ANC Daily News Briefing Sat 23 May
ANC Info
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A N C D A I L Y N E W S B R I E F I N G
SATURDAY 23 MAY 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 It is for reading and information only, and strictly not for
publication or broadcast.
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@ ANC WITHDREW OPPOSITION TO TRC APPLICATION
Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
April 30, 1998
STATEMENT BY DR ALEX BORAINE, ACTING CHAIRPERSON,
TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
The African National Congress today withdrew its opposition to a
Truth and Reconciliation Commission application asking the High
Court to declare void amnesties granted to 37 ANC members.
The TRC's application has been set down for a hearing in the
Cape High Court next Friday, May 8, when the Commission will also
ask the court to order that the amnesty applications be referred
back to the TRC's Amnesty Committee to be considered afresh.
The ANC's decision to withdraw its opposition to our court
application opens the way to a speedy resolution of the matter. It
enables us to approach the High Court a full three weeks ahead of
the date agreed to between the National Party, which has brought a
court application similar to the TRC's, and the ANC.
However, the National Party may still delay resolution of the
matter - it has given notice that it wants to intervene in the
TRC's court application against the ANC. In court papers, the NP
alleges that the ANC applications for amnesty "are not capable of
being considered afresh". As a result the NP is opposing that part
of the TRC application which asks the court to refer the amnesty
applications back to the Amnesty Committee for reconsideration.
The National Party will argue its case for the intervention when
the TRC's application goes to court on May 8.
Inquiries: Dr Boraine; or John Allen, 082- 452-7859
@ DEFENCE-ADOPT
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY May 22 Sapa
ASSEMBLY APPROVES DEFENCE REVIEW
The National Assembly on Friday approved the adoption of a new
defence review which outlines a vision and design for the South
African National Defence Force.
The final stage of the review - begun in 1996 after
Parliament's approval of a defence white paper - was approved and
endorsed by Cabinet last week.
Proposing a motion to adopt the review, Defence Minister Joe
Modise said that by doing this the House would place a final seal
of approval on an unparalleled national effort in the history of
defence in South Africa.
Although much work and many challenges lay ahead, government
was determined to ensure the successful transformation of defence
for the benefit of South Africa and all its people, Modise said.
Chairman of the joint standing committee on defence Tony
Yengeni (ANC), said the process had been transparent and inclusive,
with widespread agreement having been achieved.
It was vital for the review to be implemented and the
transformation of the defence force speeded up.
Hennie Smit (NP) said his party was thankful that several
different inputs had been included in the review.
It had been a good theoretical exercise and he hoped it would
not simply "gather dust on a bookrack somewhere" without being
properly implemented because of a lack of funds.
Douglas Gibson (DP) expressed concern that financial
constraints could prevent the review from being properly
implemented.
It was clear that funds allocated to defence did not take the
review into account; this meant it could be converted into a "wish
list... mere pie in the sky".
Everything possible had to be done to transform the review into
reality so that the effort was not wasted, Gibson said.
The Inkatha Freedom Party and Pan Africanist Congress also
supported the motion, agreeing that it was essential it be
implemented and the defence force transformed.
The Freedom Front decided not to commit itself and announced it
would abstain from voting on the motion.
@ MANDELA-WTO
CAPE TOWN May 19 Sapa
MANDELA ARRIVES IN GENEVA FOR WTO CELEBRATIONS
President Nelson Mandela arrived in Geneva on a whistle-stop
visit Tuesday to attend the 50th anniversary celebrations of the
World Trade Organisation (WTO).
He is expected to raise specific problems facing developing
countries when he addresses the assembly along with other heads of
state, a trade official said.
The president will leave the Swiss capital later on Tuesday and
be back home on Wednesday morning.
@ SOUTH AFRICA SWISS RELATIONS
Issued by: Office of the President
BACKGROUND NOTES: SOUTH AFRICA SWISS RELATIONS
BILATERAL RELATIONS
South Africa and Switzerland established diplomatic relations in
1952. South Africa has an Embassy in Berne and a permanent Mission
to the United Nations as well as a Consulate General in Geneva.
Ambassador, Ruth Mompati, was accredited in October 1996.
Bilateral relations are excellent and have intensified in the last
few years following the establishments of a democaratic Government
in South Africa which created a solid foundation for a further
cooperation. A series of high level meetings have highlighted the
desire of both countries to deepen relations. The Swiss Minister of
Foreign Affairs at the time and current President of Switzeland. Mr
Flavio Cotti, visited South Africa in October 1994. President
Nelson Mandela together with both Vice-Presidents - Mr Mbeki and Mr
De Klerk - were received by members of the Swiss Confederation. The
Swiss President for 1996, Mr Delamuraz, visited South Africa to
take part in the official opening of UNCTAD IX followed by highest
level meetings with the South African Government. The presence of
important South African delegations at the World Economic Forum in
Davos and the Forum of Crans-Montana were recent occasions to renew
and broaden bilateral contracts. President Mandela visited
Switzerland officially on 3 September 1997 and held discussions
with Swiss President Koller as well as the Vice-President and
Foreign Minister Cotti. The new Swiss development programme in
South Africa is a concrete testimony of the readiness of
Switzerland to contribute to the reconstruction and development
process.
ECONOMIC RELATIONS
Bilateral economic relations are sound and will certainly
benefit in the future from the conclusion of the Uruguay Round of
GATT/WTO as well as from the signing in 1995 of a bilateral
investment protection agreement. A double taxation agreement was
concluded as early as 1968. The Swiss Government has also decided to
include South Africa with effect from 1 March 1997, in the list of
the beneficiary countries of the Swiss preference scheme by
granting preferential treatment in the form of exemption from import
duties in most cases and by a wide range of products covered (most
industrial and many agricultural goods).
South Africa is by far Switzerland's