handle the registration, its
provincial spokesman, Cameron Dugmore, told a media briefing.
He accused the National and Democratic parties of trying to
delay the process, and urged the provincial government to show the
administrative will needed to make it work.
The ANC had had positive feedback from municipal structures in
areas including Cape Town, George and Vredendal, about officials
being willing to co-operate.
This showed that "where there's a will, there's a way", Dugmore
said.
He said that an appeal faxed to local government executive
officers on Monday, the Independent Electoral Commission's Western
Cape head, Joppa le Roux, was recognition that volunteers could do
the job.
The ANC's deputy provincial secretary, Marius Fransman, said
the province was in "this mess" because of a lack of administrative
will from the Western Cape government, especially director-general
Niel Barnard.
Trade unions like Nehawu and Saamwu had indicated they were
willing to help get officials to volunteer, he said.
Dugmore said the ANC completely rejected the NP's call to
postpone the weekend registration.
The IEC had said all along this was an initial registration and
that it had never been the intention that there would not be more
opportunities.
The Western Cape NP was trying to create an atmosphere of chaos
and uncertainty because it knew it was in danger of losing control
of the province in next year's general election.
The Democratic Party, whose provincial leader, Hennie Bester,
served in the province's cabinet, had also not made a single call
on public servants to volunteer for duty, Dugmore said.
- The Conservative Party on Monday called on the IEC and the
government to urgently consider postponing the registration in view
of logistical and administrative problems.
- Western Cape Community Safety MEC Mark Wiley expressed his
disappointment that the registration procedure and the security
arrangements for it were becoming a "farce".
The net effect of a call by the IEC on the police to protect
registration venues was that every functional police officer in the
Western Cape would have to be used over the weekend, he said in a
statement.
"Given that the worst crime and violence takes place over
weekends, the question must be asked: who will safeguard the
citizens and their property?"
@ DRCONGO-AMNESTY
BRUSSELS, Belgium November 23 1998 Sapa-AP
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNS CONGO VIOLENCE, WORLD'S
INDIFFERENCE
In a report issued on the eve of Congolese President Laurent
Kabila's visit to Belgium, Amnesty International on Monday
highlighted atrocities in Congo committed by both government and
opposition forces.
"Since August 2, 1998, fighting in (Congo) has dramatically
endangered the lives of millions of civilians," AI said.
The international human rights group's report stressed all
parties in the conflict were waging a war against civilians.
The AI report cited widespread human rights abuses by the
opposition Congolese Rally for Democracy and its allies.
It said armed forces loyal to President Kabila have massacred
civilians suspected of sympathizing with the opposition.
The report comes a day before Kabila starts a two-day visit to
Belgium, his first to Congo's former colonial ruler since he took
power after toppling the late President Mobutu Sese Seko in 1997.
Last Friday, a Belgian lawyer filed suit against Kabila and two
aides, saying they violated international law by inciting ethnic
hatred against Congo's Tutsi minority.
AI did not take sides in that case but said it supported an
inquiry into human rights violations by all factions in Congo.
"Those found responsible for these violations, whether it be
President Kabila or someone else, must go on trial," AI spokesman
Godfrey Byaruhanga told a news conference.
AI condemned the indifference of the international community
while people were being arrested and killed and hundreds of
thousands live in refugee camps in Congo and neighboring Tanzania.
AI also lashed out at neighboring countries that supply arms
and troops to both sides of the Congolese conflict. Angola,
Zimbabwe, Namibia and Chad actively support the government in
Kinshasa, while Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi back opposition ranks, the
report said.
In a separate report, AI denounced continuing violence in
Burundi, another conflict that has largely faded from the
international community's radar screens.
"Soldiers of the Tutsi-dominated Burundian army have
deliberately killed this year alone hundreds of men, women and
children - virtually all of them Hutu. The various Hutu-dominated
armed opposition groups and other militias active in Burundi have
killed scores of unarmed civilians," AI said.
During his two-visit to Belgium, Kabila is to meet with
European Union and Belgian officials.
@ ELECTION-DATE
CAPE TOWN November 23 1998 Sapa
MAY 19 LIKELY DATE FOR NEXT YEAR'S POLL
May 19 is looming large as a likely date for next year's
general election.
Senior African National Congress sources said on Monday the
date was "credible" and "very likely".
Approached for comment, ANC national spokesman Thabo Masebe
said President Nelson Mandela would have to set the date after
consultation with political parties, "obviously including the ANC".
The ANC's national executive committee was likely to consider
the matter at its end-of-year meeting in Johannesburg on December 4
and 5, he said.
Presidential legal adviser Fink Haysom has pointed out that
Mandela cannot formally set the date until Parliament has changed
the Constitution.
It currently stipulates that he can only promulgate the date
after the expiry of the National Assembly's term on April 30.
An amendment is to be put to Parliament during its short
session starting on February 5 allowing him to proclaim the date
beforehand.
@ SWEDEN-SA
PRETORIA November 23 1998 Sapa
SWEDEN DONATES R488838 FOR PROGRAMME ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
The Swedish government on Monday donated R488838 to the Justice
Department's 14-day national programme to fight violence against
women and children.
"Sweden considers this a very important subject which needs
attention," a counsellor for the Swedish embassy, Claes Norrlof,
said in Pretoria.
Deputy Justice Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said all
government departments and non-govermental bodies would be involved
in the national programme, which would start on Wednesday and end
on December 10.
The programme includes seminars on domestic violence, creating
an awareness of women and children's rights, and training
prosecutors on violence against women.
She said the donation would also be used to finance a
conference on Wednesday, where government departments would sign a
commitment to fight violence against women and children.
An agreement to donate the money was signed by
Tshabalala-Msimang and Norrlof at the Swedish embassy.
@ MPUMA-LAND
NELSPRUIT November 23 1998 Sapa
RURAL LAND REFORM BECOMES INCREASINGLY PROFIT-DRIVEN
Ninety six rural communities in Mpumalanga were increasingly
using their land reform grants to establish profit-driven
commercial farming ventures run and managed by professionals, Land
Affairs Minister Derek Hanekom heard on Monday.
The grants were previously used to buy land purely for
resettlement purposes and seldom led to large-scale upliftment for
beneficiary communities, African Eye News Service reported.
Hanekom toured a number of the new commercial projects on
Monday, including a 200 household community at Solane near Malelane
where families used a R3-million grant to buy a prime 300ha farm.
The Solane community opted to remain in its current village of
Vlakbult and will instead use the farm and a linked R1-million
production loan for large-scale sugarcane and citrus cultivation.
"Land reform isn't about chopping high-potential agricultural
land up into small plots for resettlement anymore. It is
increasingly about taking fertile but fallow land and putting it
under production," said the department's regional senior planner,
Chris Williams.
"That's why land reform programmes are so much more important
in rural areas than housing projects. Houses don't generate income
for rural families but agriculture provides both income and
employment," he said.
The Solane Farmers Association's new farm is only 20km from the
giant TSB sugar mill near Malelane and already has a water quota
for 80ha of sugar and 20ha of citrus.
TSB has undertaken to provide backup training and technical
support for the farm's sugar projects.
Williams said Land Affairs also hoped to establish
semi-commercial food gardens and cattle grazing on the remainder of
the farm.
The farm currently employs only 80 Solane community members but
is expected to generate regular profit dividends for the rest of
the beneficiary community, and will employ more people once it is
firmly established.
The project also represents Mpumalanga's first successful
attempt to transfer government grants directly into a trust fund
account set up for rural communities by their attorney.
Government land reform grants are usually transferred to
provincial governments, where they are difficult to access as
provincial authorities are unable to guarantee that the funds will
be available immediately when needed.
"Solane is therefore an important step for land reform in
Mpumalanga," said Williams.
Hanekom is scheduled to visit other Land Affairs projects in
Mpumalanga on Tuesday, including a small labour tenant community
which has been evicted from their homes and charged with
trespassing by a Delmas farmer.
@ NP-YOUTH
JOHANNESBURG November 23 1998 Sapa
MOATSHE ELECTED NEW NP YOUTH LEADER
National Party federal youth committee member Isaac Moatshe,
28, was on Monday elected as the party's new federal youth leader.
The NP in a statement said Moathse served on the federal youth
committee for the past three years as first deputy.
He is also the youth leader in North-West.
In his acceptance speech, Moatshe on Monday said the NP Youth
would play a significant role in the 1999 election.
He said deteriorating education standards, combined with the
increasing crime rate and huge unemployment figures were only some
of the key issues the NP Youth would confront.
"The youth of South Africa are sick and tired of the corruption
and maladministration of the ANC government and are all the more
looking for career alternatives elsewhere, causing an alarming
exodus of skilled and professional people.
"This brain drain is a threat for the future of our country,"
Moatshe said.
@ ZIMBABWE-LIBYA
CAIRO, Nov 23, Sapa-AFP
ZIMBABWE PRESIDENT VIOLATES LIBYA AIR EMBARGO
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe arrived in Egypt Monday
aboard a private Libyan aircraft in violation of the UN air embargo
against Tripoli, airport officials here said.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak gave Mugabe a red-carpet
welcome and the pair reviewed an honour guard before holding a
brief round of talks at Cairo international airport's VIP lounge,
the officials said.
Mugabe had been visiting with Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi
since Saturday.
Mugabe will have two days of talks with Mubarak on regional and
bilateral issues, particularly the Middle East peace process and
the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Egyptian news
agency MENA reported.
Mubarak and Mugabe were expected to hold further talks at the
presidential palace and the Zimbabwen president was to be the guest
of honour at a dinner Monday evening, MENA said.
The Organisation of African Unity decided this summer to stop
honouring the UN air and arms embargo imposed against Libya in
1992.
The number of African leaders violating the air embargo to
visit Libya has escalated sharply since September.
The UN imposed the sanctions on Libya over its refusal to
extradite two Libyan suspected of the 1988 bombing of a Pan Am jet
over Lockerbie, Scotland, that left 270 people dead.
@ N/L-ELECTION
JOHANNESBURG November 23 1998 Sapa
IEC VOWS TO GO AHEAD WITH VOTER REGISTRATION
The Independent Electoral Commission on Monday vowed to go
ahead with this week's voter registration campaign, despite
warnings from opposition political parties that it could result in
anarchy and court action.
"Voter registration is going ahead," IEC spokesman Victor
Dlamini told Sapa.
He said the IEC would wait and see how successful this week's
voter registration was before deciding whether additional
registration dates were necessary.
The Democratic Party on Monday warned it was considering going
to court to break the bureaucratic logjam over identity documents
for the 1999 general election.
DP spokesman Douglas Gibson said the party was consulting
senior counsel and might launch an urgent court application to set
aside the section of the Electoral Act making bar-coded ID books
the only valid identification for voters.
He said the party might hold off its application if the IEC
postponed voter registration to allow people time to obtain
bar-coded books.
People need either a bar-coded book or a temporary registration
certificate to register.
Gibson said hundreds of thousands of voters could be denied
their democratic right to vote because there was so little time for
them to obtain the bar-coded document.
DP leader Tony Leon claimed the government was discriminating
against non-African National Congress voters by going ahead with
the voter registration process.
He said the Home Affairs Department had no intention of
providing a proper service to those people without bar-coded IDs.
Dlamini responded by saying the IEC could not comment on the
basis of speculation that the DP might or might not take court
action.
National Party leader Marthinus van Schalkwyk said the voter
registration campaign, scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday,
was threatening to descend into anarchy.
The IEC could not plan a proper registration process, nor an
election, if it was not sufficiently empowered by the government to
do so, he said in speeches during visits to Worcester and De Doorns
in the Western Cape.
Van Schalkwyk called on the IEC to refrain from using the SA
National Defence Force to organise voter registration, saying this
would intimidate voters.
The United Democratic Movement described the organisation of
voter registration as chaotic, and said voters were confused about
where they should register.
In a statement issued on Monday, UDM deputy national secretary
Annelize van Wyk said it was obvious there were insufficient state
officials willing to help with voter registration, and asked when
officials would be trained.
Publicising the 14000 voter registration points would take more
than a day or two, she said.
Dlamini said the training of voter registration officials had
begun in some areas, and that he was confident enough personnel
would be trained in time.
He did not yet have a full picture of how many civil servants
had volunteered to help with the process, saying that numbers were
coming in all the time.
The Home Affairs Department claimed only a fraction of the
reported five million voters who were without the proper
identification had applied for new ID books. Last week it received
about 100,000 applications and the week before only 85000.
The department's director of identity documents, David
Mamabolo, said his staff had done everything to make things easy
for voters but that the department could only process applications
for IDs if people bothered applying.
Mamabolo said people who applied for temporary registration
certificates were issued them on the spot.
Meanwhile the IEC on Monday said voters in KwaZulu-Natal should
know by Wednesday or Thursday where they would be able to register
for the election.
Posters indicating the points throughout the province would be
put up at supermarkets and other venues, an IEC official said.
KwaZulu-Natal was expected to have approximately 2900
registration or voting stations, each to be managed by five IEC
staffers.
In Johannesburg the Southern Metropolitan Local Council said it
had provided the Home Affairs Department with offices in Soweto and
Lenasia to use as a base to help residents to register.
@ HEATH-OMAR
CAPE TOWN November 23 1998 Sapa
HEATH REJECTS `BALLS-UP' CLAIM
The Heath investigative unit on Monday rejected a reported
claim by Justice Minister Dullah Omar that it had made a "balls-up"
in citing Health Minister Nkosazana Zuma over the Aids play
Sarafina II.
"The unit has taken this action based on the findings of the
investigation that was conducted into the Sarafina II case," the
unit said in a statement issued by spokesman Guy Rich.
"On the grounds of the findings, the unit feels that it has a
case against the minister."
In a report which Omar has disputed, Business Day newspaper on
Monday quoted Omar as saying Heath had done "tremendous damage" to
the reputation of the unit, and had "made a balls-up".
Omar, the newspaper said, disputed the legality of the unit's
citing of Zuma as being jointly liable for R6 million of the R10
million paid out by her department for the play.
Omar said ministers issued directives for projects, but were
not financially liable for implementation. This was the
responsibility of directors-general.
He reportedly also said Zuma could sue the Heath unit if she
was cleared by the special tribunal, which will hear the case early
next year.
Commenting on this, the unit said it believed it was acting in
the public interest, within its legislative mandate, and within the
mandate in the proclamation referring Sarafina to the unit.
"The merits of the case will be dealt with between the parties
and before the special tribunal," the statement said.
Rich told Sapa the unit would probably take up the Business Day
report directly with Omar's office.
"We don't feel it necessary to debate it in public," he said.
Omar's spokesman, Paul Setsetse, said the minister had spoken
to a Business Day reporter on the issues of ministerial
accountability and the functioning of the Heath unit.
However, the article was "not entirely correct", and contained
some inaccuracies. Setsetse was not able to say what the
inaccuracies were.
He said Omar was aware that the Sarafina issue was sub judice
and still had to be dealt with by the special tribunal.
He said Omar was in regular contact with Heath and would speak
to him about the article.
Business Day editor Jim Jones said he was satisfied that the
article was an accurate reflection of his reporter's interview with
Omar.
Inkatha Freedom Party justice spokesman Kierin O'Malley said
Omar was clearly intent on subverting the Heath unit, which had
uncovered unprecedented fraud and corruption in the public service.
"Where Judge Heath aims at exposing corruption and recovering
the huge sums of money stolen and wasted inter alia by minister
Zuma and her department, minister Omar's objective is to draw a
veil over this and other scandals committed under the noses of a
corrupt and bankrupt ANC-led government."
Omar's statement that Heath had made a "balls-up" in
instituting proceedings against Zuma was undignified and misguided.
Earlier this month, the office of Deputy President Thabo Mbeki
also came to Zuma's defence, saying government had confidence in
her and would "fully defend" the action brought by Heath.
@ MANDELA-CRIME
CAPE TOWN November 23 1998 Sapa
MARAIS, WILEY TO HOLD CRIME TALKS WITH MANDELA
Western Cape acting premier Peter Marais and community safety
MEC Mark Wiley will meet President Nelson Mandela on Tuesday
morning to raise their concerns about crime in the province.
Also set to attend the 11am meeting are national police
commissioner George Fivaz and provincial commissioner Leon Wessels.
Wiley told journalists of the planned meeting at a media
conference in Cape Town late on Monday, at which Democratic Party
city councillor Chris Joubert announced his resignation from the
party to take up a temporary appointment with the provincial safety
and security secretariat.
The meeting with Mandela would focus on the issue of resource
levels, which would be brought to the president's attention "in no
uncertain terms", Wiley said.
One of the issues to be raised would be "the shopping list that
we submitted to the national minister and the president's office,
which I understand was given to Deputy President (Thabo) Mbeki a
good while ago, and upon which no action has been taken at this
point in time".
Another aspect which would be addressed was the day-to-day
resourcing of the police in the Western Cape.
"This province is particularly punitively effected by the cuts
in resourcing the South African Police Services... we have to have
a higher resourcing level than we have at this time," he said.
Wiley said that also on the agenda was "the virtual
non-response that I get from my counterpart at national level".
He was referring to Safety and Security Minister Sydney
Mufamadi.
This lack of response had occurred "on a number of very urgent
and sensitive matters which I have been trying to bring to his
attention for quite a while, and which simply go unanswered".
The announcement of the talks with Mandela follows an urgent
call by Marais last week for such a meeting.
Marais was speaking after four-year-old Sedicke Hendricks was
killed by gunmen outside her Surrey Estate home on the Cape Flats.
In another shooting this weekend, 11-year-old Raygana
Abdurahman was killed when bullets, apparently fired by gangsters,
struck the taxi in which she was travelling in Mitchell's Plain.
Wiley said he was very pleased to have a man of Joubert's
calibre to drive programmes which would improve the province's
safety and security.
@ CAA-LAUNCH
PRETORIA November 23 1998 Sapa
SA'S NEW CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY LAUNCHED
South Africa's new independent Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)
was launched by Transport Minister Mac Maharaj in Pretoria on
Monday.
At a ceremony at the body's new offices in Brooklyn, Maharaj
assured airline associations that the CAA was not out to make
profit.
He said he was aware of concerns about the funding of the new
body, including a new fuel levy due to come into effect on January
1.
The CAA would deliver a number of services benefiting the
industry, but which could not be charged to a particular client,
and a fuel levy was therefore the most appropriate way of
recovering costs.
"Let me assure you that government is committed to ensuring
that rates are competitive and commercially reasonable," Maharaj
said.
"This is not an exercise in profiteering, but rather an
initiative to introduce sound commercial practices - whereby the
user pays for the services he or she uses - into all areas of
economic activity."
He said the levy had been discussed extensively with the
industry and had been endorsed by the Civil Aviation Regulation
Committee.
CAA chief executive officer Trevor Abrahams told a media
briefing earlier in the day that a fuel levy of 1,5c a litre would
be payable from next year. The levy was expected to bring in R25,5
million in the 1999/2000 financial year, and R38 million five years
later.
Fees payable for services rendered by the body, such as the
licensing of pilots, cabin crew and traffic controllers, would also
increase dramatically from January 1 next year.
A pilot who currently pays R60 a year to renew his license,
would from next year have to pay R400.
Abrahams said the CAA would in five years get its revenue
almost entirely from the fuel levy and increased user fees. It
would cease to receive a government subsidy in three years.
The CAA had faced a number of serious problems over the past
few years, including decreases in budget allocations from
government and an inability to retain qualified staff, Abrahams
said.
The number of registered aircraft had increased from less than
5200 in 1990 to just under 7000 this year.
"The number of reported accidents alarmingly follows that
trend, while the budget continues decreasing," he said.
The new funding mechanism was expected to address this problem.
Abrahams said the new CAA would focus on creating safe
aviation. To this end, it would seek ways to boost its law
enforcement capacity by, among other things, considering the
establishment of an aviation court.
He stressed that the CAA was not a profit-making organisation.
If income exceeded expenditure, this would result in reduced fees.
Maharaj described the launch of the new body as a milestone for
civil aviation in South Africa and for the national Department of
Transport.
The CAA is the fourth agency transformed this year from a
directorate of the department to an independent, statutory
authority operating on commercial lines.
Abrahams said the CAA was viewed as a model for civil aviation
in Africa.
The body had over the past week held discussions with its
counterparts in the Southern African Development Community to find
ways of co-operating to ensure a more secure aviation environment
in the region.
@ DRCONGO-ITALY
ROME, November 23 1998 Sapa-AFP
DR CONGO'S KABILA BEGINS EUROPEAN TOUR IN ROME
President Laurent Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo
(DRC) met here on Monday with nationals from his embattled central
African country before starting talks at the Italian foreign
ministry.
On the first full day of a European tour to drum up support for
his regime, facing a Tutsi-led rebellion in the east, Kabila
cancelled a press conference, however, on the official grounds that
he was behind schedule.
At a Rome hotel, he held talks in the morning with the mayor of
Palermo in Sicily, Leoluca Orlando, whose town is twinned with
Bukavu on the shores of Lake Kivu in the eastern DRC, in territory
held by the insurgents.
For more than three hours, Kabila then met members of the DRC
community resident in Rome. One of the participants at those talks
said the president was quizzed about the situation in the former
Zaire.
Kabila "reaffirmed his commitment to political dialogue and
pledged that elections announced for the spring of 1999 will be
held," the source said, asking not to be named.
The Kinshasa leader, who took power in May 1997 after seven
months of rebellion against then Zaire's late president Mobutu Sese
Seko, has refused to hold any talks with the erstwhile Congolese
Tutsi allies who backed his own insurrection, but said he will meet
Rwandan and Ugandan officials about the withdrawal of their troops
backing the insurgents.
"Mr. Kabila is going to ask western countries to stop financing
the rebellion in the DRC and to convince the Ugandan and Rwandan
aggressors to pull out of our country," the anonymous source added,
stating that in Kabila's view "the war could finish tomorrow, if
western countries want that."
After this meeting, Kabila went to the Italian foreign ministry
for talks with junior minister Rino Serri, who was expected to make
clear the positions of the Rome government, which wants the rebels
to be included in political dialogue, as well as a general
ceasefire and the safeguarding of the vast country's territorial
integrity.
Kabila made no comment on leaving the hotel.
On Monday evening, he was due to dine with the chairman of the
Italian employers' organisation, Giorgio Fossa.
A key part of Kabila's visit to Rome will be an audience with
Pope John Paul II at the Vatican on Tuesday morning and subsequent
talks with Italian President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro.
Kabila was due to leave Rome for Brussels on Tuesday night. He
will attend the Franco-African summit in Paris at the end of the
week.
The planned meeting with the Roman Catholic pontiff arose from
an invitation from the San'Egidio community, a religious
organisation which has played an important role in helping to
mediate an end to conflicts such as Mozambique's civil war.
@ HEALTH-NEDLAC
JOHANNESBURG November 23 1998 Sapa
BSA WANTS TO DISCUSS MEDICAL SCHEMES BILL WITH ZUMA
Business South Africa is seeking a meeting with Health Minister
Dr Nkosazana Zuma to discuss its concerns about the controversial
Medical Schemes Bill, which will change the face of the medical aid
industry.
BSA had written to Jayendra Naidoo, the executive director of
the National Economic Development and Labour Council, asking him to
facilitate the meeting which was being scheduled for early
December, Nedlac said in a statment on Monday.
The Bill, which has already gone through Parliament, aims at
expanding medical aid membership and making it more affordable.
Business argued that since the measure was a matter of major
economic significance it should should have been referred to Nedlac
before going to Parliament. It launched a court application to
enforce this, but lost the case.
Nedlac also said its supervisory structure would meet on
December 3 to finalise its working structures responsible for
monitoring implementation of agreements reached at the October 30
job summit.
Nedlac ratified a report on the Unemployment Insurance Fund
Amendment Bill, which aims at ensuring that UIF fund legislation
reflects the provisions of the Basic Conditions of Employment Bill.
The amendment Bill will be considered by Parliament next year.
@ AIDS-WHO
LONDON, Nov 24, Sapa-AFP
HIV INFECTIONS RISE 10 PERCENT IN 1998, YOUNG WORST AFFECTED
The number of people in the world infected with HIV or AIDS
rose 10 percent in 1998 to 33.4 million, according to a report by
the United Nations and World Health Organisation released Tuesday.
The annual AIDS epidemic update found that half of the 5.8
million new infections occurred in young people aged between 15 and
24, bringing the world infection rate to just over one in one
hundred people.
Just over three million of those infected were adult men, 2.1
million were women, and 590,000 were children under 15. The
proportion of women as a total of HIV carriers rose from 41 to 43
percent in 1998.
Around 2.5 million people died from AIDS in 1998, of which
510,000 were children. Deaths from AIDS have risen every year since
the epidemic began.
The disease continues to be centred on the developing world,
which accounts for 95 percent of cases, and in particular
sub-Saharan Africa.
Seventy percent of those newly infected in 1998 were African,
making a total of four million, and four-fifths of all last year's
AIDS deaths occurred in Africa.
All nine countries in the world which have AIDS prevalence
rates of 10 percent or more - Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique,
Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe - are African.
In these countries, life expectancy is expected to fall from 64 to
47 by 2015 as a result of AIDS.
For the continent as a whole, there were 22.5 million people
living with HIV or AIDS, equivalent to one in 12 of the adult
population, defined as those aged between 15 and 49.
Since the epidemic started in the late 1970s, 34 million
Africans have been infected, of which 11.5 million have died; in
comparison worldwide, 47.3 million people have been infected
worldwide, of which 13.9 million have died.
In contrast, in Western Europe and North America, where,
respectively, one in 400 people and one in 178 respectively were
infected, improved treatment was allowing HIV carriers to live
longer.
In the United States between 1995 and 1997, the number of
people dying from AIDS fell by two-thirds, and in Western Europe
studies found that some 60 percent of young people now used condoms
the first time they had sex.
Elsewhere, in the Caribbean AIDS or HIV affected 330,000
people, or one person in 50, and South and East Asia accounted for
seven million carriers, although the rate of infection per head of
population was much less at one in every 144 people.
While rates were low relative to some other regions, the report
warned "HIV in clearly beginning to spread in earnest through the
vast populations of India and China."
In Africa, Asia and the Caribbean, the main method of
tranmission was heterosexual sex, although gax sex also featured in
the Caribbean.
Latin America accounted for 1.4 million AIDS or HIV sufferers,
with the condition mainly confined to drugs users and gay men. In
Mexico, around a third of homosexuals were infected, while half the
drug injectors in Argentina and Brazil carried the disease.
Intravenous drug use by men was also largely responsible for
the spread of HIV and AIDS through Eastern Europe and Central Asia,
where 270,000 were infected.
Among the areas where HIV and AIDS were least prevalent were
North Africa, the Middle East, Australia, New Zealand, East Asia
and the Pacific, where as few as one in 1,500 people were infected.
"The epidemic has not been overcome anywhere," read the report.
"Virtually every country in the world has seen new infections in
1998 and the epidemic is frankly out of control in many places."
The WHO/UN report also higlighted how HIV and AIDS dented
prospects for economic development.
In Zimbabwe, companies were reporting that a fifth of all
earnings went on AIDS-related costs such as pensions and training
new workers.
"As the epidemic continues to spin out of control, countries
face more than just a health crisis," said David Heymann, of WHO.
"They face a growing threat to human development and to
economic and social stability."
The report also said it had discovered that some common factors
which speeded HIV and AIDS infection rates across the world.
It highlighted economic migration to mining towns in South
Africa and the refugee camps of Rwanda as two examples of where the
growth of AIDS accompanied migration.
Other factors were dangerous and uncertain daily existences,
such as in Cambodia, and the consistent denial of the existence of
any problem.
@ TRUTH-KASRILS
JOHANNESBURG November 23 1998 Sapa
KASRILS TO TESTIFY TO TRC HEARING ON SELF DEFENCE UNITS
Deputy Defence Minister and former Umkonto we Sizwe commander
Ronnie Kasrils is scheduled to testify at the Truth and
Reconciliation Commission hearing in Johannesburg on Tuesday on the
origin of self-defence units.
Kasrils is the author of the African National Congress document
"For the Sake of Our Lives", which called for the establishment of
SDUs.
SDUs were prominent particularly in the conflict in East Rand
townships between the African National Congress, the Inkatha
Freedom Party and the South African Police.
Kasrils is expected to sketch the background to the violence
that characterised the East Rand townships of Thokoza, Katlehong
and Vosloorus.
During testimony on Monday, former SDU commander Musa Msimanga
described the units and the tactical manoeuvers that they applied
in their fight against the IFP.
The SDUs were set up by members of the community who collected
money and bought firearms to protect themselves.
Some of the weapons purchased included AK47 rifles and
shotguns. Women cooked for their protectors and provided hideouts
for them. Residents mistrusted police, who were seen to be
colluding with the IFP.
Msimanga testified that boys as young as 12 years carried out
surveillance against the IFP and the police, and cleaned the
firearms.
Senior Independent Board of Inquiry researcher Sally Seale said
in her submission that victims' statements often revealed the role
of the SAP in the violence, including evidence that members of the
IFP were seen getting in and out of police vehicles.
SDUs later became problematic in certain areas when rival units
began fighting one another.
Their commanders claimed that the SDUs had been infiltrated by
gangsters and police informers.
In an attempt to deal with the problem the government offered
amnesty to those SDU members who handed in their weapons and some
were integrated into the SA Police Service.
@ AIDS-AFRICA
LONDON, Nov 24, Sapa-AFP
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA STILL THE "GLOBAL EPICENTRE" OF AIDS
Sub-Saharan Africa is still the "global epicentre" for AIDS and
HIV, according to the annual AIDS epidemic update report by United
Nations and World Health Organisation released Tuesday.
Seventy percent of the 5.8 million new cases of HIV in 1998 and
80 percent of the 2.5 million AIDS deaths occurred in the region,
according to the study.
Of children under 15 infected with HIV, nine out of 10 were
Africans who most likely caught the condition from their mothers.
Since the start of the epidemic in the late 1970s, 83 percent
of AIDS deaths have been in sub-Saharan Africa. A total of 34
million people have been infected, and of these 11.5 million have
died. At least 95 percent of all AIDS orphans have been African.
Eastern and Southern Africa also continues to be the worst
affected.
All nine countries in the world which have AIDS prevalence
rates of 10 percent or more - Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique,
Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe - are African.
In Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe, the HIV/AIDS
prevalence rate - which refers to adults aged between 15 and 49 -
is between 20 and 26 percent.
South Africa, which had trailed its neighbours, is fast
catching up: a seventh of all new AIDS cases on the continent
occurred there in 1998.
Although one in 10 adults in the Cote d'Ivoire were infected,
West Africa was in general less affected, and North Africa retained
one of the lowest prevalence levels in the world at one in 750
people.
The report authors said some countries in central Africa had
seen relatively stable HIV rates, adding that Senegal provided a
good example of a case where early and sustained prevention efforts
had paid off.
Examining the consequences of the epidemic, the UN and WHO
found dramatic effects on life expectancy across Africa.
In the nine worst-affected countries, average predicted life
span was cut by AIDS from 64 to 47. In Botswana, children born
early in the next millennium could expect to live to 40, rather
than 70.
Child mortality rates are also rising: by 2010 in South Africa
AIDS is predicted to add an extra 23 to the 38 children out of
every 1,000 expected to die in infancy.
Africa also offers a "frightening window" on the growing
problem of AIDS orphans, according to Amnesty. Between 1992 and
1995, the proportion of orphans in Mutare, Zimbabwe, grew from 10
to 15 percent of the child population.
The onslaught of AIDS has also hindered economic development,
said the report.
Examples of costs included the quadrupling of life insurance
premiums in two years in Zimbabwe because of AIDS deaths, while in
Tanzania and Zambia, companies reported that AIDS illnesses and
deaths cost more than total annual profits. By 2004, AIDS costs are
expected to account for five percent of the wage bill in Botswana.
Finally, examining the causes of the epidemic's spread, the
report highlighted migration.
This could be economic, such as in the case of South African
miners - one mineworker in five in the mine Carltonville and three
quarters of the town's 500 sex workers are infected - or because
of war, such as with refugee camps in Rwanda, where the incidence
of AIDS is six times higher than in rural areas.
The report also listed "shame, silence and denial" as another
major cause.
Carriers often refuse to admit their condition and change
habits and governments sometimes prefer to ignore the problem and
avoid the attached stigma, the report said.
@ EASTCAPE-DIRECTOR
EAST LONDON November 23 1998 Sapa
ECAPE OFFICAL CAUGHT DRUNK DRIVING WITH ALLEGED BOGUS LICENCE
East London municipal director of public safety Tsepo Mtoba,
who was arrested earlier this month on drunken driving charges, has
allegedly been found to possess a stolen driver's licence.
Mtoba, 40, who took office on November 1, is in charge of the
municipal police, traffic and fire services.
He was arrested on November 8 for drunken driving and had a
warrant issued fo his arrest the next day when he failed to appear
in court.
Investigating officer Captain Johan van Jaarsveld on Monday
said Mtoba was discovered to have an alleged stolen licence last
week when he applied for a R200,000 municipal car subsidy.
Mtoba handed the licence over to the municipal traffic
department for validation as part of the subsidy application.
When it was found that the licence was allegedly stolen, the
municipal traffic department opened a case with the criminal
investigations department at the East London police station.
The licence was allegedly stolen from the Mdantsane
Magistrate's Court.
The director of public prosecutions will have to make a
decision on whether to prosecute Mtoba.
East London town clerk and chief executive officer Dave Ongley
confirmed the police investigation against Mtoba, and said an
internal investigation would also be launched.
Mtoba would remain in his position during the probe.
@ OGIES-BLACKOUT
JOHANNESBURG November 23 1998 Sapa
RESIDENTS OF OGIES AND PHOLA WITHOUT WATER AND ELECTRICITY
Residents of the Mpumalanga town of Ogies and the neigbouring
township of Phola were without electricity and water after the
local town council cut off these services on Friday, SABC
television news reported on Monday.
The council said residents had not paid for the services, while
residents claimed they paid for them.
The issue divided residents of Ogies and Phola, with claims
that 90 percent of Ogies residents had paid for the services,
whereas only 10 percent of Phola residents had done so.
Mayor Norrie Mvubelo said a culture of non-payment for services
existed among residents from the time of the previous government.
A spokesman for the Ogies Taxpayers' Association, Louw
Potgieter, called on national electricity supplier Eskom and the
Mpumalanga government to help resolve the situation.
@ DRCONGO-GADDAFI
SIRT, Libya November 23 1998 Sapa
GADDAFI AGREES TO MEDIATE DR CONGO CRISIS
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has agreed to co-ordinate
mediation between opposing sides in the war in the Democratic
Republic of Congo, the Ziana news agency reported on Monday.
Zimbabwe deputy foreign affairs minister Nicholas Goche on
Monday said Gaddafi had agreed to a request by several African
countries, including Uganda and Zimbabwe - major players on
opposing sides of the conflict.
Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni, supporting Tutsi rebels, was
among five heads of states who attended a mini-summit in Libya in
September which requested that Gaddafi used his friendship with
leaders on both sides to bring a negotiated end to the war.
Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, who ended a three-day
official visit to Libya on Monday, endorsed the mini-summit's
resolution and personally asked Gaddafi to mediate.
There have been several mediators in the war, including South
African president Nelson Mandela and Zambian leader Fredrick
Chiluba.
In a communique signed by Goche and Libyan foreign minister
Omar Muntsir, Gaddafi and Mugabe agreed that the war in the DRC was
being perpetuated by "interference of imperialist forces" of the
West, whom Gaddafi said had a desire to see a fractious Africa
manipulated by the United States and Europe.
The two leaders called for the withdrawal of "all forces of
aggression from the DRC and the deployment of African peacekeeping
troops along the borders of the DRC and its neighbours to guarantee
their security".
They also called for a review of the Organisation of African
Unity charter to expedite the formation of an all-encompassing
African union on the same lines as the European Union.
"It will be necessary to create modern African mechanisms to
administer a united Africa and to benefit fully from its wealth and
ensure that its enemies do not exploit it," the communique said.
Mugabe said he supported the lifting of air sanctions on Libya
which he violated on Saturday when he flew directly to the country
on board a Libyan presidential jet.
On bilateral issues, the two leaders reaffirmed the need to
strengthen bonds of friendship and co-operation in various fields.
@ TRUTH-SDU
JOHANNESBURG November 23 1998 Sapa
COLLAPSE OF DISCIPLINE INCREASED VIOLENCE ON EAST RAND
A breakdown in discipline and the adoption of a policy of "a
killer must be killed" by East Rand self-defence unit members were
some of the major factors which contributed to the escalation of
violence that ravaged the area in the early 1990s, former SDU
members said on Monday.
Former members of African National Congress-aligned
self-defence units told the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's
amnesty committee hearing in Johannesburg that the recruitment of
criminals into the SDUs and police collusion with Inkatha Freedom
Party-supporting hostel residents also worsened the conflict
between township and hostel residents.
Glen Vilakazi, a member of the committee of seven which
co-ordinated SDU activities at Ntabansibi (renamed Lusaka A)
section, told the sitting in Palm Ridge near Alberton that
community leaders only discovered the extent of atrocities recently
when they were preparing their amnesty applications.
Sally Sealey, an independent researcher from the Independent
Board of Inquiry, said it was "clear that not all SDU members were
disciplined and abided by the code of conduct".
Those individuals should be dealt with accordingly, she said.
About 135 SDU members and community leaders have applied for
amnesty in connection with the most bloody violence which engulfed
the East Rand township just before the historic 1994 election.
Although the majority of the applicants have never been
arrested, they have decided to apply so that a clear picture of
their role can emerge.
Vilakazi told the committee that he was responsible for
purchasing the firearms with money donated by the community for the
SDU's effort against the IFP.
The committee heard that members of the police's Internal
Stability Unit were often seen transporting IFP members with red
headbands during attacks in the township. Sealey said the complaint
they received was that police often opened fire on the people who
were trying to defend themselves against the men in red headbands.
@ SABC-MOLEFE
JOHANNESBURG November 23 1998 Sapa
SABC DENIES TAKING TV JOURNALISTS TO TASK OVER POLL REPORTING
Phil Molefe, the SA Broadcasting Corporation's television news
editor-in-chief, on Monday denied that television journalists were
taken to task over their coverage of a recent opinion poll on the
upcoming election.
In a statement Molefe said contrary to weekend newspaper
reports no television journalists were summoned to a meeting by
SABC election task team chairman Solly Mokoetle on the recently
released Markinor/Idasa opinion poll.
"He may have had a meeting with the radio news team, but
certainly not with TV journalists," he said.
"It is very disturbing that if one newspaper report gets the
facts wrong, the same factual inaccuracies are repeated over by
other publication. It is an indictiment on the standard of our
journalism - lifting reports from one newspaper without verifying
them."
@ STATEMENT ON GINWALA's VISIT TO ROME
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
SPEAKER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, DR FRENE
GINWALA's VISIT TO ROME : 23 - 24 NOVEMBER 1998
The Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Frene Ginwala, is on an
official visit to Italy from 23 - 24 November 1998, at the
invitation of the President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, Hon.
Luciano Violante.
The visit will provide an opportunity to enhance the dialogue
between the Parliaments of Italy and South Africa to undertake
common initiatives to promote parliamentary cooperation and a better
mutual understanding of institutions, and to initiate discussions to
develop closer cooperation between African and Mediterranean
Parliaments against the backdrop of the existing cooperation among
the Parliaments that take part in the Euro-Mediterranean initiative.
Dr Ginwala will be meeting with her counterpart, Hon. Luciano
Violante, to discuss, among other, the importance of bilateral
relations from a parliamentary perspective and the strengthening of
relations between the various Parliamentary Committees, the
Deputies, and the Officers of Parliament. The Speaker will also meet
with Hon. Dr Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, President of the Italian Republic
and have meetings with Senator Gian Giacomo Migone, Chairperson of
the Foreign Affairs Standing Committee of the Senate, the Deputy
Speaker of the Senate, Senator Domenico Fisichella, and the
Bilateral Friendship Section Italy - South Africa of the
Inter-Parliamentary Union.
The Speaker will be accompanied by:
- Ms Lindiwe Ngwane : MP (African National Congress)
- Mr Andre Fourie : MP (National Party)
- Mr J H van der Merwe : MP (Inkatha Freedom Party)
- Mr Peter Lebeko : Clerk of the Papers (staff member)
The delegation will also attend a presentation of a book titled,
"Il Sud Africa di Nelson Mandela" (Nelson Mandela's South Africa)
written by Antonio Rubbi, in the presence of the Head of State, Hon.
Dr Oscar Luigi Scalfaro.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ON BEHALF OF THE SOUTH
AFRICAN EMBASSY IN ROME.
23 NOVEMBER 1998
@ MBEKI-RUSSIA
JOHANNESBURG November 23 1998 Sapa
MBEKI WINDS UP RUSSIAN VISIT
South African Deputy President Thabo Mbeki addressed members of
the Russian parliament in Moscow on Monday morning on the second
day of his three-day mission to strengthen economic and trade links
between South Africa and Russia.
Mbeki then met the chairman of the lower chamber of the Russian
parliament, GN Selenyov, and was presented with a book on the
history of the State Duma, Mbeki's spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa told
Sapa.
Mbeki attended a wreath-laying ceremony at the tomb of the
unknown soldier in the Kremlin and met Prime Minister Eugenyue
Primakov and senior ministers. Bilateral agreements were signed
before Mbeki attended lunch with Primakov and his senior ministers.
Mbeki visited the Chamber of the Federated Council, led by YS
Stroev, and met the Union of Russian Industrialists and
Entrepreneurs.
Later Mbeki was to observe the signing of the letter of intent
and co-operation between the Russian and South African academies of
science.
Mamoepa said Mbeki would then proceed to the Russian Peoples'
Friendship University where he would be awarded a doctorate.
Mbeki would also meet the patriarch of the Russian Orthodox
Church of Moscow and All Russia, Alexi II.
Said Mamoepa: "Deputy President Thabo Mbeki will wind up his
successful visit to Russia on Tuesday before departing for Sweden
on Wednesday where he will lay a wreath on the grave of former
Swedish prime minister Olaf Palme."
In Sweden Mbeki will meet the members of the Standing Committee
on Foreign Affairs led by Viola Furubjeuce, prime minister Goran
Persson, and King Carl Gustav and Queen Sylvia of Sweden.
A luncheon will be hosted by deputy prime minister Lena
Hjelm-Wallen, after which Mbeki will proceed to the Swedish
development agency, Sida, where he will be met by deputy director
general Lars Ekengren.
Mbeki will make a speech before departing for Haga Palace where
he will be met by foreign affairs minister Anna Lindh.
Said Mamoepa: "Then he will meet industrialists at a meeting
hosted by South African ambassador Raymond Suttner, before
proceeding to France."
The deputy president is accompanied by his wife, and South
African parliamentarians and government officials, including Safety
and Security Minister Sydney Mufamadi, Finance Minister Trevor
Manuel, Penuell Maduna, Essop and Aziz Pahad, the Rev Frank
Chikanke and Maria Ramos.
@ TRUTH-SDUS
JOHANNESBURG November 23 1998 Sapa
22 SDU MEMBERS TO APPLY FOR AMNESTY
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission's amnesty committee
will on Tuesday hear the applications of 22 people claiming to be
former members of self-defence-units, most of whom are serving time
for murder, attempted murder and illegal possession of arms and
ammunition.
The crimes were committed in various Gauteng townships in the
early '90s.
The applicants caused havoc in sporadic attacks in townships
such as Sebokeng, KwaThema, Vosloorus, Duduza and Soweto between
1991 and 1992.
Among the SDU members who are applying for amnesty before the
committee hearing in Mayfair, Johannesburg, are Mlungisi Alpheus
Ndlovu, Mfanafuthi Kenneth Ngwenya, Tony Ndoda Mashego, Puseletso
Julia Skhosana, Oupa Ephraim Monareng and Vusi "Gadaffi" Mononi.
The SDUs were formed out of a need to defend communities from
attacks by sinister forces, but elements within the SDUs wanted to
push for objectives other than those the organisations were
intended for.
The SDUs came about as a result of the suspension of the armed
struggle by liberation movements and the continuation of multiparty
talks which led to South Africa's first democratic election on
April 27, 1994.
+-----------------------------------------------------------+
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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 25 NOVEMBER 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'.
@ ZIM-LABOUR
HARARE November 24 1998 Sapa-AFP
MUGABE GETS A BREATHER AS ZIMBABWE'S UNIONISTS CALL OFF STRIKE
Zimbabwe's labour movement on Tuesday called off the third in a
series of planned one-day national strikes, saying it would give
the government a chance to respond to its demands.
The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), which has
paralysed the country through two one-day strikes in the past two
weeks, announced the cancellation of a stoppage planned for
Wednesday.
Instead, it has called for a meeting of the tripartite
negotiating forum of government, business and labour leaders to be
held before November 30, after which it will review its position on
further strikes.
The ZCTU at the weekend stepped up its demands in its
confrontation with the government, going far beyond earlier claims
for 20 percent pay rises for all workers and the cancelling of a 67
percent fuel price rise.
Secretary-general Morgan Tsvangirai said the government must
publicly take responsibility for the crisis facing Zimbabwe -
which has seen inflation soar and the currency crash - and come up
with a binding programme to rehabilitate the country's economy.
He said public expenditure must be slashed by reducing the size
of the cabinet and mechanisms must be put in place so parliament
can rigorously monitor government spending.
The ZCTU also wants clarification from the government on the
economic implications of the country's involvement in the conflict
in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where Zimbabwe has some 6,000
troops supporting President Laurent Kabila against a rebellion.
Tsvangirai said all funds lost through a series of corruption
scandals involving housing, payments to war veterans and the
collapse of a bank owned by black-empowerment tycoon Roger Boka,
must be recovered and restored to the treasury.
Observers say President Robert Mugabe's government, which
critics accuse of having grown rich and arrogant after 18 years in
power, is unlikely to accept orders from the ZCTU on issues such as
cutting the size of the cabinet.
@ TRUTH-APLA
JOHANNESBURG November 24 1998 Sapa
LATE ARRIVAL OF VICTIMS DELAY MAYFAIR TRC HEARINGS
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission's amnesty hearings of
self defence unit members in Mayfair, Johannesburg were on Tuesday
morning delayed due to the non-arrival of victims or their
relatives.
The hearings were scheduled to start at 9am, but by 10.30am, it
had not begun because the victims had not yet arrived.
TRC spokesman Vuyani Green attributed the delay to, among
others, transport problems.
The applicants were expected to tell the committee how they
defended communities against the full-scale offensive of the
apartheid government against democratic organisations in the late
1980s and early 1990s.
@ DRCONGO-EU
KIGALI, Nov 24, Sapa-AFP
EU SEEKS MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN DR CONGO CRISIS
The European Union would like to play a more active role in
resolving the crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), EU
special envoy Aldo Ajello told AFP late Monday.
The envoy for the Great Lakes region stressed however that the
EU had no intention of interfering in "existing African
initiatives" to end the conflict in the DRC in which half a dozen
central and southern African countries are embroiled.
The EU backs "the peace initiative put in place by the SADC
(Southern African Development Community), which calls for a
cessation of military hostilities," Ajello said in the Rwandan
capital after a regional tour taking in Angola, Ethiopia, Tanzania
and Zimbabwe.
On Monday, Ajello met Rwandan President Pasteur Bizimungu, Vice
President and Defence Minister Paul Kagame, Foreign Minister
Anastase Gasana and the minister in the president's office Patrick
Mazimhaka.
"The international community has a certain responsibility" with
regard to negotiations to end the conflict. "It tends to pass on
responsibility for African crises on to Africans and bodies like
the OAU (Organisation of African Unity) lack the means to handle
these crises," the envoy said.
"The OAU, which hasn't the instruments, has turned to regional
organisations which often produce military solutions and have their
own interests which complicate, rather than resolve these crises,"
he explained.
Ajello also insisted that the EU had no plans to impose
sanctions against countries involved in the DRC conflict, contrary
to reports circulating in the region.
@ ELECTION-POSTPONE
CAPE TOWN November 24 1998 Sapa
POSTPONEMENT NOT ENOUGH SAYS WCAPE
The one-week postponement of voter registration in the Western
Cape was still not enough, acting premier Peter Marais said on
Tuesday.
He said registration had to be postponed "in line with the
ability of home affairs to process identity documents".
Marais was reacting to President Nelson Mandela's announcement
on Tuesday morning that registration in four provinces - the
Western Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape -
would be postponed to next weekend.
Mandela said registration in the other five provinces would be
held as scheduled from this Friday to Sunday, and also announced
there would be further registration opportunities in January and
February, "depending on the ground covered this time round".
Marais said it was he who had asked for the postponement in the
first place, and did not know why the announcement was delayed for
so long.
Political parties had spent a lot of money in publicising the
original registration dates, and the postponement meant this had
been wasted.
Chairman of the Democratic Party's federal council, Douglas
Gibson, who earlier this week said his party might go to court if
the registration was not delayed, said the DP welcomed the
postponement as a sensible decision.
"There is no shame in admitting an inability to provide an
efficient registration service rather than submitting millions of
voters to a flawed process," he said in a statement.
Deputy President Thabo Mbeki and the government had to take
full responsibility for this situation.
The Independent Electoral Commission had employed people to
help with registration.
"Mbeki interfered, refused to make funds available and gave a
rash undertaking that he would provide 72500 civil servant
volunteers," Gibson said.
"The fact that the volunteers in some provinces numbered in the
hundreds and not the thousands as promised has left Mr Mbeki with
egg all over his face. He owes the IEC and South African voters an
apology."
@ SWAZI-BOMB
MBABANE November 24 1998 Sapa
SWAZI GOVERNMENT SECURITY INCREASED AFTER BLAST AND BOMB SCARES
Bomb experts were making daily inspections of Swaziland
government offices following a blast at the deputy prime minister's
office on Friday and bomb scares at a building housing several
government departments and at the central library in Mbabane on
Monday.
The extra security measures involved bomb experts with sniffer
dogs inspecting all 15 government ministries, and the offices of
the cabinet and the prime minister.
Hundreds of armed special branch and uniformed policemen were
continuing with an around-the-clock investigation to find those
responsible for Friday's blast at Deputy Prime Minister Arthur
Khoza's offices.
An unknown group calling itself The Tigers has claimed
responsibility for the blast, which killed a security guard and
injured two others.
On Monday hundreds of civil servants of the Home Affairs,
Justice, Health and Social Welfare departments were evacuated from
their offices after an anonymous phone caller told police there was
a bomb in the building housing these departments.
Police searched the five-storey building near the city centre
for three hours, but no bomb was found.
Another bomb threat was made on Monday to staff at the central
library, which was also evacuated and searched.
Director of The Tiger Group, Swaziland businessman Ron Smith,
on Tuesday disassociated himself and his companies from The Tigers
who claimed responsibility for Friday's blast.
The bombers' use of his business' name was illegal and could
damage the company's international reputation, he said.
@ RADEBE
CAPE TOWN November 24 1998 Sapa
BREAK CIRCLE OF POOR SERVICE: RADEBE
The construction industry should break the vicious ircle of
poor service and low client expectations by delivering real
quality, Public Works Minister Jeff Radebe said on Tuesday.
Speaking in Cape Town at an international conference on total
quality management (TQM) in construction, he said all firms should
provide "precisely what the client needs, when the client needs it
and at a price that reflects the product's value to the client".
While there were difficulties posed by site conditions and the
fragmented structure of the industry, it could not afford not to
get the best from people who created value for clients and profits
for firms.
"There is a need for no-blame culture based on mutual
interdependence and trust," he said.
Applying TQM in the construction industry was critical to the
success of transformation in all sectors of economy.
He said underachievement in the industry was found partly in
the growing dissatisfaction among both private and public sector
clients.
Construction often failed to meet the needs of modern business
that should be competitive and provide best value for clients and
taxpayers.
@ ELECTION-NP
CAPE TOWN November 24 1998 Sapa
POSTPONED REGISTRATION CONFIRMS GOVERNMENT INCOMPETENCE: NP
The postponement of voter registration in four provinces
confirmed what amounted to the incompetence of the government, the
National Party said on Tuesday.
"I warned as far back as February that the basics for a proper
registration phase are not in place," NP leader Marthinus van
Schalkwyk said in a statement in Cape Town.
President Nelson Mandela earlier in the day announced that
voter registration would be postponed by a week in the Western
Cape, the Free State, the Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal.
The move comes after warnings from opposition parties that
pressing ahead with voter registration as scheduled, from Friday to
Sunday, could lead to chaos and court actions.
Van Schalkwyk said he would be surprised if it were possible
for registration to proceed a week later in the four provinces.
"I also have serious doubts about the ability of the Northern
Province and the Northern Cape to go ahead with registration this
weekend."
Van Schalkwyk also criticised Mandela's announcement that
further opportunities for people to register might be allowed if
the first round was not successful.
"This created unhealthy uncertainty and is building an element
of arbitrary decision-making into the process," he said. "In areas
where the NP is strong, the government can easily decide that the
level of registration is indeed acceptable."
It was open to question whether it would be possible to hold an
election of an acceptable standard before July next year, as
prescribed by the Constitution.
"The mess that we see with regard to voter registration also
exists with regard to the election itself," Van Schalkwyk said.
@ ELECTION-CP
PRETORIA November 24 1998 Sapa
INEFFICIENCY BEHIND POSTPONEMENT OF REGISTRATION: CP
Clumsiness and inefficiency were behind the postponement of
voter registration in four provinces, the Conservative Party said
on Tuesday.
The entire process should be put on hold, CP elections director
Piet Botha said in a statement in Pretoria.
"All indications are that the registration campaign is heading
for an exercise in futility. The overall impression one of
unbelievable clumsiness and inefficiency," he said.
President Nelson Mandela earlier in the day announced that
voter enrolment in the Western Cape, Free State, Eastern Cape and
KwaZulu-Natal would be delayed by a week.
Registration in the other five provinces would continue as
scheduled, from Friday to Sunday.
Botha said there could be little doubt that registration
figures would be low, and that a second round would be required.
"Why are they rushing ahead regardless? The whole campaign
should be postponed," he said.
@ MALAYSIA-SAFRICA
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 24, Sapa-AFP
MALAYSIA TO BUY EIGHT SOUTH AFRICAN HELICOPTERS ONCE ECONOMY
RECOVERS
Malaysia plans to acquire eight attack helicopters from South
Africa as soon as its economy recovers, Defence Minister Syed Hamid
Albar reportedly said Tuesday.
"We've told them we're definitely interested in acquiring the
helicopters. We're only deferring it until after the economy
recovers," he was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency following
a week-long visit to South Africa.
Bernama said the helicopters to be purchased were the
"Rooivalk" model manufactured by Denel Aviation.
@ ELECTION-FF
PRETORIA November 24 1998 Sapa
INSUFFICIENT FUNDING CAUSED REGISTRATION POSTPONEMENT: FF
Insufficient government funding of the Independent Electoral
Commission was partly to blame for the postponement of voter
registration in four provinces, the Freedom Front said on Tuesday.
Another reason was an ill-considered decision by the government
to offer the free services of public servants in the registration
process without consulting them first, FF leader Constand Viljoen
said in a statement in Pretoria.
President Nelson Mandela earlier in the day announced that
voter registration would be postponed by a week in the Western
Cape, the Free State, the Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal.
Viljoen described the late announcement as a disgrace, saying
it threatened the smooth running of the registration process.
He said staggered registration could confuse potential voters,
and called on members of the public to find out exactly when and
where they had to enrol.
"If opposition voters do not make an effort to find out where
they should register, it would be easier for the African National
Congress to obtain a two-thirds majority in the election," he said.
The FF appealed to voters who did not have bar-coded identity
books to apply for them in the next few days, because they would be
needed to register.
The African National Congress, with the majority of its members
already in possession of the bar-coded ID books, benefited directly
from each opposition voter who did not have them, Viljoen said.
@ ELECTIONS'99 COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE
Issued by: African National Congress
CONTACT LIST
ADDRESS
207 Jeppe Street
Second Floor
Lancet Hall
Johannesburg (Central Business District)
CONTACT NUMBERS
(011) 333-5698/9 (Switchboard)
(011) 333-8095 (Fax)
COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE TEAM
For Information, Press Interviews, Comments, etc
* Administrator: Joyce Ozynski
* Communications Head: Ned Kekana
082-900-00-96. Pager 457-1111 Code 836
* Deputy Head: Barbara Creecy
082-659-09-47. Pager 457-1111 Code 7281
* Media Monitoring Print: Pule Malefane
082-928-9560
* Media Monitoring Radio / TV: Hope Papo
Pager 457-1111. Code 7137
* Media Production: Oupa Mmotsa
082-772-7394
The Communications Centre is a 24-Hour Operation
@ ELECTION-LOGISTICS
JOHANNESBURG November 24 1998 Sapa
VOTER INFORMATION CAMPAIGN STARTS ON WEDNESDAY
A national awareness campaign on how to register to vote will
be run by the Independent Electoral Commission on Wednesday and
Thursday.
The IEC campaign announcement on Tuesday followed a statement
by President Nelson Mandela that voter registration would be
postponed by a week in the Western Cape, the Free State, the
Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal.
Registration in the other five provinces would be held as
planned from this Friday to Sunday, and there would be further
registration opportunities in January and February, the IEC said in
Johannesburg.
"The IEC's ability to fulfil its mandate has been hampered by
severe budgetary constraints, but we have decided to forge ahead
anyway," said the IEC's chief electoral officer, Mandla Mchunu, at
a Johannesburg news conference.
He said a November 11 meeting with Deputy President Thabo
Mbeki, where the decision was made to use public servants to help
with the registration process, alleviated some of the IEC's
problems.
The IEC campaign includes:
- Pamphlets explaining where people should go to register for
the 1999 election, distributed door to door;
- A national television, radio and newspaper campaign;
- Lists of registration stations posted at provincial and
municipal offices, and
- The same lists on the IEC's website: www.elections.org.za
Mchunu said civil servants, soldiers, teachers, and municipal
officials would help register people.
"Training of these civil servants started in earnest yesterday
and registration staff will be ready to register voters by Friday."
Civil servants would not be paid for helping, but would get extra
leave.
"Technically and logistically we are ready, its just the human
element that still has to be co-ordinated," Mchunu said.
Earlier plans to use jobless people at registration stations
were not feasible at this stage, but this did not mean the idea had
been scrapped.
"We are expecting some unhappiness from the ranks of the
unemployed about our decision to use civil servants, but we have
not forgotten about them. The jobless will definitely be utilised
at polling stations during the 1999 election," Mchunu said.
In answer to a question, he said he did not think the
last-minute decision to stagger the registration process would
confuse people.
"Registration, unlike an election, is not an event, but a
process. We don't think people will be confused."
He denied the IEC made a mistake by waiting until the last
minute to organise voter registration.
"The IEC was one of the last constitutional bodies to be
formed, and a lot of groundwork and preparation had to be done. We
didn't simply wake up at the 11th hour," Mchunu said.
@ MANDELA-ELECTION
CAPE TOWN November 24 1998 Sapa
MAY 19 ELECTION DATE `SPECULATION', SAYS MANDELA
No date had been decided on for next year's general election,
President Nelson Mandela told a media conference at Tuynhuys on
Tuesday.
He said news reports that May 19 was a likely date for the
country to go to the polls were "speculation by journalists".
"No date is specified," he said.
Senior African National Congress sources on Monday said the May
date was "very likely".
Mandela was speaking after a meeting with Western Cape acting
premier Peter Marais and community safety MEC Mark Wiley over their
concerns about crime in the province.
@ AMNESTY HEARING INTO SELF DEFENCE UNITS POSTPONED
Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
The Amnesty Committee of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
today has postponed amnesty hearings into self defence units
activities which claimed several lives in townships around
Johannesburg in the early '90's.
A total of twenty African National Congress aligned- elf defence
unit members are seeking amnesty for a range of incidents such as
murder, attempted murder and illegal possession of arms and
ammunition.
The hearing at Liss Centre, Mayfair, Johannesburg, which was a
third such an amnesty hearing involving SDUs taking place at the
same time, was postponed after attempts to locate victims and their
next of kin in these incidents drew a blank. The hearing is likely
to resume early in the new year.
Inquiries: Vuyani Green, 082 452 7858
@ ANC ON TESTIMONY OF KWAMNYATHI FARMWORKERS
Issued by: African National Congress
The "Listen to the People Forum" at KwaMnyathi near Vryheid,
northen KwaZulu Natal last Sunday which was attended by the ANC
National Executive Member and General Secretary Cosatu, Mbazima
Shilowa, NEC Member Dr Zweli Mkhize and ANC Deputy provincial
Secretary, Senzo Mchunu, exposed the lie of the results of the
so-called survey conducted by the Helen Suzman Foundation into
conditions of farmworkers on the farms of KwaZulu Natal.
Farmworkers who despite the cold weather attended in thousands
the meeting gave a totally different picture of their conditions on
the farms to that of the survey which claimed that farmworkers live
a good life.
Workers told of the brutality of farmers against them. One
farmworker who was interviewed by Radio Ukhozi (Zulu) went to the
extent of threatening that they will take the law into their hands
because even the police in the area allegedly collude with farmers.
Farmworkers produced pay slips which indicate that farmworkers are
still paid starvation wages.
Attached are copies of pay slips which indicate the lowest wage
to be R41-80 per month before deductions. The ANC will now embark on
a campaign to expose these atrocities perpetrated against the
farmworkers. A series of meetings with farmworkers in different
parts of the province is planned. The ANC hopes that it will get the
support of those farmers and their organisations who are thriving to
better their relations with and the conditions of their farmworkers.
This is in the best interest of all concerned including the
farmers themselves. The ANC will request the Human Rights Commission
to investigate the systematic violations of basic human rights on
the farms of KwaZulu Natal. Let there be freedom on the farms too.
Issued by the ANC KwaZulu Natal Leadership.
for more info, contact Dumisani Makhaye at 031 3075460
Date: 24/11/98
@ BESTER-GAUTENG
CAPE TOWN November 24 1998 Sapa
GAUTENG IS VIEWED DIMLY
Gauteng is viewed increasingly dimly as a place to work and
bring up children.
This was said Monday evening in Cape Town by Hennie Bester,
Western Cape tourism and business promotion minister.
Speaking at the Exporters Club of SA, Bester added:"We are
challenging Gauteng now on every front.
"I would also like to suggest that the Western Cape is better
geared than most to cope with the rather inflexible labour market
put in train by legislation such as the Employment Equity Act,
which seeks to make the workplace more representative of the
population complexion."
He added:"Traditionally the Western Cape led the country in the
fight against apartheid in the workplace and in the social
environment and we are ahead of the game as far as
representativeness of the provincial make-up is concerned."
Bester also said the Western Cape led Gauteng in mind power.
" Latest statistics, issued by Statistics SA, show that the
Western Cape has taken over from Gauteng as the most highly
educated province. It is an indication of the huge shift in
population, particularly among the entrepreneurial and the
professional, to the Western Cape.
"The long run trend towards centralisation of production and
financial as well as service activities around the Gauteng hub has
been challenged over the past years, with other locational factors
- like the working and living environment, skills available
locally, the rate of labour turnover and harbour access playing an
increasingly significant role in locational decisions. In fact all
over the world export-orientated industries are shifting closer to
harbour cities and coastal belts."
He said while national government was desperately trying to
centralise much of its administrative activity, the market was
dictating that South Africa should shift from big business
domination to stronger small enterprise orientation.
"The Western Cape economy seems well placed to participate in
the new thrust, given a less dominant big business sector and
relatively more small and medium enterprises in its present
economic structure," he said.
@ ANC STATEMENT ON VOTER REGISTRATION
Issued by: African National Congress
The ANC has taken note of the IEC's announcement that voter
registration will now be staggered - effectively postponing
registration in Western Cape, Free State, Eastern Cape and
Kwazulu-Natal to 3,4 and 5 December 1998.
The ANC understands the reasons for the IEC's decision and thus
accepts the decision to stagger voter registration. While the
decision to postpone voter registration in the four provinces may
affect our plans, it will not affect our determination to work even
harder to encourage all our members, supporters and all South
African citizens to register on the voter's roll. Our voter
registration campaign in all nine provinces is in full swing.
The IEC's announcement that voter registration will continue
during January and February next year guarantees that all South
Africans will have an opportunity to register.
The ANC is encouraged by the overwhelming response by public
servants to the call by government and the IEC to volunteer their
services to administer the voter registration process. By
volunteering their services, these public servants have proven to be
true and patriotic South Africans who are committed to the
consolidation of our democracy.
The ANC is concerned about utterances of certain opposition
parties, who in the recent past have been doing their outmost to
undermine the voter registration and the entire election preparation
process. Their behaviour is tantamount to undermining South Africa's
democratic process. The ANC calls on all political parties to put
the future of South Africa above narrow party political interests
and do their outmost to encourage all South Africans to turn out in
their millions to register on 27, 28, 29 November and 3,4,5 December
and on all other future registration days.
Issued by ANC Department of Information and Publicity
For further information contact Thabo Masebe at 082 575 3978 or
330 7082
24 November 1998
@ ZIM-IMF
HARARE November 24 1998 Sapa-AFP
ZIMBABWE LAND ROW PROMPTS IMF TO FREEZE PAYMENTS
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has suspended 55 million
dollars in aid payments to Zimbabwe after the government's
premature seizure of 841 white-owned farms last week, western
diplomats said.
IMF decisions of this nature tend to be matched by other
lenders, such as the World Bank, which currently has 100 million
dollars earmarked for Zimbabwe.
The IMF believes that the seizures, initiated last week, go
against decisions reached during round-table talks held here in
September, where it was agreed that, in an initial two-year phase
of a land reform programme, only 118 farms would be appropriated
for landless black peasants.
It was also agreed that the seizures should take place in a
"progressive, transparent and equitable" manner.
With Zimbabwe rocked by a severe economic crisis and social
unrest, the government cannot afford to compensate the affected
farmers.
In a country where some 4,000 white farmers own 30 percent of
the land, President Robert Mugabe has faced conflicting pressure
both from landless blacks eager for speedy reform and from white
farmers and foreign donors who want the process to be carried out
cautiously and with full compensation.
The government, according to the diplomatic sources, was in
December due to receive 55 million dollars representing the second
and third tranches of an IMF stand-by loan agreed earlier this
year.
The total package involved some 176 million dollars over 13
months destined to help Zimbabwe in an economic reform programme.
Despite numerous lapses in Harare's commitments, the IMF had
been willing to show leniency, according to the diplomats, who
added, however, that the farm seizures led the lending body to
decide not present further tranche payments for approval at its
board of governors meeting next month.
Having already complained about Zimbabwe's privatisation
programme, the IMF has sought assurances from Harare that military
expenditure would not compromise efforts to control the deficit and
that civil service salary expenditure would not exceed 12.5 percent
of GDP.
Zimbabwe has sent thousands of troops to back President Laurent
Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo against a rebellion.
Critics claim the intervention costs up to a million dollars a day.
The fund also called for all price controls to be lifted,
especially those on maize, the staple food.
It has also asked for light to be shed on the details of the
privatisation of a power station in Hwange in the northeast. The
Malaysian firm involved has yet to meet its financial commitments.
@ MANDELA-AMBASSADORS
CAPE TOWN November 24 1998 Sapa
MANDELA RECEIVES CREDENTIALS OF THREE AMBASSADORS
President Nelson Mandela on Tuesday received the credentials of
new ambassadors to South Africa from Germany, Denmark and Ireland.
In ceremonies at Tuynhuys in Cape Town, he told all three he
hoped relations between their countries and South Africa would be
strengthened, and thanked those countries which had supported the
anti-apartheid struggle.
The German and Irish ambassadors said their countries shared
South Africa's desire for reform of the United Nations and its
security council.
German ambassador Harald Ganns conveyed "the highest respect
and best wishes" of Germany's president, Roman Herzog.
"After the historic changes at the beginning of this decade,
both South Africa and Germany are still experiencing a period of
reform and transition, although the magnitude of the legacy of the
past and the difficulties in overcoming them seem to be much more
significant in the case of South Africa," he said.
Ganns said he was sure his government would use its coming
presidency of the European Union (EU) and of the G8 states to
strengthen the relationship between South Africa and the EU, as
well as between the Non-Aligned Movement under South Africa's
leadership and the countries of the North.
Danish ambassador Bjarne Sorensen said he was pleased that his
country was still privileged, through the Danish transitional
assistance programme, to contribute to South Africa's efforts to
change its society, targeting the strengthening of democracy and
support to previously disadvantaged sections of society.
Institutional links had been developed in areas such as
policing, environmental studies, parliament, justice, labour market
matters and education, Sorensen said.
Irish ambassador Hugh Swift said there had been ever-growing
co-operation between his country and South Africa in international
fora and both had a common strong commitment to the United Nations.
It had been an occasion of "great joy" for the Irish people to
see democracy established in the new South Africa.
@ ELECTION-HOUGHTON
JOHANNESBURG November 24 1998 Sapa
MANDELA TO REGISTER ON FRIDAY IN LOWER HOUGHTON
President Nelson Mandela will on Friday register to vote at a
Lower Houghton, Johannesburg, registration centre to begin the
election registration drive of the African National Congress in
Gauteng.
ANC Gauteng ANC communication head Ned Kekana said at a news
conference on Tuesday that after registering, Mandela would visit
Alexandra township.
He said ANC leaders would be sent to other areas of Gauteng to
register, and to urge residents to do the same.
Premier Mathole Motshekga was expected to register at Midrand
community hall on Friday morning.
Kekana said some national ANC leaders would also be sent to
parts of Gauteng, to visit registration centres and urge residents
to register.
They included Deputy Speaker Baleka Mbete-Kgositsile, Water and
Forest Affairs Minister Kader Asmal, Environmental Affairs Deputy
Minister Peter Mokaba, and Mineral and Energy Minister Penuell
Maduna, Kekana said.
Gauteng ANC election co-ordinator Shan Balton said the ANC had
distributed more than 4 million leaflets and 3 million posters to
get the registration message across in the province.
@ TRUTH-SDU
DURBAN November 24 1998 Sapa
FORMER SDU MEMBER TELLS HOW SDUs WERE FORMED IN KWAZULU-NATAL
A former member of the African National Congress-aligned
self-defence units in southern KwaZulu-Natal told in Durban on
Tuesday how the SDUs were formed in Maghabeni township, near
Umkomaas, in 1990.
Kwenzakwakhe Nicholas Msani was testifying before the Truth and
Reconciliation Commission's amnesty committee in support of his
application for amnesty for the murder of Sixtus Mkhize, who was
murdered in Maghabeni in November 1990.
Mkhize was allegedly a member of the Inkatha Freedom Party, and
the killing occurred during conflict between the ANC and the IFP at
the time.
Msani told the committee SDU commander Bukela Luthuli came from
a meeting in the township attended by Public Works Minister Jeff
Hadebe and other ANC leaders.
Hadebe allegedly said after the meeting that brave and
courageous youths in the township should be selected to protect the
community, apparently against attacks from the IFP.
Msani alleged the IFP at the time was assisted and supported by
the former KwaZulu police. He claimed the ANC youths were supposed
to receive training in the former Transkei, but this never
materialised because of the violent situation on the south coast.
Msani told the committee it was not ANC policy to kill
political opponents, but the situation at the time forced them to
fight the IFP.
He described how the SDUs obtained guns through donations from
the community and ANC members. According to Msani the money was
given to Luthuli, who obtained the firearms and distributed them to
reliable SDU members to hide in their homes.
He said the guns could not be hidden in a central place because
of searches conducted by the security forces. Msani is one of
several former SDU members to testify before the amnesty committee.
Hadebe is expected to appear before the committee on Tuesday
next week over his application for amnesty for his role in the
establishment of SDUs in the province.
@ CRIME-CAMPAIGN
DURBAN November 24 1998 Sapa
KZN MEC URGES COMMUNITY TO HELP POLICE FIGHT CRIME
KwaZulu-Natal safety and security MEC Inkosi Nyanga Ngubane on
Tuesday called on the community to work with the police to combat
crime in the province.
Ngubane was speaking at the launch of the Crow On Crime
Campaign in Durban, due to start in January.
The campaign is intended to make the youth in KwaZulu-Natal
aware of the toll-free crime-stop number and to encourage people to
report crime.
"Crime is not the responsibility of the police only, crime is
harmful to the rest of the society. We need to build that kind of
partnership in our effort to fight...crime," Ngubane said.
He emphasised the need to establish and support partnerships
that could help in the fight against crime.
"Without community co-operation, we are unfortunately fighting
an uphill battle."
Ngubane thanked the families and communities who had helped
police arrest criminals in the province. He referred to the arrest
of four suspects in connection with the rape of two Swiss tourists
near the Umfolozi game park in October.
Ngubane criticised policemen who were involved in criminal
activities and urged the community to expose them so that they
could be brought to book.
Provincial police commissioner Chris Serfontein said since the
beginning of the year about 200,000 cases had been reported through
the toll-free crime-stop number 0800-11-12-13.
Serfontein said local police would visit schools in different
areas of the province to educate pupils about using the number, the
positive effects of reporting crime and also to encourage them to
participate in the campaign.
@ ELECTION-MILITARY
PRETORIA November 24 1998 Sapa
8200 SANDF TROOPS TO HELP WITH VOTER REGISTRATION: NYANDA
A total of 8200 SA National Defence Force members would be
deployed as voter registration officials, SANDF chief Siphiwe
Nyanda said on Tuesday.
"The various units involved have already started with intense
training," he said in a statement in Pretoria.
Nyanda said Deputy President Thabo Mbeki instructed the SANDF
on Friday last week to provide forces to help with voter
registration.
Registration in the Western Cape, the Free State, the Eastern
Cape and KwaZulu-Natal was earlier in the day postponed by a week.
In the other five provinces the process would go ahead as scheduled
from Friday to Sunday, it was announced.
Nyanda said members from all arms of services had been
allocated from four provinces to help with registration - 2911
from the Northern Province, 1965 from Mpumalanga, 2324 from Gauteng
and 1000 from the Northern Cape.
The deployment of troops would be funded from the SANDF's
operational budget.
"The SANDF ... hopes to recover some of the costs because it
will place great strain on an already overextended budget because
of various other operational deployments," Nyanda said.
The exercise forms part of the government's offer last week to
make 72000 civil servants available as registration officials. This
will save R220 million that the Independent Electoral Commission
would have had to pay for registration staff.
Earlier it was reported that an inadequate number of civil
servants had volunteered for registration duty and that soldiers
would be used to fill the gap.
Nyanda said soldiers doing registration work would receive
their usual pay, and subsistence and travel allowances where
applicable.
The operation to help with registration was in the public
interest and was not regarded as a special exercise.
"This deployment will continue until the registration process
is completed and the IEC is satisfied. The SANDF has no doubt that
it will be able to make a valuable contribution to the success of
the registration," Nyanda said.
@ ELECTION-ANC
CAPE TOWN November 24 1998 Sapa
ANC VOWS TO WORK HARDER ON VOTER REGISTRATION
The postponement of voter registration in four provinces would
not affect the African National Congress' determination to work
even harder to encourage all its members, supporters and all South
African citizens to register on the voters' roll, the party said on
Tuesday.
It had noted the Independent Electoral Commission's
announcement that voter registration would now be staggered -
effectively postponing registration in the Western Cape, Free
State, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal to December 3, 4 and 5.
The ANC understood and accepted the reasons for the IEC's
decision.
"While the decision to postpone voter registration in the four
provinces may affect our plans, it will not affect our
determination to work even harder to encourage all our members,
supporters and all South African citizens to register on the
voter's roll.
"Our voter registration campaign in all nine provinces is in
full swing," the ANC said in a statement.
The IEC's announcement that voter registration would continue
during January and February next year guaranteed that all South
Africans would have an opportunity to register.
The ANC was encouraged by the overwhelming response from public
servants, to the call by government and the IEC, to volunteer their
services for the voter registration process.
It was concerned about utterances of certain opposition
parties, who "in the recent past have been doing their outmost to
undermine the voter registration and the entire election
preparation process".
The ANC called on all political parties to put the future of
South Africa above narrow party political interests, and do their
outmost to encourage all South Africans to turn out in their
millions to register.
@ ELECTION-COSATU
JOHANNESBURG November 24 1998 Sapa
PUBLIC SERVANTS SHOULD VOLUNTEER FOR REGISTRATION WORK: COSATU
The Congress of SA Trade Unions on Tuesday urged public
servants to volunteer in their thousands to assist in the
registration of voters from Friday to Sunday.
Cosatu said in a statement it was concerned about reports that
fewer public servants than were needed had come forward as
volunteers for the registration of voters.
"If this situation does not improve in the next hours and days,
the endeavour to register as many voters as possible from 27 to 29
November 1998 will be completely undermined,"
Cosatu called on the directors of various departments to lead
by example and be the first to volunteer.
"We call on local government workers, the teachers and even
police and prison warders to come forward to assist."
Cosatu said it understood that this meant working for free,
including sacrificing a weekend, but said a large number of public
workers had in the past spent countless hours of work over many
decades in a struggle for freedom and democracy.
"The democracy that workers, including those that are in the
public service, fought for so long may be in jeopardy.
"The sacrifices we made in the past are nothing compared to the
three days we are asked for to assist members of society to
exercise their hard won right to vote for the parties and persons
of their choice," the statement said.
@ PRESIDENT MANDELA ON THE REGISTRATION PROCESS
Issued by: Office of the president
TEXT OF STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA ON THE REGISTRATION
PROCESS. BROADCAST BY SABC RADIO AND TV EARLIER TODAY.
24 November 1998
The Independent Elctoral Commission, Government and the whole of
South Africa are committed to the success of the voter registration
campaign. An exceptional effort is required for this to succeed.
The IEC has informed me that it is ready to start the process.
I wish to congratulate the public servants and other members of
the public who have offered their services without extra pay to
ensure that this happens.
This Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be the turn of the people
of the Northern Cape, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Northwest and Northern
Province. The weekend thereafter, the rest of the Provinces will
have their chance.
This is the beginning of the programme to ensure that all
eligible South Africans get the opportunity to register and to vote.
Depending on the ground covered this time around, there will be
yet another chance to register in January and February next year.
In a project of such a scale, carried out for the first time in
our new democracy, it was to be expected that there would be
difficulties. But the work that has been done so far and the
goodwill that has been shown gives me the confidence that we will
succeed.
We must succeed. And, with your help, it will happen!
I call on all eligible South Africans to come out and register.
Exercise your right to build your future!
24 November 1998
Issued by the Office of the President
More information: Parks Mankahlana
082 553 4569
@ EGYPT-ZIMBABWE
CAIRO November 24 1998 Sapa-AFP
MUBARAK, MUGABE DISCUSS AFRICAN ISSUES
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak discussed the conflict in the
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the situation in the Great
Lakes region with Zimbabwean President Robert Mubage here Tuesday.
Zimbabwe provides military backing to DRC President
Laurent-Desire Kabila against rebels who enjoy support from Uganda
and Rwanda.
Mugabe arrived Monday in Egypt from Libya aboard a private
Libyan aircraft in violation of the UN air embargo imposed on
Tripoli and was given a red-carpet welcome by Mubarak.
The Organisation of African Unity decided this summer to stop
honouring the UN air and arms embargo imposed against Libya in 1992
for its refusal to hand over two men suspected of the 1988
Lockerbie bombing.
After his talks with Mubarak, the Zimbabwean president toured
several Egyptian factories.
Mugabe leaves on Wednesday for France to attend an
African-French summit and will later visit Italy and Britain.
@ CRIME-MARAIS
CAPE TOWN November 24 1998 Sapa
MARAIS CALLS FOR 21-DAYS DETENTION FOR CRIMINALS
Western Cape Health Minister Peter Marais on Tuesday appealed
to President Nelson Mandela to consider an amendment to the
Constitution which would allow police in the province the right to
detain certain suspects for up to 21 days without having to bring
them before a court.
Speaking after talks with Mandela at Tuynhuys on concerns over
crime in the province, Marais, who had been acting as the Western
Cape's premier until Gerald Morkel's return from abroad this week,
said such an amendment would allow the police time to investigate
crimes more fully, and secure a conviction.
"At the moment, criminals are allowing that loophole to treat
the police with disdain, and 48 hours after they're arrested,
they're back on the street," Marais said.
He also called for gun control to be implemented in the
province in certain "zones".
This could be done at the request of the premier, with the
president's consent.
Heavy fines could be imposed on people carrying firearms in
these designated zones, which could be identified from police
reports.
Mandela told the media briefing that the government was
satisfied - based on what it heard from police briefings - that
crime levels were dropping.
"It is sufficient for me to say we have made good progress," he
said of the talks, which also involved Community Safety Minister
Mark Wiley and national police commissioner George Fivaz.
Marais described the discussions as having been "serious and
sometimes intense".
He said mechanisms were being set up to improve communications
between the province and central government.
@ BRITAIN-SA
LONDON November 24 1998 Sapa-AFP
QUEEN ANNOUNCES STATE VISIT TO SKOREA AND VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA
Queen Elizabeth II confirmed Tuesday that she and husband
Prince Philip would make a state visit to South Korea and travel to
South Africa in her speech to the state opening of the British
parliament.
After setting out the governement's legislative programme for
the coming parliamentary session, she said: "We (the Duke of
Edinburgh and I) also look forward to our state visit to Korea next
year and to visiting South Africa for the Commonwealth Heads of
Government meeting."
Buckingham Palace confirmed the visit but said dates had yet to
be decided.
Last week, the Korea Times quoted a high-ranking British
Foreign Office official as saying the six-day visit between April
18-24 would feature a remembrance ceremony for British victims of
the 1950-53 Korea War.
The visit has been scheduled to commemorate the 50th
anniversary of the normalisation of diplomatic ties between the two
countries.
The Commonwealth Institute on Tuesday said the dates for the
heads of government meeting in South Africa were November 12-15,
but the location was yet to be finalised.
Leaders from the 54-nation body hold a conference every year.
The queen also confirmed a state visit next year of Chinese
President Jiang Zemin, the first since the opening of diplomatic
relations between the two countries.
The visit, due next summer, was announced during the British
prime minister's visit to China in October.
@ TRUTH-KASRILS
JOHANNESBURG November 24 1998 Sapa
SDUS NOT A DECLARATION OF WAR IN TOWNSHIPS: KASRILS
The establishment of self-defence units in South Africa's black
townships in the early 1990s was not a declaration of war on
opponents of the African National Congress, Deputy Defence Minister
Ronnie Kasrils said on Tuesday.
It was an act to protect the communities from the dark forces
of the apartheid era, he told the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission's amnesty hearing in Vosloorus on the East Rand.
"I am proud that I had participated in the establishment of
such units because their role was to protect our communities from
brutal attacks by evil forces."
The amnesty committee is hearing applications by people
claiming to be former members of SDUs for various acts committed in
South African townships in the 1990s.
These range from murder and attempted murder to the illegal
possession of arms and ammunition.
Kasrils told the committee he had supplied arms to SDUs for the
purpose of protecting the communities.
He testified on how the apartheid government used various
tactics and forces such as the "Witdoeke" and the "Rooidoeke" to
spread violence in black townships to suppress members of
democratic organisations.
With the flaring of these types of violence on the Reef in 1990
and with the death toll also increasing, the ANC decided that its
military wing, Umkhonto We Sizwe, should help train SDU members,
Kasrils said.
Questioned by commissioners, he said hostels were regarded as a
source of violence by township residents, hence the decision, for
example, to bring the Vosloorus hostel down "brick by brick".
"People saw them as a key threat to their lives ... and
following the De Klerk government's failure to implement security
measures such as (erecting) fences around them, they then resolved
to bring them down brick by brick."
Kasrils said hostilities emanated from hostels, whose dwellers
were mainly affiliated to the Inkatha Freedom Party.
Asked why ANC supporters attacked mourners from an IFP
supporter's funeral, he replied that it was out of anger and that
it was to deter opponents from launching another attack on ANC
supporters.
He told the committee that a war situation prevailed in the
East Rand townships in the early 1990s, and that innocent people
were caught in the cross-fire. But he insisted that the ANC had
never declared war by establishing these units, stressing their
task was only to protect communities from attacks by apartheid
forces like the "third force".
He said the violence in the area affected the moral fibre of
society and "turned neighbour against neighbour, brother against
brother".
Political leaders were targeted and killed, young people - who
in a normal society would have completed their education - were
forced to defend life and property.
Kasrils said the ANC was forced to decide on the establishment
of SDUs as it could not stand by and watch when more than 2000
people had died in attacks on defenceless people by faceless
people.
By April 1994, 2400 people had died in the Vaal, Soweto and
East Rand townships.
Meanwhile, amnesty applicant and former commander of the
Thokoza SDU, Chechela Esau Machitze, told the committee that he
ordered a full-scale attack on IFP members during a funeral
procession through Khumalo street in 1992.
He claimed that the late SA Communist Party secretary-general
Chris Hani had nominated him to identify SDU members in Thokoza.
"He specifically instructed me to expose their weaknesses and
to try to show them the need for a structured defence and a need to
have proper training on how to handle weapons."
The hearing continues, but its sittings would be moved to the
JCCI centre in Mayfair as of Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Mayfair amnesty hearings of applications by 22
former SDU members was on Tuesday postponed indefinitely because
victims or their relatives could not be traced.
@ SRILANKA-SAFRICA
COLOMBO November 24 1998 Sapa-AFP
SOUTH AFRICA PLANNING LAWS TO OUTLAW TAMIL TIGERS
South Africa is planning anti-terrorism legislation to prevent
foreign rebel groups, including Sri anka's Tamil Tigers, operating
on its soil, a report said Tuesday.
South Africa may take up the proposed new legislation in
February to outlaw terrorist activities by groups like Sri Lanka's
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), said The Island newspaper,
a privately-owned daily.
It quoted Pretoria's envoy to Colombo, Jerry Matsila, as saying
the anti-terrorism legislation would prevent terrorist activities
aimed at other countries being carried out in South Africa.
Matsila, an Indian resident also accredited to Sri Lanka, spoke
to the newspaper's New Delhi correspondent.
Last week, South African Foreign Minister Alfred Nzo reassured
his Sri Lankan counterpart that Pretoria would discourage any
attempt by Tamil Tigers to set up an office in the country.
Nzo told Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar in
talks in Pretoria that South Africa would block LTTE activity to
the extent allowed by its liberal constitution.
Kadirgamar's visit was billed in Colombo as a diplomatic
mission to try to block reported efforts by the Tamil separatists
to shift their international secretariat from London to South
Africa.
A South African foreign ministry statement issued after the
meeting said it was aware Sri Lanka had legitimate security
concerns "relative to the conflict in the northern parts of the
country".
Sri Lanka said earlier this month that it believed the LTTE was
shifting its operations from London to South Africa because of new
anti-terrorism laws in Britain.
South African officials have expressed concern that the
movement may seek to raise funds within the country's sizeable
Indian community.
The US government last year designated the LTTE as a "foreign
terrorist organisation," making it illegal for the guerrillas to
raise money there for their separatist war at home.
@ JUSTICE-WOMEN
PRETORIA November 24 1998 Sapa
TRAINING PROGRAMME LAUNCHED FOR JUSTICE OFFICIALS
A training programme aimed at making court officials more
sensitive in dealing with crimes against women was launched in
Pretoria on Tuesday.
Deputy Justice Minister Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said at the
launching ceremony that few perpetrators of violence against women
were convicted.
Last year, 52160 rapes were reported to the SA Police Service,
of which less than one third reached the courts, the deputy
minister said.
"Of those cases that were finally prosecuted in the courts,
only half resulted in convictions."
The implementation of the new training programme was an attempt
to address this problem by creating a greater understanding of
violence against women among criminal justice personnel such as
interpreters, clerks and prosecutors.
"It will improve the justice system by making it more
accessible to women through effective, supportive and compassionate
criminal justice personnel."
Tshabalala-Msimang said the programme was the first step
towards developing an integrated South African response to violence
against women.
The training programme, funded by the Danish government, would
start on Wednesday and run until next year, but was expected to
become a permanent part of training at the Justice College in the
long run.
Fatima Shaik, deputy director of the Nisaa Institute for
Women's Development, said the training was intended to empower
victims, who were often traumatised by the justice system.
Court personnel were not sensitive to issues regarding domestic
violence or rape, and were often not aware of the relevant
legislation, she said.
"This is but one small step in ensuring that the court
experience is less problematic to survivors of rape and domestic
violence."
The training programme is a joint project between the
government and non-government bodies like Nisaa.
@ ELECTION-SOPA
PRETORIA November 24 1998 Sapa
VOTER REGISTRATION WILL FAIL: SOCIALIST PARTY OF AZANIA
There would undoubtedly be a low turnout for voter registration
during the forthcoming weekend, the Socialist Party of Azania said
on Tuesday.
"Advertisements to get people to register have been ineffective
and the process should be extended or postponed," it said in a
statement in Pretoria.
The party criticised the Independent Electoral Commission,
saying the body had not prepared properly for the registration of
voters.
"The work of the IEC is characterised by floppiness. It is
ridiculous for the IEC to hope to prepare registration officials
within a week for a job that needs a high level of diligence and
meticulousness," the SOPA statement said.
@ N/L-ELECTION
JOHANNESBURG Nov 23 Sapa
@ ELECTION-POSTPONE
CAPE TOWN November 24 1998 Sapa
REGISTRATION TO BE POSTPONED IN SOME PROVINCES
Voter registration is to be postponed by a week in four
provinces, the Western Cape, the Free State, the Eastern Cape, and
KwaZulu-Natal.
President Nelson Mandela will make this announcement in a
recorded address to be broadcast on SABC television this morning.
Registration in the other five provinces will be held as
scheduled from this Friday to Sunday.
more
@ PRESS CONFERENCE: NO VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS)
A press conference will be held on Wednesday, 25 November 1998
at 11:00, R513 Union Buildings, West Wing, Pretoria. The press
conference will be hosted by the Deputy Minister of Justice, Dr ME
Tshabalala-Msimang and Dr Barney Pityana, Director of the Human
Rights Commission.
The aim of the press conference is to inform the media about the
16 days of activism leading up to 10 December 1998 which marks the
50th Anniversary of UN Declaration of Human Rights.
Contact persons: (press conference queries)
Petra Wiese: 082 565
(press conference queries)
Faizal Dawjee: 083 254 2923
Issued by the Government Communication and Information System
(GCIS)
Pretoria, 24 November 1998
@ QUESTIONS-BACKLOG
CAPE TOWN November 24 1998 Sapa
STATE BUILDINGS' MAINTENANCE BACKLOG R8,8 BILLION: RADEBE
The backlog on maintenance and repairs to state buildings was
estimated at R8,8 billion, according to Public Works Minister Jeff
Radebe.
This was more or less evenly distributed throughout the
country, with the exception of the Eastern Cape province, he said
in a written reply to a parliamentary question from Dr Gerhard
Koornhof, a former National Party NCOP delegate who has defected to
the United Democratic Movement.
The estimated breakdown per department was:
- South African National Defence Force: R5,5 billion;
- Correctional Services: R1 billion;
- Justice department: R0,4 billion;
- Other departments: R0,1 billion;
- South African Police Service: R1 billion; and,
- Diverse - R0,8 billion.
@ JAPAN-AID
JOHANNESBURG November 24 1998 Sapa
JAPAN TO GIVE R1 BILLION FOR MINE-CLEARANCE IN MOZAMBIQUE
The Japanese government on Wednesday would hand over US1
million in emergency grant aid to the United Nations for
mine-clearing in Massingir district in Mozambique's Gaza province.
The initiative aimed to boost economic reconstruction, which
had been greatly hindered by the large number of anti-personnel
mines still buried after the end of the civil war in 1992, a
statement from Japan's South African embassy said.
Massingir was reportedly amongst the most intensively mined
districts in the country.
Mine-clearance in this area was also a prerequisite for the
reconstruction of the Massingir dam.
At last year's Convention on the Total Ban of Anti-personnel
Mines in Canada, Japanese Foreign Minister Keizo Obuchi advocated a
"zero victim programme", announcing that Japan would give 10
billion yen to mine-clearance and victim assistance over the next
five years.
At the Second Tokyo International Conference on African
Development last month, he (now prime minister) had also said Japan
would support mine-clearance in southern African.
@ MEYER-RAIL
CAPE TOWN November 24 1998 Sapa
MEYER CALLS FOR INVESTIGATION OF CAPE RAIL SERVICE CUTS
Transport Minister Mac Maharaj and the South African Rail
Commuter Corporation should accept full responsibility for the
estimated 100,000 rail commuters who would be left stranded if
planned cuts to Cape Town's train services went ahead, UDM deputy
leader Roelf Meyer said on Tuesday.
He was reacting to a November 12 announcement by Cape Metrorail
that it would reduce its train services, starting on January 1 next
year. This follows an earlier announcement by Maharaj's ministry
that it was reducing its public transport subsidies nationally by
R100 million.
The United Democratic Movement leader also hit out at the
African National Congress in the Western Cape, saying they were
"arrogant" to pick a fight with Metrorail following the service
provider's announcement of the reductions.
"It is indeed the department of transport who is, through the
South African Rail Commuter Organisation, subsidising Metrorail as
a service provider," Meyer said.
The Western Cape subsidy was reduced by R25 million.
"Metrorail is now being punished by the government, whereas the
service should be upgraded," Meyer said.
Maharaj needed to realise that Cape Metrorail had special needs
and circumstances, and the realisation of public transport should
be investigated urgently, he said.
@ ELECTION-UDM
JOHANNESBURG November 24 1998 Sapa
UDM CRITICISES POSTPONEMENT OF ELECTION REGISTRATION
The fact that registration for the elections was being
postponed demonstrated the inability of the government to deal with
issues pro-actively, the United Democratic Movement said on
Tuesday.
"This announcement should have been made at least a month ago
when it was clear... that the Independent Electoral Commission
would not be in a position to conduct proper registration in
November," UDM spokeswoman Annelize van Wyk said in a statement.
President Nelson Mandela on Tuesday said voter registration
would be postponed by a week in the Western Cape, the Free State,
the Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal.
The IEC was blemishing its independence and ability, Van Wyk
said.
"Of great concern is the announcement by the government that
they will evaluate the registration process... and decide whether a
further registration process is needed. This should be one of the
primary functions of the IEC, and most definitely not of the
(African National Congress) government."
All the political parties who supported the budget vote of
Finance Minister Trevor Manuel in Parliament, without using their
positions to bring about changes in the IEC's budget, had a
responsibility equal to that of the ANC government and the IEC to
ensure that the elections were run smoothly, Van Wyk said.
"A special effort should now be made to communicate the changes
in the four provinces affected. The UDM sincerely hopes that the
marketing of this will not be as clandestine as the current
effort."
@ AIDS-REPORT
JOHANNESBURG November 24 1998 Sapa
ONE IN SEVEN OF AFRICA'S NEW HIV INFECTIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa accounts for one out of every seven new HIV
infections on the African continent, according to a report by the
World Health Organisation, Network Radio News reported on Tuesday.
The WHO reported that 70 percent of world's population who
became infected with HIV this year came from sub-Saharan Africa.
Eighty percent of all Aids deaths in 1998 occurred in
sub-Saharan Africa.
The WHO report said about 11 people were infected with HIV
every minute, bringing the total number of infected people to
nearly 33,5 million worldwide.
United Nations aids national programme officer Alfred Mikosi
said the situation was much better in West Africa because of early
and sustained prevention efforts.
He said South Africa had delayed responding effectively to the
virus.
@ RUSSIA-MBEKI
MOSCOW November 24 1998 Sapa-AP
SA DEPUTY PRESIDENT DISCUSSES CO-OPERATION WITH RUSSIA
South African Vice President Thabo Mbeki said Tuesday he
focused on cooperation in investment, tourism and sports during
talks with officials in Russia, whose economic crisis is affecting
South Africa.
Mbeki has expressed concern about Russia's financial troubles,
which have sent stock markets plunging worldwide as panicked
investors pull out of emerging markets.
During his talks in Moscow, the two sides signed agreements
covering protection of capital investments and cooperation in
tourism and sports.
They also tried to "identify possible areas of cooperation"
in the weapons industry, Mbeki said.
"We are ourselves very happy with the visit," Mbeki told a
news conference in Moscow on Tuesday. "We were indeed very well
received by the government."
Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov also said his talks
with Mbeki had gone well.
Primakov hailed the improvement in relations between Russia and
South Africa since the end of white-minority rule with South
Africa's first multi-race elections in 1994.
South African President Nelson Mandela will visit Russia in
April 1999 for meetings with Russian leaders, Mbeki announced
during the Moscow visit. Mandela canceled a visit to Russia last
winter amid concerns about his health.
Mbeki, who is expected to succeed Mandela when elections are
held next year, also met with other top Russian officials and
parliamentary leaders and the head of the Russian Orthodox Church,
Patriarch Alexy II.
@ WOMEN
MALELANE, Mpumalanga, November 24 1998 Sapa
WOMEN'S RIGHTS ACTIVISTS TO UNITE AT SA BORDER
Women's rights activists in Swaziland and South Africa will
converge at border posts between the two countries on Wednesday to
mark the International Day of No Violence Against Women, African
Eye News Service reported on Tuesday.
Members of the Masisukumeni Women's Crisis Centre in Mpumalanga
and the Swaziland Action Group Against Abuse will meet at the
Mananga and Jeppes Reef border posts to put up banners for 16 days
of activism that will follow.
Tina Sideris of Masisukumeni said the organisation would also
raise banners at the Lebombo border post between Komatipoort in
Mpumalanga and Mozambique.
"The banners will stay up until the 16 days of activism end on
December 10, when the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights is celebrated," she said.
The days of activism form part of the United Nations
Development Fund for Women's campaign in Southern Africa to raise
public awareness and eliminate violence against women and children.
On Saturday a cultural event will be held in Mangweni, in
Nkomazi East just south of Malelane, where officials will address
communities on the campaign.
Sideris said one woman was raped every 35 seconds in South
Africa, and one in four who were in relationships were sexually,
physically or emotionally abused.
"Reported rapes, incest and assault on children rose by 108
percent between 1993 and 1997," she said. Last year 16698 crimes
against children were reported, she added.
@ ELECTION
CAPE TOWN November 24 1998 Sapa
NEW APPEAL FOR REGISTRATION VOLUNTEERS
Cosatu on Tuesday made a renewed appeal for public servants to
volunteer for voter registration duty, after President Nelson
Mandela announced that the process was to be postponed by a week in
four of the provinces.
Opposition parties claimed the move confirmed government
incompetence and inefficiency, and the National Party said it
feared what might happen during the election itself.
Mandela said registration would be postponed by a week in the
Western Cape, the Free State, the Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal,
but would go ahead as scheduled in the other five provinces from
this Friday to Sunday.
There would be more registration opportunities in January and
February.
He also said reports that May 19 was a likely date for the
country to go to the polls were "speculation by journalists". "No
date is specified," he said.
The government last week offered to make 72000 civil servants
available to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) as
volunteer registration officials, after the IEC said it could not
afford to pay R220 million for its own staff.
However, several provinces have reported a poor response from
public servants, who will not be paid for the extra duty.
In a statement issued after Mandela's announcement, the
Congress of SA Trade Unions urged public servants to volunteer in
their thousands to help register voters.
Cosatu said it was concerned about reports that few public
servants had volunteered, and called on the directors of
departments to lead by example.
"We call on local government workers, the teachers and even
police and prison warders to come forward to assist."
Cosatu said it understood that this meant working for free, but
a large number of public workers had in the past spent countless
hours over many decades in a struggle for freedom and democracy.
Earlier, SA National Defence Force chief Siphiwe Nyanda
confirmed that 8200 SANDF members would be deployed as registration
officials, saying they had already started "intense training".
Western Cape health MEC Peter Marais, who last week was dealing
with the registration issue as acting premier, said the one-week
postponement in the province was still not enough.
He said registration had to be postponed "in line with the
ability of Home Affairs to process identity documents".
National Party leader Marthinus van Schalkwyk said the
postponement confirmed the government's incompetence, and that he
would be surprised if it were possible for registration to go ahead
a week later in the four provinces.
It was open to question whether it would be possible to hold an
election of an acceptable standard before July next year, as
prescribed by the Constitution.
Freedom Front leader Constand Viljoen said insufficient state
funding of the IEC was partly to blame for the postponement, and
that another reason was government's decision to offer the free
services of public servants without consulting them first.
Chairman of the Democratic Party's federal council, Douglas
Gibson, who earlier this week said his party might go to court if
the registration was not delayed, said the DP welcomed the
postponement.
"There is no shame in admitting an inability to provide an
efficient registration service rather than submitting millions of
voters to a flawed process," he said.
The United Democratic Movement said the postponement showed
government's inability to deal with issues proactively, and that
the announcement should have been made at least a month ago.
The Conservative Party said clumsiness and inefficiency were
behind the postponement, and the whole registration process should
be put on hold.
The African National Congress said it accepted the reasons for
the decision.
"While the decision to postpone voter registration in the four
provinces may affect our plans, it will not affect our
determination to work even harder to encourage all our members,
supporters and all South African citizens to register," the party
said.
The IEC said on Tuesday it would run a national awareness
campaign on how to register on Wednesday and Thursday.
This would include door-to-door distribution of pamphlets on
where to register, and a national television, radio and newspaper
campaign.
@ UDM-TRADE
JOHANNESBURG November 24 1998 Sapa
MEYER SAYS TRADE DEFICIT CAUSE FOR GRAVE CONCERN
United Democratic Movement deputy president Roelf Meyer on
Tuesday said South Africa's balance of trade figures - announced
on Monday - was cause for "grave concern".
"The cumulative deficit of R622,5 million for the first 10
months of 1998, compaired to the cumulative surplus of R3,8 million
for the corresponding period last year is frightening," Meyer said
in a statement.
"Under the ANC government, South Africa is experiencing a
decline in incomes per capita, stagnating exports, declines in
factory production, surges in capital outflows, declines in fixed
investments in new projects, plummeting car sales and job losses on
a major scale."
Meyer said his party believed the African National Congress
government should start addressing the underlying problems facing
the economy.
"The UDM believes that economic growth and job creation must be
boosted through an aggressive policy of enterprise development,
giving entrepreneurs in underprivileged communities access to
capital."
@ ELECTION-KWANATAL
DURBAN November 24 1998 Sapa
KWAZULU-NATAL TO HAVE 3013 REGISTRATION CENTRES: IEC
KwaZulu-Natal will have 3013 centres throughout the province
where voters can register for next year's general election, the
Independent Electoral Commission said on Tuesday.
The IEC said preparations for voter registration from December
3 to 5 were on track and each centre was expected to register
between 1200 and 3500 voters.
KwaZulu-Natal is one of four provinces affected by the IEC's
announcement that the registration process had been delayed in four
of the nine provinces.
At a news conference in Durban the IEC said its only concern
was recruiting enough staff to assist in voter registration. By
Tuesday, 4453 people had come forward to assist and the IEC said it
was confident it would recruit the remaining 11000 needed by
Thursday.
The other factor which had the potential of slowing down the
process in KwaZulu-Natal was getting the needed equipment to the
province's rural areas.
However, the IEC was confident this would be done, because of
the delay in the registration process.
"All personnel for registration will be recruited, trained and
deployed by Friday, 27 November 1998," the IEC said.
It said all registration centres would have the equipment
needed by Wednesday. Most major and local newspapers would be
publishing lists of registration cenres over the next few days.
In addition, local advertising of voting stations at community
centres, police stations, post offices, supermarkets, taxi ranks,
train stations and other areas of public congregation would take
place.
@ LABOUR-AGRIC
PRETORIA November 24 1998 Sapa
SAAU WILL HELP LABOUR INSPECTORS TO GET ACCESS TO FARMS:
MINISTER
The SA Agricultural Union on Tuesday undertook to help labour
officials gain access to farms to inspect the working conditions of
farm labourers, Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana said.
"We agreed on ways to address that problem," he told reporters
after meeting an SAAU delegation in Pretoria.
The SAAU assured him that it would identify individuals and
regions where labour inspectors were being barred from farm
properties.
"At farms where inspectors are unable to enter the SAAU can be
approached, and they will make sure that the inspectors get
access," Mdladlana said.
"The fact that they also asked me to visit some of the farms is
a clear indication that they are prepared to open up some of those
farms."
Mdladlana called on farmers not linked to the SAAU to do the
same, saying: "What is there to hide if they don't want to open
their farms."
The Labour Department would continue attempts to convince such
individuals to co-operate, but there might eventually no other
option but to prosecute them. Refusing a labour inspector access
was a violation of the law.
Mdladlana said he feared that farmers fencing themselves in
against criminals attacks might lead to a situation of some farms
becoming no-go areas.
"We will continue to engage them and to convince them. They
have no other country."
While some farm workers were being treated well, others were
still being abused. Some farms workers were living in appalling
conditions, and were still being paid with a bottle of wine a day.
"There are farms that are horrible," Mdladlana said.
He said his own visits to farms would start in January or
February. Farms presenting an obstacle to labour inspectors would
also be on the list.
Another point of agreement between Mdladlana and the SAAU was
the unacceptability of child labour. SAAU officials complained that
many accusations against the union in this regard were unfounded,
Mdladlana said.
He said a topic that required more discussion related to farm
labour unions, adding that he intended bringing the SAAU and the SA
Agricultural Plantation Allied Workers' Union together for talks.
@ MOZAMBIQUE-OIL
MAPUTO November 24 1998 Sapa-AFP
IRAN, MALAYSIA, ZIMBABWE TO BUILD OIL REFINERY IN MOZAMBIQUE
Iran, Malaysia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique are planning to
construct a multi-million dollar oil refinery plant in Mozambique,
an Iranian official has announced.
Mohamad Ajam said a feasibility study would begin early next
year.
"Everything is set for the study, which follows a
pre-feasibility one carried out last year by Iranian oil experts,"
Ajam said.
Ajam said construction costs were estimated at 1.2 billion
dollars and that the plant would have a production capacity of
100,000 barrels a day (bpd).
With Mozambique's daily consumption standing at between 11,000
and 15,000 bpd, the rest of the oil will be exported to
neighbouring countries.
The site will be decided after the feasibility study.
@ ELECTION-SKWEYIYA
JOHANNESBURG November 24 1998 Sapa
PUBLIC SERVICE UNIONS AGREE TO SUPPORT REGISTRATION DRIVE
Unions representing public servants on Tuesday agreed to
support the mobilisation of their members to assist the Independent
Electoral Commission with the registration of voters this weekend.
At a meeting on Tuesday afternoon with Public Service and
Administration Minsiter Zola Skweyiya, leaders of public service
trade unions and employee organisations agreed to mobilise their
members to volunteer to help the IEC in preparing for next year's
elections.
"In the light of the positive response by public service trade
unions and employee organisations, I am convinced that government
will be able to supply the Independent Electoral Commission with
the required numbers of personnel to adequately conduct the
registration process," Skweyiya said in a statement.
The government will compensate public servants for all
travelling costs incurred if they are deployed for registration
outside of the localities where they are based.
In addition, the Ministry for the Public Service and
Administration will issue fresh guidelines for dealing with
assigning compensatory time off for days worked in registering
voters for the elections, Skweyiya said.
@ ELECTION-SASH
CAPE TOWN November 24 1998 Sapa
MONEYLENDERS MUST RELEASE IDS: SASH
Money lenders should be instructed to release the thousands of
identity documents in their possession so people could register for
next year's general elections, the Black Sash said on Tuesday.
The police should be called in if the documents, a prerequisite
for registration, were not surrendered.
The Sash said it was practice for informal moneylenders to ask
for identity documents as "security", and give applicant a
photocopy of the document.
It had been estimated that there were 30500 formal
micro-lending institutions and at least 25000 informal
micro-lenders in South Africa.
It had also been estimated that the average micro-lender
received between 200 and 300 applications every month.
"This should give some idea of the potential voters who may not
be able to register for elections due to the business practices of
some moneylenders", the Sash said.
It called on the Independent Electoral Commission, the
department of home affairs, and the safety and security ministry to
issue directives "on the witholding of identity documents from
citizens".
"Unless some form of strong action is take, the right to vote
for many of our citizens may be in jeopardy", the statement said.
Registration begins in the Northern Cape, North West, Gauteng,
Northern Province and Mpumalanga on Friday.
@ CONCOURT-SARFU
JOHANNESBURG November 24 1998 Sapa
JUDGMENT IN SARFU CONCOURT APPLICATION RESERVED
A full panel of Constitutional Court judges on Tuesday reserved
judgment on an application by President Nelson Mandela's legal
counsel to appeal his case against the SA Rugby Football Union
directly to the court.
The application resulted from a judgment by a Pretoria High
Court judge in April this year that Mandela acted
unconstitutionally when he approved the appointment of the Browde
commission of inquiry into Sarfu's affairs.
Judge William de Villiers, in a controversial judgment in
April, found in favour of Sarfu and set aside the commission's
appointment.
He found that Mandela abdicated his responsibility to appoint a
commission to Sport Minister Steve Tshwete, who effectively took
the decision.
De Villiers also questioned Mandela's credibility and
criticised his demeanor in the witness stand. Mandela was the first
South African leader to go to court to testify in a case against
him.
Wim Trengove, who is acting on behalf of Mandela, Tshwete and
the director-general of sport, Mthobi Tyamzashe, argued the order
by De Villiers was constitutionally invalid and this gave the
applicants the right to directly appeal to the Constitutional
Court.
Trengrove said the fact that the High Court order found Mandela
acted unconstitutionally automatically gave the matter a
constitutional substance.
The argument by the respondents - Sarfu and its former chief
Dr Louis Luyt - that the case failed because it did not raise a
constitutional issue of substance, was therefore not valid.
Trengove further said if the court was found to have been
biased in its April judgement, it violated the right to a fair
trial which was in itself a constitutional matter.
He argued that the applicants had a constitutional right to a
shortcut to get the matter settled as soon as possible. According
to him the case might take years to conclude before the Supreme
Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein.
"It is undesirable that a limping order of constitutional
invalidity.....should continue longer than absolutely necessary,
whatever its basis.
"The need to bring expeditious finality to such an order is
always present," Trengove said in his notice of appeal.
He argued that in terms of section 167(4)(e) of the
Constitution only the Constitutional Court may decide whether the
Parliament or the president failed to fulfil a constitutional
obligation.
"No other court has the power to make such a decision. It falls
within this court's complete, exclusive jurisdiction," Trengove
said.
Trengove said if the court found only the main order - the
setting aside of the commission's appointment - fell within its
jurisdiction, the applicants would not pursue their appeal against
the interim orders which were also made.
He denied the applicants did not fulfil the requirements for
the appeal because they only lodged their appeal in September this
year, five months after the order was made.
Trengove said the notice of appeal was late because it was
impossible to comply with the rules of appeal when reasons for the
order by De Villiers were only made known in August.
De Villiers in April took less than a minute to set aside the
appointment of the Browde Commission. His 1159-page judgment
containing the reasons for his decision was only released on August
12.
Advocate Mike Maritz, for Luyt, argued the case involved
predominantly factual issues and not constitutional matters.
In this regard the Supreme Court of Appeals in Bloemfontein was
better equipped to deal with the case. The total volume of the case
record ran into more than 3000 pages.
According to Martiz there was also no pressing urgency for the
appeal to be heard.
"The order setting the commission aside was granted on 16
April. There is nothing in the order which precluded the President
from properly applying his mind to the correct facts and to again
appoint the same commission.
"Some seven months have since elapsed without this having been
done," Maritz said.
He added that if the case was first heard in the Supreme Court
of Appeals, the Constitutional Court would have the benefit of this
insight.
Maritz is acting for Sarfu, the Gauteng Lions Rugby Union,
Mpumalanga Rugby Union, and Luyt.
The panel of judges, under chairmanship of Judge President
Arthur Chaskalson, after enquiring how long it would take to
prepare for and argue the appeal, reserved their judgment until a
later date.
@ SEREMANE-DP
JOHANNESBURG November 24 1998 Sapa
SEREMANE GIVES ADDRESS AS NCOP MEMBER
Joe Seremane, who was dismissed as chief land claims
commissioner earlier this month, on Tuesday gave his first public
address as the Democratic Party's representative in the National
Council of Provinces.
Adressing a DP rally in Randburg, Seremane said the time had
come to destroy the myth that the Democratic Party was racist and
sought to perpetuate white privilege.
"The Democratic Party is the party for the future - a home for
all those who value democratic liberalism, fundamental human rights
and liberties, including the total rejection of racism," he said.
"We have a duty to deracialise South African politics to
deprive those who demonise strong opposition as being racist or
unpatriotic."
"Every individual must be bold to stand up to demagogues and
dictators-in-the-making. The tendency of stigmatising the DP's
strong opposition as a disease should be exposed for what it is,
namely mob mentality smacking of the "necklace chaotic era" of
yesteryear".
Seremane said the DP was not going to be intimidated by
accusations of having been part of the past regime.
"The truth is that the DP fought apartheid and injustice
bravely, thereby creating a breathing space and even hope for many
of the oppressed people."
Seremane takes over the NCOP seat occupied by former DP deputy
leader Willian Mnisi, who recently defected to the National Party.
@ UN-ANGOLA
UNITED NATIONS November 24 1998 Sapa-AFP
US CHIEF RECOMMENDS EXTENDING ANGOLA MISSION FOR THREE MONTHS
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan recommended Tuesday that the
mandate of the UN peacekeepers (MONUA) in Angola be extended by
only three months because of the deadlocked peace process.
In a very pessimistic report to the 15-member UN Security
Council, Annan says that since the beginning of October "the
overall political, military and security situation in the country
has further deteriorated."
"As a result MONUA is, in fact, unable to carry out most of its
mandated tasks and the prospects for reactivating the peace process
look bleak," Annan wrote.
Some 1,000 UN blue helmets stationed in the country are
supposed to ensure that both sides respect the Lusaka peace accords
signed in 1994 by the government and UNITA, the rebel movement led
by Jonas Savimbi.
These agreements were intended to bring peace to a country
embroiled in civil war since its independence from Portugal in
1975.
"Despite the absence of any progress towards the implementation
of the Lusaka Protocol and the relevant Security Council
resolutions, the international community should remain engaged in
order to dissuade the parties, as far as possible, from a return to
war," Annan said in the report.
He proposed "that the mandate of MONUA be extended for another
short period of up to three months, on the understanding that if
the security situation were to become untenable," the peacekeepers
could be withdrawn.
In mid-October, the Security Council extended the peacekeepers'
mandate by six weeks after Annan said he wanted to give his special
representative in Angola, Issa Diallo, an "additional opportunity
to revive the stalled peace process."
The process has been threatened by fighting in northern Angola
between the rebel movement and the Luanda government.
@ TRADE-US
CAPE TOWN November 24 1998 Sapa
US CONCERNED OVER SA'S MEDICINES ACT
Intellectual property rights protection, especially in the area
of pharmaceuticals, remained one of the greatest areas of concern
when it came to trade between the United States and South Africa,
US Deputy Secretary of Commerce Robert Mallet said on Tuesday.
Speaking from Washington during a satellite-linked press
conference with Cape Town and three other African cities, he said
Health Minister Dr Nkosazana Zuma and Trade and Industry Minister
Alec Erwin were "engaged" in dealing with this question.
Mallet was referring to South Africa's Medicines and Related
Substances Control Amendment Act, which paves the way for the
parallel importation of cheap generic medicines - a move which
pharmaceutical companies say violates an international agreement on
patent rights. The South African government has rejected this
claim.
"(Zuma and Erwin have been) trying to assure us that South
Africa does indeed believe in intellectual property protection, and
that they will indeed ensure that any interpretation of the
medicines act will be consistent with international agreements with
respect to that protection," Mallet said.
"We will certainly be monitoring that and paying very close
attention to it; in the end I think it will be resolved."
Mallet said it continued to be an issue for the pharmaceutical
industry within the US, especially the fact that it could effect
their patents in South Africa.
"Whether or not those claims will be... consistent with the
view South Africa has, I don't know.
"Pharmaceutical manufacturers have filed suit against South
Africa and that... will have to run its course."
He said that the US and South Africa had a "very positive trade
relationship".
"We continue to have issues which flare up from time to time...
but we have mechanisms to resolve these.
"South Africa has been a wonderful trading partner, they have
been a worthy competitor with the United States, and I am excited
about the potential for that relationship," Mallet said.
The hour-long televised conference - also linked to the
Nigerian cities of Lagos and Abuja, and the Kenyan capital Nairobi
- was held in advance of US Secretary of Commerce William Daley's
forthcoming trade mission to South Africa.
Daley is scheduled to be in Cape Town from November 30 to
December 2, and will participate in the Southern African Trade and
Investment Summit.
@ TRUTH-COMMANDER
JOHANNESBURG November 24 1998 Sapa
MK SOLDIER TELLS OF BATTLES ON THE EAST RAND
There was a pattern of telephones being disconnected and power
failing whenever Thokoza residents were attacked by hostel
dwellers, a Self Defence Unit commander who masterminded attacks on
the Inkatha Freedom Party told the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission's amnesty committee on Tuesday.
Former Umkhonto we Sizwe guerrilla, Chechela Machitje, 37, told
the hearing near Thokoza on the East Rand that he personally
participated in attacking IFP members at the Thokoza stadium after
the IFP, assisted by the SA Defence Force's 32 Battalion, popularly
known as Koevoet, had attacked Thokoza residents for two days in
September 1990.
"I spent three magazines from my AK47 that day. I am quite sure
that people died during the attack but I do not know how many. The
IFP were planning to launch an attack on Phola Park but we stopped
them at the Thokoza stadium," he said.
Machitje is one of 135 former SDU members who are applying for
amnesty for their part in the violence that ravaged the East Rand
township in the early 1990s.
Machitje, currently a member of the South African Secret
Service, said he had just been released from jail in September 1990
when he realised that the violence against his community was
conducted by professional attackers.
"As a former MK soldier, I found myself in a situation where my
community was being attacked and I could not help them. The late
comrade Jackie Matjego came to me and gave me an AK47," he said.
Machitje said the late MK chief-of-staff Chris Hani asked him
to identify potential SDU members and train them how to handle
weapons.
Machitje said as an SDU commander he also ordered an attack on
an IFP funeral that was passing through the notorious Khumalo
street to the cemetery in 1992.
"I moved from section to section and told SDU members that
there was to be a funeral of an IFP member and they had to attack
it," he said.
Machitje, who said he is still suffering from post-traumatic
stress as a result of the violence, told the TRC he was sorry.
"I am not apologising for IFP people who died. I am sorry for
the war that was unleashed on the community that led to so many
people dying," he said.
@ ELECTION-FREESTATE
BLOEMFONTEIN November 24 1998 Sapa
CASABURRI PLEASED WITH RESPONSE TO CALL FOR VOTER VOLUNTEERS
Free State premier Ivy Matsepe Casaburri on Tuesday commended
the province's public servants for their positive response
following her appeal this week for volunteer election registration
officials.
In a statement Casaburri acknowledged those who had offered
their services, especially those who responded to a call from her
office on Monday night and to an appeal she made on Radio Lasedi on
Tuesday morning, "adding their names to the long list".
"The nation appreciates your commitment to serve as officials,"
she said.
A number of provinces have reported a poor response from public
servants, who will not be paid for the extra duty.
President Nelson Mandela announced on Tuesday that voter
registration would be postponed by a week in the Western Cape, the
Free State, the Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal, but would go ahead
as scheduled in the other five provinces from this Friday to
Sunday.
At a meeting between the Free State government and the
Independent Electoral Commission on Tuesday it was decided training
programmes for voter registration supervisors and officials would
begin on November 27.
The statement said the programme of training was agreed upon in
light of the postponement.
The registration of voters in the Free State is now expected to
take place from December 3 to December 5.
@ LAND-STATE
JOHANNESBURG November 24 1998 Sapa
133000 UNREGISTERED GOVT PROPERTIES RECOVERED: PUBLIC WORKS
The Department of Public Works said it had discovered 133000
unregistered government properties believed to be worth millions of
rand, SABC television news reported on Tuesday.
A team set up by the department has spent two years
investigating and inspecting properties countrywide. It is believed
that many properties remain hidden.
Department employee Gugu Mazibuko said once the team had
identified possible buildings, the properties were inspected to
verify the buildings were state owned and to determine if there
were other buildings on the property belonging to the state.
Director-general of the department, Sipho Shezi, said recovered
properties were believed to be worth millions of rands.
The property ranged from "vacant pieces of land located in
strategic parts of the country, including your rural areas, to
various forms of assets like houses, army bases, hospitals,
restaurants and hangars".
Shezi said because properties were not known to the state,
people were avoiding paying tax or levies and government was
loosing millions in revenue.
He said properties had yet to be found and the department would
make use of the National Intelligence Agency to locate properties
locally and abroad.
@ ARRIVAL OF THABO MBEKI IN SWEDEN
Issued by: Office of the Deputy President
Deputy President Thabo Mbeki arrived in Sweden on Tuesday 24
November after completion of his visit to the Russian Federation.
The Deputy President is accompanied on this leg of his visit by his
wife Zanele, Deputy Ministers Essop and Aziz Pahad and
Director-General Frank Chikane.
The Deputy President's programme includes a wreath-laying
ceremony at Olof Palme (late former Swedish Prime Minister's)
graveside; meeting with His Majesty King Carl Gustaf and Queen
Sylvia; an audience with Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson;
Speaker of Swedish parliament Birgitta Dahl; Foreign Minister Mrs.
Lena Hjelm-Wallen and members of the Foreign Affairs Standing
Committee.
The Deputy President will then proceed to France on Thursday 26
November where he will attend a Conference on African security.
For more info contact Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853
Communication Division
Office of Deputy President
P/Bag X 955
Pretoria
0001
@ SWEDEN-MBEKI
STOCKHOLM November 24 1998 Sapa
MBEKI ARRIVES IN SWEDEN
Deputy President Thabo Mbeki arrived in Sweden on Tuesday after
completion of his visit to the Russian Federation.
The Deputy President is accompanied on this leg of his visit by
his wife Zanele, Deputy Ministers Essop and Aziz Pahad and
director-general Frank Chikane.
Mbeki's programme includes a wreath-laying ceremony at the late
Swedish prime minister Olaf Palme's graveside and meeting with King
Carl Gustaf and Queen Sylvia. He will also meet Prime Minister
Goran Persson, Speaker of Swedish Parliament Birgitta Dahl; Foreign
Minister Lena Hjelm-Wallen and members of the Foreign Affairs
Standing Committee.
The Deputy President will then proceed to France on Thursday,
where he will attend a conference on African security.
@ RWANDA-DRUGS
GENEVA Nov 25 Sapa-AFP
RWANDAN REBELS TURN TO DRUG TRAFFICKING TO BUY ARMS, SAYS UN
Rwandan Hutu rebels have turned to drug trafficking in order to
finance their military operations in the Great Lakes region of
Africa, according to a UN report issued here.
It said ex-soldiers of the Hutu nationalist regime ousted in
1994 after one of the worst genocides in Rwanda's history, were
trafficking in drugs between India, South Africa and Europe.
Drugs from Latin America were also being smuggled into Southern
Africa via the same network, said the report published Tuesday by
an international fact-finding commission headed by Egyptian UN
Ambassador Mahmoud Kassem.
"Mandrax destined for South Africa is smuggled from India into
Kenya and the United Republic of Tanzania, mainly through Mombasa
and Dar es Salaam. Most of the drugs are then shipped to Europe.
"Narcotics are also said to come from Latin America to Southern
Africa," the report said.
UN investigators said many ex-soldiers of the former Armed
Forces of wanda (FAR) and the extremist Hutu Interahamwe militia
had returned this year and last year to Rwanda to fight the present
Tutsi-led regime.
They were believed to number between 10,000 and 15,000 in
August, the report said.
Other had fought on one or other side in last year's civil war
in Congo where they had taken refuge. Rwandan Hutus had also
crossed from Congo into the former Zaire, now the Democratic
Republic of Congo to enroll under the banner of President Laurent
Kabila who is fighting a Tutsi-led rebellion.
The UN commission said these members of the ex-FAR and the
Interahamwe, now made up a significant portion of the military
alliance helping Kabila crush a rebellion he claims was organised
by Rwanda and Uganda.
The Interahamwe have been blamed for much of the bloodshed in
the 1994 genocide in which at least half a million Tutsis and
moderate Hutus are estimated to have been massacred.
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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 26 NOVEMBER 1998
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@ FEATURE-SAB
NAIROBI November 25 1998 Sapa-IPS
BEER WAR ERUPTS BETWEEN SA AND KENYA
The entry of South African Breweries (SAB) into Kenya, lodging
itself within the shooting range of the huge East African market,
has enraged Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL).
But for consumers, a beer is a beer.
The war, which erupted after SAB entered the East African
market last month, also brings into sharp focus the long perceived
high protective tariff wall erected by Pretoria, against its
trading partners.
While SAB has managed to enter the Nairobi market, KBL has
found Pretoria's attitude less sober and unbudging. KBL had wanted
to introduce Tusker beer, its flagship brew, into South Africa but
were unable to do so after Pretoria registered in the country a
brand that features Tusker's logo.
A top Ministry of Trade official, Francis Awuor, says Kenya has
formally protested to the South African Government over the issue,
and warns that Kenya might use the same tactics to keep South
African goods out of its market.
The famous Kenya 'Tusker' beer has been refused into the South
African market because of its trademark - an elephant brand -
which infringes on the trade-mark rights of another South African
beer 'Elephant'. The South Africans say they will go to court if
the brand hits their market.
KBL, which controls about 60 percent of the East African
market, accuses SAB of erecting a high tariff wall to lock Kenyan
beer out of the South African market, 98 percent of which is
controlled by SAB.
Anything goes in this war. The South African company accuses
their Kenyan counterparts of defacing their advertising billboards.
The multi-million shilling billboards (one costing 500,000
Kenya shillings) mounted along the city's main roads and on top of
buildings have been torn apart, sprayed with paint and others have
simply been knocked down.
"I have never seen anything like this in my 20 years in the
beer industry, even in Zambia where competition is fierce," says
Castle Kenya (SAB) Ltd managing director, Roger Smith. Smith claims
his company has spent more than 150 million shillings (one US
dollar is equal to 60 Kenya shillings) in advertising. He terms
such vandalism as underhand corporate marketing wars that could
undermine competition and fairness in a free market environment.
Kenya Breweries has formally petitioned the Kenya Government
and the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) over the move by
the South Africans to keep them off their market.
"While in Kenya we have liberalised the economy which has made
it possible for the South Africans to invest in Kenya, South Africa
has not reciprocated. Is this not double standards and
anti-competitive activity?" asks KBL marketing manager, Michael
Karanja whose company wants to retain the Kenyan market with an
annual turnover of 25 billion Kenya shillings.
Both companies are placing expensive ads in both electronic and
print media on a daily basis. But price and product variation
appear to be the main weapons of choice for KBL, while SAB is using
its international experience and its financial muscle.
Within days of SAB unveiling Castle Milk Stout to compete with
the local KBL local Guinness brand, another new brand by KBL,
Pilsner Ice, targeting the urban youth hit the market. KBL has also
started canning its Tusker beer to match Castle.
A 0.5-litre bottle of Tusker costs 54 shillings, while Castle
sells for 52 shillings. These prices are expected to drop as the
competition intensifies. "Prices will no longer be determined by
the company's accountants, but by beer drinkers," says Smith.
The effects of the beer war have also been felt across the
borders where KBL controls 45 percent of the Uganda beer market.
Last year, KBL's exports earnings stood at 600 million shillings,
including 4,000 crates of beer delivered daily to Uganda. SAB has
also made inroads in the Ugandan market.
And, as the corporate war rages on, local beer consumers have
become the major beneficiaries.
"I can forsee good days ahead, there is now a wider choice,
beer quality has shot up and prices come down," says John Mwaura,
an engineer with Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC), the main
electricity power provider in the country.
"It does not matter whether they are foreigners or not, the
issue here is that Kenya has become a better place," he argues.
If anything, the arrival of the South African beer should be
welcome. There has not been any significant foreign investment in
the manufacturing sector for more than 15 years, until SAB came to
Kenya and set up their 45-million-US-dollar factory in Thika, in
the outskirts of Nairobi.
"Without no new investment there will be no employment
opportunities in the country. The majority of Kenyans view the
investment by SAB in Kenya positively," argues Japheth Oluya of the
Kenya Institute of Economic Management (KIEM).
He says Kenya has enjoyed an additional asset of 2.4 billion
shillings, the biggest in 15 years. "Additionally, it means that
within the next five years, Kenya's current account will be boosted
by 15 billion shillings from tax contribution of the brewery. This
figure is expected to soar as the brewery expands," he adds.
South Africa has been accused of its steep and uncompromising
trade barriers in regional trade as the East African region becomes
its increasingly significant market. While the Kenya Government
continues to pursue its liberalisation policy, the rapidly regional
trade scenario has a huge imbalance which tilts in favour of South
Africa.
South Africa exported goods worth 313 million US dollars to
Kenya, while the latter exported a paltry 18 US million dollars to
South Africa last year.
Oluya says the way forward is for the two giants to face
competition and not fear it. "An ugly war could scare away
investors and kill weaker entrants," he says.
@ REFLECTION AND INTROSPECTIONS OF OUTGOING DIRECTOR
Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS)
REFLECTIONS AND INTROSPECTIONS OF OUTGOING DIRECTOR:
HIV/AIDS & STDs - MS ROSE SMART
Pretoria - As I approach the end of my tenure as Director of
National AIDS Programme, it is appropriate to reflect on the past
two years and on the goals which I set for myself and for the
Programme.
In a media statement following my appointment in December 1996 I
described a visior for 1997 and it seems fitting to begin my
retrospection with a review of that visior. I saw the year ahead as
a year of unprecedented growth, expansion and acceleration, based on
participation and consultation and the building and strengthening of
partnerships. A year heralding a new human rights culture and
unequivocally exposing discrimination and abuse.
The reality has bee a mixture of significant and not so
significant successes as well as some failures. I choose to believe
the comments of friends, colleagues and critics who acknowledge what
we have achieved rather than the anonymous official who, in Andy
Duffy's article in the Mail & Guardian of July 1998,s stated that
the past two years have been incredibly bland Anonymous official,
let me describe for you the highlights of the past two years.
The National Review of South Africa's response to the AIDS
epidemic in mid 1997, must be counted as one of the most significant
highlights. It brought together representatives from across the
spectrum of AIDS organisations and in describing the strengths and
weaknesses of the response, provided an invaluable base-line for
future planning as well as a powerful advocacy platform.
The emergence of the Inter-departmental Committee with its
committed membership has resulted in strong, vibrant HIV/AIDS
programmes in many National Government Departments and is only
rivalled by the fledgling Civil Military Alliance which represents a
unique partnership to address AIDS in situations of extreme risk.
Another breakthrough which is worthy of congratulation is the
trade union initiative which has been embraced by all major unions.
The conviction and dedication with which the representatives who
have completed our training have taken on this significant
additional responsibility is worthy of the highest praise.
The traditional healer consultants performed miracles with
their counterparts from all major organisations and in all
provinces. Their partnership with the National AIDS Programme, and
their position as a crucial component of the continuum of care, must
now be consolidated and expanded.
Our programmes for groups at increased risk have been focussed
and, I believe relevant. I inherited a strong STD programme which
more recently has embarked on addressing STD management in the
private sector. The life skills programme in secondary schools is
finally reaching maturity, despite a sometimes stormy adolescence.
Projects with which the National Office is privileged to be
associated include the Lesedi Project in the Free State which
provides vital services to women at high risk ant the South Coast
Hospice Outreach Project in KwaZulu-Natal which cares for infected
and affected clients in their communities.
The fact that people both within and outside of the AIDS
Programme speak of beyond awareness and know about the AIDS Help
Line are tributes to the "Beyond Awareness II" campaign. Under the
able guidance of the National Communication Forum. "Beyond Awareness
II" is already well underway.
Traditionally the National AIDS Programme has had huge
responsibilities in respect of NGO funding and condom procurement.
It is with a real sense of pride that we can speak of the systems
which have been developed and refined, systems which provided for
accountability and optimal resource utilisation.
Internally, the past two years have seen the restructuring of
the Directorate, with the Sub-directorates assuming management of
their respective portfolios. Externally, the stronger relationships
which were born during the Review have with only one of two
exceptions, flourished. This has resulted in broader ownership of
the Programme, evidenced, for example, by such events as noisy ATIC
training workshops on the 17th floor of Hallmark Building.
Let us not forget that, at the heart of all our work are people
who confront this epidemic from a very personal perspective. The
FACE, who taught us so much, and who, each in their own way, left a
legacy which will survive long after all our other achievements have
been forgotten. In a small way, we were also able to support the
establishment of the Women Alive National Network, a critical mass
of courageous women who, against all odds and often at substantial
risk to themselves and their families, turned their individual
silences into a chorus of conviction.
I am cognisant of the difficult gap which must be reached
between policy and implementation. The care policies which are
currently being finalised have to be give effect if they are to
translate into improvements in the quality of life of and care for
people with symptomatic HIV disease. It is possible - The success of
the HIV/TB initiative is apparent in the now-frequent reference to
the two in policies, planning and projects.
Yes, there have been failures, particularly if judged against
original goals. The lay counsellor project had as its goal the
appointment of 270 persons for two years, 30 in each province. This
did not materialise in most instance and there is little evidence
that counselling is more accessible than it was two years ago. There
is however evidence that significant strides have been made in
establishing counselling as a valuable intervention with the setting
of minimum standards for training and mentoring.
The guilt hanging on the wall at the Ethembeni Children's Home
marking the all too short lives of the many babies who have died of
AIDS is a powerful reminder that reducing mother to child
transmission must remain on the Departments agenda.
And what of the new Government AIDS Action Plan, with its
ambitious public awareness campaign? It was a recommendation from
the Review, which within a few short months has almost eclipsed our
other activities. So, whilst I share the concerns expressed about
how to sustain that valuable momentum which has been generated, this
must be marked as a genuine " turning point" in our response. If I
could have one wish it would be that twelve months from now, we
could look back on the Partnership Against AIDS and celebrate its
coming of age.
In conclusion, I humbly record my deepest appreciation to the
staff who have unfailingly risen to every occasion. I constantly
marvel at their tenacity and dedication. We share more laughs than
tears. We did our best. Salani Kahle - you will forever people my
memories of the past two years. To my successor, I wish you wisdom,
strength and perseverance - good luck.
@ MANDELA-UKRAINE
CAPE TOWN November 25 1998 Sapa
MANDELA RECEIVES UKRAINIAN ORDER
President Nelson Mandela on Wednesday received the Ukraine's
highest decoration, the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise.
The order was presented to him by Ukrainian Foreign Minister
Borys Tarasyuk in a ceremony at the president's Cape Town
residence, Genadendal.
Tarasyuk said the decoration, named after an 11th century
Russian statesman, was in recognition of Mandela's role in the
struggle against apartheid and in building democracy in South
Africa.
He also said Mandela had made a considerable personal
contribution to deepening dialogue between South Africa and the
Ukraine.
Mandela said the award was a recognition of South Africa's
achievement in bringing about a peaceful transformation that
everyone thought was impossible.
@ FEATURE-AIDSAFRICA
LONDON November 25 1998 Sapa-IPS
AIDS CRISIS THREATENS DEVELOPMENT GAINS IN PARTS OF AFRICA
The AIDS epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa is wiping out
significant development gains built up over the last few decades in
countries worst affected by the disease - and it will do more
damage if countries do not act swiftly.
According to a new report launched here Tuesday, the nine
worst- affected countries are Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique,
Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Africa is home
to 22.5 million people living with the HIV virus, which causes
AIDS.
"It is not a coincidence that the poorest continent is also the
worst affected and without special efforts we won't be able to stop
one of the biggest obstacles to economic development," said Peter
Piot, Executive Director of the United Nations' AIDS agency
(UNAIDS).
The report, 'AIDS Epidemic Update: December 1998', says that
life expectancy at birth - a key measure of human development -
is being slashed in the worst-affected countries.
In Botswana, where more than 25 percent of adults are infected,
children who are born early next decade will have a statistical
life expectancy of just over 40 years. Without the AIDS crisis that
life span would be extended to 70 years.
As a result, Botswana has dropped 26 places down the Human
Development Index, a ranking of countries that takes into account
wealth, literacy and life expectancy.
And as a result of more adults dying, many children are finding
themselves without parents. The burden on surviving relatives can
prove to be too much - 45 percent of those caring for orphans are
grandparents, often with no income of their own.
"AIDS is a deadly serious public health threat," said David
Heymann, Executive Director of the Communicable Diseases Cluster at
the World Health Organisation. "But, as the epidemic continues to
spin out of control, countries face more than just a health crisis.
They face a growing threat to human development and to economic and
social stability."
In the worst-affected countries, the epidemic is decimating a
limited pool of skilled workers and managers.
In Zimbabwe some companies have reported that AIDS costs are
now absorbing as much as one-fifth of company earnings and firms in
Tanzania and Zambia estimate that AIDS illness and death cost them
more than their total profits for the year.
"The impact on development in general is becoming enormous. You
see households pushed into poverty, skyrocketing medical costs,
profits going down for businesses and if the international
community doesn't invest in HIV prevention today, it will have to
invest in food aid tomorrow," said Piot.
But Clare Short, Britain's chief minister for development
cooperation, points out that motivation in the West is low.
"There is a horrible sense of complacency in the West with
people thinking that here it is under control, whereas everywhere
else it is out of control," she said.
According to UNAIDS, some of the main factors driving the
epidemic are poverty, migration of people in search of work or as a
result of conflict and loneliness of men working far from their
families.
In South Africa, miners living hundreds of kilometres from
their families and working in dangerous conditions, are highly
susceptible to catching HIV. One mining town has an infection rate
of 22 percent - two-thirds higher than the national average.
War in Rwanda has changed the demographic shape of the
epidemic. HIV prevalence in people who spent the conflict years in
refugee camps was 8.5 percent. But most of these were people who
had fled from rural areas which, before the war, only had a
prevalence of 1.3 percent.
Another overriding factor pushing the epidemic, says UNAIDS, is
the stigma attached to the disease, making people reluctant to
admit they are infected and change their sexual behaviour
accordingly.
UNAIDS is calling for both commitment from political, cultural
and religious leaders to tackle the disease. But, it says,
governments cannot solve the problem alone. Commitment at the
community level is also vital.
"Countries must summon the political will to launch a
prevention campaign aimed at the most vulnerable - the poor, the
powerless and the voiceless," said Carol Bellamy, Executive
Director of UNICEF - the United Nations Children's Fund - which
runs a number of AIDS programmes amongst teenagers.
The bottom line, said Piot, is raising awareness of the
disease, promoting sex education and aids prevention programmes -
particularly among teenagers - and promoting the use and
availability of condoms.
In contrast to southern and eastern Africa, West Africa remains
less affected by the epidemic - in part, says UNAIDS, because of
early and sustained prevention efforts.
@ ZIM-DRCONGO
HARARE November 25 1998 Sapa-AFP
ZIMBABWE ANNOUNCES START OF EASTERN OFFENSIVE IN DR CONGO
Zimbabwe has announced the launching of a long-awaited eastern
offensive in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by allies of
embattled President Laurent Kabila.
A government statement received by AFP Wednesday said that
"allied air force planes" had inflicted heavy casualties and
extensive damage to enemy targets in the Lake Tanganyika area over
the weekend.
"The operation marks the beginning of the allied offensive
against the invading Rwandese and Ugandan troops who occupy the
eastern part of the DRC," the statement said. "Offensive operations
towards the northeast have now started."
Zimbabwe, along with Angola, Namibia and Chad, has deployed
troops in the DRC to back Kabila against Tutsi-led rebels supported
by Rwanda and Uganda.
The Zimbabwean statement, which gave no further details, was
apparently referring to recent military actions reported by
independent sources in the DRC capital Kinshasa.
They said that at the weekend Zimbabwean aircraft killed some
600 rebels when they sank six barges on Lake Tanganyika.
The barges were reportedly carrying rebels and military
equipment between Kalemie and Moba, a town some 140 kilometers (90
miles) further south on the lake shore.
The sources also said Zimbabwean warplanes destroyed a rebel
supply column south of the eastern city of Kalemie.
The planes bombed the supply column, which included some 1,500
head of cattle destined for Kalemie, 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles)
east of Kinshasa and the southernmost position held by the rebels.
But a local rebel commander, Jean-Pierre Ondekane, denied the
reports of the barges being sunk and said the supply column had
suffered only one casualty, a fighter who sustained injuries to the
foot and hip.
The Zimbabwean government statement said the offensive "is part
of the overall objective to rid the DRC of foreign troops illegally
occupying the country and thereby restoring the territorial
integrity of the DRC."
The rebels took up arms against Kabila in early August.
@ MANDELA SPEECH AT MERCEDES BENZ
Issued by: Office of The President
SPEECH BY PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA
AT MERCEDES BENZ INVESTMENT ANNOUNCEMENT
East London, 25 November 1998
Master of ceremonies;
Premier of the Eastern Cape;
Co-Chairman of Daimler Chrysler, Mr. Jurgen Schrempp;
Staff and management of Mercedes Benz South Africa;
I last visited this plant in 1990, while the country was still
celebrating the release of political prisoners and the unbanning of
political organisations fighting for freedom.
On that special day, the workers of this company made a
tremendous gesture towards us when they presented me with a new
Mercedes Benz they had built in their own time. That was convincing
evidence that in South Africa, there are many who are willing to
work together and make sacrifices to build our nation.
But it was also a sign that at Mercedes Benz, workers and
management had a common commitment to the democratic South Africa
that was yet to come. It was a day that I often remember with
fondness.
This is another special day. It has importance not only for this
company but for the future of the Eastern Cape. It is a celebration
of some of the growth and development that democracy has made
possible.
The foreign investment commitment announced a few minutes ago of
R1 billion to expand this manufacturing plant is most exciting. It
is confirmation from the international investors that this plant in
the Eastern Cape produces the quality work needed for success as a
competitive, international enterprise. The workers and management of
this company have done us all proud.
This investment also confirms the commitment of our German friends
to the reconstruction and development of our country. The decision,
and similar ones by some other leading German manufacturing
companies, demonstrates the underlying confidence of international
companies that have the capacity to make an my which is rich in
opportunity and guided by sound policies.
Insofar as there will be ebbs and flows in economic conditions,
domestic and international, it is to be expected that there will be
ebbs and flows in the outlook of companies. That much is reflected
perhaps in recent reports of some anxieties amongst German-owned
companies in South Africa, concerns we all share to varying degrees.
But it is the decisions that are based on long-term prospects
and on underlying trends that count. And so we are greatly
encouraged by the remarkable commitment of companies like Mercedes
Benz, to further investment and job-creation.
In this expansion at Mercedes Benz South Africa, each job that
is created will secure another three in related industries, bringing
growth to the region and jobs for an estimated 10 000 people,
ultimately affecting about 50 000 men, women and children.
Such investment decisions reflect the success of government's
efforts to create a climate that promotes growth and investment. In
the last four years an estimated R40 billion of Foreign Direct
Investment has entered our country, including now some R4 billion
invested by German companies, mainly in automobile and component
manufacturing.
Our fight against crime is also a contribution to creating this
climate for growth. Government has steadily made more resources
available for this purpose; improved co-ordination amongst the
various agencies involved; set up a detective academy to build
police capacity to track down criminals; and acted toe expose and
root out corruption in the police and the criminal justice system.
Although crime is still at an unacceptably high level, we have
turned the tide. With the support of alle sectors of the community
we are succeeding.
Indeed, we regard the private sector as an indispensable partner
in the reconstruction and development of South Africa whether it is
in fighting crime, working with government and labour to develop a
strategy for job-creation; or helping to reduce the backlog of
services. So much so that I am kept constantly busy opening schools
and clinics that our corporations have helped to build or upgrade.
Mercedes Benz, has played its part in this development. Your
contribution to capacity-building Presidential projects in Bisho,
you Siyakha housing project, and your investment in education and
other projects have set a shining example.
Mercedes Benz South Africa is also living testimony to the
strategic relationship that South Africa maintains with Germany. It
is a relationship we are eager to strengthen.
We must therefore extend a special welcome to Mr Jurgen
Schrempp, the Chairman of the Southern Africa Initiative of German
Business. By linking partners and promoting skills and technology
transfer, this initiative is doing much to promote trade and
investment between Southern Africa and Europe. In doing so, it is
making a critical contribution to growth and development and thereby
to the building of a better life for all.
The motor industry has a vital role to play in generating growth
that creates jobs; in boosting South Africa's industrial capacity
and the skill of her workers. This means that each one of you is
probably aware of the great responsibilities on your shoulders. We
are confident that you will all meet them with pride and act in the
best interests of South Africa's people; that you will continue
working together to build a better life for all South Africans.
I congratulate you all once more on the expansion of Mercedes
Benz South Africa.
I thank You!
@ SWAZI-BOMB
MBABANE November 25 1998 Sapa
SECOND SWAZI BOMB BLAST ON FRIDAY KEPT SECRET
A bomb exploded near an army barracks under construction in
Swaziland on Friday, hours before the blast at the Deputy Prime
Minister's office in the capital, Mbabane, the Swaziland police and
army said on Wednesday.
The two authorities said the first bomb exploded at Bethany,
near Matsapha, in a forest next to where a new army barracks was
being built. They would not say why the blast was kept secret until
now.
Residets thought the explosion was lightning, as an electrical
storm swept over the area that afternoon.
Two hours after the blast, another bomb exploded at the offices
of Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Khoza, killing one security guard
and injuring two others.
An unknown group calling itself The Tigers has claimed
responsibility for this bomb.
Two bomb threats were made to government departments on Monday,
causing hundreds of public servants to evacuate their offices while
police and bomb experts searched the buildings. No bombs were
found.
Bomb experts have been making daily inspections at the 15
government departments and offices of the prime minister and
cabinet since the blast.
Police and army intelligence officers were helping foreign bomb
experts identify the types of bombs used on Friday, and to find
those responsible.
@ ELECTION-NAPTOSA
PRETORIA November 25 1998 Sapa
UNION CALLS ON TEACHERS TO VOLUNTEER FOR VOTER REGISTRATION
The National Professional Teachers' Organisation on Wednesday
called on its members to make themselves available as voter
registration officials.
It said its appeal came after an undertaking by the Department
of Public Service and Administration that volunteers would be
reimbursed for travelling expenses and receive time off as
compensation for their services.
"We encourage teachers to make themselves available to join
teams directed by the various departments to assist with the
important task of registering South Africa's voters," Naptosa said
in a statement in Pretoria.
@ TRUTH-MAYFAIR
JOHANNESBURG November 25 1998 Sapa
VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE ABSENT AT JHB TRC HEARING
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission's amnesty committee on
Wednesday expressed concern that the victims of the early 1990s
violence in the East Rand were not at its hearings in Mayfair,
Johannesburg.
In terms of TRC legislation, victims were to be properly
notified to attend the hearings, so that they could either support
or oppose the amnesty applications.
The hearings on acts of violence by former members of self-
defence units, mainly in the East Rand area, continued for the
third day on Wednesday without the victims.
Most of them are apparently aligned to the Inkatha Freedom
Party, which has often said it had nothing to do with the TRC
process.
At the start of the Wednesday proceedings, commissioner Chris
de Jager raised concern about victims being absent.
IFP MP Abram Mzizi wrote a letter last Friday to the TRC,
complaining of insufficient notice of the hearing.
He said other victims might also not have been notified
sufficiently, and might not have been told of their right to oppose
the applications.
Mzizi's letter asked the TRC to postpone the hearing to a later
date, so that victims could attend.
@ SWISS-ANGOLA
BERN, Switzerland, November 25 1998 Sapa-AP
SWITZERLAND IMPOSES SANCTIONS ON UNITA
Switzerland on Wednesday ordered sanctions against the former
Angolan rebel movement UNITA, including the freezing of any assets
belonging to the organization's leaders and their relatives.
The sanctions, which come into force Thursday, forbid military
assistance and deliveries of arms, oil, vehicles or mining
equipment to UNITA. They bar diamond imports from Angola unless
certified by the country's government, the Swiss foreign ministry
said in a statement.
The United Nations mediated the so-called Lusaka Protocol
between Angola and UNITA in 1994 to end nearly two decades of civil
war, which erupted after the country's 1975 independence from
Portugal. About 500,000 people are thought to have died in the
fighting.
But the accord has been unraveling recently with reports of
skirmishes between the two sides and the government's refusal to
deal any longer with UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi.
The U.N. Security Council has imposed sanctions on UNITA - a
Portuguese acronym for the National Union for the Total
Independence of Angola - to try to force it to comply with the
accord.
The government and the United Nations have accused UNITA of
violating the peace accords by failing to relinquish control of its
four central highland strongholds and failing to disarm its troops.
Switzerland is imposing visa restrictions on UNITA leaders and
their adult relatives. The organization will also be barred from
opening and running offices in the country.
@ ELECTION-SANDF
PRETORIA November 25 1998 Sapa
THOUSANDS OF SOLDIERS TRAIN AS VOTER REGISTRATION OFFICIALS
Thousands of soldiers would complete their training as voter
registration officials by the end of Wednesday, the SA National
Defence Force said.
These soldiers would be deployed to the Northern Cape, Gauteng,
Northern Province and Mpumalanga, four of the five provinces where
voter registration was due to take place at the weekend, an SANDF
statement said.
No assistance had been requested from soldiers in the North
West.
SANDF chief General Siphiwe Nyanda announced on Tuesday that
8200 soldiers would be deployed as voter registration officials.
The SANDF said the Independent Electoral Commission trained 136
instructors on Tuesday. On Wednesday, these instructors in turn
helped train soldiers as registration officials.
A total of 1000 soldiers were trained in the Northern Cape,
2600 in Gauteng, 2480 in the Northern Province and 2000 in
Mpumalanga, the SANDF said.
Voter registration in the Western Cape, the Free State, Eastern
Cape and KwaZulu-Natal has been postponed by a week.
SANDF spokeswoman Lieutenant-Colonel Laverne Machine said
soldiers assisting as voter registration officials in these four
provinces had also completed their training.
The training of the soldiers forms part of the government's
offer last week to make 72000 civil servants available to assist
with voter registration. Using civil servants will save R220
million the IEC would have had to pay for registration staff.
Additional troops would be deployed to help the police
safeguard registration areas, the SANDF statement said.
@ HUMAN RIGHTS DAY CELEBRATIONS/EVENTS
Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS)
DRAFT CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR THE CELEBRATIONS FOR THE 10TH DECEMBER
1998: INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY, THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE LAUNCH OF THE NATIONAL
ACTION PLAN (NAP)
The National Action Plan for the Protection and Promotion of
Human Rights (NAP) is a plan which has been drafted where South
Africa gives meaning to its human rights commitments. The NAP
process was launched by President Mandela on the 10th December 1997
and we have now come full circle in the completion of the plan which
will be lodged with the United Nations in New York on the 10th
December 1998.
The NAP will also be launched in South Africa through numerous
events and activities. The theme for the day will be "All Human
Rights For All" with a focus on combatting racism. Other themes to
be addressed include children and youth, women, elderly and people
with disabilities, immigrants and refugees and HIV/AIDS.
The soccer game - 4 December, Orlando Stadium
The French are particularly committed to hosting celebrations
around the world in honour of the 50th anniversary of the Universal
Declarations as it was in Paris in 1948 that the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights was adopted.
As part of the French celebrations, on the 4th December, Sports
for Peace are hosting a soccer game between the French Black Stars
and the South African Legends. The Black stars are a veteran soccer
team who engage in various social programmes. The Legends are a team
of veterans who were unable to compete internationally during
apartheid. This historic game will be played on the evening of the
4th December at Orlando stadium.
The Human Rights Carnival
The NAP celebrations on the 10th December include a human rights
carnival. Floats depicting the various themes of the celebrations
will be designed and constructed in the weeks up to the 10th
December. The construction of the floats will involve participants
from diverse communities who will learn about their human rights in
a fun and creative way through the making of costumes and building
of floats.
Carnival is a highly sophisticated art form which provides the
means for multi-cultural expression, education, integration and
communication. It is through this art form that the NAP will give
expression to the human rights priorities facing South Africa today,
in particular, the rights of vulnerable groups.
The NAP carnival will take to the streets of Johannesburg on the
10th December 1998 at 9am from the Afrika Cultural Centre in
Newtown. The human rights carnival will weave a colourful spectacle
through the streets of Johannesburg.
The carnival will change the landscape of the city centre
activities into a day of celebration. It is promising to be the
highlight of the year in street activities and will hold the city
centre to a standstill for the duration of the event. Not to be
missed!
A series of carnival workshops will be held at the Afrika
Cultural Centre and various other venues until the 10th December.
Any person interested in making floats, costumes, banners and
puppets are welcome to participate. For more details please contact
Kamal El Alaoul at (011) 484-8300 or 082-253-6681 or Benjy Francis
at the Afrika Cultural Centre (011) 838-4541.
At the Fort
The Old Fort in Braamfontein will, in the near future, be
transformed into the Constitutional Court and human rights museum.
At this historic site, the large part of the celebrations will take
place. The Fort will be transformed for the day into an art and
awareness market of exhibits, stalls, interactive stages, speeches,
poets, musicians, food and a lot of fun.
Stalls
A festive atmosphere will be created through the numerous stall
that will be set up by organisations and government departments
working in the field of human rights. This will give
organisations/departments the opportunity of publicising their human
rights activities and informing people on how to access their
rights.
Activities for the day (see enclosed proposed programme of
events). The day of the 10th will be divided to observe numerous
themes of relevance to the South African human rights context. The
overarching theme will be that of combatting racism and addressing
this painful legacy of our history. The day will address the various
themes through speakers, poets, music, drama and other educational
and entertaining activities.
The programme will finish at about 7pm with entertainment and
performances by well known South African artists.
For more details contact Jenny Parsley at (011) 484-8300 or Russell
Ally at 082-457-2229
@ DRCONGO-FIGHTING
KINSHASA, November 25 1998 Sapa-AFP
DR CONGO ALLIED FORCES DESTROY REBEL PLANE, WARN OF LAND ATTACK
Allied forces backing DRC President Laurent Kabila destroyed a
rebel cargo plane carrying ammunition at Kalemie in the east of the
country, the defence ministry in Kinshasa stated Wednesday.
In a brief communique, the ministry said that the transport
aircraft was struck on the ground at the airport in Kalemie as
rebels were unloading the military supplies on Tuesday.
The ministry failed to say who carried out the raid, but the
Congolese Armed Forces (FAC) are backed notably by Zimbabwean
troops and warplanes in an offensive against rebel forward
positions in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Independent sources here were unable Wednesday to confirm the
defence ministry statement, but they have reported that, in recent
days, Zimbabwean combat planes have attacked the forward positions
of the Tutsi-led rebels around Kalemie, 1,600 kilometres (1,000
miles) from Kinshasa.
The town lies on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, in the far
north of the mineral-rich Katanga province, and is the southernmost
stronghold of rebels who have taken a broad swathe of eastern DRC
since their uprising began on August 2.
The airport raid was reported after rebel commander Jean-Pierre
Ondekane said by satellite telephone that Zimbabwean planes had
bombarded the Kalemie region on Tuesday, but added that "no
military target was hit".
Speaking from rebel-held Kisangani, the DRC's third city to the
north of the combat zone, Ondekane told AFP that the pilots were
"afraid, (they) drop their bombs from high altitude and do not have
precision targetting."
However, in Harare on Wednesday, the Zimbawean government
announced the launching of an offensive against the rebels in the
eastern DRC by Kabila's forces and their allies.
A statement from President Robert Mugabe's government said that
"allied air force planes" have inflicted heavy casualties and
extensive damage to enemy targets in the Lake Tanganyika area since
the weekend.
"The operation marks the beginning of the allied offensive
against the invading Rwandese and Ugandan troops who occupy the
eastern part of the DRC," the statement said.
Zimbabwe, like Kabila's government, has accused Uganda and
Rwanda of invading the DRC from the east. The Kinshasa regime has
played down the role of ethnic Tutsi rebels based in the east,
saying it will not negotiate with them, but talk only to the
Kampala and Kigali governments about withdrawing their forces of
"aggression".
"Offensive operations towards the northeast have now started,"
according to the Zimabwean government. Angola, Namibia and Chad
have also sent troops to support Kabila against his enemies in the
eastern DRC.
Claims and counterclaims have been made about the reported
sinking of six barges ferrying rebel sources southwards from
Kalemie to Moba on the shores of Lake Tanganyika on Saturday and
Sunday.
Independent sources in Kinshasa said that when the boats were
hit more than 600 rebel troops aboard lost their lives, as they
were on their way to Moba, 140 kilometres (85 miles) further south
from Kalemie.
Ondekane, however, denied any such casualties, saying they
would have amounted to "the loss of almost a division, which is
impossible". He added, for his part, that the rebels "have
destroyed two enemy warships".
On Monday, according to independent Kinshasa sources, allied
forces went on to destroy a rebel supply column south of Kalemie. A
source said that the planes destroyed everything.
For Ondekane, Zimbawean planes had attacked the Kalemie region,
but the only victim was a rebel soldier wounded in the foot and
hip.
Ondekane on Tuesday charged that Kabila was bringing
Interahamwe Hutu militiamen - the losers in Rwanda's civil war of
1994, held responsible for the genocide of more than half a million
people - across the lake from Tanzania and Kenya to fight for him.
@ TRAINS-SOPA
PRETORIA November 25 1998 Sapa
SOPA SAYS TRAIN CUTS WILL AFFECT POOR THE MOST
The poor would suffer most from Metrorail cutting the number of
passenger trains running in Pretoria, the Socialist Party of Azania
said on Wednesday.
"Trains are the... cheapest means of transport for the working
class, and to cut this service is just a case of overkill for the
poor," it said.
Sopa said the government's decision not to allocate sufficient
funds to Pretoria Metrorail to keep the trains running was in line
with the government's macro-economic policy.
"The allocation of less funds is the first step in the
government's gradual withdrawal from providing public transport and
moving towards privatisation," it said.
Pretoria Metrorail on Tuesday said it would cut the number of
trains running in the city by 97 a week because of budget
constraints.
It said it asked the government for R199 million for its
1998/1999 operating budget, but was given R183 million.
@ DRCONGO-EU-BELGIUM
BRUSSELS, Belgium, November 25 1998 Sapa-AP
ON BELGIUM VISIT, KABILA FACES CRITICISM OVER FIGHTING, HUMAN
RIGHT
Congolese President Laurent Kabila's first official visit to
Belgium attracted a flurry of criticism Wednesday over his refusal
to negotiate with rebels and alleged role in human rights
violations.
Kabila faced demands from the European Union that he negotiate
with the rebels waging a four-month insurgency.
"This allows me to ... encourage him to change his policy and
look for a political instead of a military solution, because there
is no military solution for Congo," said Aldo Ajello, the EU's
special envoy to central Africa.
Conceicao Van Dunem, the EU's spokeswoman on African affairs,
hinted EU aid could depend on solution to the conflict. "There is
no development without peace, and no peace without
reconciliation," she told reporters Tuesday.
Kabila has refused direct talks with the rebels, demanding
instead that Rwanda and Uganda end their support for the
insurgents. He rejected negotiations again Tuesday on the first leg
of his European tour in Rome.
"There are no rebels in our country," he told Associated
Press Television News. "There are puppets used by the invaders of
our country."
Human rights abuses under the late President Mobutu Sese Seko
led the EU to suspend all aid but emergency humanitarian supplies
in 1992, when the country was known as Zaire. Aid has not been
resumed.
European officials are anxious to resolve the Congolese
conflict fearing it could escalate into a wider regional war.
Already the fighting has dragged in troops from Namibia, Zimbabwe,
Chad and Angola to support Kabila while Rwanda and Uganda back the
rebels.
Kabila arrived late Tuesday for a three-day stay in Belgium
that includes meetings with Prime Minister Jean-Luc Dehaene, King
Albert II as well as the EU officials.
The visit is Kabila's first to Congo's former colonial ruler
since he toppled Mobutu to take power in 1997. His trip has sparked
protests from human rights organizations and alleged victims of
rights abuse.
Lawyers representing members of Congo's Tutsi minority and an
opposition political group have filed law suits against Kabila in
Belgian courts accusing him of inciting ethnic hatred against
Tutsis and other violations of international law.
But lawyers acknowledged that, as a serving head of state,
Kabila can claim diplomatic immunity.
On Monday, Amnesty International released a report on Congo
highlighting atrocities by government and opposition forces.
It cited widespread human rights abuses by the rebels including
killings, torture and rape, but said Kabila's forces also massacred
civilians suspected of sympathizing with the opposition.
Fearing protests from opposition supporters among Belgium's
12,000-strong Congolese community, the Congolese embassy in
Brussels has demanded enforced security during the visit. "We
don't want him to be thrown into danger," Charge d'Affaires Emile
Kanengele told RTL-TVI television.
On Thursday leaves Belgium for a summit of French-speaking
African nations in Paris.
@ DRCONGO-REBELS
KIGALI, Rwanda, November 25 1998 Sapa-AP
CONGOLESE REBELS ACKNOWLEDGE GOVERNMENT-ALLIED ATTACK
Congolese rebels on Wednesday acknowledged for the first time
that Zimbabwean warplanes bombed the eastern shore of Lake
Tanganyika in an apparent escalation of the government's
counteroffensive.
Congolese state radio said on Tuesday the government and its
allies had hit an aircraft in Kalemie, a port 500 kilometers (310
miles) south of the rebel stronghold at Goma.
The air raid followed a similar attack last week in which the
government claimed to have sunk six barges carrying 600 rebel
troops between Kalemie and Moba, the southernmost town under rebel
control. The rebels denied the report.
"There was bombing of Kalemie. But I don't know what the
target was," rebel leader Ernest Wamba dia Wamba said from the
northern city of Kisangani. "As far as I know, nothing happened
and there were no casualties."
"If they are using more precise aircraft, there is a ground
for us to be extra worried," Wamba said. "We are waiting for
them. We are not going let them overrun us."
In the past, rebel military commanders have dismissed the
threat of Zimbabwean air force, saying its planes were dropping
bombs from too high an attitude to hit precise targets. They said
the Zimbabweans were not flying low for fear of being hit by
surface-to-air missiles.
The rebels have no air strike capacity.
Analysts blame rainy season, muddy roads and low clouds for
hampering air attacks and a lull in fighting in Congo, where the
rebels have overtaken the eastern half of the country since Aug. 2.
They claim to be pushing toward the diamond city of Mbuji-Mayi,
copper-rich southern Katanga Province, and Equatoria in northern
Congo.
The rebels are backed in arms and weapons by neighboring Rwanda
and Uganda, who accuse President Laurent Kabila of failing to rid
the common border of the insurgents fighting their governments.
So far, the government - backed by troops, tanks and planes
from Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia and Chad - have had little success
in halting rebel advances.
Last week, Zimbabwe sent 1,500 military police to eastern
Congo, apparently to restore discipline and cut desertion among its
8,000 troops.
Also, Wamba dismissed as "imprecise" accusations by the
Amnesty International that the rebels were responsible for
killings, rape and disappearances of civilians in eastern Congo.
He said his Congolese Democratic Coalition had previously
admitted to killing several hundred people sheltering in a southern
church August, the most serious accusation brought by the human
rights group.
"We have nothing to hide. We recognize there was a massacre.
We are conducting an inquiry. We have not come up with a conclusion
yet," he said.
Amnesty accused Kabila's forces of a string of anti-Tutsi
killings in Katanga and the capital, Kinshasa.
@ FEATURE-ZIM-LAND
HARARE November 25 1998 Sapa
ZANU(PF) OFFICIAL ON RESETTLEMENT LAND ATTACKS SQUATTERS
Zimbabwe's land saga took an embarrassing turn for President
Robert Mugabe's government this week when peasant farmers were
driven off a government-owned farm meant for resettlement - by the
ruling party official who occupies it instead.
The state-controlled Herald newspaper reported that about 100
would-be squatters were attacked and some of them injured by
workers on a commercial farm in the Chegutu district about 100km
west of Harare when they tried to occupy it.
The newspaper said the farm, Buttercombe, had been bought by
the government from a white farmer in 1992 to resettle peasants
from neighbouring overcrowded tribal areas. Instead, it got leased
to Audrey Hativagone, who is a ruling ZANU(PF) party councillor on
the Harare city council. The Herald report did not explain how
Hativagone had been allowed to lease the land.
The incident, on Sunday, occurred days after the government
announced it was seizing, with immediate effect, 841 white-owned
farms all over the country to satisfy the "land hunger" of
thousands of peasants.
Officials of the Commercial Farmers' Union and Western donor
government officials say Mugabe's "revolutionary" land programme to
grab five million hectare of white-owned land makes little sense
against the background of serious abuse of the 3.5 million hectare
of white land bought for resettlement since independence in 1980.
They say that at least 450,000ha of that is abandoned and
derelict, or has been leased instead to senior party officials,
while large parts of farms that were resettled have been taken over
by party officials, civil servants and their relatives. "I came to
this farm when it was completely derelict," said Hativagone. "I had
to invest over Zimbabwe $20 million (R3 million) and now they want
to take everything from me."
A government minister said last week that she would "consider"
giving a written assurance to the white owners of the 841 farms,
which have just been seized, that they would be allowed to stay at
least until they had reaped the crop just planted for the summer
rains, and that they would be able to keep the money they earned
from the crop. The incident at Buttercombe occurred as a lengthy
confrontation between white farmers and thousands of squatters
mostly in eastern Zimbabwe appeared to be subsiding after weeks of
threats of violence and harassment by guerrilla war veterans.
Police refused to take action without specific court orders and
ordered farmers not to take any action. But at Buttercome farm,
farm labourers, some of them armed, attacked the squatters as soon
as they began to allocate themselves plots of land. Several of the
squatters were severely beaten, the Herald said.
"What do you do if a person enters your property without
permission?" Hativagone asked. "You naturally deal with him. These
people were trespassing on private property. My workers affected
citizens' arrests before we could call the police."
Said headman Mutero Masawi, one of the squatters' leaders: "We
were promised that we would move on to the farm after it was bought
by government. Since 1992 the government has leased the land to
four people, yet we have no land.
"We have exhausted all channels to get land, and we are now
going to settle here because the rainy season has started," he
said.
"This is private property," said Chief Inspector Peter
Machingura, head of the Chegutu police. "As law enforcement
officers we have a responsibility to protect private property."
@ MANDELA-ELECTION
CAPE TOWN November 25 1998 Sapa
MANDELA APPEALS FOR ECAPE ELECTION VOLUNTEERS
President Nelson Mandela on Wednesday appealed to people from
all walks of life in the Eastern Cape to volunteer as helpers in
next week's voter registration in the province.
Speaking in East London at the announcement of a R1 billion
investment in the city's Mercedes Benz factory, he said very few
civil servants in the Eastern Cape had responded to government's
call to volunteer for registration duty.
The Eastern Cape is one of four provinces where registration,
due to have taken place this coming Friday, Saturday and Sunday,
has been delayed to next weekend.
Mandela said the 1999 general election would be of great
importance to South Africa.
"I therefore extend an invitation to all members of civil
society in the Eastern Cape, of all walks of life, from all
political parties and persuasions, to come forward and volunteer to
render a service to the nation.
"I call on managers of big and small companies, on workers, on
doctors and lawyers, religious leaders, lecturers and teachers, on
students who are 18 years old and above who have passed matric."
Farmers, retired professionals, and business people too, should
contact town clerks in the areas where they lived and offer their
service.
Mandela said 12000 people were needed "by the end of the day on
Thursday".
"This is your opportunity to serve your nation," he said.
Mandela also said he would announce the election date "in due
course".
@ MEDIA STATEMENT ON HUMAN RIGHTS SYMPOSIUM
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
The Department of Foreign Affairs, in close cooperation with the
Department of Justice, will host an international symposium at Union
Buildings in Pretoria on 26 and 27 November 1998.
The symposium, entitled "Improving Technical Co-operation in the
Field of Human Rights" forms one of the core activities
commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights.
For historical reasons, South Africa, together with Germany and
Poland did not vote for the adoption of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights in 1948. The South African symposium has been preceded
by two international symposia, the first hosted by the Republic of
Poland in Warsaw in January 1997 and the second by the Federal
Republic of Germany in May 1998.
Following the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, the importance of ensuring that human rights are protected
under the rule of law has been widely emphasised by the United
Nations and has guided its activities for the promotion and
protection of human rights.
Bilateral and multilateral technical cooperation programmes are
aimed at providing assistance to States, at their request, in the
building and strengthening of national structures which have a
direct impact on the overall observance of human rights and
maintenance of the rule of law.
South Africa is one of the largest recipients of United Nations
technical cooperation in this field. This cooperation is provided in
terms of an agreement signed on 10 December 1997.
The Symposium will bring together various government
representatives, members of SADC, major international donors,
independent experts in the field of technical cooperation and human
rights, civil society as well as several prominent national
role-players in the field.
During the two days, the discussions and debate will be guided
by three panels. South Africa will chair the panel on "Technical
Co-operation in support of Human Rights: Co-ordination and
Co-operation between the different actors".
The outcome of the South African Symposium will be published in
the form of a report and presented to the plenary of the United
Nations General Assembly on 10 December 1998 in New York.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
PRETORIA
25 NOVEMBER 1998
@ DAIMLERCHRYSLER-INVEST
EAST LONDON November 25 1998 Sapa
DAIMLERCHRYSLER TO INVEST NEARLY R1-BILLION IN EAST LONDON
DaimlerChrysler is to invest nearly R1-billion in its Mercedes
Benz production facility in East London, the company announced on
Wednesday.
The investment is for the construction of a new paint shop and
the improvement of infrastructure at the plant.
DaimlerChrysler chief executive officer Jurgen Schrempp said
the investment was a clear signal that South Africa remained a
strategcally vital location for the company.
"This investment is a statement of our faith and our confidence
in our workers and the communities in which they live and in South
Africa."
Speaking in his capacity as chairman of the Southern Africa
Initiative of German Industry, Schrempp called on governments in
the southern Africa region to continue creating conditions that
would enable foreign companies to invest in the region.
Guest of honour President Nelson Mandela said the investment by
DaimlerChrysler confirmed the commitment of German companies to the
reconstruction and development of South Africa. He also said the
decision by the company to invest more money in South Africa
demonstrated the underlying confidence of international companies
in the local economy.
He said the expansion at Mercedes Benz South Africa would
create 10,000 new jobs in the region.
"Such investment decisions reflect the success of government's
efforts to create a climate that promotes growth and investment.
"In the last four years an estmated R40-billion of foreign
direct investment has entered our country including now some
R5-billion invested by German companies," he said.
Mandela said the fight against crime had contributed to
creating this climate for growth.
He was presented with a new Mercedes Benz S500 which replaced a
red 500SEL which the factory workers made especially for him in
their own time in 1990.
DaimlerChrysler produced more than 11000 Mercedes Bnez in the
East London plant last year.
In the 10 months to the end of October almost 8500 units had
been manufactured for the South Afican market and for export to
Australia.
@ ELECTION-SURVEY
JOHANNESBURG November 25 1998 Sapa
VOTERS STILL DON'T KNOW ABOUT WEEKEND REGISTRATION
Thirty-two of 50 adults in Gauteng did not know where voter
registration would take place over the weekend, a Wednesday street
survey by Sapa in Johannesburg revealed.
Of the 50 people interviewed, most had the necessary barcoded
ID books, but less than half knew when registration would take
place.
People said information pamphlets had so far been distributed
only in certain areas of Soweto such as Diepkloof, while people
living in the Jabulani, Meadowdale and Naledi areas had not
received any information.
A resident of Orange Farm on the East Rand said people living
in her area would like to register, but were confused about what to
do.
Civil servant David Dlabu said: "There has not been enough on
the news about where to go, that's why people don't know."
Bank manager Mr P Chetty said he had no plans to register:
"It's a total shambles. They've had four years to sort this out."
Schoolboy Tshwarano Sekgwelea, who said he would register in
Sophiatown, western Johannesburg, said: "It is too late. So many
people are getting ID books too late."
Street vendor Michael Msibi said if people could tell him where
to rgister, he would do so.
Frances Mabuza, from Daveyton on the East Rand, said: "People
in my area got pamphlets about the election last week, so I think
they will register."
A woman living in Randburg said she was being kept informed
about the registration process. "I have no concerns about my area,
as we seem to be getting posters and pamphlets all the time."
Independent Electoral Commission spokesman Victor Dlamini said
the IEC would know only by the weekend whether its national
awareness campaign - to tell people where to register to vote -
was a success.
"The IEC is not the public. Only the number of voters who turn
up to register will reflect the success of our campaign," Dlamini
told Sapa.
The IEC's advertising agency is Herdbuoys, and managing
director Peter Vundla said: "We are working very hard, but the
campaign is under control. We've had contingency plans in place for
months in case there were any last-minute changes."
A statement by the SA National Defence Force on Wednesday said
training of soldiers to help at registration stations had so far
been effective.
The SANDF said it would also help the police to safeguard
registration areas.
The IEC said it was launching a two-day national awareness
campaign, following President Nelson Mandela's Tuesday announcement
that voter registration would be postponed by a week in the Western
Cape, the Free State, the Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal.
Registration would go ahead as scheduled in the other five
provinces from Friday to Sunday, with more registration
opportunities in January and February.
@ LABOUR-WOMEN
CAPE TOWN November 25 1998 Sapa
SA WORKING WOMEN SHOULD BE HEARD, SAY UNISA PROFESSORS
The increased participation of women in the South African
labour market made it imperative for their opinions and experiences
to be heard, Unisa professors Barney Erasmus and Elmarie Sadler
said on Wednesday.
They were speaking at a research conference about economics,
business management and human resources management at the Cape
Technikon. It was organised in collaboration with the National
Productivity Institute.
Erasmus and Sadler spoke about research done to compare working
women's views on workplace issues.
Respondents said fair pay, equal treatment and safe and
family-friendly workplaces were some of the issues that needed to
be addressed to reshape workplace policy so women could be employed
and fulfil their potential.
In 1960, South Africa's economically active population was 77
percent male and 23 percent female. But by 1995, men comprised 56
percent and women 44 percent of the workforce, the two academics
said. Women were important in the workplace because South Africa
was experiencing a skills shortage, they said.
Research had shown there were more similarities than
differences between the abilities and attributes of men and women.
In the study, the majority of respondents said they were
satisfied with their jobs. This had an important bearing on their
contribution to organisational success. A satisfied female employee
would be absent less often, would stay with the organisation
longer, would make a positive contribution, and her organisational
commitment would increase.
Employers could improve women's job satisfaction by giving them
opportunities to contribute to the success of the organisation and
by providing recognition, support and promotion where it was due.
They could also acknowledge women's special leadership styles,
promote worthy women to the status of managers and give women
managers the freedom to manage.
Women should not be subjected to an overwhelmingly
male-dominated organisational environment. They should create
opportunities and accept the challenges offered to them by focusing
on their strengths, proving that women could contribute to their
organisation's output as well as their male counterparts could.
Teamwork and greater participation among employees in
organisations could be among the elements that would make South
Africa a more competitive nation, the study said.
Managements had a responsibility to adhere to legislation but
the real attitude change would start to happen when women could
prove that they were able to make a significant contribution to
organisational success.
Furthermore, managements should try not to take workers for
granted. It was advisable to state clear goals, to provide training
and development opportunities and to deal with human resources
holistically.
Organisations that wanted to retain women workers and to
actively address their problems, should focus on changing human
resource policies and practices to create a culture that supported
and effectively used their talents and motivated their continued
achievement.
The researchers concluded that the way organisations were
managed was on the verge of fundamental change because of
international competition and local demands. Women in the
professions were in the unique position of being able to take the
lead.
@ SKWEYIYA
PRETORIA November 25 1998 Sapa
SUPPORT WORKSHOP FOR MINISTERS, PREMIERS IN MAGALIESBURG
Public Service and Administration Minister Zola Skweyiya and
the Deputy President's office will hold a two-day workshop for
ministers, premiers and directors-general at Magaliesburg, North
West, on Thursday.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Department of Public Service
and Administration said the workshop would strengthen the
decision-making process of the Cabinet, and discuss policy
co-ordination and implementation across all levels of government.
@ ANC-DEFECT
DURBAN November 25 1998 Sapa
KWAZULU-NATAL ANC COUNCILLOR DEFECTS TO THE NP
An African National Congress councillor in KwaNdengezi outside
Durban on Wednesday announced his defection to the National Party.
Themba Mbutho, 41, said at a press conference in Durban that he
had worked closely with the community and came to realise that the
lives of many people were not progressing as a result of the ANC
led government's failure to deliver.
"I have decided to join the National Party because I believe it
has changed from the old system and it is now serving all people."
Mbutho said since he was elected as a councillor in 1996 he had
not received support from other ANC members.
He also condemned the ANC's alliance with the SA Communist
Party which he said had led to government's failure to implement an
effective free economy.
Provincial NP leader Danie Schutte told Sapa Mbutho would play
a vital role as he was close to people and knew their needs.
ANC provincial spokesman Dumisani Makhaye said the party did
not regret Mbutho's defection, as it was his democratic right to
join any party.
@ REGISTER-HOMEAFFAIRS
PRETORIA November 25 1998 Sapa
HOME AFFAIRS OPEN DURING REGISTRATION DAYS
The Home Affairs Department on Wednesday said its offices would
be open on voter registration days to accept applications for
identity documents and to issue temporary registration
certificates.
Its offices in Gauteng, the Northern Cape, North West,
Mpumalanga and the Northern Province would be open on Friday and
Saturday from 7am to 9pm, and on Sunday from 7am to 5pm, the
department said in a statement.
Registration in these five provinces would go ahead as planned
at the weekend, President Nelson Mandela announced on Tuesday.
He said voter registration in the Eastern Cape, Western Cape,
Free State and KwaZulu-Natal would be postponed for a week.
The department said its offices would be open in these four
provinces during their registration days on December 3, 4, and 5
from 7am to 9pm.
@ WORLD AIDS DAY DECEMBER 1ST
Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS)
WORLD AIDS DAY
TUESDAY DECEMBER 1ST '98
OPEN DAY AT THE NEWTOWN CULTURAL PRECINCT
11:00 AM
Representatives from the Department of Health and the Deputy
Minister Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology (DACST)
will be unveiling the AIDS MEMORIAL WALL.
Members of the public are invited to paint a brick bearing the
name of a loved one who had died of AIDS.
10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Enjoy the Creative Time, Join the Paper Prayers Campaign
* Make a print or hand-made paper
* Buy a Paper Prayer
* Listen to Music and Poetry
WORLD AIDS DAY PROGRAMME
1 President Street
Newtown Cultural Precinct
West Entrance
09:00 - 10:30 - Paper Prayers Workshop
Artist Proof Studio
- Papermaking
Courtyard - 1 President Street
- Drumming Workshop
Lonako Studio (1 President Street)
10:00 - 11:00 - Music Programme
`Cult Cafe' Courtyard
11:00 - 11:30 - Unveiling of the AIDS MEMORIAL WALL by Deputy
Minister Department of Arts, Culture, Science &
Technology (DACST), Representative from the
Department of Health.
11:30 - 12:30 - Band, Poetry, Songs, Drumming
12:30 - 13:30 - Food - Paper Prayers Exhibition
Open Workshop
13:30 - 17:00 - Paint a Brick on the MEMORIAL WALL to commemorate
a loved one who has died from AIDS
BUY A PAPER PRAYER
GET INVOLVED - YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
@ CRIME-WESTINDIES
JOHANNESBURG November 25 1998 Sapa
WEST INDIES CRICKET BOSS DESCRIBES HIJACKING IN SOWETO
West Indian Cricket Board president Pat Rousseau said three men
held him, his wife and a Jamacian journalist at gunpoint in Soweto
on Wednesday morning, forced them to the ground and took off with
their car and possessions.
Rousseau, speaking to Sapa after he had returned to the Sandton
Sun hotel in Johannesburg, said no-one was hurt in the hijacking.
He said he, his wife Hester, and journalist Tony Becca were
just returning to the car, owned by a United Cricket Board
official, after inspecting the Elkah Cricket Oval at Rockville at
about 11am when the incident occurred.
They were forced at gunpoint to lie on the ground while the
three men took their watches and Hester's handbag, which contained
credit cards and other items of little monetary value.
The three then left in the car, he said.
Rousseau said he would hold a news conference about the
incident at the Wanderers cricket ground in Johannesburg on
Thursday, when the first test between the West Indies and South
Africa was due to start.
Soweto police spokesman Inspector John Shiburi said the robbery
of the blue Toyota Corolla, jewellery and an undisclosed amount of
cash was reported to police just after midday.
Moroka police were investigating, he said.
The West Indians, who are on their first official tour of South
Africa, played their first provincial game at the oval in Soweto
earlier this month.
@ AIDS AWARENESS THROUGH THE ART OF PRINTMAKING
Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS)
Deputy President Thabo Mbeki has described HIV/AIDS "as the most
serious crisis yet to face South Africa." He has announced that the
AIDS epidemic was "no longer only a health problem, but had the
potential to devastate economic and social reform and had to be
tackled on all fronts".
As part of the government's commitment to creating an awareness
of HIV and AIDS, and in keeping with the government's aim to educate
people about the disease and its ramifications, the Department of
Arts, Culture, Science & Technology (DACST), working with the
Department of Health, has undertaken the Paper Prayers Project with
Artist Proof Studio.
The Paper Prayers Project extends across all nine provinces and
addresses the needs of both rural and urban communities. The project
unites government, HIV/AIDS initiatives and non-governmental
organizations across the country in empowering people to challenge
the ravages of the disease. It is a multi-faceted and participative
approach to the HIV/AIDS issue. The project aims to make a
contribution in offering hope and in uniting people in the fight
against HIV/AIDS and its allies - intolerance and fear.
Art centres in each province have adopted the Campaign using
diverse approaches. Western Cape will produce a limited edition of
screenprints by artists. Moffat Mission is printing linocuts by
printmakers on the oldest press in South Africa. In Northern
Province and Mpumalanga, sewing projects are making quilts of the
"Prayers". In addition newly established Papermaking Projects will
supply the handmade paper fro the campaign. Other initiatives
include exhibitions, auctions, sales of portfolios and workshops in
each Province.
The National Paper Prayers Campaign strives to find a more
interactive and creative way of dealing with the AIDS issue. Paper
Prayers developed from the ancient Japanese custom of presenting
painted or printed strips of paper as a gesture of compassion and
hope to heal the sick.
In the National Paper Prayers Campaign, education through
creative expression is encapsulated in the making of each paper
prayer, transcending the barriers of illiteracy and socio-economic
disadvantage. Each prayer creates a space in which people can
explore their own preconceptions and ideas about HIV and AIDS.
The combination of the paper prayer making exercise and an
educational presentation on HIV/AIDS will ensure that workshop
participants gain a new awareness of HIV and AIDS and the context of
the disease.
According to Deputy Minister of Arts & Culture Brigitte Mabandla
- "The project meets the broader vision of the Department of
combining creativity, practical know-how artistic endeavor, and
scientific and technological education through the production of the
paper prayers. People from all sectors of South African society will
be provided with the opportunity to learn new skills in terms of
papermaking and art, while receiving essential information on HIV
and AIDS. Paper Prayers give a creative expression and promote a
spirit of activism and healing through art".
It is hoped that the National Paper Prayers Project will also
lead to capacity building in disadvantaged areas and the
establishment of enabling mechanism through which communities can
organize self-sustaining and viable papermaking projects. These
projects will have long-term benefits by enabling communities to
recycle waste paper and produce marketable and useful paper
products.
The project engages not only with the disease itself, but also
with the environment in which it occurs. By linking HIV/AIDS
education to a practical, income-generating activity, this project
will pave the way for the exchange of knowledge and the empowerment
of communities across the country.
"The Paper Prayers express our hope for both a medical and
social cure for the disease that is eating away the fabric of our
society" (Mabandla).
Many people experience the visual arts as marginal or as a means
to decorate walls. Yet this project perhaps reveals a power of art
that impacts on lives.
The support for this project by the DACST and their condition
that it reaches into all nine provinces acknowledges that the visual
arts have a role to play in facing AIDS as a serious threat to the
fabric of our society.
For a listing of Worlds Aids Day Events, Paper Prayers workshops
and activities contact Carol or Zanele at Artist Proof Studio (011)
492-1278
@ ZIM-BANANA
HARARE November 25 1998 Sapa
JUDGMENT IN BANANA'S CASE COULD BE DELIVERED ON THURSDAY
Judgment in the case of former Zimbabwean president Canaan
Banana, who is facing sodomy and sexual assault charges, could be
delivered on Thursday if he is located in time, the news agency
Ziana reported on Wednesday.
Banana is facing 11 counts of sodomy and sexual assault
allegedly committed between 1980 and 1995.
The state alleged that Banana took advantage of his position as
head of state to coax various male employees at State House and
other male targets into relations with him.
It was alleged that anyone who turned him down, was punished on
the pretext that they were guilty of misconduct.
Banana pleaded not guilty when he appeared in court earlier
this year and had been remanded on stringent bail conditions.
His lawyer, Josephine McNally, said she had not been able to
speak to him by Wednesday to inform him that judgment was scheduled
for Thursday.
McNally said Banana did not answer his mobile phone. She had
gone to his house where she left a note with a guard on Wednesday
morning but he had not contacted her yet.
McNally said the high court only informed her about the date of
judgment on Tuesday.
@ LABOUR-TOYOTA
JOHANNESBURG November 25 1998 Sapa
NUMSA THREATENS TO STEP UP INDUSTRIAL ACTION
About 6000 employees of Toyota SA on Wednesday demonstrated for
an hour at the company's Johannesburg and Durban plants in protest
against a proposed retrenchment programme.
National Union of Metalworkers of SA spokesman Dumisa Ntuli
said the demonstrations, at Sandton Toyota in Johannesburg and the
Isipingo plant near Durban, could develop into a strike if the
company's management continued its intransigence.
"We are weighing our options and consulting with our lawyers
over what course of action to take should the company remain
intransigent and continue to make empty threats," Ntuli said.
Toyota SA has proposed retrenching 607 workers to cut costs and
improve its viability.
The proposal has met with stiff resistance from Numsa, which
says the move is a racial ploy to get rid of black, coloured and
Indian workers.
It called for a moratorium on retrenchments.
"Numsa is strongly opposed to the retrenchments because the
company failed dismally to disclose financial information on the
most recent sets of audited statements, detailed management
accounts for all divisions... and average annual labour turnover
rate," Ntuli said.
He said the company's poor performance was more a result of
management inefficiencies, lack of vision, and failure to stem
declining sales.
Toyota SA, he said, failed to consider alternatives such as
job-sharing, reduction of working hours, and termination of
sub-contracts.
Toyota SA human resources director Harry Gazendam, who earlier
described the labour action as a minor problem involving about 200
employees, was not available for comment. He was said to be in
meetings for the greater part of the day.
@ MEETING BETWEEN NZO AND PALESTINIAN ENVOY
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
Foreign Minister Alfred Nzo called for the rapid implementation
of the Wye River Memorandum, especially by Israel of its undertaking
to release Palestinian prisoners as a confidence-building measure.
Minister Nzo also reiterated South Africa's strongly-held belief
that negotiations are the only alternative in the search for peace
in the Middle East. Minister Nzo made these comments after meeting
with a Special Envoy of President Yasser Arafat, Dr As'ad Abdul
Rahman, in Pretoria today.
Minister Nzo was given a comprehensive briefing on developments
since the signing of the Wye River Memorandum by Dr Abdul Rahman.
The Special Envoy also conveyed a personal message to President
Mandela from President Arafat. The meeting took place shortly before
a function hosted by the United Nations Information Office in South
Africa, to commemorate the United Nations International Day of
Solidarity with the Palestinian People, during which Minister Nzo
will deliver a message on behalf of President Mandela.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
PRETORIA
25 NOVEMBER 1998
@ JOINT STATEMENT BETWEEN CONTRALESA AND ANCYL
Issued by: African National Congress
JOINT STATEMENT OF THE ANC YOUTH LEAGUE AND CONTRALESA AFTER A
MEETING IN ALBERT LUTHULI HOUSE, NOVEMBER 25TH 1998
The ANC Youth League and CONTRALESA met at Albert Luthuli House
on November 25th, 1998, to engage in exploratory discussions on the
question of traditional leaders and youth development.
The CONTRALESA delegation was led by its President, Inkosi
Patekile Holomisa, and the ANCYL was led by its President, Mr.
Malusi Gigaba.
It was noted that this meeting was milestone as it was the first
time the leadership of the traditional leaders and that of the youth
met to discuss matters common to both of their sectors.
This meeting developed a joint broad document on the matters
under discussion.
Both organisations agree that the question of traditional
leaders is essential in addressing the national question in South
Africa because it has to do with the culture and customs of the
African people.
Both organisations are committed to the creation of a
non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and united society. In regard to
non-sexism, they both committed themselves to championing the
recognition of the rights of women as full citizens entitled to
fundamental human rights.
The meeting noted that relations between some traditional
leaders and the youth in many rural areas are strained as a result
of some misunderstanding and wrong perceptions.It was resolved that
this matter would be addressed seriously through, among others,
facilitating local meetings between the traditional leaders and
youth organsiations.
The meeting agreed that traditional leaders have a big role to
play in matters of youth development, particularly in local
communities.
The meeting also agreed that traditional leaders have a broader
role to play in transformation as a force for unity and prosperity,
in unifying our people, as custodians of culture and custom and
paying more attention to matters of local social and economic
development, working closely with and complementing local
government.
The meeting agreed that a mechanism must be found to restore the
legitimacy and democratic nature of the institution in order to
reconcile this institution with democratically elected rural local
government institutions.
It was then resolved that as part of the process, the Presidents
must co-operate in facilitating provincial meetings between these
two organisations, which will culminate in another meeting of the
National Executive Committees.
Issued by:
Malusi Gigaba and Inkosi Patekile Holomisa
ANCYL President CONTRALESA President
083 441 9222
For further information, please
contact:
Oscar van Heerden
(011) 333 6750 or 082 804 0601
@ DALLING
CAPE TOWN November 25 1998 Sapa
DALLING TO LEAVE PARLIAMENT
Veteran MP Dave Dalling on Wednesday announced that he would
not be seeking re-election to the National Assembly in next year's
general election.
Dalling, 59, told a media conference in his parliamentary
office that he would be pursuing a career in the private sector.
He was first elected to public office 31 years' ago as a
Johannesburg City councillor.
In 1971 he became provincial councillor for Sandton, and in
1974 MP for the same seat.
Dalling entered politics as a member of the United Party, and
was subsequently a member of the Reformist Party, Progressive
Reform Party, Progressive Federal Party and Democratic Party. He is
leaving Parliament as a whip for the African National Congress.
He said he would remain a member and "steadfast supporter" of
the ANC, and would campaign vigorously for this cause next year and
in years to come.
It had been his privilege to fight against authoritarianism,
racism, narrow nationalism and bigotry, as well as for the rule of
law, freedom of expression and the media, and for a non-racial,
truly democratic South Africa.
"In the serendipitous reality that is South Africa, all these
hugely important goals have now been achieved, which is quite
remarkable for any society in the world," he said.
@ LABOUR-AGRIC
PRETORIA November 25 1998 Sapa
SAAU DENIES UNDERTAKING ABOUT LABOUR INSPECTORS
The SA Agricultural Union on Wednesday denied giving an
undertaking to inform on members who refused to give labour
inspectors access to their farms.
News reports about an SAAU meeting on Tuesday with Labour
Minister Membathisi Mdladlana on labour issues were inaccurate,
SAAU labo not know that a media briefing would held after the
talks. What we now see in the media has no bearing on our
discussions with the minister," he said.
Mdladlana on Tuesday told reporters the SAAU assured him it
would identify individuals and regions where labour inspectors were
being barred from farm properties.
"At farms where inspectors are unable to enter the SAAU can be
approached, and they will make sure that the inspectors get
access," Mdladlana said.
Erasmus on Wednesday said: "The SAAU or its affiliates have no
intention to report farmers defying the labour laws, or to give
labour unions access to farms."
He said the talks with the minister focused on the security
situation om farms, and how labour inspectors get in touch with
farmers.
Erasmus said the minister referred only in passing to
negotiations on the relationship between farmers and labour
inspectors.
"The negotiations have been constructive so far, but no
finality about the contents of a protocol has been reached. There
can be no mention of a final or complete agreement."
Erasmus said the SAAU remained opposed the notion of trade
union representatives accompanying labour inspectors to farms.
He added: "We have tried to pave the way for co-operation and
understanding between agriculture and the ministry, and this
premature statement can seriously jeopardise all progress made to
date."
@ NZO MESSAGE ON BEHALF OF MANDELA PALESTINIAN DAY
Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS)
MEDIA STATEMENT ON MESSAGE DELIVERED BY FOREIGN MINISTER ALFRED NZO
ON BEHALF OF PRESIDENT MANDELA ON THE OCCASION OF THE INTERNATIONAL
DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE
On behalf of the people of South Africa, the Southern African
Development Community, the Non-Aligned Movement and in my own name,
I extend greetings to the Palestinian people and to President Yasser
Arafat on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with
the Palestinian People.
We extend our friendship and solidarity to all the Palestinian
people, wherever they may be. More than fifty years after the United
Nations voted to accord the Palestinian people a national homeland
this dream remains unfulfilled.
We express our support for the continuing efforts of the
Palestinian people, under the leadership of President Yasser Arafat,
to achieve their inalienable national rights, including the right to
self-determination and national independence.
We remain convinced that the only means of ending conflict and
bringing peace and security to Palestine, Israel and the region, is
through negotiations and the faithful implementation of agreements
reached so far. For this reason, we are deeply happy to learn of the
results of the marathon summit between President Arafat and Prime
Minister Netanyahu, under the auspices of US President Clinton. We
also salute His Majesty King Hussein of Jordan for the valuable
contribution that he made under extremely difficult circumstances.
We congratulate President Arafat and Prime Minister Netanyahu on the
signing of the Wye River Memorandum and wish them well in their
quest for an equitable and lasting peace. May this agreement give
new hope and courage to all in the region and may it indeed
revitalise the Middle East peace process which has been deadlocked
for far too long.
All the participants deserve our heartfelt congratulations for
their courage, vision and their spirit of commitment to making
peace. We trust that the implementation of this agreement, and more
urgently, the release of all Palestinian political prisoners, will
eliminate some of the obstacles and rebuild trust without which no
efforts at achieving a lasting peace can succeed.
South Africans understand the suffering of the Palestinian
people. Palestinians continue to suffer humiliation and economic
hardship. Those who live in exile as refugees have for long been
sustained by their hope for an end to the conflict and the dawning
of a better future. The legitimate expectations born at the signing
of the Oslo Accords in September 1993 and sustained through an
initial period of progress, were subsequently dashed by earlier
unilateral actions on the part of the Israeli Government.
We commend the Palestinian people for their commitment to
peaceful negotiations and in the light of the new start made at Wye
River Plantation, urge all parties to recommit themselves to a
negotiated settlement and to refrain from acts of violence. We also
call upon the Israeli Government to comply with its obligations to
withdraw from Palestinian territory timeously, so that further
progress can be made.
To the international community we address the appeal to remain
faithful to the goal of achieving a comprehensive and just peace in
the Middle East. The people of Palestine and the whole region need
our support for their efforts to put an end to this conflict which
has plagued the world for so long. The achievement of a just and
comprehensive peace will not only have an effect on the lives of the
people of that region, it will reverberate around the globe and
promote the cause of international peace and security in a
fundamental way. It is accordingly in the interests of all members
of the international community to continue to support peace-making
in the Middle East. It has to succeed and each of us carries a
responsibility for the success of the peace process in the Middle
East which five years ago showed so much promise.
The Non-Aligned Movement has reaffirmed its traditional and
long-standing solidarity with the Palestinian people, and its
support for the implementation of all UN Resolutions on the question
of Palestine and the applicability of the Fourth Geneva Convention
of 1949 to all of the Occupied Palestinian Territory. In this vein
and on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, the Southern African
Development Community and the Government of South Africa, I
reiterate on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity
with the Palestinian People, our solidarity with and support for the
struggle of the Palestinians to live in dignity and peace and, at
last, to achieve security in a sovereign country of their own.
Nelson R Mandela
ISSUED BYTHE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
PRETORIA
25 NOVEMBER 1998
@ ELECTION-KWANATAL
DURBAN November 25 1998 Sapa
NP CONDEMNS SOLDIERS INVOLVEMENT IN VOTER REGISTRATION
National Party leader Marthinus van Schalkwyk on Wednesday
condemned government's step to utilise the army during the voter
registration.
Van Schalkwyk told reporters at a press conference in Durban
that the involvement of soldiers would intimidate people.
"This is not acceptable in a democratic country. Registrations
should be run by the civilians," Van Schalkwyk.
Early on Wednesday Van Schalkwyk visited the CR Swart Square
police station in Durban to meet with management and policemen.
He said his visit to some police stations had made him realise
the need to increase police services budget.
Van Schalwyk said there were 20,000 employees in the provincial
police services and there were only 17000 policemen.
"The province requires 20,000 policemen to manage 3000
registration points in KwaZulu-Natal. This alone shows that during
the registration there will be no policemen available to deal with
daily crime," he said.
He added that the community would be exposed to crime as
policemen would be involved in the registrations.
He said it was significant that the government consider
increasing the budget in order to secure free and fair elections.
"We have to avoid what happened in Lesotho following people's
disapproval of the election results," he said.
Marthinus said the NP believe the government should recruit
civilians for voter registration.
He added that it was impossible for potential voters to
register within the period allocated by the Independent Electoral
Commission.
On Tuesday president Nelson Mandela announced that voter
registration would be postponed in KwaZulu-Natal and three other
provinces.
The registration in other five provinces would be held as
scheduled from Friday to Sunday.
@ MUFAMADI-RUSSIA
CAPE TOWN November 25 1998 Sapa
MUFAMADI DISCUSSES ANTI-CRIME CO-OPERATION WITH RUSSIAN
COUNTERPART
Safety and Security Minister Sydney Mufamadi this week held
discussions in Moscow with his Russian counterpart, Sergei
Stepashin, on implementing a law enforcement co-operation
agreement, signed in March this year, between Russia and South
Africa.
Mufamadi is in Russia as part of Deputy President Thabo Mbeki's
delegation on a three-day official visit.
He signed the agreement in March with Stepashin's predecessor,
Anatoly Kulikov.
It has three main features:
- sharing of tactical and strategic information on the
activities of organised crime syndicates;
- making it difficult for criminals to avoid capture by
seeking refuge in other countries; and,
- forging technical co-operation at all levels, including an
exchange training programme to enhance the skills of the two
security forces.
Mufamadi said from Moscow on Wednesday that concrete steps had
now been taken to establish "proper channels of communication".
A liaison officer from South Africa would be stationed in
Moscow and a Russian one in Pretoria.
The appointees would focus, respectively, on countries of the
former Soviet Union and of the Southern African Development
Community.
@ SESSION
CAPE TOWN November 25 1998 Sapa
BUDGET SESSION SET TO END ON MARCH 26
Next year's two-month Budget session is provisionally scheduled
to adjourn on March 26, to allow politicians time to campaign in
earnest for the general election expected in May.
President Nelson Mandela is to open the session - the last of
the current Parliament before it is dissolved ahead of the poll -
on February 5, with Finance Minister Trevor Manuel to table the
Budget on February 17.
May 19 is being mooted by senior African National Congress
sources as a possible election date.
@ CONTRALESA-ANC
JOHANNESBURG November 25 1998 Sapa
CONTRALESA MEETS ANCYL TO DISCUSS ROLE OF CHIEFS, YOUTH
A mechanism must be found to reconcile the role of traditional
leaders and that of rural local government institutions, the
African National Congress Youth League and Congress of Traditional
Leaders of SA said on Wednesday.
The two organisations met inJohannesburg to discuss the role
of traditional leaders in SA and issues concerning rural
development.
"The meeting noted that relations between some traditional
leaders and the youth in many rural areas are strained as a result
of some misunderstanding and wrong perceptions.
"It was resolved that this matter would be addressed seriously
through, among others, facilitating local meetings between the
traditional leaders and youth organsiations," a joint statement
from the two organisations said.
"The meeting also agreed that traditional leaders have a
broader role to play in transformation as a force for unity and
prosperity, in unifying our people, as custodians of culture and
custom and paying more attention to matters of local social and
economic development, working closely with and complementing local
government."
The Contralesa delegation was led by its president, Patekile
Holomisa, and the ANCYL was led by its president, Malusi Gigaba.
@ NP-PAC
JOHANNESBURG November 25 1998 Sapa
MOST OF PAC IN GRABOUW JOINS NATIONAL PARTY
Two Pan Africanist Congress councillors and about 800 of the
party's members in Grabouw in the Western Cape joined the National
Party on Wednesday, NP spokesman for the Western Cape Abe Williams
said.
The group was welcomed in NP ranks during a meeting at the
Gerald Wright Memorial Hall by Western Cape premier Gerald Morkel.
PAC vice-chairman in the Western Cape and party leader in
Grabouw Dennis Marinus said the decision to join the NP was based
on the fact that the party was the only solution to save South
Africa from a power hungry African National Congress.
According to Marinus the Grabouw branch of the PAC was the
biggest in South Africa.
He said it was expected that more of the over one thousand PAC
members in the area might join the NP.
"So far and because of the time limit we have only managed to
register 800 members to the NP, but more have indicated to us that
they would like to join," Marinus said.
The two councillors who joined are Charlene Marinus and Carl
Davids, bringing the nmberof NP councillors in Grabouw to three.
According to Marinus, the PAC councillor in Botriver near
Grabouw also indicated he might joining the NP.
@ LABOUR-LANDBANK
PRETORIA November 25 1998 Sapa
LAND BANK AND TRADE UNIONS SETTLE WAGE DISPUTE
A settlement between the Land Bank and workers' unions was
reached after a four-month wage dispute, the communications
director for the Land Bank said on Wednesday.
Lauren Richer said the dispute between the bank, which deals
with financing the agricultural sector, and employees began in July
when their demands for a 15 percent salary increase were refused.
Failed negotiations resulted in a legal one-day strike and a
three-day picket in October.
The strikes were headed by the SA Association of Bank Officials
and the SA Commercial Catering and Allied Workers' Union.
The settlement reached ensured salary increases of between six
and seven percent and an annual bonus of seven percent.
An agreement on severence packages - for employees affected by
retrenchments because of bank restructuring - had been reached
with Sasbo but not yet with Saccawu, said Richer.
According to Richer, the progress made in resolving the issues
were to the benefit of both parties.
@ DRCONGO-UGANDA
KIGALI, November 25 1998 Sapa-AFP
SPLIT EMERGES BETWEEN DR CONGO REBELS, KAMPALA
A divergence of views has emerged between Kampala and
Democratic Republic of Congo rebels who deny that they are fighting
the Kinshasa regime under a joint command with Ugandan forces.
The policy of Uganda, nominally allied with the rebels since
they launched their revolt in early August, will lead to the
"Somalization" of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the rebel
weekly Les Coulisses wrote in its November 18 edition, received in
Kigali on Wednesday.
The newspaper, the mouthpiece of the rebel political wing the
Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD), said: "The Ugandan armed
forces chief of staff James Kazini reportedly said in Kisangani
that on a political order from Kampala, Congolese territory is
under Ugandan administration and that as a result nothing can be
done without its authorization.
"The Motherland will be in danger," the rebel paper said.
The Ugandan government announced early this month that it had
set up a joint command with Rwanda and the DRC rebels against
government forces and allied troops from Angola, Zimbabwe, Chad and
Namibia.
The rebels' military leader Jean-Pierre Ondekane said by
telephone from Kisangani: "The joint command does not exist yet."
A tripartite meeting is planned soon to form one, he said,
adding that he would be the chief commander, to be "seconded by a
Rwandan and a Ugandan officer."
The rebel commander said: "It is an intrigue devised by Kazini.
The Ugandans themselves have not yet held a meeting about this."
However he acknowledged that the three forces had held
"meetings in Kigali for example before the capture of Kindu," an
eastern city that had been the government's advance base for an
offensive in the east.
In the October 13 battle for Kindu, "I was seconded by a
Rwandan and a Ugandan officer," Ondekane added.
"Right now there are lots of changes on the ground, and a
single chief of staff has become necessary, but (Ugandan President
Yoweri) Museveni himself said no officer could be above me since
the war is going on in the DRC," he said.
The RCD is holding a general assembly and "is seeking to
clarify the rules of solidarity with its Ugandan and Rwandan
partners," according to Les Coulisses.
@ MCNALLY
CAPE TOWN November 25 1998 Sapa
MCNALLY'S SUCCESSOR TO BE ANNOUNCED ON FRIDAY
A successor to outgoing KwaZulu-Natal attorney-general Tim
McNally is to be announced in Durban on Friday, a justice ministry
source said on Wednesday.
The announcement would be made by Justice Minister Dullah Omar
and National Director of Prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka, he said.
McNally is taking an early retirement package after rejecting a
transfer to Ngcuka's office in Pretoria.
@ MORE CIVIL SERVANTS COME FORWARD
BISHO (ECN) - The East Cape Independent Electoral Commission
(IEC) is still short of 6 841 civil servants required to run voter
registration booths in the province. In a press release Provincial
Electoral Officer Rev Bongani Finca said that by yesterday (SUBS:
Wed) only 5 519 civil servants had been secured for registration
purposes. On Monday Rev Finca said 12 360 civil servants were
required if registration was to go ahead. Earlier this week he said
said only 3509 civil servants had come forward. Since then voter
registration was postponed by the national IEC to next weekend.
Voter registration was meant to go ahead tomorrow (subs:
Friday), Saturday and Sunday. Finca told ECN: "It's very slow. The
government is going to have to look at other plans." He said that
the Eastern Cape had to go ahead with registration next week. He
said he was going to talk to the Bisho about the problem. - ECN Wed
25/11/98
@ ELECTION-MEYER
CAPE TOWN November 25 1998 Sapa
STAND UP AND BE COUNTED, MEYER URGES WCAPE VOTERS
The tussle between the National Party and the African National
Congress in the Western Cape had racially polarised the province,
United Democratic Movement deputy president Roelf Meyer said on
Wednesday.
In a speech prepared for delivery at a UDM campaign meeting in
Elsie's River, he said people in the province were being misused by
both the NP and ANC.
"The UDM will not single out the so-called coloured people and
make promises," Meyer said. "We regard you as the major grouping in
the Western Cape."
"It is time that you, as the majority of voters, stand up and
be counted," he said.
On the gang violence sweeping the Cape Flats, Meyer said it was
completely unacceptable that drugs were entering the country
without being detected. Drug trafficking had to be stopped
immediately.
Steps which needed to be taken, among others, were:
- the immediate arrest of all druglords and gang bosses;
- the appointment of a special team to investigate Pagad;
- ridding the police of members who worked with the druglords;
and
- that communities stand up fo their rights and demand
action.
The Western Cape had the potential to be light years ahead of
the other provinces in terms of development, housing, job creation
and education, he said.
@ ARTS-MTSHALI
CAPE TOWN November 25 1998 Sapa
ARTS MINISTER ATTACKS JARDINE
Arts Minister Lionel Mtshali on Wednesday launched a scathing
attack on his outgoing director-general Roger Jardine, saying a
"cabal" was trying to block transformation in arts and culture.
In a two-and-a half page statement issued from Germany, where
he is leading a science and technology delegation, Mtshali also
defended his own management style, saying he had "personal
attributes of discipline, insight and wise judgment".
However, a source in the department said problems there had
nothing to do with a cabal, and "everything to do with a minister
not being able to stick to a policy decision".
The source described Mtshali as a "paranoid" who saw plots
everywhere and was unable to distinguish his imaginings from
reality.
Jardine announced on November 19 that he would quit his post as
head of the department of arts, culture, science and technology on
December 31, well before his contract expires.
His resignation follows a series of clashes with Mtshali that
began shortly after the minister took office in 1996.
There have also been tensions over the appointment of deputy
director-general Musa Xulu, and Jardine was unhappy over Mtshali's
approval of a R920,000 budget for the December 16 opening of the new
Blood River monument in KwaZulu-Natal.
Mtshali is one of three Inkatha Freedom Party Cabinet
ministers; Jardine trained as a physicist in the United States
before working on science policy for the African National Congress.
Mtshali said on Wednesday that after he took office it became
clear that transformation of the arts, culture and heritage was
"beholden to a party political agenda".
"Any intelligent person realised that there was a cabal lurking
in the woods," he said.
He said Jardine's personal initiative had led to Xulu's
appointment, and he refused to accept blame for the apparent
breakdown in relations between the two men.
Mtshali said he had personally averted a breakdown of relations
between the department and various cultural institutions, and had
used his "insight and judicious intervention" to steer
transformatory legislation through Parliament.
He was amazed at Jardine's "deliberate stalling tactics" in
implementing a Cabinet directive on Comtask recommendations for
restructuring communications in the department and ministry.
"Those who pursue a party political agenda cannot manipulate
the science and technology division of my department," he said, in
an apparent reference to Jardine.
"The fact that I am not a physicist does not impair my positive
approach to my constitutional mandate as minister of state."
A department source told Sapa however that Mtshali had taken an
extremely conservative line on several transformation initiatives,
including devolution of some museums to the provinces, which he had
tried to block even though it had been agreed at Minmec level.
On other controversial issues, such as next year's
commemoration of the Anglo-Boer war, he was "floundering
politically", and opted for solutions that did the least damage to
his reputation.
The source said that although the Comtask recommendations had
not been very clear, arts and culture had in fact been one of the
first departments to implement them.
Jardine himself said in a statement on Wednesday afternoon that
he had no desire to engage in a public debate with Mtshali.
He was proud to be part of a generation of South Africans
committed to building democratic values and institutions.
One of his department's legacies was the establishment and
development of institutions governing arts and science that were
free from party politics, he said.
@ ECAPE-CHINA
JOHANNESBURG November 25 1998 Sapa
CHINA DONATES BISCUIT FACTORY TO EASTERN CAPE
China's Shenyang region would build a biscuit factory worth
nearly R9 million in the Eastern Cape to help improve the diet of
the province's school children, Shenyang mayor Suixin Mu announced
on Wednesday.
The factory would produce nutritionally-balanced biscuits
similar to those made for the Chinese army, the office of Eastern
Cape premier Makhenkesi Stofile said.
Mu said details about the building of the factory would be
worked out between the Shenyang International Treaty and Economic
Co-operation and the Centre for Investment and Marketing of the
Eastern Cape.
Mu is on a five-day to the Eastern Cape with a delegation of
political and business leaders from Shenyang - one of China's
largest provinces - to explore investment and trade opportunities,
and strengthen economic cooperation between the two provinces.
On Wednesday, Mu met President Nelson Mandela and Stofile in
East London.
Stofile, welcoming the news of the factory, said the biscuits
which had been produced for the Chinese army would now be produced
for "the army of school children in the Eastern Cape".
Mu said his delegation was impressed with the Eastern Cape's
investment environment and policies, and intended investing there,
Stofile's office said in a statement.
Other possible areas of cooperation between the provinces
included joint ventures in minibus or jeep manufacturing, and the
production of textiles and farm implements such as tractors.
The Shenyang delegation signed a cooperation agreement with
Umtata on Wednesday, and would visit Port Elizabeth on Thursday.
@ LESOTHO-SADC
MASERU November 25 1998 Sapa
SADC FORCE IN LESOTHO HAS ACHIEVED ITS OBJECTIVES: SANDF
GENERAL
Southern African Development Community troops deployed in
Lesotho to restore law and order had fulfilled their objectives, SA
National Defence Force general Solly Shoke said on Wednesday.
Shoke, mission director for the SANDF, was speaking at a sports
day organised by Combined Task Force Boleas at the Setsoto Stadium
in Maseru.
The participants were the SADC troops of the SANDF and the
Botswana Defence Force, the Lesotho Defence Force and the Royal
Lesotho Mounted Police.
Shoke said the event "demonstrated to the people of Lesotho the
spirit of peaceful co-existence in the SADC region".
The programme ended with a heavy downpour which Shoke described
as "a good omen of peace for Lesotho".
The winning teams were presented with certificates by the chief
of staff of the Lesotho Defence Force, Brigadier Lebohang Mating.
He said the event would help improve good working relations among
the SADC forces.
The SADC troops were deployed in Lesotho on September 22 to
help restore law and order after a mutiny by junior officers in the
Lesotho Defence Force.
@ ANGOLA-ANNAN
JOHANNESBURG November 25 1998 Sapa
ANNAN EXTREMELY CONCERNED OVER LOOMING WAR IN ANGOLA
United Nations secretary-general Koffi Annan is "extremely
concerned" about the deteriorating situation in war-torn Angola,
saying prospects for reviving the peace process look bleak as
preparations for a military showdown continue.
In a report this week to the UN Security Council, Annan said
dialogue between the Angolan government and the Unita rebel
movement, under renegade leader Jonas Savimbi, had ceased and the
UN Observer Mission (Monua) was unable to carry out most of its
task because of the deteriorating security situation.
"I am extremely concerned about these negative developments,"
he said.
Although Annan recommended that the UN mission's mandate should
be extended for another three months "in an attempt to prevent a
return to war", if the security situation worsened he would call
for the withdrawal of Monua.
Annan said on November 20 Monua withdrew 50 of the 65 military
personnel deployed in the Unita strongholds of Andulo and Bailundo.
"All efforts are being made to relocate the remaining Monua
personnel to safer areas as soon as possible," Annan said.
He said the primary responsiblity for the crisis lay with
Unita.
"It will only be possible to resolve this current crisis if
Unita takes concrete action to implement, without further delay,
all of its commitments under the Lusaka Protocol, including the
demilitarisation of all Unita forces and the extension of state
administration throughout the country."
The UN brokered peace protocol was signed in Lusaka in 1994.
Annan said UN special representative Issa Diallo last week
visited South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Cote d'Ivoire, Burkina
Faso and Gabon for discussions on the crisis.
"The leaders visited by Mr Diallo were critical of Mr Savimbi's
attitude and stressed the need to increase international pressure
on him," Annan said.
"Most regional leaders stressed the need for a political
solution in Angola, but also felt that the existing sanctions
regime should be strengthened."
Annan said there was extensive military activity in the
northern and north-eastern regions of the country.
In the northern region, government forces regained control of
Songo, Maquela do Zombo, Quitexe and Puri, and were still fighting
over several areas in Uige and Cuanza Norte provinces.
Unita forces, allegedly joined by some rebel elements from the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, gained temporary control of some
localities in these provinces and launched numerous attacks in an
unsuccessful attempt to capture areas in the vacinity of the city
of Uige.
Unita, however, continues to control the eastern parts of
Cuanza North Province.
"The north-eastern region remains the most affected, owing to
renewed military operations aimed at gaining control over the
diamond-mining areas, as well as the strategic highway linking the
cities of Malange and Saurimo with Luanda."
Annan expressed concern over the attitude of some members of
the Angolan National Police towards the civilian population in
areas formerly under Unita control.
"There are numerous reports and allegations of illegal arrests
and detentions. In this connection, Monua continues to seek the
government's co-operation in launching a training programme for the
ANP on internationally accepted police procedures and standards."
The deterioration of the security situation had been
accompanied by an increasing number of reports of human rights
abuses committed against the civilian population, Annan said.
"Monua has received a number of reports of allegations of
indiscriminate and summary killings, torture and ill-treatment,
harassment and intimidation, abductions, destruction of property
and forcible displacement reportedly committed in the course of
attacks on villages and ambushes by Unita elements."
The intensification of military activities and attacks on
villages in the nothern regions had forced civilians to flee their
homes, Annan said.
"As a consequence, the confirmed number of internally displaced
persons since January 1998 has reached the level of 331000, which
reflects an increase of over 150,000 persons since 1 September
1998," he said.
Humanitarian agencies currently do not have access to 50
percent of the country, he said.
"The World Food Programme has been compelled to rely on
expensive air transport to reach provincial capitals, but is often
not able to venture beyond the city limits."
Despite generally favourable harvests last year, it is
estimated that Angola would have to import 470,000 metric tons of
food, Annan reported.
"I am extremely concerned by the dire living conditions of
vulnerable groups in Angola."
He said Angolans were forced to buy medicines on the black
market at exhorbitant prices, while 40 percent of the population
did not have access to health services.
@ MANDELA-CAR
EAST LONDON November 25 1998 Sapa
MANDELA GETS NEW DEAL ON WHEELS
President Nelson Mandela exchanged the keys for his red
Mercedes Benz - presented as a gift from workers on his release
from prison in 1990 - for those of a brand new white Mercedes Benz
500SE at a R900 million investment launch in East London on
Wednesday.
DaimlerChrysler management board chairman Jurgen Schrempp said
the car was from the people of Mercedes Benz SA, DaimlerChrysler
family world-wide, with deep gratitude and admiration to the
president.
He said the company would like to put the red Mercedes in its
museum.
In thanking the MBSA community, Mandela joked that he hoped
MBSA would invite him again next year and give him another car.
The chairman of the MBSA shop stewards' committee, Sandi Jako,
received the key of the old red Mercedes from the president while
Schrempp handed over the new keys.
Mandela, accompanied by a daughter of his wife Graca Machel,
then tested out his new car.
@ COURT-SANDF
PRETORIA November 25 1998 Sapa
ACT PREVENTING SANDF FROM JOINING UNION UNCONSTITUTIONAL:COURT
The Pretoria High Court on Wednesday ruled as unconstitutional
sections of the Defence Act prohibiting permanent force members
from joining trade unions and taking part in protest action.
Judge W J Hartzenberg also ordered the SANDF, who opposed the
application by the South African National Defence Union, to pay
legal costs which could amount to R300000.
The judge ruled that Section 126b (1), (2) and (3) of the
Defence Act were unconstitutional and invalid, but referred his
ruling to the Constitutional Court for confirmation.
He stipulated that the effect of his order would be suspended
until December 31 next year. This would allow the Defence Force
time to finalise the transformation of the defence force as well as
the new Defence Act and regulations.
Hartzenberg said the Defence Union had shown, leaving aside the
prohibition against the right to strike which it did not attack as
being unconstitutional, that the provisions of Section 126B
violated basic human rights. These included the right to form and
join trade unions, to partake in collective bargaining and the
rights of freedom of speech and freedom of association.
The judge said the fact that the SANDF was in the process of
drafting a new Defence Act and regulations, which they allege would
address present objections, was an implied admission on their part
that the present Act was unconstitutional.
He said while infringements of constitutional rights were at a
minimum, by sanctioning the present Defence Act the court would
knowingly limit basic human rights which need not be limited.
In his ruling, Hartzenberg acknowledged that the SANDF was
attempting to limit its members' rights to demonstrate and join
trade unions in order to retain the necessary discipline needed for
it to defend the country.
"I do not believe that blind obedience can be switched on and
off. It is difficult to envisage service men who have demonstrated
against some or other actions of their officers today, following
them into battle tomorrow and blindly do what they are commanded to
do."
He said while the new Defence act needed to take the
constitution into consideration, permanent force members were aware
when they joined the defence force that it was not a commercial or
administrative environment.
"...In those countries where democratic values are highly
regarded, it is accepted that in a defence force environment the
approach to trade unionism is different from that in the ordinary,
civilian commercial or administrative situation. It may be an
indication that defence force discipline and trade unionism do not
go hand in hand," Hartzenberg said.
He said although the defence force had in previous litigation
indicated that new legislation would be finalised by the end of
1996, it was now already November 1998. This was an unduly long
delay which had not been explained satisfactorily, he said.
SANDU National Secretary, Cor van Niekerk, welcomed the ruling
and urged the SANDF command not to further delay the process for
the Union's recognition in terms of the Labour Relations Act.
"There are serious issues that have to be addressed in the
correct manner and any further legalistic adventures will not be in
the interest of the SANDF or our country. SANDU will address these
issues in a constructive and professional manner in the interest of
not only our members, but the country as a whole," he said.
He said while the ruling placed the union in a stronger
position, it would be illegal for permanent force members to join
the union until the end of the year.
This was a situation which would have to be addressed in the
Constitutional Court, he added.
@ MTOBA-LICENCE
EAST LONDON November 25 1998 Sapa
EAST LONDON OFFICIAL SUSPENDED FOR STOLEN DRIVER'S LICENCE
Newly appointed East London municipal director of public
safety, Tsepo Mtoba, has been suspended, according to a signed
statement from town clerk Dave Ongley issued on Wednesday.
This follows the discovery that Mtoba, 40, was using a stolen
driver's licence, which came to light when he applied for a R200000
municipal car subsidy last week.
While an internal investigation into the matter is being
launched by the town clerk's office, the police are also
investigating charges of fraud and being in possession of a stolen
driving licence.
Denying an earlier report that he had said Mtoba would not be
suspended, Ongley said: "What I did state was that I did not know
at that stage whether he would be suspended or not as the matter
was under investigation."
In Wednesday's statement, Ongley said: "Mr Mtoba has been
suspended from duty on full pay with immediate effect until the
investigation has been completed and the matter finalised."
@ BELGIUM-DRCONGO
BRUSSELS, Belgium November 25 1998 Sapa-AP
ON BELGIUM VISIT, KABILA FACES CRITICISM OVER FIGHTING, HUMAN
RIGHTS
Congolese President Laurent Kabila's first official visit to
Belgium attracted a flurry of criticism Wednesday over his refusal
to negotiate with rebels and alleged role in human rights
violations.
Kabila faced demands from the European Union that he negotiate
with the rebels waging a four-month insurgency.
But Kabila, who met with the EU's Commissioner for relations
with Africa, Joao de Deus Pinheiro for two hours late Wednesday,
denied there was a rebellion in his country and blamed the violence
on outside interference.
"There is no rebellion. There are Ugandan and Rwandan troops
occupying the territory," Kabila told reporters on his way out of
the meeting.
The Congolese leader also emphatically denied reports of
alleged human rights violations by him and his government. "These
reports have been made up by those who couldn't stand the
(political) change," he said.
Conceicao Van Dunem, the EU's spokeswoman on African affairs,
had earlier hinted that EU aid could depend on a solution to the
conflict. "There is no development without peace, and no peace
without reconciliation," she told reporters Tuesday.
Kabila said after his talks with Pinheiro that they had
discussed the situation in Congo and the EU had promised aid "to
rebuild roads, and for democracy" in Congo, but neither he nor
Pinheiro gave details.
"We must try first to solve the problem of instability in
Congo, then prepare the reconstruction of the country," Pinheiro
simply told reporters, adding that he and Kabila had had "very,
very frank talks."
At a dinner Tuesday with Belgian politicians, Kabila said he
will allow political parties again starting in January and
announced elections for April. "As of January, the freedom of
political parties will be proclaimed ... and the (April) ballot
results will be respected," he said.
Kabila has previously announced elections for next year but
without specifying a date or a month.
Kabila has refused direct talks with rebels in his country
demanding instead that Rwanda and Uganda end their support for the
insurgents.
Human rights abuses under the late President Mobutu Sese Seko
led the EU to suspend all aid but emergency humanitarian supplies
in 1992, when the country was known as Zaire. Aid has not been
resumed.
European officials are anxious to resolve the Congolese
conflict fearing it could escalate into a wider regional war.
Already the fighting has dragged in troops from Namibia, Zimbabwe,
Chad and Angola to support Kabila while Rwanda and Uganda back the
rebels.
Kabila arrived late Tuesday for a three-day stay in Belgium. On
Thursay he will meet with Prime Minister Jean-Luc Dehaene and King
Albert II.
The visit is Kabila's first to Congo's former colonial ruler
since he toppled Mobutu to take power in 1997. His trip has sparked
protests from human rights organizations and alleged victims of
rights abuse.
Lawyers representing members of Congo's Tutsi minority and an
opposition political group have filed law suits against Kabila in
Belgian courts accusing him of inciting ethnic hatred against
Tutsis and other violations of international law.
But lawyers acknowledged that, as a serving head of state,
Kabila can claim diplomatic immunity.
On Monday, Amnesty International released a report on Congo
highlighting atrocities by government and opposition forces.
It cited widespread human rights abuses by the rebels including
killings, torture and rape, but said Kabila's forces also massacred
civilians suspected of sympathizing with the opposition.
Fearing protests from opposition supporters among Belgium's
12,000-strong Congolese community, the Congolese embassy in
Brussels has demanded enforced security during the visit.
@ ELECTION-MPUMALANGA
KWAMHLANGA November 25 1998 Sapa
MPUMALANGA TEACHERS WAIT IN VAIN FOR IEC TRAINING
Teachers from Kwamhlanga in Mpumalanga went home angry and
empty handed on Wednesday after Independent Electoral Commission
officers failed to show up to train them as registration officers.
Teachers and public servants from the former Kwandebele
homeland arrived at 8am on Wednesday at Kwamhlanga town hall for
training, but by 3pm no-one from the province's IEC office had
shown up.
A Sapa correspondent said IEC officials in Middelburg could not
be reached for comment and several attempts to speak to the
regional office of the IEC proved fruitless.
One of the volunteers, Gilbert Madubane, a teacher at Mgudlwa
Senior Secondary School in Verena, arrived early for the training
and waited until late afternoon in the hope that the IEC would
arrive.
He said the IEC had not planned the training properly as chairs
had not been put in place when he arrived in the morning.
Teachers and public servants were notified that training was to
be held at the hall by chief executive officers of their respective
transitional local councils.
Some were contacted as late as Tuesday.
Madubane's colleague, Beriel Maredi, said she felt humiliated
by the IEC's treatment.
Her colleagues were in the process of invigilating a Matric
geography paper.
@ SONN
JOHANNESBURG November 25 1998 Sapa
FRANKLIN SONN TO STEP DOWN AS SA'S AMBASSADOR TO THE US
South Africa's United States ambassador, Franklin Sonn, will be
stepping down at the end of the year, SABC television news reported
on Wednesday.
Sonn has been South Africa's representative in Washington since
1994.
In an interview in Washington, the former Western Cape
educationist said: "I'm going to miss these people very much and
I'm going to miss this country very much, but I'm desperate about
getting back to my country to be part of all the excitement there."
SABC TV news said there were rumours that Sonn's post might
remain vacant until after next year's general election in South
Africa.
Sonn's plans once he returns to South Africa were not revealed.
@ DEPUTY PRESIDENT THABO MBEKI'S VISIT TO SWEDEN
Issued by: Office of Deputy President T.M. Mbeki
Deputy President Thabo Mbeki who is on a three-nation state
visit to Europe, today held several meetings with political leaders
in Sweden including Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson and paying
a courtesy call to King Carl Gustav and Queen Silvia.
The Deputy President who is accompanied by his wife Zanele
Mbeki, Deputy Ministers Aziz and Essop Pahad and Director-General
Rev. Frank Chikane, also held discussions with Swedish Speaker of
Parliament Mrs. Birgitta Dahl, members of the Foreign Affairs
Standing Committee, Foreign Affairs Minister Mrs. Anna Lindh,
members of the Swedish Development Agency SIDA and attended a
luncheon in his honour hosted by Deputy Prime Minister Mrs. Lena
Hjelm-Wallen.
The Deputy President stressed the need to strengthen and
consolidate relations between South Africa and Sweden on a variety
of areas. The Deputy President expressed his concern regarding the
movement of high volume finance capital around the wold in a manner
that has had negative impact on world economies particularly the
developing world. In this regard, the Deputy President called for
closer co-operation to reform multilateral international finance
institutions such as the IMF and the World Bank.
Deputy President Mbeki also briefed Swedish leaders of ongoing
initiatives to bring about peace, stability, democracy and
sustainable development in the context of efforts aimed at the
renewal of the continent of Africa.
The Deputy President extended an invitation to Swedish Prime
Minister Persson to visit South Africa which was accepted.
Deputy President Mbeki and his entourage will depart Sweden on
Thursday 26 November for France where he will attend a Summit on
African security.
For more info contact Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853
Issued by the Office of Deputy President Thabo Mbeki
Communications Division
P/Bag X955
Pretoria
@ ITALY-NUJOMA
ROME November 25 1998 Sapa-AP
NAMIBIA LEADER TALKS WITH CATHOLIC GROUP TRYING TO BROKER PEACE
IN AFRICA'S GREAT LAKES
Namibia's president talked Wednesday with Catholic mediators
trying to broker peace in Africa's troubled Great Lakes region, the
latest in a series of Rome sessions between the mediators and
visiting African leaders.
President Sam Nujoma's talks with the Sant' Egidio community
focused largely on international guarantees for a new cease-fire in
Burundi, the group said.
Fighting between Burundi's governing Tutsi minority and the
Hutu majority has killed more than 200,000 people since 1993. Peace
talks started in June but the resulting cease-fire failed.
Congo President Laurent Kabila met with the mediators on
Tuesday after a papal audience in which John Paul II urged him into
talks with rebels in his own country. The Congo conflict is the
Great Lakes' most volatile, since neighboring countries have
entered the fight on both the rebel and the government sides.
Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe is due in Rome on Friday and
also is expected to talk with mediators. Mugabe has been backing
Kabila.
The presidents are on their way to a Paris summit of leaders of
French-speaking African nations. Sant' Egidio has mediated talks in
conflicts worldwide.
@ LABOUR-EDUC
PIETERMARITZBURG November 25 1998 Sapa
OVER 27000 KZN TEACHERS WILL HAVE SALARIES DOCKED FOR STRIKE
More than 27000 KwaZulu-Natal teachers will have their salaries
docked next year for embarking on an unprotected strike in June,
the education department said on Wednesday.
Circulars notifying teachers that their salaries would be
docked for participating in the industrial action over the
department's rationalisation policies had already been sent to
schools.
Education spokesman Mandla Msibi said members of the SA
Democratic Teachers' Union would lose four days' pay, while members
of the National Professional Teachers' Organisation of SA (Naptosa)
would lose a day's earnings.
"Sadtu members will have their salaries deducted over a
four-month period, while Naptosa members will have their salaries
deducted only in February because they were away for only one day,"
Msibi said.
Msibi said the decision to enforce the no work, no pay rule was
a national directive.
"We are acting under the provisions of the Labour Act 66 of
1995, which states that an employer is not entitled to pay an
employee for services not rendered during an unprotected strike.
"In as much as we recognise the right of the employees as
provided under the various legislation, employers too have rights,"
Msibi said.
"Teachers who reported for work during the period should write
to the department through their principals before December 31 and
their cases will be treated purely on merit."
Naptosa said it called the strike in June on the understanding
that no deductions would be made from the teachers' salaries.
@ CRIME-LD-WESTINDIES
JOHANNESBURG November 25 1998 Sapa
WEST INDIES CRICKET PRESIDENT GIVEN POLICE ESCORT
A police escort had been provided for West Indies cricket board
president Pat Rousseau following his hijacking in Soweto on
Wednesday.
Spokesman for police commissioner George Fivaz, Director Joseph
Ngobeni, said police were shocked to hear of the attack on
Rousseau, his wife Hester and a Jamacian journalist outside the
Elkah Cricket Oval in Rockville at 11am on Wednesday.
Police, however, questioned why Rosseau had not made use of a
police escort into Soweto.
"It is procedure that when people visit high risk areas such as
Soweto, that they contact police for an escort before undertaking
the trip," Ngobeni said.
Delivery companies and tour buses make frequently use of this
service.
"Police are obliged to accompany people if they request it," he
said.
"Although similar incidents are common in high risk areas in
other countries, it was regrettable that it should happen to
Rosseau and his family while in South Africa."
Rosseau will be accompanied by a police escort for the rest of
his stay in South Africa.
Ngobeni said police would also be keeping a watchful eye on the
West Indies cricket team.
"A high level investigation team has been appointed to
investigate the incident as a matter of priority and hopefully to
recover the stolen vehicle and property, and to arrest the culprit
as soon as possible," he said.
United Cricket Board president Doctor Ali Bacher told Network
Radio News on Wednesday that Rosseau was in good spirits after his
ordeal and was still enthusiastic about the Windies tour.
He did not believe the incident would harm sport in South
AfrIca.
Bacher said crime was a problem, but South Africans simply had
to deal with it as a reality.
Rousseau told Sapa that he, Hester, and journalist Tony Becca
after inspecting the oval were returning to their car, owned by a
United Cricket Board official, when three men pulled guns on them.
They were forced at gunpoint to lie on the ground while the
three men took their watches and Hester's handbag, which contained
credit cards and other items of little monetary value, then left in
the car.
Rousseau, speaking from the Sandton Sun hotel in Johannesburg,
said no-one was hurt in the hijacking.
@ MPUMALANGA-PROTEST
STANDERTON November 25 1998 Sapa
MOB FORCES STANDERTON MAYOR, TWO COUNCILLORS TO RESIGN
Standerton's mayor and his two most senior councillors were
forced to resign at a mass rally in the town on Wednesday after
almost 6000 angry residents accused them of maladministration and
corruption, African Eye News Service reported.
In September this year, Standerton residents warned Mpumalanga
premier Mathews Phosa that they would unilaterally cede to Gauteng
unless a commission of inquiry was immediately appointed to
investigate unsolved assassinations, and alleged housing and tender
fraud.
Mayor Josias Maloi's resignation on Wednesday was witnessed by
Phosa and Mpumalanga local government MEC Craig Padayachee.
Both politicians rushed to the town amid fears that the rally
would lead to further deaths.
Phosa later accepted the formal resignation of all three
council leaders during a series of tense closed-door meetings. They
will remain ordinary members of the Standerton town council.
He said afterwards that Maloi had no choice but to resign after
loosing the confidence of his electorate.
Protesters demanded to know why the council had failed to
deliver any development projects in the area since the 1994
elections.
"I spent the whole day in Standerton, meeting with various
people and we had to address some very serious issues involving
corruption and political infighting," said Phosa.
"We don't know yet whether this specific dispute was related to
the recent assassinations here, but have ordered everyone to
co-operate with the new corruption probe being conducted by Judge
Willem Heath."
Police are still investigating the execution-style killing of
Nelson Mafika Mayisela, 33, on March 9 and Sydney Lucas de Lange on
May 14.
Mayisela died from a single rifle shot to the forehead, while
De Lange was gunned down while closing his garden gate.
Maloi confirmed his resignation but refused to comment until
after a scheduled council meeting on Monday.
@ LABOUR-SUMMIT
JOHANNESBURG November 25 1998 Sapa
SA TO HOST WORLD LABOUR SUMMIT IN 2000
South Africa is to host the world's largest gathering of trade
unions in the early part of 2000, a spokesman for the International
Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) said in a statement from
Denmark on Wednesday.
The decision was made at an annual session of ICFTU's executive
board in Elsinore following an invitation from trade union
affiliates, the Congress of SA Trade Unions, National Council of
Trade Unions and Federated Unions of SA.
ICFTU general secretary Bill Jordan said the congress would
provide an opportunity to pay tribute to South African trade
unions' fight against apartheid.
"It will also be an opportunity for us to show support for the
difficult task confronting South African trade unions in their
efforts to build solid social and economic foundations for their
young democracy," he said.
The South African congress will be the second held on the
African continent, the first being held in Tunis in 1957.
Over 1000 delegates from 150 countries are expected to attend.
The board had a preliminary meeting on themes to be debated at
the congress which will centre on how to mobilise workers
world-wide to promote social justice and democracy in a globalised
economy.
The board will also discuss an internationally co-ordinated
trade union response to the present world economic crisis and
examine its impact on different continents.
@ SWEDEN-MBEKI
STOCKHOLM November 25 1998 Sapa
MBEKI CALLS ON SWEDEN TO HELP REFORM INSTITUTIONS LIKE IMF
Deputy President Thabo Mbeki during his visit to Sweden on
Wednesday called for the reform of multilateral finance
institutions like the International Monetary Fund and the World
Bank.
He said the movement of high volumes of capital around the
world had a negative impact on world economies, particularly the
developing world.
The Deputy President, who completed his visit to the Russian
Federation on Tuesday, is accompanied on this leg of his
three-nation state visit by his wife Zanele, Deputy Ministers Essop
and Aziz Pahad and director-general Frank Chikane.
Mbeki held several meetings on Wednesday with political
leaders, including Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson. He told
leaders of ongoing initiatives to bring peace and sustained
development to the African continent.
An invitation by Mbeki for Persson to visit South Africa was
accepted.
The Deputy President paid a courtesy call to King Carl Gustav
and Queen Silvia before attending a luncheon in his honour, hosted
by Deputy Prime Minister, Lena Lindh.
At a news conference on Wednesday afternoon Mbeki shrugged off
questions about whether the money spent by the South African
government on 28 Swedish-made JAS Gripen warplanes would not be
better spent on social services
"We want to have a defence force ... So long as it is there it
has to be equipped," he said, adding that he would be delighted if
Sweden offered to foot the defence bill.
Mbeki said the argument that the money could be better spent on
providing housing and clinics was not sound.
"The idea that the money that you are using to acquire defence
equipment is necessarily money that is being diverted from housing
is ... emotionally appealing but it is wrong."
Mbeki is to leave for France on Thursday where he will attend a
summit on African security.
@ IBA-ETV
CAPE TOWN November 25 1998 Sapa-AFP
FIRST S.AFRICAN PRIVATE FREE-TO-AIR TV CHANNEL COULD LOSE
LICENCE
Two months after it took to the air, South Africa's first
private free-to-air television channel, E-TV, is facing the
prospect of losing its licence for failing to broadcast news
programmes.
South Africa's audio-visual regulatory body, the Independent
Broadcasting Authority (IBA), Wednesday said it had rejected a
request by E-TV to start broadcasting news bulletins two months
after the required date of December 1.
E-TV last week asked the IBA for a two-month postponement as
the channel lacked the resources to start broadcasting news
programmes before February 1, SABC public television news reported.
IBA spokesman Pekwane Mashilwane told the SABC the IBA was
insisting E-TV meet the December deadline, adding: "In the worst
scenario, if they fail altogether, their licence will be drawn
back."
"After two months, they are already reneging on their own
performance," he said.
Mashilwane on Wednesday told the local press E-TV had failed to
meet seven of its licence requirements.
It was currently only broadcasting seven of the required 16
hours a day and had made no provision to broadcast in languages
other than English, he was quoted in the Cape Argus as saying.
In addition it was not broadcasting enough local affairs
programmes and there was also a lack of children's programmes.
Mashilwane said E-TV had further failed to reach the required
quota of 27 percent local content in its programme line-up and had
exceeded its advertising quota.
He said the IBA had compiled a report on the matter which it
would hand to the Broadcast Monitoring Complaints Committee.
The committee would investigate the charges and consider
"remedial action" if it found E-TV guilty of licence
contraventions, he added.
E-TV was launched on October 1 with much fanfare and has become
known for broadcasting popular American television programmes, such
as the Oprah Winfrey Show.
Its majority shareholders are black empowerment groups and
trade unions, with American film distributors Warner Brothers
owning 20 percent of the channel.
@ TUTU-EDMONTON
VANCOUVER Nov 26 Sapa
TUTU IN CANADA TO ADDRESS INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS CONFERENCE
Archbishop Desmond Tutu is in Edmonton, the capital of western
Canada's Alberta province, to address a major international human
rights conference which starts on Thursday.
The three-day event is billed as a 50th anniversary celebration
of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The South African Nobel laureate will share the dais with
former Irish President Mary Robinson, now the United Nations
Commissioner for Human Rights, Nigerian activist Owens Wiwa,
Chinese dissident Wei Jingsheng and Chief Justice Antonio Lamer of
the Supreme Court of Canada,.
Organizers expect 700 delegates from UN member countries to
attend the Edmonton conference.
Interest was much greater than had been anticipated and an
additional 1300 seat applications had to be turned down.
The conference's official theme is: Universal Rights and Human
Values - A Blueprint for Peace, Justice and Freedom.
@ MANDELA-FW
JOHANNESBURG November 25 1998 Sapa
MANDELA'S OFFICE APOLOGISES TO DE KLERK
President Nelson Mandela's office apologised for allegations by
presidential spokesman Parks Mankahlana that former President FW De
Klerk stole money from the government, Network Radio News reported
on Thursday.
Mankahlana made the allegations earlier in November when asked
about Mandela's decision not to allow the state to pay for De
Klerk's legal action against the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission.
Mankahlana said he was sure De Klerk had siphoned off enough
money over the years to pay his own legal costs.
In a report in Die Burger newspaper Mandela and his office
distanced themselves from Mankahlana's allegations and De Klerk
said he was happy with the apology and considered the case closed.
@ ZIM-DRCONGO
HARARE November 25 1998 Sapa-AFP
ZIMBABWE ANNOUNCES START OF EASTERN OFFENSIVE IN DRCONGO
Zimbabwe has announced the launching of a long-awaited eastern
offensive in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by allies of
embattled President Laurent Kabila.
A government statement received by AFP Thursday said "allied
airforce planes" inflicted heavy casualties and extensive damage to
enemy targets in the Kalemie and Lake Tanganyika area over the
weekend.
"The operation marks the beginning of the Allied offensive
against the invading Rwandese and Ugandan troops who occupy the
eastern part of the DRC," the statement said.
"Offensive operations towards the north-east have now started."
Zimbabwe, along with Angola, Namibia and Chad, has deployed
troops in the DRC to back Kabila against Tutsi-led rebels supported
by Rwanda and Uganda.
The Zimbabwean statement, which gives no further details, is
apparently a reference to recent military actions reported by
independent sources in the DRC capital Kinshasa.
They said that at the weekend Zimbabwean aircraft killed some
600 rebels when they sank six barges on Lake Tanganyika.
The barges were reportedly carrying carrying rebels and
military equipment between Kalemie and Moba, a town some 140
kilometers (90 miles) further south on the lake shore.
The sources also said Zimbabwean warplanes destroyed a rebel
supply column south of the eastern city of Kalemie.
The planes bombed the supply column, which included some 1,500
head of cattle destined for Kalemie, 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles)
east of Kinshasa and the southernmost position held by the rebels.
But a local rebel commander, Jean-Pierre Ondekane, denied the
reports of the barges being sunk and said there was only one
casualty in the attack on the supply column - a fighter who had
suffered injuries to the foot and hip.
The Zimbabwean government statement said the offensive "is part
of the overall objective to rid the DRC of foreign troops illegally
occupying the country and thereby restoring the territorial
integrity of the DRC.
+-----------------------------------------------------------+
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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 27 NOVEMBER 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'.
@ DP-BEACONBAY
JOHANNESBURG November 26 1998 Sapa
DP WINS BY-ELECTION IN BEACON BAY
The Democratic Party on Wednesday won 67 percent of the vote in
a by-election in Beacon Bay in the Eastern Cape.
DP candidate Quinton Williams won against independent candidate
Pitt Fennel.
DP spokesman Ryan Coetzee on Thursday said this followed last
month's by-election victory in Orkney in the North West.
Coetzee said there was a 30 percent turnout at the Beacon Bay
by-election.
@ AMNESTY APPLICATIONS ON SDU MEMBERS
Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
The Amnesty Committee of the TRC will be hearing amnesty
applications on SDU members involved in the violence in Thokoza and
Katlehong between 1991 and 1994. The hearing has been scheduled to
resume on November 30 at the JISS Centre in Mayfair, Johannesburg.
The committee is calling victims of the SDU violence, their
families and relatives, to contact the committee so that their
interests can be represented at the hearing.
Seventeen amnesty applications are to be heard starting on
Monday, November 30. The applications, the applicants recall the
incidents and place of occurrence, but do not know the names of the
victims they killed.
Seventeen of the 34 applications, have been withdrawn due to
lack of specific acts as required by the ACT governing TRC
operations. Five of the applications will be heard in chambers.
The Amnesty Committee would like to meet the families of the two
men who were shot dead at Mohanoe Street in August, 1990. The
applicants killed these men, do not know their names.
The Committee would also like to meet with Themba Mnguni who
used to stay in Everest, Thokoza during 1992. It would also like to
meet with Mr Mazibuko who used to reside at Extention 2 next to
Mhlabuzile school in Thokoza.
The committee would like to meet with a teacher who used to
teach at Mkhathizwe School concerning an incident that happened on
July 13, 1993.
The TRC is also calling on families of victims who were either
killed or injured during an attack by SDU's on April 19, 1994 at
Mshayazafe Hostel. In the incident, a Star Photo Journalist, Ken
Oosterbroek was killed during a firefight between SDU's hostel
dwellers and Internal Stability Unit members.
The families of the victims of the shack burning incident in
Mazibuko Street in Thokoza in 1993 are also asked to approach the
Amnesty Committee.
Families of Peter Siwase of Phola park who was abducted from his
home in Phola Park between 1991 and 1992 are also being asked to
appear before the committee.
The TRC is also expecting the family of the Bad Boys gang
members who was killed by students at Khaki Street - Thokoza in
1991, to avail themselves during its next sitting on Monday 30 at
JISS Centre, Mayfair, Johannesburg. Another member of the Bad Boys
gang was later killed in July 1992 at Unit F in Thokoza.
The Amnesty Committee of the TRC would like Constable S. Dowler
and Constable Smith who were attacked on December 1 at Brackendowns
near Alberton to contact the commission as soon as possible.
For information call Lebo Molete on 082 441 6090 or attend the
hearing at the JISS Centre, corner Battery and Queens Road, Mayfair
on Monday November 30, 1998.
Media Information: Mbulelo Sompeta 082 452 7870
@ REGISTER-COURT
CAPE TOWN November 26 1998 Sapa
NP TO GO TO COURT OVER REGISTRATION
The controversy over voter registration is headed for a court
showdown after the National Party announced on Thursday it would
challenge the law that says only green bar-coded identity documents
can be used for voter registration and polling.
Speaking only hours before registration is due to start, NP
leader Marthinus van Schalkwyk said this requirement was
unconstitutional, and that the application should be heard in the
Cape High Court on Friday or early next week.
He told journalists at his office in Parliament that the NP
would also ask the court to rule that the Independent Electoral
Commission (IEC) should allow "adequate time" for registration.
A three-day registration period begins on Friday for Gauteng,
the NorthernProvince, the Northern Cape, Mpumalanga and North
West. The other provinces will register next week.
Van Schalkwyk said the NP would ask that the definition of
acceptable ID books in the Electoral Act be broadened to include
all documents recognised in terms of the population register,
including the old blue ID books and green ones without the bar
code.
Using only bar-coded IDs, plus other problems identified by the
party, meant millions of South Africans would be disenfranchised.
"We have therefore no option but to make an application to the
High Court for appropriate relief," he said. "We have a duty to act
on behalf of the electorate."
The NP wanted as many South Africans as possible to register
and vote, and wanted the poll to take place within the cutoff date
laid down by the Constitution.
Although the IEC would be cited as a respondent, along with the
department of home affairs and the government as a whole, the NP's
fight was not with the commission, which was underresourced and
under tremendous pressure.
Van Schalkwyk said the registration process was out of line
with the Electoral Act, which said registration had to be
continuous, with a cutoff date decided in advance by the IEC.
The NP had idenified a number of other problems.
Many people, even in the provinces due to start registration on
Friday, were still unaware where they should go to register. Many
did not know they could apply for a temporary certificate so they
could register even though their applications for bar-coded books
were still being processed.
In addition, people had not been told to collect ID books that
were lying in the offices of the department of home affairs.
The court would be asked to ordr home affairs to distribute
the books it had processed, to broaden the definition of usable
identity documents, and to order that adequate time be allowed for
registration.
Adequate time would be at least two weeks.
"That's what we need to register 20 million people," he said.
Even with the additional periods envisaged for next year, the
existing time-scale for registration was insufficient.
IEC spokesman Victor Dlamini said shortly after the NP
announcement that the commission was not in a position to comment
on the NP's plan.
"I can't comment on something I don't know," Dlamini told Sapa.
@ HEALTH-PROTEST
JOHANNESBURG November 26 1998 Sapa
DOCTORS AT CHRIS HANI BARAGWANATH HOSPITAL FEAR FOR THEIR
SAFETY
Doctors at Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital in Soweto on
Thursday protested against increased criminal attacks against staff
at the hospital.
About 100 doctors with placards, and other medical staff,
gathered outside the hospital entrance at 8.30am to hand a
memorandum demanding action to a representative of safety and
security MEC Paul Mashatile and the mayor of Soweto.
"There have been many incidents where staff members have been
physically threatened and their lives have been in danger," the
memorandum said.
"We have been accosted at the bedside while attending to our
patients. We have had guns pointed at our heads and knives held to
our throats.
"We understand fully how broadly the impact of crime is felt in
our society. Acts of violence seem peculiarly pernicious, however,
when they occur within the confines of a hospital, a place of
sanctuary."
Ten doctors were held up in the hospital in the past two
months, staff members had their cars stolen from the car park, and
their goods snatched from their hands in hospital corridors,
protest spokeswoman Dr Beverley Traub said.
The doctors called on security personnel, police, the
authorities, and the Soweto community to ensure the safety of staff
at the hospital.
Some of the placards said: "Government's soft treatment of
criminals is the problem, rather than the criminals themselves";
"Dead doctors don't save lives"; "Stop biting the hand that heals
you"; "Freeze crime, not jobs", and "Zero Understanding of Medical
Affairs".
Municipal spokesman Danny Kekana was booed when he told the
doctors the local council did not know about the crime problem at
the hospital.
But the council had now called on the local community policing
forum, the African National Congress local branch, and civic
organisations, to solve the problem, he said.
A message from Mashatile said hospital security would be
improved.
Traub said the doctors would next week meet hospital security
staff to find out what they planned to do. If there was no tangible
response to the memorandum within a month, another protest would be
held, she said.
@ ZIM-BANANA
HARARE November 26 1998 Sapa-AP
EX-ZIM PRESIDENT GUILTY ON GAY SEX CHARGES, FLEES COUNTRY
Former President Canaan Banana was convicted Thursday of 11
counts of sodomy and homosexual assault, and prosecutors confirmed
he had fled the country.
Banana, a Methodist minister, was asking for political asylum
in neighboring Botswana after leaving the country Nov. 17 ahead of
the verdict, said Chief Prosecutor Augustine Chikumira. Zimbabwe
will seek extradition, he said.
The guilty verdict on all counts came after a three-week trial
in June. Banana faces an estimated maximum sentence of 22 years in
prison at sentencing Dec. 10.
Judge Godfrey Chidyausiku issued an arrest warrant and ordered
bail revoked. Banana had been free on bail of 20,000 Zimbabwe
dollars (dlrs 600), and had surrendered his passport and deed to
his mansion in the exclusive Mount Pleasant suburb of Harare.
The judge urged defense lawyer Chris Andersen to try to
persuade Banana to return to Zimbabwe for sentencing.
The case has deeply embarrassed President Robert Mugabe, who
insists homosexuality is foreign to African culture and was brought
to the continent from the West. He has launched an outspoken
campaign against homosexuality, describing same-sex partners as
"lower than pigs and dogs."
The stance in southern Africa is not unusual. Government
officials of nearby Namibia and Zambia have made similar anti-gay
statements. South Africa has bucked the trend and recently
decriminalized gay sex.
The offenses attributed to Banana mostly involved bodyguards, a
cook and a gardener on his presidential staff. They took place when
he was president after independence in 1980 until 1987.
Prosecutors alleged Banana used his authority as the nation's
titular president to force the individuals into homosexual acts.
In his court defense in June, Banana said the charges were an
attempt to destroy his character and political standing amid rumors
he was planning a political comeback.
Banana's presidency after the former British colony of Rhodesia
became independent Zimbabwe was a ceremonial post, but he was
constitutional head of Zimbabwe when Mugabe, the nation's only
political ruler, was prime minister.
The ceremonial presidency and prime minister's position were
abolished in 1987, and Mugabe assumed the mantle of executive
president.
Banana was brought to trial after a police inspector shot dead
a colleague who taunted him as "Banana's wife."
Jefta Dube, serving a 10-year prison term for that murder, said
he was forced into a three-year sexual relationship with Banana
between 1984 and 1986.
@ BOTSWANA-BANANA
GABORONE November 26 1998 Sapa-AFP
BOTSWANAN POLICE HUNT PRESIDENT-TURNED-FUGITIVE BANANA
Authorities in Botswana said Thursday that fugitive Zimbabwean
former president Canaan Banana had entered the country but that,
despite a police search, they did not know his current whereabouts.
A Botswanan foreign ministry spokesman confirmed press reports
in Harare that Banana had fled to Botswana in advance of Thursday's
court verdict finding in Harare him guilty of sex crimes.
The ministry said it had been informed of his presence in the
country by the Anglican Bishop of Botswana, Walter Makhulu.
"We understand from Bishop Makhulu that he (Banana) was here
two or three days ago and that he was planning to move on," foreign
ministry spokesman Mufpaq Moorad said.
"The bishop said he (Banana) was fearing for his life in
Zimbabwe," he added.
Botswanan police had failed to trace Banana so far, he said,
adding that police had gone to his reported refuge in the
Mogoditshane suburb of the capital Gaborone two days previously but
Banana had apparently already moved on.
Banana, a 62-year-old Methodist clergyman, is alleged to have
used his position as president between 1980 and 1987 to force men
- aides, bodyguards and a gardener - into submitting to sex with
him.
After he left the presidency, he was alleged to have sexually
molested a job-seeker he met on the streets.
@ TRUTH-SDU
JOHANNESBURG November 26 1998 Sapa
TRC TO HEAR AMNESTY APPLICATIONS ON SDU MEMBERS
The amnesty committee of the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission will next week hear more amnesty applications from
self-defence unit members involved in the violence in Thokoza and
Katlehong on the East Rand between 1991 and 1994.
The hearing will resume on Monday at the JISS Centre in
Mayfair, Johannesburg, the committee said on Thursday.
It called on victims of SDU violence, their families and
relatives, to contact the committee so that their interests can be
represented at the hearing.
Seventeen amnesty applications are to be heard. The applicants
say they do not know the names of the victims who were killed. The
committee said 17 of 34 applications were withdrawn due to a lack
of specific acts as required by the Act governing the TRC.
Five of the applications will be heard in chambers.
The amnesty committee has asked the following persons to
contact them:
- The families of two men shot dead in Mohanoe Street in
August 1990.
- Themba Mnguni, stayed in Everest, Thokoza, during 1992.
- A Mr Mazibuko who lived in Extention 2, next to Mhlabuzile
school in Thokoza.
- A teacher who worked at Mkhathizwe school concerning an
incident on July 13, 1993.
- Families of victims who were either killed or injured during
an attack by SDUs on April 19, 1994 at Mshayazafe hostel. Star
newspaper photographer Ken Oosterbroek was killed in the incident,
during a shootout between SDUs, hostel dwellers, and security
forces.
- Families of the victims of a shack burning incident in
Mazibuko Street in Thokoza in 1993.
- The family of Peter Siwase of Phola Park, who was abducted
from his home in Phola Park between 1991 and 1992.
- The family of Bad Boys gang members killed by students in
Khaki Street, Thokoza, in 1991.
- Constable S. Dowler and Constable Smith, who were attacked
on December 1 (no year given) at Brackendowns, near Alberton.
For more information Lebo Molete can be contacted on
082-441-6090, or people can attend the hearing at the JISS Centre,
corner Battery and Queens streets, Mayfair, on Monday.
@ DECEMBER 1, IS WORLD AIDS DAY
Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS)
Next Tuesday, 1 December 1, is World Aids Day. In Pretoria this
day will be marked by South Africa's first world Aids Day
Partnership Festival, on Church Square between 12:00 and 16:00. This
may be by far the biggest and arguably the most important event
Church Square has seen this year.
Less than eight weeks after Deputy President Thabo Mbeki
launched the Partnership against Aids in his speech on October 9,
this partnership seems to become a reality for Pretoria. The
festival brings together national provincial and local government,
the labour movement and non-governmental organisations. The Deputy
Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs, Mrs Thoko Didza, the
Gauteng MEC for Health, Mr Mondli Gungubele and possibly the Mayor
of Pretoria as well as the NEHAWU President, Mr Vusi Nhlapo, will be
present.
Glen Lewis from Radio Metro, together with music groups such as
Chiskop and Ringo will provide the right atmosphere. Drama groups,
clowns and colourful competitions will make sure that everybody who
comes has a good time. The visitor with a deeper interest in matters
pertaining to HIV/AIDS will find a variety of information stalls.
Videos and HIV/AIDS will be projected on a large screen and there
will be experts available to answer questions.
The festival is organised by the Interdepartmental committee on
HIV/AIDS. This comprises HIV/AIDS coordianators from government
departments. A spokesperson for the committee said that the response
to the initiative is overwhelming. Whilst it was initially planned
to attract about 2 000 spectators, due to the partnership with
NEHAWU it is now expected that more than 10 000 people will attend.
Contact: Ms Snoepie Mabusela
Phone: (012) 314-2422
Fax: (012) 323-4979
@ AFRICA-FRANCE
PARIS, Nov 26, Sapa-AFP
AFRICAN FRIENDS, FOES PONDER PEACEKEEPING AT PARIS SUMMIT
African leaders at loggerheads across a quarter of the
continent come together in Paris for one of their biggest summits
Friday - with peacekeeping at the top of the agenda.
The two-day talks in the entrails of the Louvre museum gather
49 countries, including at least half a dozen locked in battle in
the explosive crisis in mineral-rich former Zaire, as well as
others in the Horn of Africa and the extreme west coast of the
continent who have yet to resolve their conflicts.
With the US still smarting from the 1993 Somalia fiasco and its
convoys of American body-bags, and France determined to stop
playing the controversial role of Africa policeman across its
former empire, the accent at the talks will be on conflict
management and resolution.
Joint efforts in the past two years by Britain, France and the
United States to set the ball of peace rolling within Africa
through the creation of continental or regional peacekeeping forces
remain at a baptismal stage, with scepticism high in many nations
as wars continue to rage across the world's poorest lands.
Security in Africa is the main theme of this week's two-yearly
France-Africa summit, the 20th and the biggest to date, with public
debate to be focussed on such high-minded topics as the continent's
peacekeeping capabilities, arms-dealing, mine-clearing and
post-conflict resolution.
For the first time since France began organising the summits in
1973 - then a small club of French-speaking ex colonies - UN
chief Kofi Annan will attend, along with OAU Secretary-General
Salim Ahmad Salim, sitting in for the second time.
Yet most eyes will be posted on ways of resolving turmoil
currently at hand at bilateral meetings and behind-the-scenes
encounters in the heart of Paris.
High on the non-official agenda will be the six-month rebellion
against President Laurent Kabila, who renamed Zaire the Democratic
Republic of Congo (DRC) after ousting longtime and long-corrupt
French protege Mobutu Sese Seko in 1997 with the help of
pro-American allies, Rwanda and Uganda.
The pair since have turned against Kabila, backing rebels now
ensconced across eastern DRC, while Kabila himself has been accused
of mass human rights abuses.
And the DRC conflict, which has displaced hundreds of thousands
of people, threatens to explode the vast nation in the heart of
Africa lusted after for its minerals and diamonds, causing further
instability in the region.
Kabila is paying his first official visit to the country he
once criticised for backing Mobutu and will be given a privileged
face-to-face encounter with President Jacques Chirac on Saturday.
Also camped in the capital, well away from the luxury Louvre,
will be DRC rebels who can lay claim to high-profile sponsors in
the summit corridors of power - Rwandan President Pasteur
Bizimungo and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, Kabila's former
friends.
Should contacts to resolve the war take place on the sidelines
of the summit, Kabila will be able to count on the support of his
main allies, Namibian President Sam Nujoma and Zimbabwe President
Robert Mugabe. Angola and Chad, which have provided military
support for the DRC, are sending cabinet ministers to the summit.
In all, seven major African nations embroiled in this one
conflict will attend the high-level powwow, not to mention South
Africa, which failed to broker an end to the turmoil through the
14-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC), and which
has dispatched Deputy President Thabo Mbeki to the meet.
Turning to the Horn of Africa, destabilised by a flash border
war between Eritrea and Ethiopia this year, former friends turned
foes Eritrean President Issais Afeworki and Ethiopian Prime
Minister Meles Zenawi, will also be in Paris.
Sierra Leone's President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah for his part is
struggling to restore authority after a February putsch that was
put down by the west African ECOMOG force set up by the Economic
Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The force is still
fighting off insurgents.
An ECOMOG force is also set to replace Senegalese and Guinean
troops in Guineau-Bissau after a peace deal between government
troops and army mutineers.
The force is being upheld as an example of the kind of regional
peacekeeper capable of warding off war in Africa. Another recent
example was the SADC's authorisation to intervention in Lesotho.
Meanwhile Britain, France and the US have reassessed military
police in Africa, rejecting intervention in favour of on-site
training and prepositioned military back-up for peace battalions>
But though joint military exercises have been staged with
African soldiers this year, the makeup and framework of a future
peace force through the OAU or UN still must be thrashed out.
@ REGISTER-IEC
JOHANNESBURG November 26 1998 Sapa
BELATED AWARENESS CAMPAIGN A MISTAKE, BUT REGISTRATION ON
TRACK: IEC
The Independent Electoral Commission was prepared to admit that
its voter registration awareness campaign should have been launched
earlier, IEC chief electoral officer Mandla Mchunu said on
Thursday.
The organisation had been operating under tight budgetary
constraints though, he told jounalists at a Johannesburg press
conference.
"At the same time, I must emphasise that the negative media
response to Tuesday's announcement that the election registration
is being postponed in four provinces is grossly unfair."
Many newspaper headlines were referring to disorganisation and
shambles, but the IEC had put in a tremendous amount of effort over
the past 18 months and staff were working around the clock, he
said.
"We do not understand why there has been this negative focus...
we call on all South Africans to stop whingeing and to celebrate
our new democracy instead."
Mchunu said he was not trying to present a rosy picture of the
IEC and he wanted to give the public a frank, honest assessment of
some of the minor difficulties he and his staff had encountered
over the past week.
"Bar-code scanners delivered to Thohoyandou in the Northern
Province went missing on Wednesday, but we managed to find others
in our stores and these were delivered."
He said the delivery of knock-and-drop pamphlets in the
Northern Province was delayed, but that this problem too had been
dealt with.
"Some of the civil servant volunteers we were expecting failed
to turn up for their training sessions, but the training will
continue on Thursday in some provinces to catch up with the
backlog," Mchunu said.
Despite these hitches, reports from the five provinces where
registration would start on Friday indicated that IEC staff on the
ground were ready to begin registration.
"We will assess the situation after the weekend and improve
where we can. I welcome any problems we might have with
registration, because we will learn from those mistakes and avoid
making them again during the 1999 election."
He urged South Africans not to deprive themselves of the
opportunity to register, but to book their place to exercise their
fundamental right to vote in 1999.
"Many people are still afraid of the state, and think the
government will be keeping an eye on them if they don't turn up to
register. I would therefore like to stress that the SA National
Defence Force is cooperating with us, not taking over the process."
Mchunu said the SANDF would provide tents, lights and medical
assistance over the weekend, in addition to providing security and
helping people with registration.
The SANDF had also supplied helicopters to drop pamphlets in
inaccessible rural areas.
"I urge people to accept the soldiers this weekend, because
they are our sons and daughters and they are serving the country,"
Mchunu said.
Registration stations will open in Gauteng, the Northern Cape,
Mpumalanga, North West and the Northern Province on Friday morning.
Stations will be open from 7am to 9pm on Friday and Saturday,
and from 7am to 5pm on Sunday.
"We urge people to register now and not to wait until January
or February. The greater the number of voters who register over the
next few weeks, the less the cost to the tax payer will be," Mchunu
said.
@ ANC STATEMENT ON VOTER REGISTRATION WEEK-END
Issued by: African National Congress
Millions of South Africans who ordinarily reside in Gauteng,
Northern Province, North West, Northern Cape and Mpumalanga will go
to voter registration stations in their districts on 27-29 November
1998 to register on the voter's roll.
The ANC sees the 1999 election as an opportunity for all South
Africans to consolidate and deepen the democracy achieved on 27
April 1994. For the consolidation of our democracy, it is vital that
all South Africans who are eligible to vote do so in the forthcoming
1999 election. To vote one has to register on the voter's roll. This
week-end marks the first step for all South Africans to take to
ensure that they all contribute to the deepening of our democracy.
The ANC has been working very hard since the beginning of this
phase of the election campaign to ensure that all its members,
supporters, and all other South Africans who are eligible to vote
take the necessary steps to guarantee their say in the 1999 poll.
The response by all South Africans to the ID and voter
registration campaign mounted by the ANC is very encouraging. There
is no doubt that South Africans want to exercise their democratic
right by voting for a government of their choice. We have no doubt
that they will turn out in their millions to register on the voter's
roll.
While the overwhelming majority of South Africans have been very
positive about this election, some political parties - which seem to
have long outlived their purpose, have been doing their outmost to
undermine the election process. The ANC finds its deplorable that
instead of encouraging their supporters to register, these parties
are spending all their energies trying to undermine and discredit
the country's democratic process.
The ANC has taken note of one of the "mickey mouse" parties'
court bid to allow apartheid identity documents to be used in the
election. We can only surmise that this party is so entangled in its
apartheid past that it wants to retain the old apartheid identity
documents. We all know that the 1994 election marked a decisive blow
to apartheid and it is time these parties realise that their time is
past.
We have no doubt that the overwhelming majority of South
Africans will not allow "mickey mouse" parties to undermine or even
attempt to derail the democratic process.
On Friday, Saturday and Sunday leaders of the ANC, including
President Nelson Mandela will lead millions of South Africans to the
various registration centres in the five provinces to register and
ensure that their names appear on the voter's roll.
Issued by Department of Information and Publicity
26 November 1998
@ REGISTER-ANC
JOHANNESBURG November 26 1998 Sapa
ANC CRITICISES DP COURT BID OVER BARCODED IDS
The African National Congress on Thursday said opposition
parties were trying to undermine the democratic process, but it
remained confident the voter registration weekend would be a
success.
"Some political parties - which seem to have long outlived
their purpose - have been doing their utmost to undermine the
election process," said an ANC statement at a news conference on
registration.
"The ANC finds it deplorable that, instead of encouraging their
supporters to register, these parties are spending all their
energies trying to undermine and discredit the country's democratic
process."
ANC election department head Amos Masondo said that although it
was the first time that over 25 million South Africans would be
involved in voter registration, the party believed the people would
not allow the process to be derailed.
Criticising the Democratic Party's court bid to allow
non-barcoded IDs to be used for voter registration, ANC spokesman
Thabo Masebe denied that it was unfair or discriminatory in intent.
"People have had 12 years to get barcoded IDs. We can only
surmise that this party is so entangled in its apartheid past that
it wants to retain the old apartheid identity documents."
That the majority of those without barcoded IDs were whites was
a matter of great concern to the ANC, Masondo said. But, pointing
out that a large number of ANC members were white, he said this
issue did not disadvantage any particular party. All parties were
going to the election on an equal footing.
Registration for the voter's roll takes place in Gauteng,
Northern Province, North West, Northern Cape and Mpumalanga on
Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
@ AIDS
JOHANNESBURG Nov 27 Sapa
MULTI-FACETED HIV-AIDS FIGHT BY HEALTH DEPT
The Department of Health was unlikely to provide multi-drug
treatment free to Aids patients in the short-term, Department of
Health programme director for HIV-Aids and sexually transmitted
diseases, Rose Smart, said on Thursday.
The treatment was very expensive, at about R1500 a month for
every patient, while the department's budget for HIV-Aids this year
was only R51 million, Smart told Sapa.
Medical aid funds generally had a ceiling on the amount they
would pay out for HIV-Aids treatment.
"Most of the time that ceiling is about R250 a year, so it
doesn't help at all," she said.
The department was instead targeting its drug treatment at the
most common infections HIV-Aids patients caught, such as
tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases.
It was also targeting those most at risk, such as sex workers,
migrant workers and long-distance truck drivers.
According to statistics released by the Joint United Nations
Programme on HIV-Aids and the World Health Organisation this week,
the mining town of Carletonville, south of Johannesburg, was the
HIV hot spot in Gauteng.
About 22 percent of adults there were infected with the disease
- two-thirds higher than the national average. About
three-quarters
of Carletonville's sex workers were believed to be infected and an
estimated 20 percent of mineworkers.
Smart said the department already had an extensive HIV-AIDS
project running in Carletonville.
It was also discussing the problem with mining houses in the
Free State.
In rural areas such as KwaZulu-Natal's Hlabisa, of which a high
proportion of men were working away from home, HIV rates among
pregnant women had risen from four percent in 1993 to 26 percent
last year, according to the UNAIDS-WHO figures.
A document showing future predictions and the anticipated
impact of HIV-Aids in South Africa is to be released on Monday.
This follows a recent workshop dealing with the matter.
Smart told a press conference in Johannesburg on Thursday that
the real challenge in caring for people infected with HIV-Aids was
to create alternatives to hospital treatment.
Community care was cheaper than hospital care, and many
infected people preferred to be treated at home. The department was
trying to put mechanisms in place to support such alternatives to
hospital treatment.
On the KwaZulu-Natal south coast, community care programmes
were linked with non-governmental organisations and clinics to
provide treatment, she said.
Government Aids Action Plan spokesman Mtholephi Mthimkhulu said
there were signs that South Africans' attitudes towards Aids were
changing.
"People are becoming more and more aware that Aids is a
reality. It is with us in this country," he said.
Aids would become a social and economic issue in South Africa
as statistics showed that those most at risk of being infected were
also the most economically active.
"If we don't fight Aids, all the gains of our country will go
down the drain," Mthimkhulu said.
South African celebrities were being recruited to help remove
the stigma associated with HIV-Aids.
Mthimkhulu said the core message of the action plan campaign
was to encourage those with HIV or Aids to disclose their status,
to promote voluntary HIV testing and to encourage the community to
accept those infected.
"We as South Africans have been secretive with this disease for
a long time," he said.
Departmental assistant director Rentia Agenbag told Sapa that
education would play a major role in AIDS awareness.
Last year 10,000 secondary school teachers were trained about
HIV-Aids and life skills, and the department would start piloting a
similar programme next year in primary schools in four provinces.
@ ARTS-NP
CAPE TOWN November 26 1998 Sapa
NP SLAMS MTSHALI'S ATTACK ON JARDINE
The attack on outgoing Arts and Culture director-general, Roger
Jardine, by his Minister, Lionel Mtshali, was a case of the pot
calling the kettle black, the National Party said on Thursday.
Both the African National Congress and Inkatha Freedom Party
tried to squeeze culture and science into their own political
agendas, NP spokesman on arts and culture, Dr Johan Steenkamp, said
in a statement.
Mtshali should apply the "characteristics of discipline,
insight and wise council", which he claimed to be his own, to
ensure that:
- Unscientific government politicians stopped being
prescriptive on the application of research money or the
introduction of university curricula;
- His unsatisfactory replies to parliamentary debates
improved; and
- Science councils and foundations spent research money wisely
on projects of scientific merit, rather than channeling it towards
politically-driven projects "of a dubious nature".
The arts ministry needed a competent official, not a political
pawn, as the new D-G, Steenkamp said.
@ MPUMA-STANDERTON
JOHANNESBURG November 26 1998 Sapa
PHOSA DENIES STANDERTON MAYOR WAS FORCED TO RESIGN
Mpumalanga premier Mathews Phosa on Thursday denied reports
that Standerton's mayor and two other councillors were forced to
resign at a rally in the town on Wednesday.
"Contrary to reports in the media, these gentlemen were not
forced to resign by a mob or any other party, but rather did so
voluntarily," Phosa said in a statement.
The reports said the resignation of mayor Josias Maloi and his
colleagues was on Wednesday witnessed by Phosa and Mpumalanga local
government MEC Craig Padayachee.
Phosa said the officials quit as members of the executive
council, but remained elected town councillors.
He said the council had restructured itself, and the
replacements should be in place in a few days.
@ IMPORT
CAPE TOWN November 26 1998 Sapa
NEW IMPORTATION MEASURES FOR FRUIT, VEGETABLES AND FLOWERS
Agriculture Minister Derek Hanekom on Thursday announced that
the importation of fresh fruit, vegetables and cut flowers would be
authorised by a permit system from January 1.
Permits would only be granted after a pest risk analysis had
been conducted to determine phytosanitary risks to the country's
agricultural industry and environment, he said in a statement.
The import conditions would be based on the pest risk analysis
and would be scientifically justified and consistent with risk
involved.
They should not be restrictive to international trade in plant
and plant products.
These measures would bring South Africa in line with
international standards, guidelines and recommendations of the
World Trade Organisation's agreements on such matters, Hanekom
said.
@ ZIM-LABOUR
HARARE November 26 1998 Sapa-AFP
GOVERNMENT SCORNS LABOUR DEMANDS, SETS SCENE FOR SHOWDOWN
Zimbabwe's government appeared set for a showdown with the
country's militant labour movement after officials scorned new
demands for economic reform Thursday.
"The demands are totally misplaced and misguided," said
Information Minister Chen Chimutengwende.
He accused leaders of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions
(ZCTU) of using the organisation to pursue their own political
ambitions.
The ZCTU, which has paralysed the country through two one-day
strikes in the past two weeks, stepped up its demands last weekend,
going far beyond earlier claims for pay rises and price cuts.
Secretary-General Morgan Tsvangirai called on President Robert
Mugabe to slash the size of his cabinet, reveal the cost of his
intervention in the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and
recover government money lost through corruption.
While waiting for a reply to these demands, the ZCTU cancelled
plans for a third one-day strike on Wednesday this week, while
reserving the right to take further action.
But Chimutengwende said it was not the function of trade unions
to make such demands, apparently echoing sentiments expressed at a
meeting of Mugabe's cabinet earlier this week.
"They are not running the government, but we are," one minister
told the country's premier economic newspaper, the Financial
Gazette.
"If they want they should come into the open and declare that
they are a political party," the unnamed minister said.
Tsvangirai, who has repeatedly denied political ambitions, said
the ZCTU would press ahead with its demands despite the frosty
reception they had received.
"There is no going back on our demands that the government acts
on the issues we outlined to them earlier this week," he said.
Tsvangirai emphasised that the union would take "appropriate
steps" if there was no progress in tripartite talks with the
government and employers, which it wants held before next Monday.
He did not specify what action the unionists would take, but
observers say they are likely to revert to the planned series of
weekly one-day strikes.
@ REGISTER-SAFETY
PRETORIA November 26 1998 Sapa
POLICE AND SOLDIERS AT ALL VOTER REGISTRATION POINTS
Police and soldiers would be used at all voter registration
points from Friday to ensure the safety of the public, the SA
National Defence Force said on Thursday.
Lieutenant-Colonel Laverne Machine said in Pretoria security
plans would be co-ordinated at provincial level by joint police and
defence force centres.
A national operations centre would be in 24-hour contact with
the Independent Electoral Commission.
Voter enrolment is due to take place in the Northern Cape,
Gauteng, Northern Province, Mpumalanga and North West from Friday
to Sunday.
@ REGISTER-DP
JOHANNESBURG November 26 1998 Sapa
VOTER REGISTRATION CAMPAIGN MARRED BY INEFFICIENCY: DP
Members of the public had been subjected to bribery,
inefficiency and rudeness from Department of Home Affairs staff on
the East Rand while applying for voter registration documents, the
Democratic Party said on Thursday.
"The reports vary from members of the public being asked for
money in return for getting to the front of queues to people being
given blatantly incorrect information by untrained or disinterested
staff," said the DP's Gauteng east regional director, Mike Waters.
As a result, disabled and elderly people were being forced to
wait in queues for even longer periods to be attended to.
Waters said voters on the East Rand who heeded the call to get
their temporary registration certificates before the weekend were
not told beforehand that they needed an extra identity photograph.
"Chaos reigns and bad tempers are rife because people wait in
queues for hours and are then turned away. Home Affairs should
appoint floor walkers' to ensure that people are in the right
queues with the correct documents," Waters said.
When asked for comment, Home Affairs spokesman Hennie Meyer
initially laughed, then said he didn't think gross generalisations
warranted serious comment.
"If the DP came to us with specifics we would gladly
investigate, but I'm not really willing to say anything about such
sweeping accusations."
@ ASBESTOS
JOHANNESBURG November 26 1998 Sapa
FIRST TENTATIVE STEPS TAKEN TOWARDS ASBESTOS BAN
The first tentative steps towards South Africa imposing a total
ban on asbestos were taken at a conference in Johannesburg this
week.
It was convened by the National Assembly's environmental
affairs committee, and on Thursday concluded that legislation
should be enacted to ban five of the six types of asbestos.
Delegates, who included academics and representatives of the
asbestos industry, labour, government and the medical fraternity,
also agreed that research should be done on phasing out the use of
the sixth type of asbestos, called chrysotile, or white asbestos.
The conference deliberations will now be taken up in
Parliament.
In a declaration agreed to at the conclusion of the three-day
conference, it was also agree that the system of compensating the
thousands of people who suffered from asbestos-related diseases
should be reviewed.
The process of rehabilitating areas affected by asbestos mining
should also be speeded up, it said.
There was heated debate on whether there should be a total and
immediate ban on all asbestos products.
Asbestos industry spokesman Brian Gibson argued that a
cost-benefit analysis of the effects of a total ban should be
undertaken first. The use of asbestos was so widespread it would
never be eliminated totally, he said.
The industry, which contributes about R650 million a year to
Souoth Africa's GDP, has argued that chrysotile can be used safely
if it is properly regulated, and has urged that legislation be
tightened up.
Rakesh Maharaj, an industrial hygienist at Natal University,
said the chrysotile issue was a contentious one, and it should be
phased out as alternatives became available.
Australian historian Dr Jock Maculloch, who is studying the
South African asbestos industry, rejected the notion of a
cost-benefit analysis, saying the industry had never paid its own
way, and the cost had been borne by workers and taxpayers.
Jerry Ndou, the conveynor of a parliamentary economic
sub-cmmittee on asbestos, told Sapa individuals who had previously
been involved in the asbestos industry, and whose practises caused
wide-scale suffering, had to be found and made to take
responsibility for their actions.
"If this means instituting legal action, then that is what we
will do," he said.
A booklet issued ahead of the conference warned that South
Africa faced an epidemic of asbestos diseases, with tens of
thousands of people estimated to have been exposed to the mineral's
deadly fibres.
Those affected included not only miners and workers in related
manufacturing industries, but also communities who lived close to
asbestos dumps in former mining areas of the Northern Cape, the
Northern Province and Mpumalanga.
@ COSATU-TRUST
JOHANNESBURG November 26 1998 Sapa
COSATU SETS UP TRUST TO ADMINISTER JOB CREATION FUND
The Congress of SA Trade Unions has begun establishing a trust
fund to administer between R1 billion and R2 billion it expects
workers to contribute towards job creation and training.
Organised labour proposed that workers contribute the
equivalent of one day's wages as their contribution to the October
30 job summit.
It appealed to all people with jobs to contribute to the fund.
Cosatu general secretary Mbhazima Shilowa on Thursday told
reporters in Johannesburg that since the money would come from
workers, the federation decided a legal trust should be set up to
administer the funds.
Since Cosatu was asking people beyond its membership to
contribute to the campaign it would appoint prominent non-union
members as trustees.
"We call on all workers, employers, politicians and the broader
society to support this worthy cause," Shilowa said.
Organised labour expected all its 2,5 million members to
contribute to the campaign.
"In fact, we expect all workers to give this money. President
Nelson Mandela is giving his one day's salary and so is Deputy
President Thabo Mbeki, a number of premiers and provincial MEC's,"
Shilowa said.
The campaign is scheduled for March 3 next year.
The bulk of the money raised will go towards job creation and
training.
The fund trustees would decide how the money would be allocated
to ensure that projects delivered concrete benefits for South
Aficans, Shilowa said.
The campaign was agreed to by Cosatu, the National Council of
Trade Unions and the Federated Unions of SA.
@ REGISTRATION-ACDP
PIETERSBURG November 26 1998 Sapa
ACDP LEADER URGES CHRISTIANS TO HELP WITH REGISTRATION PROCESS
The leader of the African Christian Democratic Party, Kenneth
Meshoe, on Thursday appealed to church members to involve
themselves in the registration of voters for next year's election.
Addressing a public meeting in Pietersburg, Meshoe said
Christians should get invloved in politics, reaffirming his party's
opposition to what he termed the threat of a communist takeover in
South Africa.
Meshoe said all aspects of life, including politics, should be
submitted to God.
@ ELECTION-ID
PRETORIA November 26 1998 Sapa
ABOUT 1,8 MILLION VOTERS HOLDING ON TO OLD IDENTITY DOCUMENTS
About 1,8 million eligible voters had made no effort to obtain
the bar-coded identity document required to register for next
year's general election, the Department of Home Affairs said on
Thursday.
"They are still holding on to their IDs without bar-codes for
reasons known only to themselves," director-general Albert Mokoena
told reporters in Pretoria.
He said more than 187000 people waiting for their applications
for new IDs to be processed had also not asked for the temporary
registration certificate that would enable them to enroll as voters
in the meanwhile.
According to the department's latest figures, about 22,2
million of the estimated 25 million voters in the country had so
far been issued with bar-coded IDs.
Mokoena said his department had issued about 2,7 million
bar-coded IDs since January, about 251000 of them in the first
three weeks of November. Another 223000 applications were being
processed.
About 400,000 new IDs were lying unclaimed in Home Affairs
offices around the country.
Mokoena said many IDs posted to applicants appeared not be
reaching their destinations, and the department had ceased mailing
new documents. Instead, people were being asked to collect their
IDs at the point of application.
"Once two months lapse, applicants should start making
enquiries at their offices of application about the whereabouts of
their documents."
Mokoena said claims of negligence by one or two officials might
have resulted in some IDs being stolen, adding that the department
would not hesitate to take disciplinary steps in such cases.
He called on people still in possession of the old identity
document not to delay their application for the bar-coded one.
"If everyone is to postpone that until the end of February,
when another registration blitz will possibly be conducted, we will
be inundated with applications."
This could leave the department with insufficient time to
process all applications.
Mokoena said the department was doing it utmost to limit long
queues at application points.
"The problem is exacerbated by applicants who choose to go to a
specific office, refusing to use other offices where queues are
almost non-existent."
Special arrangements such as mobile office units, employing
extra staff, and extending office hours to expedite ID applications
would continue until a cut-off date for voter registration was
fixed.
The department was confident it would after the final voter
registration be able to determine the number of applications that
had to be processed before election day.
"We are, therefore, still confident that the required documents
will be used in time to meet the various deadlines," Mokoena said.
@ LABOUR-FARMWORKERS
JOHANNESBURG November 26 1998 Sapa
WORKERS MUST DEFEND THEMSELVES AGAINST ABUSIVE FARMERS: SHILOWA
Farmworkers who were assaulted by their employers should fight
back, Congress of SA Trade Unions general-secretary Mbhizima
Shilowa said on Thursday.
Shilowa said at a press briefing in Johannesburg that he had
told farmworkers during a visit to farms in the Vryheid region in
KwaZulu-Natal recently they should not be afraid to act in
self-defence when farmers assaulted them.
Saying he was speaking in his personal capacity and not as a
Cosatu official, Shilowa said farmworkers should defend themselves
against abusive farmers who hit them.
"Workers who are assaulted by farmers must defend themselves
and must assault the farmers back.
"I hope it does not come to this, but workers must get rid of
their fears.
"This does not mean that workers will go out and assault
farmers, but then again, workers must not be assaulted by farmers.
No-one should assault anyone. This must stop either way," Shilowa
said.
He said labourers complained that police did not attend to
their complaints of assault by farmers. In many instances policemen
were family members of farmers, Shilowa added.
@ TOBACCO-LETTER
CAPE TOWN November 26 1998 Sapa
EXPERTS URGE MANDELA TO SIGN TOBACCO BILL
International legal and health experts attending a conference
in Durban on Thursday wrote an open letter to President Nelson
Mandela urging him to sign the tough anti-smoking bill into law.
"The bill is a ringing endorsement of South Africa's commitment
to human freedom, since it upholds the right of its citizens to
enjoy good health," they said.
The Tobacco Products Control Amendment Bill, which was approved
by Parliament this month, seeks to ban tobacco advertising and
sponsorship, and to prohibit smoking in public places.
The Freedom of Commercial Speech Trust has urged Mandela not to
sign it on the grounds that the advertising ban is
unconstitutional.
The signatories to Thursday's letter include the World Health
Organisation's chief of health legislation Dr Genevieve Pinet;
American, Australian, British and South African law professors
working in the health field; and legal experts from India.
One of the American signatories is Professor Richard Daynard,
who has been involved in drawing up the US206 billion settlement
between American tobacco companies and states seeking to recoup
their costs for treating illness in cigarette smokers.
The experts said they believed laws could be effective in
promoting social justice and protecting human rights by preserving
public health.
"This is especially true when the health of populations is
undermined by powerful interests like the tobacco industry, whose
manipulative might renders individual citizens, including children,
vulnerable to addiction and affliction."
Mandela's assent to the bill would advance the global goal to
liberate health from "the tyranny of tobacco trade".
The bill is one of several pieces of legislation which may face
constitutional challenges.
The bills are receiving special scrutiny from Mandela's legal
advisers before they are presented to him for signature.
The Durban conference was on public health law, and was billed
as the first international colloquium on the subject.
@ TAXI-AGREEMENT
PIETERSBURG November 26 1998 Sapa
MPUMALANGA AND NORTHERN PROVINCE SIGN TAXI AGREEMENT
The governments of Mpumalanga and Northern Province on Thursday
signed an agreement aimed at stamping out taxi violence on the
Bushbuckridge-Nelspruit route.
The agreement - known as "Co-operation Nompu" - was signed by
Mpumalanga transport MEC John Mthembu and his Northern Province
counterpart Aaron Motsoaledi.
Only operators with valid permits would be allowed access to
taxi ranks and there would be increased law enforcement along the
route.
In addition, registered taxis would have to display
identification stickers.
Taxi ranks would become the responsibility of Transitional
Local Councils and no taxi association would be allowed to own a
rank.
The agreement comes in the wake of renewed fighting between
rival taxi organisations.
Mthembu said a joint operations centre in Hazyview would be
established and staffed by police and defence force members from
both provinces.
@ REGISTER
CAPE TOWN November 26 1998 Sapa
POLITICAL TEMPERATURE RISES ON EVE OF REGISTRATION
The political temperature rose considerably on Thursday on the
eve of Friday's start to voter registration, with the National
Party announcing it was launching a court application and the
United Democratic Movement claiming procedural irregularities.
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said systems were in
place to prevent duplication of registrations.
It said its staff had put in a huge effort over the past 18
months and were working around the clock to ensure the registration
process - described earlier this month by IEC chairman Judge
Johann Kriegler as the biggest logistical exercise in South
Africa's history - was a success.
Officials around the country will from Friday try to register
an estimated 25 million voters on democratic South Africa's first
voters' roll.
The roll will form the basis of next year's general election
and of all future polls.
National Party leader Marthinus van Schalkwyk announced on
Thursday his party would challenge the law that says only green
bar-coded identity documents can be used for voter registration and
polling.
He said this requirement was unconstitutional, and that the
application should be heard in the Cape High Court within days.
He told journalists that the NP would also ask the court to
rule that the IEC should allow "adequate time" for registration.
The NP's attorneys told Sapa late on Thursday afternoon that no
date had yet been set for the court hearing.
They were still consulting their clients and other counsel.
The African National Congress said it had noted the NP bid to
allow "apartheid identity documents" to be used, and said most
South Africans would not allow "Mickey Mouse" parties to undermine
the democratic process.
Democratic Party federal council chairman Douglas Gibson
welcomed the NP's move.
He said the DP had announced last Monday that it was preparing
documents for a Constitutional Court challenge to the bar-coded
ID-book requirement.
"We are pleased that the NP has reached the same conclusion and
has decided to join our court action."
The UDM in the Western Cape on Thursday objected to
registration forms being handed to ANC officials in the Paarl,
Kraaifontein and Kuils River areas, claiming this could lead to
irregularities.
The IEC's administrative director in the Western Cape,
Granville Abrahams, said it was "garbage" to say there were
irregularities.
The IEC said at a media conference in Johannesburg it was
prepared to admit that its voter registration awareness campaign
should have been launched earlier.
IEC chief electoral officer Mandla Mchunu said the commission
had been operating under a tight budget.
"At the same time, I must emphasise that the negative media
response to Tuesday's announcement that the election registration
is being postponed in four provinces is grossly unfair."
Despite hitches, reports from the five provinces where
registration would start on Friday indicated that IEC staff on the
ground were ready to begin the process.
"We will assess the situation after the weekend and improve
where we can. I welcome any problems we might have with
registration, because we will learn from those mistakes and avoid
making them again during the 1999 election."
Registration stations are to open in Gauteng, the Northern
Cape, Mpumalanga, North West and the Northern Province at 7am on
Friday.
Registration in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State and
KwaZulu-Natal takes place next Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
President Nelson Mandela said this week that depending on the
response, there would be further registration opportunities next
January and February.
@ STRATE-MARCUS
JOHANNESBURG November 26 1998 Sapa
SOUTH AFRICA NEEDS TO CLEAN UP ITS INVESTMENT ETHICS: MARCUS
South Africa needed to clean up its investment ethics to take
its place among world markets, Deputy Finance Minister Gill Marcus
told company directors in Johannesburg on Wednesday night.
Marcus was addressing managing directors and financial
directors of leading South African companies at a function in
Johannesburg introducing the Johannesburg Stock Exchange's STRATE
(Share Transactions Totally Electronic) project.
STRATE, a paperless transaction settlement system, will be
introduced in mid-1999 and is intended to overcome the delays in
transaction settlement and the risk of fraud associated with the
paper-based system.
In a statement released on Thursday, Marcus identified suspect
ethics as an "inhibitor to the JSE taking its place among world
markets".
"We need to protect the integrity of our institutions, and to
ask: are poor ethical standards what we are becoming known for?"
She said the STRATE project would curb the tainted scrip
problem and reduce fraud associated with the paper-based system.
Marcus called for greater disclosure of scrip lending and a
curb on the use of nominee companies, bad practice including price
manipulation, front running and the use of non-voting shares.
She welcomed new legislation on insider trading which shifts
responsibility from the securities regulation panel to the
financial services board, where a special directorate will police
insider trading.
Marcus commended the STRATE initiative, saying that electronic
settlement of JSE trades would boost volumes and encourage
investment in South Africa.
She said the programme would improve South Africa's standing in
terms of settlement risk.
"We shall be able to maximise foreign investment only when we
can offer the security equal to the best global markets," she said.
"The JSE's new project goes a long way towards addressing
this."
"It's a vicious circle," said JSE executive president Russell
Loubser.
"Trading volumes have soared since the advent of electronic
trading and the present paper-based system simply cannot cope. Once
STRATE is up and running, we will be equal to the best in the
world," he said.
The introduction of STRATE will obviate the need for share
certificates, payment by cheque, and the moving of transfer papers
and share certificates around the country.
Under the new system, share ownership will be represented
electronically, and the transfer of share ownership and funds will
take place electronically.
About eight institutions will be connected electronically to
the Central Securities Depository, and these will be known as CSD
participants.
Investors and institutions will have access to the CSD
participant of their choice, and each CSD participant will hold its
own electronic records of share ownership.
The JSE is encouraging the extension of STRATE to securities
markets in other Southern African Development Community countries.
Namibia announced last week it would become part of the
electronic settlement system.
@ JUBILEE
JOHANNESBURG November 26 1998 Sapa
APARTHEID DEBT SHOWS APARTHEID ROLE OF SWISS AND GERMAN BANKS
The level of South Africa's foreign debt accumulated during the
apartheid years highlighted the attempts by the Germans and Swiss
to maintain the policy of oppression, Jubilee 2000 said on
Thursday.
The organisation said research just completed showed that
apartheid-accumulated foreign debt was more than R100 billion,
despite repeated claims by the Ministry of Finance that South
Africa did not have significant debt.
The research also showed that investment by German and Swiss
banks in South Africa increased in the years after 1985, dropped at
the onset of negotiations prior to democracy and declined even
further after the first democratic general election in 1994.
"The German and Swiss banks jumped into the breach in 1985 to
rescue apartheid," said Theo Kneifel, co-ordinator of the German
and Swiss apartheid-caused debt coalition.
Jubilee 2000, an international campaign to cancel the debt of
developing and Third World countries, released the findings at a
seminar on apartheid-caused debt at Khotso House in Johannesburg on
Thursday.
The research report would be formally launched in Germany,
Switzerland and Southern Africa early next year.
Jubilee 2000 said in a statement that the seminar was a first
for South Africa in addressing the impact of apartheid-caused debt
and destabilisation on Southern Africa, and in discussing
strategies to address the effects of the debt its people.
According to its research, the destablisation of the Southern
African region during the apartheid years claimed two million
lives.
Kneifel said not only should apartheid-caused debt be
cancelled, but creditors also should make reparations by
compensating the victims of Southern Africa from the debt amount
already repaid.
"Don't make Southern Africa wait another 50 years as the
victims of Nazi Germany did," he said.
One of the severe limitations of the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission's mandate was that it stopped at the borders of South
Africa.
An important part of the Jubilee 2000 campaign was to take the
TRC to the rest of the region and to Europe.
European creditors had a moral and financial obligation to make
reparations for apartheid-caused damage throughout the region,
Kneifel said.
Canadian Ecumenical Jubilee Initiative spokeswoman Joy Kennedy
said there was a need to ensure debt cancellation was not subject
to conditions imposed by the international financial institutions
- notably the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
Seminar participants, which included representatives from
churches, trade unions, and civic and non-governmental
organisations, pledged to step up the international campaign to
cancel apartheid-caused debt.
@ ANC LEADERSHIP DEPLOYMENT
Issued by: African National Congress Gauteng Province
The Gauteng Province of the ANC is confident that the high
turnout of civil servants volunteers and members of the SANDF at
training sessions organised by the IEC will contribute to a smooth
and efficient registration process. We urge all presiding officers to
open registration centres on time. We have mobilised our membership
and communities to turnout in large numbers and register. South
Africans of all races will appear for the first time on a common
voters roll and this is yet another victory for democracy.
The African National Congress has deployed its leadership in
Gauteng to encourage voters to register this weekend. The ANC is
confident that the overwhelming majority of South Africans are in
possession of bar-coded identity documents. We encourage those
Gauteng residents who do not have bar-coded identity documents to
immediately contact their local Home Affairs offices to get authentic
certificate for registration purposes. Home Affairs offices will be
opened throughout the registration process in our Province.
The President of the ANC, comrade Thabo Mbeki will register in
the Capital City, Pretoria on Sunday, 29 November 1998, 10H30 cnr
Duncan and Prospect street, Hatfield. Prominent leaders of the ANC
will register at different registration centres throughout the
Province including the Secretary-General of the ANC, comrade Kgalema
Motlanthe, at Midrand, on Friday 27, 09H00. Comrade Walter and
Albertina Sisulu will register at Uncle Tom's Hall in Orlando West,
Soweto.
Comrade Valli Moosa will register at Emmarentia Primary School on
Friday, w27 November at 09H00. Comrade Nelson Mandela will register
at Lower Houghton Primary School, 1st Avenue, Houghton Friday, 27 at
08H00. Other outstanding ANC leaders including comrade Ahmed Kathrada
and Tokyo Sexwale will join President Mandela and register in Lower
Houghton. The Mayor of Johannesburg, comrade Isaac Mogase will
register in Diepkloof, Zone 4 and later join President Mandela in
Alexandra Township.
Issued by the GAUTENG ANC COMMUNICATION CENTRE, 207 JEPPE STREET
JOHANNESBURG NED KEKANA, 082 900 0096.
@ NP-GLENCOE
JOHANNESBURG November 26 1998 Sapa
NP WINS GLENCOE BY-ELECTION
The National Party on Wednesday won the municipal by-election
in Glencoe, KwaZulu-Natal, taking its by-election wins to 58 in the
past 23 months, the party announced on Thursday.
The NP said in a statement its candidate Allen Schonken
received more than four votes to every one gained by independent
candidate Peter Khumalo in Glencoe, near Ladysmith.
After the NP's 1996 victory at Glencoe, when it polled 166
votes compared to 40 for the African National Congress, neither the
ANC, the Inkatha Freedom Party, the Democratic Party nor the United
Democratic Movement had the courage to participate this time, the
NP claimed.
@ REGISTER-DP
JOHANNESBURG November 26 1998 Sapa
VOTER REGISTRATION CAMPAIGN MARRED BY INEFFICIENCY: DP
Members of the public had been subjected to bribery,
inefficiency and rudeness from Department of Home Affairs staff on
the East Rand while applying for voter registration documents, the
Democratic Party said on Thursday.
"The reports vary from members of the public being asked for
money in return for getting to the front of queues to people being
given blatantly incorrect information by untrained or disinterested
staff," said the DP's Gauteng east regional director, Mike Waters.
As a result, disabled and elderly people were being forced to
wait in queues for even longer periods to be attended to.
Waters said voters on the East Rand who heeded the call to get
their temporary registration certificates before the weekend were
not told beforehand that they needed an extra identity photograph.
"Chaos reigns and bad tempers are rife because people wait in
queues for hours and are then turned away. Home Affairs should
appoint floor walkers' to ensure that people are in the right
queues with the correct documents," Waters said.
When asked for comment, Home Affairs spokesman Hennie Meyer
initially laughed, then said he didn't think gross generalisations
warranted serious comment.
"If the DP came to us with specifics we would gladly
investigate, but I'm not really willing to say anything about such
sweeping accusations."
@ MANDELA ADDRESS FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS ASSOCIATION
Issued by: Office of the President
Johannesburg, 26 November 1998
Dr Werner Vogt;
Members of the Foreign Correspondents Association;
Ladies and gentlemen,
A meeting with members of the Foreign Correspondents Association
has become a firm and much valued part of our annual calendar, I have
noted, though, that in some years I am given dinner and in others
merely breakfast. I must have done something right this year!
Perhaps as people with your professional ears to the ground you have
ben alerted to my achievement in reaching the age of eighty years!
As another year draws to a close, towards the end of the term of
the first democratic government's term, and on the eve of a
transition to a new President, there are natural pressures to engage
in reviews of the past and speculation about the future. Indeed
these are important and necessary functions. However, judging by
what several newspapers said a few days ago about the shape of a
future cabinet, one may have to keep the proverbial pinch of salt
close at hand when unnamed sources become fortune tellers!
The principal danger of too great a preoccupation with what has
happened and what may develop, is that we can lose sight of
important current developments. With your permission therefore my
emphasis will be less on the shape of things to come and things
past.
For the same reason, although I was kindly invited to use this
opportunity, if I so wished, to reflect on the role of the media and
its relations with government. I will not do so. My inclination is
that we should eschew the temptation to fill our pages with
reflections on ourselves, lest we diminish the primary value of the
media as a mirror to society and government.
Having said that I would like to take this opportunity to put on
record our appreciation of your efforts to give the world a window
onto South Africa's transformation. That is said with particular
feeling at the end of a year which has brought home as never before
the concrete reality of globalisation and the imperatives of
interdependence. Your work, we have no doubt, has contributed to the
understanding in the major centres of the world of the course we are
charting and of our determination to maintain it.
Ladies and gentlemen;
Interdependence is one of the themes on which I would like to
reflect. This is not so much as it affects relations between
nations, peoples and regions, though that has been an intense focus
of my own activities during this past year, but rather within our
own society as it takes new shape.
Underlying our political transition was a consensus that could
be taken as the founding pact of the new nation we are building. It
included the recognition that we are one nation with one destiny,
and that the differences amongst us, political or otherwise are
transcended by the need to survive and prosper together. There was
no other choice.
Such was the spirit that informed the establishment of our
democracy and the launch of such vital institutions as NEDLAC. Such
was the climate that saw a broad consensus on a programme of
reconstruction and development in order to transform our society.
It was therefore disturbing some two years ago to note the
re-emergence of the old fault-lines in our society, in how different
sectors of our society perceived what was happening and where we
should be going as a nations. Since then published opinion research
has documented this divergence of perceptions. Political leaders,
rather than seeking the common ground defined by our founding
consensus, sharpened differences. The vigilance of opposition was
not always kept distinct from mere point-scoring or the defence of
privilege. National consensus in some important areas began to
appear less as a point of departure than an aspiration.
This climate was exacerbated by challenges such as how to deal
with the inhumanities in our past in a way that brings healing and
reconciliation; decisive steps to deal with the imbalances of the
past; and how to turn round the moral decay we inherited and which
fans scourges such as crime, corruption and poor civic
responsibility.
I has always been our conviction that in most important
respects, ordinary South Africans are far in advance of their
political leaders. Several developments during the past month or so
has vindicated this belief.
Sectoral alliances and partnerships in very many critical areas
have risen to the needs of the moment. It is no exaggeration to say
that the number and importance of these initiatives constitute a
significant development. They give expression to the recognition
that there are indeed matters which stand above the cut and thrust
of politics.
The Summit on Rural Safety and Security forged a common approach
between farmers, government and our security services. It thereby
made the security of the farming community the practical concern of
the nation as a whole. Across the board, the assessment is that we
are making real progress in this area.
The launch of the Partnership Against Aids every sector of civil
society accepted the responsibility for turning the tide of a
disease that threatens our nation with a crisis that could undo all
our efforts.
The Morals Summit has mobilised our religious bodies and
political organisations in joint leadership of the efforts to
regenerate the morality of our society.
In doing so it has brought critical support to the government's
programmes to combat crime and root our corruption, fraud and the
evasion of tax.
The Jobs Summit signalled the fact that the most powerful
organised forces in our society recognised their shared
responsibility for harnessing the potential of all South Africans to
create opportunities for a better life.
To these events one could add the reception by the media and the
public of the results of the 1996 Census. They have been accepted as
defining a common reference point that sets out the legacy and
challenges of social inequality and deprivation.
One of the notable features of these developments has been that
the centre stage has been occupied by organisations and structures
of civil society; community organisations; business, big and small;
trade unions; youth and women's organisations; and religious
communities.
This bodes well for our prospects of dealing with the problems
which gave rise to these responses, as well as others that some may
think more likely to bring division and tension rather than
reconciliation.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission has given the nation an
interim report which we must use to move further towards a common
understanding of our past.
There will naturally be debate around the decision of the Human
Rights Commission to investigate racism in the media. But we hope
and are convinced that the investigation can contribute to a common
understanding of the extent to which racism still plays a part in
our national life.
We still face a difficult international economic environment,
but it is now common cause that we have weathered the global
financial storm better than most emerging economies, thanks to the
strength of our fundamentals and the consistent application of the
right polices. Whatever downward fluctuation there may be in the
indicators, it is no idle statement to say that these are exceptions
to the rule.
Nor finally, is there any reason why the approaching elections
should not leave us, as did the first democratic elections of 1994,
a stronger and more united nation, ready to surpass the progress
that has been made in these first years of our freedom.
In this regard, we take encouragement from the gathering
response of civil servants and other members of the public, to the
call to ensure that registration is effective so that the voice of
South Africa's people can be clearly heard in next year's elections.
Ladies and gentlemen;
As you seek to give the world an account of what has ben
achieved in these first four years of South Africa freedom, and what
may lie ahead, I hope that you will find that my reflections today
prove pertinent. I have no doubt that we will all benefit from your
perceptions and analysis.
I thank you.
@ SARS-TAXDEBT
PRETORIA November 26 1998 Sapa
SARS ADOPTS EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES TO RECOVER UNPAID TAX
The South African Revenue Service on Thursday said it planned
to use provisions of the Income Tax Act to seize shares ceded to
Sanlam policy owners in terms of demutualisation in order to
recover unpaid taxes.
In a statement, it said it had been forced to review its tax
collection strategy and adopt extraordinary measures because of the
high level of unpaid tax.
"Over the past years debt has accumulated to such an extent
that extraordinary measures have had to be taken to ensure
compliance with the tax laws of the country," it said.
SARS said it was responsible for collecting R180 billion for
the financial year ending March 31, 1999.
Currently it was owed about R15 billion, an amount it described
as unacceptably high.
@ MANDELA-CORRESPONDENTS
JOHANNESBURG November 26 1998 Sapa-AFP
MANDELA LASHES OUT AT "MICKEY MOUSE" WHITE PARTIES
President Nelson Mandela Thursday lashed out at what he termed
"Mickey Mouse" white parties which he said are opposing
transformation in South Africa.
"There are traditional white political parties in this country
that are blocking our programmes to better the lives of our
people," Mandela told foreign correspondents at their annual dinner
here.
"We cannot tolerate that."
He said his ruling African National Congress (ANC) wanted to
secure a two-thirds majority in next year's second democratic
elections "to ensure that we are not interfered with by Mickey
Mouse parties who have no commitment to democracy."
His comments came on the eve of the start Friday of
registration of voters in the country for next year's second
democratic elections, and hours after the main opposition National
Party, which ruled during the apartheid era, said it would contest
the registration process in court.
Mandela said whites had made "an enormous mistake" when they
voted into political power the former apartheid government, which,
he added, had turned the country into the pariah of the world.
He urged whites to follow the example of the white members of
his cabinet, Trade and Industry Minister Alec Erwin and Land
Affairs Minister Derek Hanekom, who he said are committed to
transformation.
Answering questions, he said corruption on the part of former
freedom fighters who had come into government was "one of the
saddest blows."
But he defended his own party's response to corruption.
"There is a massive difference between our response and the
apartheid government's response," Mandela said. "We are transparent
about it."
An investigative unit he had appointed, headed by Judge Willem
Heath, had already probed more than 90,000 cases of corruption, he
said.
"That is the difference; because we are arresting everybody,
including members of the ANC who are found guilty of corruption.
"We have government structures like the Public Protector, the
Human Rights Commission, the Constitutional Court.
"Any South African who feels threatened can go to these bodies
and complain," Mandela said.
He described Deputy President Thabo Mbeki, who is certain to
succeed him when he steps down at next year's elections, as a
"hugely talented young person."
"I have no doubt that there will be life after the old man is
gone," he said.
"When I was in jail fighting with warders ... he was meeting
world leaders. I have no doubt he is committed to nation building.
He is committed to reconciliation. He subscribes to the view that
there are good men and women in all communities in this country."
In his prepared speech, Mandela warned the media against too
great a preoccupation with what might develop in South Africa's
political future at the risk of losing sight of important current
developments.
@ TOURISM
JOHANNESBURG November 26 1998 Sapa
SATOUR TO BE RELAUNCHED AT TOURISM SUMMIT
The newly transformed government tourism marketing agency,
Satour, is to be relaunced at a tourism summit in Midrand on
December 7, the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
said in a statement on Thursday.
The summit, convened by Environmental Affairs and Tourism
Minister Pallo Jordan, would discuss strategies for unlocking
potential in the country's R23 billion tourism industry.
Jordan said: "The central objective is to announce and further
pursue the development of effective partnerships between
government, business and communities to aggressively accelerate
tourism growth."
Key questions to be addressed would be funding partnerships
between government and the private sector, and the intensification
of training programmes in the industry, said Jordan.
@ EASTCAPE-HOSPITALS
BISHO November 26 1998 Sapa
AG REPORTS BACKLOG IN REPAIRS, DEBT AT EAST CAPE HOSPITALS
Eastern Cape auditor-general Chris Oosthuisen has told the
provincial legislature that years of neglect had contributed to an
estimated backlog of R1,2 billion in repairs and renovations at
hospitals in the province.
Sixty percent of the backlog pertained to hospitals in the
Umtata region.
In a report tabled in the legislature this week, Oosthuisen
said he had also found numerous discrepancies in service provision
and management at the province's hospitals, with a amount of R46,4
million in outstanding hospital fees up to March 1997.
The performance audit focused mainly on planning, control and
management of information and human resources and was carried out
by a steering committee consisting of senior health department
officials and an audit team from the AG's office.
Oosthuisen said hospital fees of R46,4 million were outstanding
by March 31, 1997, and in at least three hospitals about R5 million
in fees were written off during the 1996/97 fiscal year.
The audit found that health services were fragmented in the
former Transkei, Ciskei and the former Cape Provincial
Administration and that services had not been distributed
equitably.
For example, Queenstown (with a population of 920000) and
Kokstad (with a population of 1,2 million) did not have chronic
disease hospitals, while the Umtata area did not have a mental
hospital for its 1,3 million people.
Patients from these regions needing radiotherapy had to be
referred to outside hospitals at an ambulance cost of R102 per
50km.
The report said the transportation of patients, officials and
services had been hampered by a lack of vehicles at hospitals and
regional offices.
Equipment in hospitals was not always in working condition or
replaced timeously, and there was insufficient equipment and
accommodation facilities for the growing number of patients.
Umtata General Hospital's tumble-driers had not been working
for 10 years and, although new drirs were received in May 1997,
these were not installed.
Linen and clothing were dried in the open, but when it rained
there was an acute shortage of dry linen and clothing for patients.
The audit found that auxiliary staff at Umtata General and
Chest Hospital's dispensaries had no pharmaceutical background, and
no formal training programmes were offered to remedy the situation.
Stock delivered by the central medical store to the Umtata
General Hospital was received by whoever was on duty and was not
checked.
Staff did not record the medicines received or issued, which
made it impossible to detect losses in pharmaceutical stock.
In May 1997, a staff member was caught stealing medicines worth
R2000 and a parcel containing R6000 worth of medicines was found
dumped in a dustbin outside the dispensary, the report noted.
The report also highlighted an acute shortage of medical and
administrative personnel at hospitals in the province.
At Bisho Hospital, for instance, the beds per doctor ratio was
56:1 against the recommended 10:1.
The Cecilia Makiwane Hospital in Mdantsane had to transfer
patients needing treatment for ear, nose and throat to Frere
Hospital in East London owing to a shortage of surgeons, the report
said.
@ EDUC-UNITRA
UMTATA November 26 1998 Sapa
SKWEYIYA RECOMMENDS REMOVAL OF MOLEAH AS UNITRA VICE-CHANCELLOR
Advocate Louis Skweyiya, who is investigating maladministration
charges against the University of Transkei management, has
recommended the removal of vice-chancellor Alfred Moleah.
Academic sources on campus on Thursday said Skweyiya
recommended that an independent management be appointed in place of
Professor Moleah. This caretaker management should be headed by
someone experienced enough to take over as university principal.
University spokeswoman Debbie Garraway-Stayers confirmed that
the Unitra council would meet on Friday to discuss Skweyiya's
report.
The report has already been released to Education Minister
Sibusiso Bengu and gazetted as prescribed by the Higher Education
Act of 1997.
In a letter to Unitra council chairman Dumisa Ntsebeza, Bengu
said action had to be taken immediately to remedy the unstable
situation of the Unitra management.
The letter also said: "I view the recommendations that Unitra
council should immediately consider the future of Professor Moleah
and the appointment of an independent caretaker management as
critical issues for restoring the university as a functional and
efficient institution...."
Bengu's letter called on the Unitra council to respond within
five working days after Friday's meeting.
Garraway-Stayers said the council would also discuss staff
retrenchments, which cost hundreds of workers their jobs while
outside companies were contracted as alternative service providers.
The retrenchments, effected on the recommendation of Unitra
management, were subsequently declared unlawful by a Durban labour
court approached by the National Education, Health and Allied
Workers' Union.
@ EXPORT-ERWIN
JOHANNESBURG November 26 1998 Sapa
SOUTH AFRICANS SHOULD NOT UNDER-ESTIMATE THEMSELVES: ERWIN
Trade and Industry Minister Alec Erwin on Thursday night said
South Africans should change and stop under-selling themselves.
Erwin was speaking at the President's Export Award dinner at
Gallagher Estates in Midrand.
The function was attended by government officials and captains
of industry from the private and public sectors.
He said: "We are in a time of change politically. It is not so
easy to reach an accommodation or understanding about the country."
He said the country had been divided by racism, and only a few
years ago members of government were categorised as terrorists and
a minister as a communist.
Erwin said the country faced challenges, including an increase
in crime, but was blessed with an abundance of riches - both
natural resources, such as mining, and its people.
He said South Africans believed it possible to win on the rugby
field, had a glimmer of hope in cricket and proved they could win
the marathon in athletics.
He called on South Africans to commit themselves more to export
promotion so that in five, ten or 15 years they could say: "We
changed the world."
@ MANDELA-EXPORT
JOHANNESBURG November 26 1998 Sapa
COUNCIL TOLD TO INCREASE MANUFACTURED EXPORTS IN THREE YEARS
President Nelson Mandela on Thursday night said he had
challenged the National Export Advisory Council to devise
strategies that would ensure the contribution of manufactured
exports to total exports increased from 20 percent to 30 percent
over the next three years.
Mandela was giving a video taped address at the President's
Award for Export Achievement at Gallagher Estates in Midrand.
"I also gave them (NEAC) specific tasks to address the export
financial system, transport logistics and the strengthening of
institutional capacity for export promotion."
"I have no doubt therefore our export performance will
significantly benefit from these efforts."
Mandela said government's economic policies had been geared
towards creating macro-economic stability where private firms could
improve and enhance their efficiency to become competitive players
in the global market.
@ MBEKI'S SCHEDULE FROM 29 NOV - 16 DEC 1998
Issued by: Office of Deputy President T.M. Mbeki
DEPUTY PRESIDENT THABO MBEKI'S SCHEDULE FROM 29 NOV - 16 DECEMBER
1998
Sunday 29 November
Arrival from France
* Registers for elections (more info contact ANC Headquarters -
Smuts Ngonyama (082-569-2061) or Thabo Masebe (082-575-3978)
Monday 30 November
* attends ANC officials and National Working Committee meeting
(contact ANC for more information)
Tuesday 1 December
* 9h00 - delivering a keynote address to the Southern Africa
Trade and Investment Summit, Cape Sun Hotel, Strand Street Cape
Town.
* 19h30 - address World Aids Day Gallagher Estates, Midrand,
Gauteng
Wednesday 2 December
8h30-13h00 - Attends cabinet meeting, Pretoria
Thursday 3 December
8h30-17h45 attends Advisory Committee on Protection of the Seas
Conference, Old Assembly Chamber Cape Town
Monday 7 - Wednesday 9 December
* Attending ANC National Executive Committee meeting (contact
Smuts Ngonyama/Thabo Masebe at ANC Headquarters)
Wednesday 9 December
18h00 - attends launch of book on speeches f the Deputy President,
Inter-Continental Hotel Sandton, Johannesburg.
Thursday 10 December
19h20 - addresses launch of Blue Train II, Hyatt Park Hotel,
Rosebank, Johannesburg
Friday 11 December
8h55 - speech by Deputy President before departure of Blue Train II,
Park Station Johannesburg
Saturday 12 December
7h30 - address by Deputy President on arrival of Blue Train II in
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
18h44 - photo-opportunity at Victoria Falls with Heads of State of
Zimbabwe, Botswana and Mozambique
19h15 - address by Deputy President at the courtyard of Victoria
Falls
Sunday 13 December
14h50-15h10 - addresses the Eighth Assembly of the World Council of
Churches, University of Zimbabwe
Monday 14 December
10h00-17h00 - attends ANC officials/National Working Committee
meeting (contact Smuts Ngonyama or Thabo Masebe for more info)
Tuesday 15 December
Attends internal office meetings.
Wednesday 16 December - 4 January
Deputy President rests.
For more info contact Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853
Issued by Office of Deputy President T.M. Mbeki
Communications Division
P/Bag X955
Pretoria
0001
26 November 1998.
@ EASTCAPE-WORKS
MDANTSANE, Eastern Cape November 26 1998 Sapa
EASTCAPE PUBLIC WORKS HANDS OVER FIVE COMMUNITY PROJECTS
The Eastern Cape public works department on Thursday handed
over five community-based projects valued at R11 million in Cala
and Mdantsane.
Speaking at the opening of the Masizakhe Youth Centre in
Mdantsane, Public Works Minister Jeff Radebe said he was proud that
the government had made great strides in reducing unemployment.
"The policy of our government is to prioritise community
initiatives and projects, and the construction of this centre is an
important contribution to local economic development," he said.
Radebe acknowledged that poverty in the Eastern Cape remained
the highest in the country, but said he was confident the
province's people would show greater unity in fighting the legacy
of the past.
The Masizakhe centre will accommodate 72 youths and 18
permanent jobs have been created.
The four projects in Cala include a community hall, upgrading
of Arthur Tsengiwe College, construction of roads, storm water
drainage and water supply.
Speaking at the handover ceremony in Cala, public works MEC
Thobile Mhlahlo attributed the success of the projects to
partnerships between government, traditional leaders, communities
and business.
He said the programme was intended to address the lack of
infrastructure in rural disadvantaged communities.
"These projects are monuments to the years of suffering and
pain which the brave and courageous people of the Eastern Cape had
to endure," Mhlahlo said.
@ N/L-REGISTER
CAPE TOWN November 26 1998 Sapa
ELECTIONS OPEN TO FRAUD WITHOUT CODED ID-BOOKS: HOME AFFAIRS
The 1999 elections would be open to unacceptable levels of
fraud should voters be allowed to present documents other than
bar-coded identity books, the Department of Home Affairs said on
Thursday.
The Department was responding to reports that the National
Party and Democratic Party intend challenging the constitutionality
of the Electoral Act which stipulates that only green bar-coded
identity documents can be used for voter registration and polling.
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Lindiwe Sisulu, said for
historical reasons, large sectors of the population possessed more
than one identity document - often with different names. This
would open our election to massive unacceptable levels of fraud."
Past elections had demonstrated the limited efficiency of other
techniques, she said.
"The department...has reviewed the constitutionality of the
Electoral Act and remains convinced that any challenges would be
frivolous and unfounded.
"Government has not only the right, but it is also their duty
to ensure that citizens have an equal right to vote and a fair
election, neither of which can be guaranteed in the existing
context."
Sisulu said the country had to pull together to ensure the
elections were an administrative success. Any challenges to the
act, no matter how frivolous, could be disruptive to the election
process.
"There are some national challenges in which all leaders should
stand together irrespective of political divisions," she said.
"It is very saddening, that for the sake of political
expediency and grandstanding, some political parties seem to have
chosen to become part of the problem rather than the contributing
towards a solution."
NP leader Marthinus van Schalkwyk announced on Thursday his
party would challenge the bar-coded ID-book requirement.
He said this requirement was unconstitutional, and that the
application should be heard in the Cape High Court within days.
He told journalists that the NP would also ask the court to
rule that the IEC should allow "adequate time" for registration.
The NP's attorneys told Sapa late on Thursday afternoon that no
date had yet been set for the court hearing.
DP federal council chairman Douglas Gibson welcomed the NP's
move.
The DP had announced last Monday that it was preparing
documents for a Constitutional Court to challenge the law.
"We are pleased that the NP has reached the same conclusion and
has decided to join our court action."
The African National Congress said it had noted the NP bid to
allow "apartheid identity documents" to be used, and said most
South Africans would not allow "Mickey Mouse" parties to undermine
the democratic process.
Officials around the country will from Friday try to register
an estimated 25 million voters on democratic South Africa's first
voters' roll.
The roll will form the basis of next year's general election
and of all future polls.
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said systems were in
place to prevent duplication of registrations.
It said its staff had put in a huge effort over the past 18
months and were working around the clock to ensure the registration
process - described earlier this month by IEC chairman Juge
Johann Kriegler as the biggest logistical exercise in south
africa's history - was a success.
The United Democratic Movement in the Western Cape on Thursday
objected to registration forms being handed to ANC officials in the
Paarl, Kraaifontein and Kuils River areas, claiming this could lead
to irregularities.
@ MBEKI-ARMS
PARIS November 27 1998 Sapa-AFP
MBEKI DEFENDS SOUTH AFRICA'S CHOICE OF ARMS SUPPLIERS
South African Vice-President Thabo Mbeki said here Thursday
that his government's failure to award any contract to France in a
five billion dollar plan to re-equip its armed forces, ought not to
cause "any particular tension" with France.
"I don't think that the French government, the French
companies, the French people, think that the relations between
France and South Africa will be constructed on the sale of
weapons," Mbeki said.
Mbeki, who was guest of the Institute of International
Relations soon after arriving for the 20th Franco-African summit,
said that in awarding its arms contracts South Africa had "tried to
make sure that this process was as fair and balanced as possible".
"The criterium was set, the requirement was set. They were the
same for everybody and people responded to the best of their
ability," he said.
Alluding to the disappointment of the French arms industry at
being left out of such a huge contract, Mbeki said that in the arms
industry all the firms knew full well what their rivals could and
could not achieve.
Several countries had been in competition for months for what
had been billed as the "contract of the century" for South Africa.
Finally, the biggest contract went to a Swedish-British
consortium comprising British Aerospace and Saab for 28 Gripen
fighter planes and 24 training aircraft.
Italy's Agusta will supply 40 light helicopters and Britain's
Westland heavy naval helicopters, while a German consortium won a
contract to supply frigates and three submarines.
+-----------------------------------------------------------+
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A N C D A I L Y N E W S B R I E F I N G
TUESDAY 1 DECEMBER 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'.
@ AIDS-REPORT
JOHANNESBURG November 30 1998 Sapa
AIDS PANDEMIC FUELLED BY APARTHEID'S LEGACY: REPORT
The spread of the HIV/Aids pandemic in South Africa has been
fuelled by the apartheid legacy of the migrant labour system, the
accompanying proliferation of sexually transmitted diseases and the
subordinate status of women, the first official SA Human
Development Report has found.
The report released on Monday said: "The determinants of the
epidemic cannot be explained only in terms of individual
risk-taking behaviour.
"The causal factors are rather to be found in the poverty and
deprivation experienced by most South Africans and in the social,
economic and political alienation suffered by most of the
population as a result of the country's history."
The report, sponsored by the United Nations Development
Programme and UNAIDS, cited the pandemic as one of the most tragic
aspects of the social legacy of apartheid, and one of the most
daunting challenges facing South Africa.
It also focused on the relationship between HIV/Aids and
development, poverty, social dislocation and an artificially
distorted and discrimatory labour market and lack of access to
basic services.
The report said the pandemic threatened to reverse progress in
human development and democracy, and delay progress in achieving
sustainable economic growth.
The impact of the high rate of HIV infection on the Gross
Domestic Product was incremental and the effects on the public
health sector were multiple - all at a time of severe budgetary
constraints.
According to the global human development report for 1998,
South Africa has one of the highest human development ratings among
sub-Saharan African countries, surpassed only by the Seychelles and
Mauritius within the Southern African Development Community.
In terms of economic performance measured by per capita income,
South Africa was placed 80th in the world.
But in terms of the human development index - a combination of
per capita income, life expectancy and educational attainment - it
was placed 89th.
This implied that South Africa had been less successful in
translating economic performance into effective improvements in
human development for most of its people, the report said.
Projections of the path of the epidemic suggested the overall
prevalence would reach almost 25 percent of South Africa's
population by 2010.
By that year, life expectancy was expected to drop from 68,2 to
48 years.
By the same year, it was expected there would be 750,000 HIV
orphans in South Africa. They would experience severe problems with
getting adequate nuturition and education.
This personal and social deprivation could in turn increase
their exposure to the risk of HIV infection.
The report said while South Africa has been classified as a
middle-income country, the extent of poverty and inequality among
people showed that income had not been invested equitably in human
development. This undermined the coping capacity and development
prospects of vulnerable groups.
The brunt of poverty was carried at household level and there
would be a disproportionate impact caused by the HIV/Aids pandemic
on the most economically active members of the home. This would
increase the burden on the young and old, who were themsleves in
need of care.
"Poverty and HIV/Aids are two of the most devastating pandemics
ever to hit Southern Africa. The combined effect of these two
crises on the human and economic fabric of South Africa is only now
beginning to sink in among most communites," the report said.
It warned there were few prospects for arresting the spiral in
the near future. There was also a real and significant cost for the
economy and society.
"It is precisely because South Africa has a relatively
sophisticated economic system that its economic performance is so
vulnerable to the effects of the epidemic."
"Modelling of the epidemic elswhere has demonstrated that the
more skilled and experienced the population experiencing HIV
infection, the greater the impact will be.
"Over time the epidemic will have significant sectoral and
macro-economic impacts unless effective policies and programmes are
immediately put in place to plan for and address effects on labour
supply and labour productivity."
Effective prevention and care were two sides of the same coin
that had to be addressed together.
"It is clear, for example, that the formal health system will
not be able to cope with the increased demands of those infected
with HIV and Aids.
"The answer is not to wait for the system to collapse under
pressure. What is required is a rethink of how best to support and
extend community-based care and support for those infected and
affected."
Goverment at central, provincial and local level had an
important role to play in redesigning health and social support
systems in partnership with the private sector, unions,
non-governmental organisations and communites, which would
strengthen the capacity of the health sector.
It was crucial to recognise the mutually reinforcing
relationship between poverty and HIV infection.
"The sooner this is realised the more successful will be the
efforts to arrest the swift spreading disaster. The response to
HIV/Aids must be part of a broader strategy of increasing access to
basic services, infrastructure and opportunities," the report said.
The report was, however, hopeful that the further spread of the
disease could be contained with commitment from the highest levels
of government, and that South Arica could win the fight against the
epidemic.
@ TRUTH-SDUS
JOHANNESBURG November 30 1998 Sapa
MZIZI'S HOUSE SET ALIGHT BECAUSE HE BROUGHT HARDSHIP TO THOKOZA
The house of then Thokoza councillor and Inkatha Freedom Party
member Abram Mzizi was burnt down in the early '90s because he
brought hardship and misery to township residents, the Truth and
Reconciliation Commission's amnesty committee heard on Monday.
Amnesty applicant Themba Xaba, a member of the Thokoza
self-defence unit, told the committee's hearing in Mayfair in
Johannesburg that if Mzizi had died in the incident, this would
have brought joy to residents.
The house was attacked with petrol bombs during the height of
political party rivalry between the African National Congress and
the IFP. This rivalry on the Reef resulted in the deaths of more
than 3000 people between 1990 and 1994.
Xaba said they prepared petrol bombs, travelled to Mzizi's
house, and checked whether or not police were around before
throwing the bombs into the house.
"We did not wait to see what was hapenning because we were
afraid the police would come and arrest us," he said.
He said they were sure that Mzizi was alone in the house at the
time because his family had been visiting relatives.
The hearing started an hour-and-a-half late because Mzizi and
other victims who had allegedly suffered in the hands of these
defence units arrived late.
In terms of legislation governing the TRC, the victims are to
be afforded an opportunity to either oppose or support
applications.
The hearing continues.
@ DP-SPORT
JOHANNESBURG November 30 1998 Sapa
TSHWETE SHOULD STOP PLAYING POLITICS IN SPORT: DP
The Democratic Party on Monday condemned Sport Minister Steve
Tshwete's announcement at the weekend that the government would
intervene in the selection of national cricket and rugby teams.
Tshwete's comments at a sports function contradicted views he
had reportedly expressed on the same issue previously, DP spokesman
on sport Mike Ellis said.
Ellis referred to remarks attributed to Tshwete in the Weekend
Argus in March 1994. "We cannot allow tokenism. Colour decoration
(of teams) is dangerous. It will destroy young talent if you
promote players simply because they are black. These players must
grow through the ranks," Tshwete was quoted as saying.
The DP said it stood by its belief that merit, and merit only,
should determine the selection of national sports teams.
"The application of affirmative action in sport by way of
substituting the best players of one racial group with less
competent players of another in order to make teams racially more
representative will make a mockery of competitive sport," Ellis
said.
"It will also be an insult to players selected in this way. No
sportsperson worth his or her salt would wish to be selected for a
team on the basis of skin colour."
He said no amount of government intervention would change "the
traditional preference that certain sections of our population had
for specific sports, like rugby and soccer to name but two".
"Change is best left to sports administrators who are doing an
excellent job in promoting sports like rugby and cricket in
communities where these sports have been neglected.
"Minister Tshwete should realise that the radical steps he
proposes will only serve to demean the players so selected and
undermine the autonomy of the legitimately elected sports
administrators.
"Politicians would best serve the sports in question by keeping
their noses out of them," Ellis said.
@ FEATURE-AFRIFRANCE
PARIS November 30 1998 Sapa-IPS
NO TRUST IN HEADS OF STATE AT NGO 'SUMMIT'
African civil society placed little confidence in the sincerity
of French and African leaders meeting in Paris last week, who
pledged to tackle regional security starting with the potentially
disastrous conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
"The summit in Paris is ridiculous. The heads of state who are
seeking their personal security should not present themselves as
firemen when they themselves started the fire," said Pius Njawe,
journalist and editor of the weekly Le Messager newspaper in
Cameroon, just released from ten months' political detention.
"What kind of security are they thinking about? Security by
whom, for whom and towards what end?" queried Philippe
Kabongo-Mbaya, representative in France of a reformist alliance of
churches in the DRC. Half a dozen African nations have become
involved in the DRC crisis since rebels moved against the country's
leader Laurent Kabila three months ago.
"Our definition of security is one which allows people to live
together and the country to develop," Kabongo-Mbaya said. "In the
Congo today, there are all sorts of insecurity, including food
insecurity which has made supermarkets out of humanitarian
agencies."
Kabongo-Mbaya and Njawe were among several African speakers who
detailed the price paid by ordinary citizens during the present
political insecurity, at a meeting organised by French pressure
groups held to coincide with this week's summit French and
French-speaking African heads of state.
During the summit, which closed Saturday, French President
Jacques Chirac vowed continued French contribution to maintaining
security in Africa. "France's position on such issues is
unambiguous. Behind our desire to help to reinforce African
capabilities, our initiatives in that area, there is no thought of
disengaging ourselves."
Chirac likewise reiterated France's long-standing ties with
countries which are friends, "as long as they so desire". He was
referring, he said, to the defence agreements against external
threats, but also to France's pre-positioned forces in several
African countries.
Yet for many of those in the parallel conference, the tensions
and crises in their countries were often the result of French
policy, and sustained by defence agreements that critics say have
allowed France to put in place and maintain dictatorial regimes to
protect its interests in the continent.
France has defence agreements with eight African countries, and
accords for military cooperation and technical assistance with 23
others, many of which remain secret even to the French Parliament.
Martin Edzodzomo, economist and independent candidate in the
coming presidential elections in Gabon, said that his country's
abundant natural resources explain why France attaches so much
importance to military cooperation with Africa. "Gabon is the core
of the French oil company Elf. It has the uranium. The presence of
France in Gabon is to protect the political figures it has put
there for the protection of its interests."
Yet, in a book they published on the occasion of the summit of
the heads of state, activist NGOs Agir Ici and Survie noted that
despite its exceptional riches of oil, uranium, forests and
manganese, Gabon's health indices were as shocking as the "the
looting of its wealth was intense".
There are no more than 19 doctors for 100,000 inhabitants, life
expectancy is 54 years and only half Gabon's children are
vaccinated against tuberculosis (an average of 90 percent in other
developing countries). One child out of seven dies before the age
of five.
Francois-Xavier Verschave of the group Survie cited Admiral
Jacques Lanxade, former chief of staff of the French armed forces.
Lanxade testified before a parliamentary inquiry into France's role
in the Rwandan genocide of 1994: "We have no defence agreement with
Chad, which is probably one of the countries where we have
intervened the most. Until today, it has troubled no one."
Yet that may soon change, warned Abderaman Djasnabaille of the
Coordination of Democratic Forces of Chad. He says President Idriss
Deby is ready to join Angola, Zimbabwe and Namibia on the side of
Kabila in the former Zaire.
"After putting the country to flame, Deby is now putting the
entire sub-region in peril. By joining the pro-Kabila camp, Deby is
behaving like a mercenary. In truth, we were hoping that our
country would align itself with parties who are looking for a
negotiated solution to the crisis. The opposite is what we are
seeing - our country is going into a military adventure".
Etienne Ntsiete-Mbemba, secretary-general of the Republican
Space for the Defence of Democracy and National Unity in
Congo-Brazzaville, said the international community hardly moved
when 20,000 people were killed during the bloody coup d'etat staged
by Denis Sassou-Nguesso in 1997.
"They explained the coup away by saying this and that. But the
truth is, the government of Pascal Lissouba was democratically
elected," said Mbemba. He accused French petroleum interests of
forcing the takeover after was that Lissouba began efforts to
renegotiating his country's oil contracts for a better deal.
Njawe added: "I remember when my schoolmaster was a respected
person in the village. He had moral authority. Today,
schoolteachers need to beg for money to pay the ride to school.
Husbands and wives cook foodstuffs that they then oblige their
students to buy. Our lives are not secure."
@ REGISTER-CP
PRETORIA November 30 1998 Sapa
AT LEAST THREE MORE REGISTRATION OPPORTUNITIES NEEDED: CP
Prospective voters should be given at least three more
opportunities to register for next year's general election, the
Conservative Party said on Monday.
In a statement in Pretoria, CP electionS director Piet Botha
said this was clear from what he described as a low turnout over
the weekend.
He also called on officials to allow the use of identity
documents other than the bar-coded version for registration
purposes.
The Department of Home Affairs was unable to handle the large
number of applications being received for bar-coded ID books, he
said.
Botha said further registration opportunities should not fall
in the holidays, and enough officials should be trained to ensure a
smooth process.
In cases where officials were adequately trained, registration
over the weekend went well, proving that the Independent Electoral
Commission's enrolment system was effective, he said.
"The problem comes with trying to use a First World system in a
Third World country."
Botha said problems with the weekend's registration included
people not knowing where to go, the unavailability of forms at some
stations and the incompetence of registration staff.
"In many cases officials intentionally or due to ignorance did
not make available registration forms in Afrikaans or some of the
other official languages. This upset voters greatly."
The CP appealed to voters who had not yet registered to do so
at the next opportunity, and on those not yet in possession of a
bar-coded ID book to apply for one speedily.
@ ELECTION-UDM
JOHANNESBURG November 30 1998 Sapa
UDM TO CALL FOR MULTIPARTY ELECTION ACCORD
The United Democratic Movement in Gauteng would be seeking an
urgent meeting with the Independent Electoral Commission regarding
"the increased number of cases of intimidation by the African
National Congress in the province," UDM Gauteng leader Lulama
Mshumpela said on Monday.
The UDM would also call for an urgent meeting with the leaders
of all political parties in the province with the aim of signing an
accord on free and fair elections.
"There can be no talk of democracy in Gauteng if people cannot
practise their fundamental right to freedom of political activity
and association," Mshumpela said.
If was one of the basic responsibilities of any government to
ensure that people's constitutional rights were protected and
upheld.
The South African and Gauteng governments were failing in this
duty.
"The time has come for the political leaders of the province to
publicly demonstrate their commitment to democracy," Mshumpela
said.
@ NORTHPROV-CORRUPTION
PIETERSBURG November 30 1998 Sapa
ANOTHER NORTHPROV OFFICIAL SUSPENDED FOR ALLEGED FRAUD
An official of the Northern Province public works department
has been suspended from work, bringing to four the number of
officials suspended since the launch of the province's anti-fraud
and corruption toll free number, African Eye News Service reported
on Monday.
Premier Ngoako Ramatlhodi told a Pietersburg press briefing
that the official, who is yet to be named, was suspended without
pay on Monday morning for alleged petrol card fraud.
Four other officials from the same department would be
suspended before the end of this week for similar fraud. "We are
still gathering sufficient evidence against the remaining four
officials," the premier said.
Since Ramatlhodi launched the anti-toll free number three weeks
ago 160 calls have been received from members of the public.
He said 85 cases were being investigated by the province's
internal audit unit, heads of department and police.
Three senior officials in the education department were
suspended last week after they were reported on the toll free
number for issuing a fraudulent cheque to a contractor.
Alfred Mamabolo, Riebeca Matemane and Samuel Mashimbyi, of the
finance and building section of the education department, were
suspended without pay after allegedly fraudulently paying R81000 to
a construction company.
In May this year, four officials from the provincial health
department were suspended on charges of pension cheque fraud worth
R57000.
Ramatlhodi said a total of 68 of these cheques were recovered
last week and the government would take disciplinary steps against
the corrupt officials.
He said a R251000 cheque issued to a fictitious debtor was
discovered and stopped last week.
"Also last week in the same department, a debtor who was owed
R54000 found that he was issued a cheque of R290,000 when he arrived
to collect his cheque," he said.
He added that the debtor's rightful cheque of R54000 was issued
and cashed but has never reached the owner. An official from the
same department had used a R5000 cheque, issued to someone else, to
settle his own personal account.
"All responsible officers have been identified and we will
proceed to take drastic disciplinary action as soon as sufficient
evidence becomes available," Ramatlhodi said.
@ KWANATAL-TRAFFIC
DURBAN November 30 1998 Sapa
KZN TRANSPORT DEPT TO CRACK DOWN ON ROAD OFFENDERS
KwaZulu-Natal transport MEC S'bu Ndebele on Monday announced
that traffic officers would work extended hours during the festive
season to ensure a reduction in road accidents.
Ndebele was speaking at the launch of the summer holiday
traffic campaign in Umdloti outside Durban.
He said offences such as drunk and reckless driving, speeding
and driving without a licence would be targeted through bold
enforcement operations and multi-jurisdictional roadblocks.
Ndebele said Booze Buses would be used to conduct roadblocks on
arterial routes and within urban limits. Drivers caught under the
influence of alcohol would be arrested on the spot and would be
fined R120,000 or six months' imprisonment.
Ndebele said conventional speed cameras, in-car video recorders
and speed detectors would be used.
More than 50,000 photographs of speeding motorists had been
taken in the province and the fines were being processed.
He said an allocation of over R3 million to the provincial
transport department would be used to support the campaign and for
overtime payment of the staff.
The traffic officers would be assisted by air patrols during
periods of high traffic volumes along major routes and there would
be help centres along the N2 and N3 highways.
@ SWAZI-POLITICS
MBABANE November 30 1998 Sapa
FORMER SWAZI PREMIER HEADS ILLEGAL PARTY
A former prime minister of Swaziland, Obed Dlamini, has been
elected president of an illegal poliical opposition party, the
Nqwane National Liberatory Congress (NNLC).
The NNLC was banned along with all political parties in 1973
when King Sobhuza II dissolved the 1968 independence multiparty
constitution.
He said it was unsuited for a non-tribal, small, traditional
African state of under a million people.
Dlamini failed to be re-elected to Parliament at the end of his
term as prime minister in 1993. He became an active member of the
NNLC when the party "unbanned itself" in March this year at the
funeral of its original president and founding member, Dr Ambrose
Zwane.
The NNLC, along with other political opposition movements in
the country now operating openly despite the ban, boycotted the
recent non-party style general election after which King Mswati
appointed the present premier, Dr Sibusiso Nxumalo.
@ DRCONGO-UN
PARIS November 30 1998 Sapa-AFP
UN WOULD WORK FOR DRCONGO INTERVENTION FORCE: ANNAN
The United Nations will help set up an intervention force in
the DRC if all the nations involved in the conflict confirm a
ceasefire pledge, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Monday.
"Evidently, if there is a ceasefire, this must be followed by
troop withdrawals and it could be that we shall need intervention
forces and observers" in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),
Annan added.
"There, I think that the UN can play a role," the UN chief
executive said on the French radio Europe 1.
"And we can't leave this simply to Africans, and I hope that
other states outside Africa will be prepared to help."
Annan was speaking after the 20th Franco-African summit in
Paris, which ended with a verbal commitment for a truce from seven
governments involved in the war in the DRC.
These included the DRC regime of President Laurent Kabila, his
allies of Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia and Chad, and Kabila's former
friends turned foe, Rwanda and Uganda, which he accuses of invading
the country.
Rwanda and Uganda say they have deployed troops across the DRC
border only to prevent incursions by rebels operating against their
own regimes.
Ethnic Congolese, Tutsi-led rebels who began an uprising
against Kabila on August 2 in eastern DRC have said that their
fight will continue until they are involved in any peace talks.
The rebel leaders object to having been sidelined in
negotiations with Kabila.
According to Annan, "Everyone says that they are looking for a
peaceful solution, are committed to an immediate cessation of
hostilities, and the signing of a ceasefire very shortly."
Annan did not go into details of the timetable announced at the
summit - where it was stated that the protagonists would formally
enter into a "preliminary accord" on a ceasefire in the Zambian
capital Lusaka on December 8.
This agreement is supposed to be confirmed at a meeting in
Ouagadougou on December 17 and 18 of the Organisation of African
Unity (OAU), which Burkina Faso currently chairs.
On Monday, Annan also raised the possibility of a conference on
the Great Lakes region, notably including the DRC, Rwanda and
Uganda. "This is a proposal which is making way, which is now more
or less accepted, but evidently the timing must be decided on," he
said.
"We must be able to get together and settle the problem in all
its aspects."
@ TRUTH-LD-SDUS
JOHANNESBURG November 30 1998 Sapa
WEAPONS READILY AVAILABLE IN REEF CLASHES BETWEEN IFP AND ANC
Illegal arms and ammunition were readily available for use by
self-defence units in Thokoza, East Rand, to protect the community
from attacks by people believed to be aligned to the Inkatha
Freedom Party, amnesty applicant Meshack Thulo said on Monday.
He told the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's amnesty
committee hearings in Mayfair that township residents who lived
near hostels were regularly attacked by hostel dwellers. Hence the
community decided to defend itself through self defence units from
attacks from hostels, which housed IFP members and hitsquad
assassins.
Thulo said children could not freely play in the streets
because they would be attacked by men with assegais and pangas in
the presence of the police, whom he accused of colluding with
hostel dwellers.
"So many people were kidnapped by these hostel dwellers, and
the police did nothing to protect the community," he told the
committee.
Thulo said he bought about 3000 rounds of illegal ammunition
from a person codenamed "Ace" for self-defence purposes between
1993 and 1994.
Thulo is applying for amnesty for kidnapping Petere Sewasi and
for arm smuggling in and around East Rand townships.
He told the committee he abducted Sewasi, whom he described as
a township resident aligned to the IFP and who was allegedly
working with police hitsquads.
Thulo said he left Sewasi at a general meeting in Phola Park,
where he subsequently died from being assaulted.
He said he believed Sewasi was killed because he associated
himself with the killers from the hostels. "I left Sewasi at the
general meeting because it was not safe to drive around the
township with him while police were patrolling the area," he said.
Thulo said Sewasi was abducted for the purposes of obtaining
information about the disappaearance of many township residents.
The hearing continues
@ IFP-MPSHE
CAPE TOWN November 30 1998 Sapa
APPOINMENT OF MPSHE IS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED: IFP
The appointment of advocate Joseph Mokotedi Mpshe as Director
of Prosecution in KwaZulu-Natal was ill-conceived, short-sighted
and proof that the removal of Attornery-General Tim McNally was
politically motivated, the IFP said on Monday.
"The fact that the new National Director of Public Prosecution
has seen fit to appoint as Director of Prosecution in KwaZulu-Natal
a person who recently was a special investigator with the Truth and
Reconciliation Commission is truly astounding," the Inkatha Freedom
Party said in a statement.
IFP justice committee member Kierin O'Mally said the
appointment of Mpshe confirmed the party's worst fears - that the
approval of the National Prosecution Authority Act would lead to a
politicised justice system.
He said his party was the only party in Parliament which voted
against the Act because it could see the problem coming.
It was now evident that McNally was removed so that someone who
was politically linked should move into his place, and it was a
known fact that Mpshe had links to the African National Congress.
"They said people of KwaZulu-Natal did not want him (McNally)
yet there was no evidence brought forward to support that. They
didn't want Mcnally because he was independent," O'Mally said.
He said McNally was also not a friend to the IFP and that the
party wanted him removed.
"The IFP did not want him because he failed to convict (former
defence minister Magnus) Malan as well as many ANC supporters who
killed IFP members."
O'Mally said the party would give Mpshe the benefit of the
doubt but it would have prefered someone who was not politically
linked.
Justice Minister Dullah told a Durban press briefing last
Friday that Mpshe's appointment was a big step towards the
transformation of the prosecution system and denied the appointment
was political. Omar said Mpshe's appointment was based purely on
merit.
@ ANC ON IFP BLOCKING MINISTER BHENGU'S MEETING
Issued by: African National Congress
The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal is disturbed by the violation of the
country's constitution by Mtubatuba town clerk, MPJ Bhengu and the
IFP Mtubatuba Mayor, Mandla Zungu by refusing with a town hall which
was booked for a meeting to be addressed by the Minister of
Education and ANC NEC member, Prof. Sibusiso Bhengu today. Minister
Bhengu had attended a "Listening to the People" Forum organised for
Mtubatuba teachers.
The ANC was granted a permit to use the hall on Thursday, last
week which the IFP subsequently at its meeting decided to instruct
the town clerk refuse with the keys. The reasons for refusing with a
hall, according to the town clerk, which he was specifically
instructed by the Mayor was because it was an ANC meeting.
The ANC calls upon the IFP national leadership to condemn this
action and take drastic steps against its Mayor, Mr Zungu and its
Mtubatuba council caucus. The ANC will also raise this matter with
the IEC that Mtubatuba town clerk has proven to be unfit to be an
Electoral Officer therefore has to be released of his duties. This
local IFP action in collusion with a town clerk cannot hold at
ransom one of the fundamental constitutional rights -freedom of
association, freedom of choice and the freedom of assembly. This
incident clearly indicates that this is a normal practice for them
to an extent that they have even forgotten that by doing so during
the Minister's visit, it would expose them.
We hope that under the leadership of te IFP President, Dr
Mangosuthu Buthelezi, these rotten elements will be dealt with
severely. That will send a clear message other elements who might
have thought to resort to these actions that neither the IFP nor ANC
can accept them as genuine members of these organisations.
Issued by the ANC KwaZulu-Natal Department of Information
and Publicity
30 November 1998
Contact Senzo Mchunu, ANC Provincial Deputy Secretary and
Election Co-ordinator at (031) 307 5460
@ LESOTHO-AUTHORITY
MASERU November 30 1998 Sapa
LESOTHO PREMIER INVITES PARTIES TO MEETING
Lesotho Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili has invited all
political parties which participated in the last general election
in May to an urgent meeting on Tuesday to arrange for the
inauguration of the interim political authority aimed at preparing
for fresh general elections in the country.
A statement from the office of the prime minister said persons
nominated to represent their parties in the interim political
authority had been invited, in adddition to their party leaders.
The meeting would formulate a programme of work for the
authority for the period leading to fresh elections.
@ ACOPS-MOKABA
CAPE TOWN November 30 1998 Sapa
AFRICA BUILDING BUREAUCRATS: MOKABA
Africa had done well in building international bureaucrats,
Deputy Environment Minister Peter Mokaba told delegates to a Cape
Town conference on the continent's marine resources on Monday.
He said African countries were clients of a number of donor
nations, running as many programmes as donors determined. Most of
these programmes duplicated one another.
There was also a tendency to establish duplicate structures and
bureaucracies for these programmes. "So we have done well in
building international bureaucrats, which absorbs even higher
percentages of this assistance and thereby denies well-deserving
projects... the necessary resources."
The conference was organised by a non-governmental
organisation, the Advisory Committee on Protection of the Sea
(ACOPS), in an attempt to develop a co-ordinated response by
sub-Saharan Africa to the growing pressures on the region's coastal
and marine resources.
The first three days of the conference will be devoted largely
to technical issues. On Thursday and Friday, ministers from some 33
countries gather at Parliament to adopt the conference's proposals
to revitalise what ACOPS calls the "almost non-existent"
co-operation on marine resources in sub-Saharan Africa, and for a
regional commission for sustainable development.
Mokaba, who is a vice president of ACOPS, told delegates that
if Africa was to achieve its goal of sustainable development, it
could not move into the future with a "business as usual" attitude
"As the demand for clearer and equitable international rules of
the game increases due to increased trade competition, Africa must
seek to be part of the new definitions," he said.
"Unless we become bold and assess ourselves frankly and
honestly, sustainable development in Africa will remain postponed."
ACOPS' executive director Viktor Sebek told the conference that
environmental protection was not a luxury, but a perquisite for
sustainable development. African leaders' support could be
mobilised only if they saw these measures as promoting economic
development.
@ TRUTH-2ND-LD-SDUS
JOHANNESBURG November 30 1998 Sapa
ANC/IFP CLASHES IN THOKOZA AFFECTED SCHOOLING
Many school going boys in Thokoza on the East Rand had to leave
school in the early 1990s to protect their families and the
community against attacks from the Inkatha Freedom Party and the
so-called Third Force, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's
amnesty committe was told on Monday.
Amnesty applicant Lucky Richard Molahlehi told the hearing in
Mayfair, Johannesburg that he had to drop out of Standard Nine in
1992 so that he could join the African National Congress
self-defence units that protected the community.
"Since that time, I have never been able to continue with my
studies," he said in his amnesty application for attempted murder
and two charges of possessions of illegal firearms - an AK47 rifle
and an R4 rifle.
Molahlehi said the community could not rely on the police
because they were colluding with the IFP in attacking communities.
During questioning, he told the committee that SDU members were
always on the alert to prevent further attacks from nearby hostels,
which allegedly housed IFP-aligned sinister forces.
Asked where he got the R4 rifle, he replied: "I got it from an
IFP guy who fell during a shooting incident between the community
and residents at Unit F in Thokoza."
Molahlehi claimed the police's internal stability unit assisted
IFP marchers to attack innocent residents.
"During this gunfire exchange, I saw an IFP man fall on the
ground... I ran towards him and grabbed the R4," he told the
committee.
The hearing continues after the lunch break.
@ TSHWETE-FF
PRETORIA November 30 1998 Sapa
FORCED RACE CHANGES IN SPORTS WILL AFFECT PERFORMANCE: FF
Forced race changes in sports teams would alter South Africa's
ranking as one of the top sporting countries in the world, the
Freedom Front said on Monday.
"Instead of discriminating in terms of race, sporting
federations and administrators must make it a priority to develop
sporting talent," FF spokesman Leon Louw said in a statement in
Pretoria.
This would ensure that only the best athletes represented their
country in national sports teams.
Louw said Sports Minister Steve Tshwete's announcement at the
weekend that a commission would be set up to boost transformation
in sport was part of an ongoing attempt by the African National
Congress to force its political agenda on all areas of South
African life.
"Mr Tshwete says he is tired (gatvol) of national teams being
elected on merit and not on a racial basis. He must realise that
the feeling is mutual for sports lovers. They are tired of the
racist way in which Mr Tshwete and the ANC are meddling in sport."
@ REGISTER-CASES
CAPE TOWN November 30 1998 Sapa
NP AND DP STILL SET TO CHALLENGE REGISTRATION
The Democratic Party and the National Party were optimistic on
Monday that their court challenges to the law which says only green
bar-coded identity documents are allowed for registration for next
year's election would go ahead in the next few days.
The seperate applications would be brought in the Pretoria and
Cape Town high courts respectively.
DP Member of Parliament Douglas Gibson said the court papers
had been prepared and although he was not yet sure of the date, the
case could come to court within the next few days.
NP spokesman Andre Gaum said the party was in the process of
finalising its court documents, but there was much information to
go through, especially after the registration process in the five
northern provinces at the weekend.
The case would probably come up this week, he said.
@ DRCONGO-FRONTLINE
NYUNZU, Congo November 30 1998 Sapa-AP
AT QUIET FRONTLINE, CONGOLESE REBELS AWAIT MARCHING ORDERS
Rwandan-backed Congolese rebels, despite talk of a cease-fire,
Monday said they were regrouping while battlefields were quiet to
prepare a new offensive.
Moving by night and resting by day, columns of insurgents
carrying machine guns and anti-tank missiles marched silently
beneath a full moon across bridges in southeast Congo to avoid
Zimbabwean warplanes and helicopters seeking to stop their advance.
Rwandan and Congolese rebel commanders paid little attention to
last week's Paris agreement between leaders of Rwanda, Uganda,
Zimbabwe and Congo who agreed to stop fighting but have not pulled
back their troops.
Speaking on the British Broadcasting Corp. on Sunday, Patrick
Mazimhaka, Rwandan President Pasteur Bizimungu's minister,
downplayed the importance of the agreement and said Rwandan troops
will continue backing the rebels in the absence of a political
solution in Congo.
Congolese rebel leader Ernest Wamba dia Wamba, who was in
northern Congo welcoming new recruits into rebel ranks, said the
cease-fire will work only if the rebels are part of it.
The truce was to be signed at peace talks in Lusaka, Zambia
next week. It wasn't clear if the rebels were invited.
Congolese President Laurent Kabila has refused to negotiate
directly with a rebel coalition of minority Tutsis, disenchanted
members of Congolese army and opposition politicians who took up
arms Aug. 2. He accuses them of being the puppets of Rwanda and
Uganda.
But while both countries are supplying troops, arms and food to
the rebels, an estimated 60,000 rebel force is still doing most of
the fighting on the ground in the eastern half of the country.
On Monday, a Rwandan commander, who only identified himself as
Milton, said he had received no cease-fire orders and instead was
reinforcing positions in preparation for an attack across the Congo
River at Kabalo, 300 kilometers (185 miles) south of the eastern
rebel stronghold at Goma.
"We are waiting for orders to attack. There is no
cease-fire," Milton said.
Zimbabwe, Kabila's main ally, flew MiG-21s fighter jets, Puma
helicopter gun ships as well as Russian-built Mi-24 HIND transport
helicopters over the southern frontlines. Rebels scurried for cover
in thick forests and banana groves.
Occasional air strikes have slowed down the rebels and
disrupted the communication lines, but Milton said most of the
bombs missed their targets and changed nothing on the battlefield.
"The aircraft keep us tied down while helicopters drop off the
Zimbabweans behind our defense lines," Milton said. "But at the
end, we always engage them, and there has been little advancing on
either side."
He said so far his forces had killed more than 100 Zimbabweans.
The claim could not be confirmed independently, although identity
cards of some of Zimbabweans were put on display.
Milton dismissed the government's claims of a counteroffensive
at Kabalo and Lake Tanganyika ports of Kalemie and Moba, 150
kilometers (90 miles) southeast of Nyunzu, saying the towns were
quiet on Monday and last week's aerial bombing did little damage.
The rebels said they had surrounded Manono, 80 kilometers (50
miles) south of Nyunzu and Kabila's birthplace, which lies on route
to Lubumbashi, the capital of copper-rich Katanga Province.
@ UDM-MLABA
DURBAN November 30 1998 Sapa
CONCERN OVER SAFETY OF KWAZULU-NATAL PEACE PROMOTER
A peace promoter from Mpumalanga township in the KwaZulu-Natal
midlands, Sipho Mlaba, who was expected to declare his membership
of the United Democratic Movement on Monday, failed to turn up at
the news conference.
UDM provincial leader Sifiso Nkabinde said he was concerned
about Mlaba's safety, given allegations that the African National
Congress had tried to dissuade Mlaba from joining the UDM.
The ANC has denied the allegation. Mlaba and his ANC
counterpart in Mpumalanga, Meshack Radebe, both received
international recognition for their role in restoring peace to the
township during violence between the IFP and the former United
Democratic Front in the early 1990s.
Mlaba has since resigned from the IFP.
Nkabinde said Mlaba confirmed to him on Sunday afternoon that
he would attend Monday's news conference. Nkabinde said he tried
several times on Monday morning to reach Mlaba by cellular
telephone, but none of his messages had been returned.
According to Nkabinde, Mlaba's wife last saw him on Sunday.
@ TSHWETE-NP
JOHANNESBURG November 30 1998 Sapa
GOVERNMENT'S INTERVENTION IN SPORTS POSES THREAT SAYS NP
The National Party on Monday condemned the government's
intention of establishing a commission to speed up transformation
in sports such as cricket and rugby, saying it posed a threat to
the bright future of the country's sport.
"Besides being inherently racist, this is yet another example
of the ANC government's relentless interference in South African
sport and the private lives of millions of South Africans - all
under the banner of that most ambiguous of concepts,
transformation," the party said in a statement.
It said according to reports Sport Minister Steve Tshwete also
said blacks should use the power of numbers to change all white
teams.
The party said sport had in the post-1990 era always made a
positive contribution towards nationbuilding, and the African
National Congress government should refrain from using sport for
its own selfish political agenda.
"The ANC government should rather direct their energy towards
delivering sport facilities, especially in disadvantaged and rural
areas, and in so doing deliver on their election promises."
The party was of the opinion that instead of forced racial
quotas, sport federations should accelerate the development of
talent so that merit would prevail as the determining factor in
selecting a side.
@ CRIME-CSIR
PRETORIA November 30 1998 Sapa
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS MUST CONSIDER CRIME WHEN BUILDING CITIES:
CSIR
Local governments must take crime into consideration when
developing cities and towns, the Council for Science and Industrial
Research said on Monday.
At a conference in Pretoria, Tinus Kruger from CSIR division
Boutek, said there was a link between crime and the environment it
occurred in.
"Cities and towns in South Africa have spatial characteristics,
for example vacant lands and buffer zones which increase the
chances of crime."
Kruger said criminals could hide in large undeveloped open
spaces, and vacant buildings created a perception that areas were
unsafe.
Townships were exposed to high levels of crime because they
were not included in city planning. Residential areas in cities and
towns should also include business and social activities to ensure
a constant flow of people.
He said this would help ensure that criminal activities were
limited.
"Better lighting is needed in urban areas, and landscaping and
plants in parks should not be placed in such a way that visibility
is distracted, and hiding places for criminals are made."
Home owners should not build high walls around their
properties, but instead use fences that could be seen through.
"High walls are hiding places for criminals because once they
jump over the wall they cannot be seen."
Communities should develop their own safety plans, because it
could not be expected of the police to fight crime by themselves,
Kruger said.
@ SPORT-NP
CAPE TOWN November 30 1998 Sapa
ANC POSES THREAT TO SA SPORT, SAYS NP
The African National Congress government and Sports Minister
Steve Tshwete posed a serious threat to the bright future of South
African sport, the National Party said on Monday.
Instead of enforcing their authoritarian measures on every
sphere of life, including sport, the ANC government should rather
direct its energy towards delivering sports facilities, especially
in disadvantaged and rural communities, NP sport spokesman Abe
Williams said in a statement.
In so doing, the ANC would deliver on its election promises.
The NP was extremelly perturbed by reports that the government
was planning to set up a commission in April next year to "speed up
transformation in sports such as cricket and rugby".
"According to reports, Sports Minister Steve Tshwete also said
that blacks should use the power of numbers to change all white
teams," Williams said.
"Besides being inherently racist, this is yet another example
of the ANC government's relentless interference in South African
sport, and the private lives of millions of South Africans - all
under the banner of that most ambiguous of concepts:
`transformation'."
Instead of forced racial quotas, sport federations had to do
everything in their power to speed up the development of talent so
that merit would prevail as the determining factor in selecting a
side, Williams said.
@ ZIM-STRIKE
HARARE November 30 1998 Sapa-AFP
ZIM LABOUR MOVEMENT TO ISSUE LEGAL CHALLENGE TO STRIKE BAN
Zimbabwe's powerful labour movement on Monday announced that it
will legally challenge a ban imposed by President Robert Mugabe on
collective strikes, following mass action against his government.
"We are seeking legal opinion on the matter and we will take
appropriate action for the redress of this situation," Gibson
Sibanda, president of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU),
told a news conference.
On Saturday, Mugabe decreed a temporary ban preventing trade
unions and employers organisations from inciting or participating
in collective mass strikes to protest government policies.
Rights groups have declared the ban unconstitutional while the
ZCTU considers it "dictatorial".
"We have already instructed our lawyers to look at this matter
urgently and make an application as soon as possible," ZCTU
Secretary-General Morgan Tsvangirai said.
Asked if Mugabe's decree had come as a surprise to the ZCTU,
Sibanda said: "Naturally we expected him to do something funny
(like this), because he has threatened us before".
Tsvangirai said that the Zimbabwean state's use of extra-legal
measures to supress the workers in their fight for change was a
"desperate" move.
"Why would a government use these strong-arm tactics at a
situation where we are saying 'Let's talk'? They are doing this as
a last attempt to stifle us, they are desperate," Tsvangirai said.
ZCTU cancelled a work stoppage planned for last Wednesday,
following two previous such strikes, saying it had called for a
meeting of government, business and labour leaders before November
30.
While no such meeting had taken place by midday (1000 GMT) on
Monday, the ZCTU has postponed next Wednesday's general strike
saying it wants to give the authorities another chance and test
"government's sincerity".
"Should no progress be achieved in these talks we will have no
choice but to implement the decision ...for a stayaway," Sibanda
said.
Asked if the postponement of the weekly work stoppage this week
was not a result of intimidation from Mugabe's declaration, the
labour leaders said they were not afraid of the consequences, and
were prepared to be jailed or even die for the cause of workers.
"We are prepared to die for our rights," Sibanda said.
The ZCTU has previously mobilised workers and paralysed the
country through the one-day weekly strikes early this month over
demands for pay review and a reversal of a 67 percent hike on the
price of petrol.
It has now extended its list of demands seeking inquiries into
corruption in the country.
It also wants the government to assume full responsibility for
the economic crisis and to come up with a program to revive an
economy battered by a 30 percent inflation and a more than 60
percent drop in currency.
@ TRUTH-3RD-LD-SDUS
JOHANNESBURG November 30 1998 Sapa
MZIZI'S HOUSE TORCHED BECAUSE HE COLLABORATED WITH APARTHEID:
TRC
Inkatha Freedom Party councillor Abram Mzizi's home in Thokoza
was set alight in 1990 because township residents regarded him as a
collaborator with the apartheid regime, amnesty applicant Nhlanhla
Dhlamini said on Monday.
"He (Mzizi) used to harass people, arresting them and taking
houses from people who did not belong to the IFP, " he told the
Truth and Reconciliation Commission's amnesty committee hearings in
Mayfair, Johannesburg.
Dhlamini said he, together with other self-defence unit
members, threw a petrol bomb at Mzizi's home. Their aim, he said,
was to force Mzizi to resign from the council. In this way he would
no longer have the power tro bring hardship to residents.
Commissioner Chris de Jager raised concerns about Dhlamini's
application, in which he stated that he was applying for amnesty
for general crimes. In his testimony on Monday, however, Dhlamini
said he was applying for the torching of Mzizi's home.
The hearing will continue on Tuesday morning.
@ UN-AIDS
JOHANNESBURG November 30 1998 Sapa-DPA
U.N. EXPERT WARNS OF HIV-INFECTION INCREASE IN SOUTHERN AFRICA
Infection with the HIV virus, which can cause full-blow AIDS, is
increasing fast in southern Africa, Peter Piot, director of the
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) said in
Johannesburg Monday.
Any rise in the rate of HIV infection threatened to wreak havoc
with the infrastructure of the worst-hit countries and could have
serious socio-economic implications, according to the UNAIDS report
released in South Africa.
SubSaharan Africa had an estimated 43 million people infected with
the disease. The report said most new infections were concentrated
in east and especially in southern Africa.
Countries such as Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and Swaziland were
particularily hard-hit with an estimated 20 to 26 per cent of people
between the ages of 15 and 49 report to be living with HIV or the
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome itself.
South African Welfare and Population Development Minister
Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi said education and an awareness of the
AIDS threat was vital to fight the spread of the disease in the region.
The South African government put the disease on its agenda in
October of this year when it launched a partnership against AIDS.
Government involvement was the right strategy in dealing with the
spread of HIV, Piot said. Uganda and Senegal had shown that
government participation brought about a reduction in the number of
HIV and AIDS cases.
While HIV infection and subsequently AIDS was a tragedy for
individuals and their families, studies have proved it had a
negative impact on the economies of countries, he said.
HIV and AIDS resulted in a loss of profits for companies as a
result of medical costs and the expense of training replacement
staff and related expenditure, he said.
A report tabled before provincial legislature in the country's
Mpumalanga Province this week, cautioned that the province could
expect to lose four out of 10 of its civil servants to AIDS-related
sicknesses or deaths when the disease reached its peak in 2003, SAPA
news agency reported earlier.
Because South Africa had a relatively sophisticated economic
system, its economic performance was vulnerable to an AIDS epidemic,
said the UNAIDS report.
@ REGISTER-NP
CAPE TOWN November 30 1998 Sapa
ANC ABUSING STATE ASSETS, SAYS NP
The National Party on Monday accused the African National
Congress of abusing state assets to enhance their voter
registration campaign.
NP Gauteng media director Wally Labuschagne said in a statement
his party had been inundated with complaints from the public about
the ANC's "habit of displaying their posters" in municipal offices
and rates halls and ANC party officials helping as registration
personnel.
"The latest ploy is to paste their posters on state vehicles,"
he said.
An NP investigation had revealed that various Telkom vehicles
were misused for ANC propaganda.
The NP intended taking these matters up with the Independent
Electoral Commission (IEC), Labuschagne said.
@ DALEY
CAPE TOWN November 30 1998 Sapa
US COMMERCE SECRETARY ARRIVES IN CAPE TOWN
Intellectual property rights, tax and tariff issues will be on
the agenda when United States Commerce Secretary William Daley
holds talks with South African Trade Minister Alec Erwin on
Tuesday.
Daley arrived in South Africa on Monday afternoon, accompanied
by a 16-strong delegation comprising senior executives from some of
America's largest companies, including Coca Cola, Cargill, Chevron,
DuPont, Enron, Eastman Kodak and Pfizer.
Daley said the companies would be looking at potential business
opportunities in the region.
The trade mission was aimed at extending the already strong
trade relationship between the United States and South Africa, he
told journalists shortly after arriving at Cape Town international
airport.
The visit is Daley's third to South Africa this year.
Asked about reports that United States companies were worried
about being sidelined in South Africa by their counterparts in the
European Union, which is expected to conclude a trade deal with
South Africa soon, Daley said he believed there was enough business
for everyone.
Daley is also scheduled to hold talks with Deputy President
Thabo Mbeki and attend a high profile trade and investment
conference in Cape Town, where he will deliver the key-note
address.
>From South Africa he will travel to Nigeria, Kenya and the
Ivory Coast.
@ SOUTH AFRICAN PARTICIPATION IN IST CONFERENCE
Issued by: The South African Embassy in Vienna
SOUTH AFRICAN PARTICIPATION IN THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION'S INFORMATION
SOCIETY TECHNOLOGIES (IST) 1998 CONFERENCE: VIENNA: 30 NOVEMBER - 2
DECEMBER 1998
The Information Society Technologies 1998 (IST-98) Conference is
the most important conference on information technology being held
in Europe this year. The conference slogan is "Living and Working in
the Information Society". The focus is on how Europe should refine
its IT strategies, both internally in terms of European Union
industrial policy and externally in terms of partnerships with other
countries.
The Conference will be addressed by several Cabinet Ministers
from European countries and high-ranking officials from the European
Commission. These include Mr Heinz Fischer, President of the
Austrian Parliament, Ms Barbara Prammer, Austrian Minister for
Consumer Protection and Women's Affairs, Dr Martin Bangemann, Member
of the European Commission responsible for industrial affairs and
information and communication technologies and Mr Caspar Einem,
Austrian Minister for Science and Transport and President of the
European Union's Research Council. The prestigious 1998 European IT
Prizes will be awarded by Mr Viktor Klima, Chancellor of Austria
during the Conference.
South Africa will be represented in th Global Opportunities
session of IST-98 by Dr Rob Adam, Deputy Director-General: Science
and Technology. Dr Adam will present a paper entitled "Africa in the
Global Information Society", which outlines Africa's (and
particularly South Africa's) strategies for the information
society. Dr Adam's paper also describes how the 5th Framework
Programme of the European Commission may be used to facilitate
cooperation in the fields of information and communication
technology between South African and the European Union.
Dr Adam led the South African team which negotiated the Science
and Technology Cooperation Agreement concluded between the European
Union and South Africa in 1996. South Africa's scientific and
technological partnership with the European Union, being constructed
under this Agreement, is one of the most privileged the Union has
entered into with any non-European country.
Dr Derrick Cogburn, Director of the CSIR's Centre for Information
Society Development in Africa (CISDA), is also participating in the
Conference. There is also a South African Information Booth as part
of the Conference Exhibition, to promote South African participation
in the European Union's research and technological development
programmes.
Released by the South African Embassy in Vienna
Vienna
30 November 1998
@ ANC-IFP
DURBAN November 30 1998 Sapa
ANC ACCUSES MAYOR, TOWN CLERK OF VIOLATING FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS
The African National Congress in KwaZulu-Natal on Monday
condemned Mtubatuba mayor Mandla Zungu and town clerk Johannes
Bhengu for refusing to grant the ANC a town hall for a meeting
which was t addressed by Education Minister Sibusiso Bengu.
ANC spokesman Senzo Mchunu said Bengu on Monday morning was
scheduled to address the party's Listen To The People forum,
organised for teachers in the area.
He said the town clerk, instructed by Zungu, refused to hand
over the keys of the hall.
The ANC was granted a permit to use the hall on Thursday last
week, but the Inkatha Freedom Party at its meeting decided to
instruct the town clerk not to hand over the keys, Mchunu said.
He said the ANC called upon the IFP national leadership to
condemn the incident and take drastic steps against its members,
Zungu and Bhengu.
The IFP in collusion with a town clerk could not hold to ransom
fundamental constitutional rights such as freedom of association,
freedom of choice and the freedom of assembly, he said.
Town clerk Bhengu acknowledged that the incident occurred and
told Sapa that the instructions not to allow the meeting to take
place were issued by the council.
He said the organisers did not follow proper channels and the
council was not informed about the meeting.
"I held a meeting with the organisers on Friday afternoon to
inform them about the council's decision and they promised to
inform the Minister not to come. I was surprised when I saw them
with the Minister this morning (Monday)," Bhengu said.
Bhengu said the meeting continued but was held outside the
hall.
IFP spokeswoman Lauretta Ngcobo said the party was not aware of
the incident. She said the IFP would investigate the matter.
@ UN-LD-AIDS
JOHANNESBURG November 30 1998 Sapa
HIV/AIDS IS NOT JUST A HEALTH ISSUE: FRASER-MOLEKETI
HIV/Aids should not be viewed as a health issue affecting only
those with the virus but as a threat to South Africa's economic
growth and human development, Minister of Welfare and Population
Development, Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi said on Monday.
She was speaking on the eve of World Aids Day at a press
conference in Johannesburg to launch the first official SA Human
Development Report, sponsored by the United Nations Development
Programme and UNAIDS, and a report on HIV/Aids in South Africa
conducted by the Department of Health.
Her comments came as UNAIDS executive director Peter Piot
warned that southern Africa is facing an unprecedented emergency as
the number of people infected with HIV/Aids continues to climb at
an alarming rate.
This year, 1,4 million people between the ages of 15 and 49
were infected in the nine countries of southern Africa. Nearly
three quarters of a million of these new infections - just over 50
percent - were in South Africa alone, he said.
The worst affected countries in the region were Botswana,
Namibia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe - where between 20 and 26 percent
of adults are living with HIV or Aids - with South Africa
following close behind.
Fraser-Moleketi said the pandemic could only be addressed with
the combined efforts of the government, private sector, unions,
non-governental organisations and the community.
"We (the government) do not see HIV/Aids as another health
issue to be handled by the Department of Health," she said.
"Each and every individual should be involved in prevention
activities, care activities and activities aimed at creating... a
non-discriminatory environment."
"This is a partnership which does not allow for any
spectators."
She said while HIV/Aids would have widespread macro-economic
effects, individual households would be hardest hit with the loss
of major income earners and the economic burden of caring for
people with HIV/Aids.
Supporting the minister's views, Piot said: "Whether measured
against the yardstick of falling life expectancy, deteriorating
household income, overburdened health systems, child deaths,
orphans, or bottom-line losses in business, Aids never posed a
bigger threat to development."
He said the youth were the most affected by the pandemic.
"In South Africa, for example, a study of pregnant teenagers
aged 15 to 19 found nearly 13 percent to be HIV positive, among
those under the age of 15, 9,5 percent were infected."
Fortunately education has been found to be most effective among
the youth, who are more open to change.
The veil of secrecy surrouding HIV/Aids, however, continued to
be a stumbling block in the fight against the pandemic.
Piot said he welcomed calls by Southern African leaders like
Mbeki and top leadership in Botswana for greater awareness and
openness, as well as the decision to step up government funding to
address the pandemic.
UNAID pledged to support South Africa in its struggle against
HIV/Aids.
@ COURT-BOESAK
CAPE TOWN November 30 1998 Sapa
BOESAK'S FUNDING EXPECTED TO RUN OUT, HIGH COURT HEARS
The funding secured by President Nelson Mandela to pay Allan
Boesak's top legal team, comprising Mike Maritz SC and Jaap
Celliers, is expected to run out by the end of this week.
Maritz informed the Cape High Court of this on Monday, and
warned against unnecessary postponements, when the prosecution team
of J C Gerber and Tinus van der Vyver requested a postponement of
Boesak's fraud and theft trial to Tuesday for the testimony of a
forensic auditor, John van der Walt.
On the resumption of the trial on Monday, Judge John Foxcroft
rejected a prosecution application for a High Court order to compel
the Receiver of Revenue to furnish confidential information
concerning Boesak's income while he was director of the defunct
Foundation for Peace and Justice.
Minutes later, the judge also rejected a state application for
the court to hear the testimony of American pop star Paul Simon,
one of the FPJ's foreign donors, through satellite television.
The judge said he would give full reasons for his two judgments
later. Concerning the Receiver of Revenue, he said common law did
not allow applications of this nature "at this stage."
In the second application, the judge said satellite testimony
would not give adequate room for the skilled cross-examination
demanded by the circumstances of the case.
This, the judge said, presented the risk of Boesak not being
given a fair trial, which compelled the court to reject the
application.
Boesak has pleaded not guilty to theft and fraud involving
R9-million from the FPJ, of which he is alleged to have taken
R1,1-million for himself.
Earlier, Maritz quoted extensively from rulings of legal
authorities that the courts should not readily override legislation
demanding secrecy in tax matters.
Gerber countered that the state had the right to compel the
Receiver of Revenue to divulge confidential information, if there
was no other way the information could be obtained.
Gerber said Boesak's salary as director of the FPJ was similar
to that of a dominee, and did not provide for monthly instalments
for a luxury home or car.
The state's case was that it was for this reason that Boesak
stole from the FPJ as well as the Urban Discretionary Fund.
Gerber contended it was crucial for the state to establish
whether Boesak had declared or concealed these payments in his tax
returns.
"If he failed to declare them, he's got something to hide,"
Gerber contended.
Concerning satellite testimony, Maritz said the court could
only permit it under special circumstances, which did not exist in
this case.
The point of departure had to be that Boesak was entitled to a
fair trial, he said.
Maritz said it was not a matter of Simon being unwilling to
testify later, when his schedule allowed. Rather, Simon was
unwilling to come to South Africa "at all" for this purpose.
Maritz said a judge would also be unable to stop a satellite
witness from being prompted in the background by his legal
representative. Furthermore, it was only evidence properly obtained
and presented in a fair trial that could be considered by the
court.
"To put an accused through all this, in the hope that the court
would permit satellite evidence, is inherently unfair and
prejudicial to my client."
In turn, Gerber insisted that cross-examination of Simon would
not be hampered, and that the court would at all times be able to
properly observe Simons' demeanour and deportment during the
confrontation.
Simon's testimony would be in accordance with the laws of his
own country, making it possibe to prosecute him for perjury if the
need arose, Gerber added.
The hearing continues on Tuesday.
@ JUSTICE-RESIGN
PRETORIA November 30 1998 Sapa
OMAR REGRETS RESIGNATION OF LABOUR COURT JUDGE PRESIDENT
Justice Minister Dullah Omar on Monday expressed regret at the
resignation of Labour Court judge president John Myburgh, saying
his departure was a big loss to the bench.
In a statement in Pretoria Omar rejected reports that Myburgh
was no longer being considered for the position of Johannesburg
High Court judge president, saying he would in all likelihood have
been given the job.
Myburgh, also judge president of the Labour Appeal Court,
resigned from his position with effect from January 15 earlier in
the day.
He submitted a resignation letter to Omar during a meeting in
Pretoria.
After the meeting, Myburgh, Omar and Anglogold chief executive
officer Bobby Godsell issued a statement saying Myburgh would take
up a general counsel position with Anglogold.
A daily newspaper on Monday quoted sources as saying Myburgh
was considering resigning after Omar's office indicated he may not
get the post of Johannesburg High Court judge president.
It reported that Myburgh had been assured of this position by
Constitutional Court president Arthur Chaskalson and Chief Justice
Ismail Mohammed.
Omar said the Judicial Service Commission agreed in October
that a separate Johannesburg seat of the High Court be created.
Once this had been achieved, an acting appointment for the position
of judge president would be made.
"I discussed the matter with the Chief Justice as well as the
President of the Constitutional Court and we concluded that Judge
Myburgh should be appointed to the position until the Judicial
Service Commission met."
Omar said he was confident the commission would have appointed
Myburgh, although no guarantees could be made.
"My own office has never indicated that Judge Myburgh might not
get the position," he said. "My office has never indicated that
Judge Myburgh's position depended on whether Judge Mohamed Navsa
made himself available for the position."
Omar thanked Myburgh for his contribution to transformation and
setting up and running the Labour Appeal Court and the Labour
Court.
"During our discussions it became clear that Judge Myburgh would in
his new position still be able to make a contribution, especially
in the area of court managWe agreed that we would meet again to
discuss these matters."
As an executive at Anglogold, Myburgh would be tasked, among
other things, with managing the legal aspects of all merger, joint
venture, and acquisition activities, the joint statement said.
"He will lead Anglogold's efforts in revitalising the Central
Business District of Johannesburg ... he will play an active role
in Business Against Crime, and will make himself available for the
informal resolution of commercial and related disputes."
Godsell said Myburgh would continue to serve the public
interest through his anticipated contribution to crime prevention
and the regeneration of Johannesburg.
"In these roles in particular all South Africans would benefit
from his talents," he said.
@ LEON
CAPE TOWN November 30 1998 Sapa
ANC COPYING FORMER NP IN ATTACKING LIBERALS: LEON
The African National Congress was now copying the example of
its National Party predecessor in targeting the Democratic Party as
its main opponent, DP leader Tony Leon said on Monday night.
Speaking in Goodwood outside Cape Town at the last rally of his
six-city "Leader of the Opposition" tour, he said the ANC was to
all intents and purposes ignoring the NP even though that party had
many more MPs than the DP.
This had happened before.
In the 1961 general election, the first in which the DP's
predecessor, the Progressive Party, had emerged, then Prime
Minister Dr H F Verwoerd had himself gone on the radio to attack
it.
Ignoring the fact that the then official opposition, the United
Party, still had some 60 seats in Parliament, he concentrated all
his fire on its single MP, Helen Suzman.
He made it clear that he attached far more importance to
getting rid of Suzman from Parliament than he did to winning seats
from the far bigger UP.
Now virtually all the ANC's attacks seemed to be concentrated
on the DP, Leon said.
In a sense this was very flattering: they recognised the party
as the real opposition, "a verdict which I believe the electorate
as a whole is likely to confirm before long".
"But it is also a sign of a deeply illiberal streak within the
ANC which sees democratic liberalism - the ANC would like to say
white liberalism, but I will say simply liberalism - as their
chief ideological opponent. They are simply not interested in
Afrikaner nationalism now one way or the other: again, a verdict
which I suspect the electorate will soon confirm."
Leon said the DP represented, by definition, people who had
stayed in South Africa, often when they could have gone elsewhere,
because they wanted to make a contribution.
"We don't represent `white liberals': just liberal democrats.
Nonetheless, we do now probably enjoy the support of a majority of
white voters in this country."
Leon said that if the government insisted on only bar-coded
ID's being valid for next year's general election, they would be
disenfranchising large numbers of coloured and white voters, so as
to simply advance their own narrow partisan and sectional
interests.
"Words almost fail me in describing how disgraceful I think
this is. This is a country, after all, in which the battle for the
vote lay at the heart of the struggle for generations and in which
that sacred right is now enshrined in our Constitution."
The DP still hoped the law disenfranchising those without
bar-coded IDs would be reversed and that is why it was taking the
matter to court.
@ ZAMBIA-POLITICS
LUSAKA November 30 1998 Sapa-AFP
PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL FORMS POLITICAL PARTY IN ZAMBIA
Zambian businessman and presidential hopeful, Anderson Mazoka,
has formed a political party expected to land him the country's top
job, local media reported Monday.
The independent Post Newspapers reported that Mazoka, the
outgoing chief executive of Anglo-American Corporation for central
and southern Africa, last week registered the National Party for
National Development (UPND) which is to be formally launched in
December.
Mazoka thus became the first openly to declare his intentions
to run for presidency in the next elections scheduled for 2001.
The AAC chief executive, who has accused the government of
President Frederick Chiluba of mismanaging the economy, has
promised to bring in a new team that would turn around the
country's ailing economy.
He is due to quit his job at the end of December.
Last week he warned that Zambia was headed for chaos if the
soaring levels of poverty in the country went unchecked.
Zambia has more than 30 registered political parties, but the
majority of them are non-functional.
President Frederick Chiluba, who defeated veteran politician
Kenneth Kaunda in historic multi-party elections in 1991, is not
expected to seek re-election because the law allows for a maximum
of two five-year terms.
@ ANGOLA-FIGHTING
LUANDA November 30 1998 Sapa-AP
UNITA TROOPS SEIZE NORTHERN TOWN, CLASH WITH GOVERNMENT
Troops of the former rebel group UNITA have overrun a northern
Angolan town and fought government forces in a northwestern
province, news reports said Monday.
The former rebels' offensive on the town of Caculama, in
northern Malanje province, took place Thursday, unnamed church
sources told Luanda's Radio Eclesia.
Another church source, Father Miguel Botachim, told the radio
that UNITA and government forces were clashing in neighboring Uige
province.
It was not immediately possible to confirm the reports.
They come amid signs of increasing hostility between the former
foes, who signed a 1994 peace accord to end a two-decade civil war
that broke out when Angola won independence from Portugal in 1975.
The government has threatened to push UNITA out of the areas
the former rebels still hold, and has severed all contact with
UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi.
UNITA - the National Union for the Total Independence o Angola
- accuses the government of human rights abuses against UNITA
supporters in areas already handed over.
Botachim also told Radio Eclesia that nine church workers - six
Italians, two Angolans and a Portuguese priest - who were thought
to be missing were in Uige province.
@ ANC STATEMENT ON TRANSFORMATION IN SPORT
Issued by: African National Congress
White opposition parties seem to be operating like computers
which have been programmed to reject any thing which contains the
word transformation. They seem to have stopped thinking and each
time transformation is mentioned it triggers the computer programme
in their minds to make the kind of noise we always hear from them.
It is not surprising to hear their response to concerns made by
sporting bodies and the Minister of Sports about lack of
transformation in certain sporting disciplines such as rugby and
cricket. Nobody can dispute the fact that both rugby and cricket
national teams remain lily-white teams despite the fact that calls
for their transformation were made more than five years ago.
Many young black people have already demonstrated great
potential in the fields of rugby and cricket but nothing has been
done by rugby and cricket associations to help them develop to
levels where they would be considered for selection in the national
teams. Even those exceptions, for example in cricket where Makhaya
Ntini and Paul Adams have proved themselves beyond any doubt, the
national selectors left them out in the cold for the test against
the West Indies for the flimsiest of reasons.
The persistent defense by the National Party of white racism in
sport only serves to confirm that apartheid is still firmly
entrenched in their psyche. The so called new National Party is
obviously nothing but mutton dressed as lamb.
Issued by ANC department of Information and Publicity
For further information contact Thabo Masebe at 082 575 3978
30 November 1998
@ TRADE-CONFERENCE
CAPE TOWN November 30 1998 Sapa
MBEKI, DALEY TO SPEAK AT INVESTMENT CONFERENCE
Deputy President Thabo Mbeki and United States Commerce
Secretary William Daley are to deliver the keynote addresses at a
high-profile trade and investment conference which gets under way
in Cape Town on Tuesday.
The two-day Southern Africa Trade and Investment Summit will be
attended by local and international business people and senior
government officials.
Similar summits have been held in Johannesburg, Harare and
Gaborone.
Other high-profile participants include European Commissioner
Joao de Deus Pinheiro, Botswana President Festus Mogae and Namibian
Prime Minister Hage Geingob.
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe was also due to attend but
he has cancelled.
On the opening day South Africa's Trade Minister Alec Erwin
will deliver an address on challenges facing the Southern African
Development Community (SADC), and the subject will be taken up in a
panel discussion on Wednesday by Mogae, Geingob and Mozambican
Prime Minister Pascoal Mocumbi.
Discussions will also be held on infrastructure, technology,
mining and tourism.
@ IBA-ETV
JOHANNESBURG November 30 1998 Sapa
IBA EXPECTS E-TV TO START NEWS BROADCASTS ON TUESDAY
The Independent Broadcasting Authority on Monday said it
expected free-to-air television channel e.tv to start transmitting
news broadcasts on Tuesday as was stipulated in its licence
conditions.
IBA spokesman Pekwane Mashilwane said if e.tv failed to comply
with its licence condition on news, appropriate steps would be
taken.
"The council of the Independent Broadcasting Authority
therefore would like to re-iterate that e.tv's licence conditions
stand. The authority expects e.tv to start transmitting 30-minute
news bulletins from tomorrow (Tuesday)," Mashilwane said in a
statement.
Mashilwane said the licence conditions of e.tv were based on
promises made by Midi during the licence hearings and subsequent
discussions.
"These conditions therefore represent e.tv's own undertaking
and commitments. It was largely on the basis of these undertakings
that the licence was issued to e.tv."
The IBA last week rejected e.tv's application to postpone its
news bulletins until February next year.
The channel cited a lack of resources for the posponement. Its
news equipment had apparently not arrived from overseas.
@ DRAFT TENDER FOR NEW CELLPHONE LICENCES
Issued by: Ministry for posts and Telecommunications
TECHNICAL CONSULTANT APPOINTED TO HELP DRAFT TENDER FOR NEW
CELLPHONE LICENCES
International consulting firm Deloitte & Touche has been
appointed technical consultants to the Department of Communications,
to advise on the drafting of an Invitation to Tender for two new
national mobile cellular licences, says Jay Naidoo, Minister for
Posts, Telecommunications and Broadcasting.
"The evaluation team was impressed with the exceptional
understanding of the project scope shown by Deloitte & Touche, and
by the team they put together which has significant experience in
the telecommunications, regulatory, empowerment and mobile
technology fields," Naidoo says. "They also scored well in terms of
empowerment objectives and cost."
The tender closed on October 22, and Deloitte & Touche was
awarded the tender on November 23. The advisors will begin work on
assisting with drafting the Invitation to Tender for the new
cellular licences on December 3.
Once the Invitation to Tender has been drafted, it will be
published in the Government Gazette. No fixed date for this has yet
been determined, however, it is expected that an announcement will
be made early in the new year, Naidoo says.
@ SPORT-ANC
JOHANNESBURG November 30 1998 Sapa
APARTHEID STILL FIRMLY ENTRENCHED IN NP MINDS: ANC
The National Party's persistent defence of white racism in
sport only served to confirm that apartheid was still firmly
entrenched in their psyche, the African National Congress said on
Monday.
"White opposition parties seem to be operating like computers
which have been programmed to reject anything which contains the
word transformation.
"They seem to have stopped thinking and each time
transformation is mentioned it triggers the computer programme in
their minds to make the kind of noise we always hear from them,"
ANC spokesman Thabo Masebe said in a statement.
The NP, like the Democratic Party and the Freedom Front, have
slammed Sports Minister Steve Tshwete's remarks that not much had
been done to change the racial composition of rugby and cricket
national teams in South Africa.
Tshwete said a transformation committee would be set up to
speed up that process.
Masebe said nobody could dispute the fact that the national
rugby and cricket teams remained lily-white, despite calls for
their transformation since more than five years ago.
He said young black people had demonstrated great potential in
rugby and cricket but were still not being developed for selection
to the national teams.
"Even those exceptions, for example in cricket where Makhaya
Ntini and Paul Adams have proved themselves beyond any doubt, the
national selectors left them out in the cold for the test against
the West Indies for the flimsiest of reasons."
@ TRADE-EU
CAPE TOWN November 30 1998 Sapa
SA-EU TRADE TALKS TO RESUME
The protracted trade negotiations between South Africa and the
European Union are set to resume in Cape Town on Tuesday.
Hopes are pinned on Trade Minister Alec Erwin and European
Commissioner Joao de Deus Pinheiro to break the deadlock on a
number of issues, including the EU's demand that South Africa
lowers its import tariffs on steel, cars and textiles.
There is also still disagreement over South Africa's refusal to
allow EU fleets access to its fishing waters, and the EU's demand
that South African producers stop using the terms port and sherry.
Erwin and Pinheiro are scheduled to brief the media on progress
in the talks, which have been under way for more than three years,
on Tuesday afternoon.
@ DRCONGO-BEMBA
KAMPALA, Nov 30, Sapa-AFP
INDEPENDENT REBEL FORCE REJECTS CEASEFIRE IN DR CONGO
Jean-Pierre Bemba, head of a small rebel movement in the
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), said Monday that his forces
were continuing to fight despite a weekend agreement to sign a
ceasefire.
"We are not concerned by the meeting in Paris," Bemba told AFP
by satellite telephone from somewhere "in the bush" between Bumba
and Lissala, the rebels' next goal in northern DRC.
"We are still fighting. Fighting is still going on," the leader
of the Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC) added.
DRC President Laurent Kabila announced in Paris on Saturday
after a summit between France and 49 African countries that the
seven nations taking part in the war in his country had agreed to
sign an initial ceasefire in Lusaka on December 8.
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said they had agreed to an
immediate halt to the fighting in the meantime, and a Rwandan
officer in Nyunzu, in southeastern Katanga province, told AFP the
Rwandan troops had halted there.
Negotiations for a definitive ceasefire are due to be held in
Ouagadougou on December 17-18.
Zimbabwe, Angola, Chad and Namibia are fighting alongside
Kabila's army, and Rwanda and Uganda are backing Tutsi-led rebels
who rose up on August 2.
Bemba, a 39-year-old millionaire businessman with no previous
political experience and only three months' military training,
claimed that his new force - which emerged in early November -
has been responsible for capturing the towns of Dulia, Aketi and
Bumba in the northeast.
@ AIDS-NJOKO
JOHANNESBURG November 30 1998 Sapa
KWAZULU-NATAL WOMAN EDUCATES OTHERS ABOUT HER BATTLE WITH HIV
Nomsa Njoko is an attractive, articulate woman from
KwaZulu-Natal who has lived with HIV for five years.
A field worker for the organisation People Living with HIV/Aids
and a member of Eskom's employee education programme, Njoko is the
human face of an epidemic which is expected to claim the lives of
about 120,000 people this year.
Speaking at a press conference in Johannesburg on Monday ahead
of World Aids Day, Njoko said it was possible to forget the human
factor when discussing HIV/Aids.
"We are not just talking about numbers here, we are talking
about real people," she said.
Njoko said she is often asked what someone with HIV/Aids looks
like and emphasises that anyone who has not been tested could have
the virus.
"It is important to be tested to avoid infecting others and to
look after your own health."
Njoko is believed to have contracted HIV from a man who knew he
was infected.
"I now believe he was on a mission to infect as many women as
possible," she said.
When her Kwa-Mashu community discovered she was HIV positive,
Njoko was ostracised and expelled from the church.
"The church did not want someone like me to be a member of
their choir," she said.
Njoko said it was important for communities to end the silence
surrounding HIV/Aids, so that the extent of the problem could be
revealed.
"We need people high up in society, like ministers in the
government, to come forward and say: 'I've got HIV/Aids'. As long
as they keep silent it sends the signal that HIV/Aids only affects
low lives."
She said it was up to the population to become involved,
instead of waiting for the government or non-governmental
organisations to do all the work.
"If you are not doing anything, what are you waiting for? For
more people to become infected with HIV/Aids, for more orphans than
we can cope with?"
Njoko challenged South African women - the most highly
infected sector of the population according to recent reports on
HIV/Aids - to use protection when having sex and to demand the
respect and dignity they deserve.
Living with HIV is not easy, she said. "But if I can do it
anyone can."
"I was lying in my bed, unable to move, when I was first
diagnosed, but I decided to fight. If you don't fight there is no
one else to do it for you."
@ NAMIBIA-ELECTION
WINDHOEK November 30 1998 Sapa-AP
LOCAL ELECTIONS EXPECTED TO REFLECT NATIONAL DISSATISFACTION
Two-day-long regional elections began Monday, amidst increasing
disillusionment with the country's political leadership over
involvement in a foreign war and governance issues.
Nearly 800,000 registered voters in this southwest African
Atlantic coast country of 1.7 million are to elect six
representatives from each of the country's 13 regions to the
National Council.
The ruling South West Africa People's Organization, or SWAPO,
is campaigning on the basis of continuity and political stability.
But the main opposition party, the Democratic Turnhalle
Alliance, hopes to garner votes from popular dissent against
SWAPO's recent amendment of the constitution to allow President Sam
Nujoma stand for a third term in office.
SWAPO currently controls two thirds of both houses of
Parliament.
The upper house has approved the amendment but the National
Council must still consider the matter.
Critics charge the amendment threatens to undermine democracy
in Namibia.
A strong protest vote "is the only way to ensure that the
government does not further fiddle with the Namibian constitution,
and that our country doesn't get dumped in an irresponsible fashion
into foreign wars," said Katutire Kaura, president of the
Turnhalle Alliance, on Monday.
Namibia has sent an unknown number of troops to back Congolese
President Laurent Kabila in his four-month-long fight against
rebels in a conflict that has drawn at least five regional
countries into the fight.
The election this week was rescheduled from 1997, when the
government stopped municipal elections midstream after only 20
percent of the voters turned out in some of its strongest
constituencies.
A visit to polling stations in Windhoek on Monday showed a
similar lack of interest, despite the fact the day was declared a
national holiday to allow people time to vote.
"We are very happy so far, things are going O.K.," said
Ananias Elago, deputy director of elections.
Another issue brewing at election time was a secessionist
movement in a small neck of land called the Caprivi strip that
borders with Botswana and Angola.
About 700 people have fled to Botswana, including some
supporters of secession and opposition leaders.
An unemployed mine worker interviewed at a polling station in
Windhoek was not enthusiastic about the vote.
"Why must I vote? The opposition is too weak and their leaders
have run away to Botswana. SWAPO does not care about me ... Who
must I vote for?" said Mike Gowaseb.
Presidential elections are to be held toward the end of 1999 -
Namibia's third general election since independence in 1990.
@ ECONOMY-UDM
PRETORIA November 30 1998 Sapa
UDM CALLS FOR DEBATE ON WRITING OFF DEBT
United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa on Monday
called for a national debate on writing off the debt of South
Africans who did not have access to credit facilities because they
owed money.
He told 400 people at a public meeting in Pretoria that about
60 percent of the country's population did not have access to
credit. And he said this could be blamed largely on people heeding
calls by the African National Congress during the apartheid years
to boycott payments for rent and services.
Holomisa said the ANC had since coming into power written off
hundreds of millions of rands owed by Namibia, about R50 million
this year alone.
"It does so under the pretext of helping those who assisted the
anti-apartheid struggle. What about those who were teargassed
inside this country?"
National criteria had to be developed on this issue, he said.
Holomisa pledged that should the UDM be voted into power next year,
a referendum would be held on the death penalty within six months.
He said the party had built a support base of about 86000
paid-up members since its launch 14 months ago.
UDM deputy president Roelf Meyer said recent surveys on support
for the UDM were not accurate.
"We have not yet started with our voter campaign. We have for
the last 14 months been busy recruiting members and setting up
offices. Our campaign will start in the new year."
Holomisa predicted that next year's elections would be a
neck-and-neck contest between the ANC and the UDM.
He warned that nasty things would be said about the UDM in the
run-up to the poll, saying the ANC was already trying to stigmatise
its opposition.
"If this happens, don't fight," he told the gathering.
"Instead, use every possible public opportunity to state the
position of the UDM."
Both leaders used the platform to criticise the ANC as well as
opposition political parties.
Meyer said the ANC and the National Party were destined to
disappear as they had not changed much since their inception in the
early 1900s.
"While the NP created apartheid, the ANC thrived in apartheid.
You cannot thrive in something that no longer exists."
The Democratic Party, he said, focused on wooing whites.
Meyer said the UDM would not try to pursue supporters of the NP
and DP, which he said had a combined voter pool not exceeding 20
percent.
"We do not want to play in that pool," he said. "The UDM
appeals to all South Africans, from yuppies to squatters."
Meyer criticised the government for refusing state-sponsored
treatment for pregnant women with Aids.
For his part, Holomisa said the ANC had no firm policies on job
creation and the economy, and said it was using affirmative action
to reward those who had struggled against apartheid.
He said the UDM would focus on job creation, crime, health
care, building houses and government corruption in its election
campaign.
The party's main focus area was closing the gap between the
haves and the have-nots, he said.
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| ANC Dept Information & Publicity Tel: (+27 21) 262740 |
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| Cape Town Internet: in...@anc.org.za |
| South Africa CompuServe: 100014,344 |
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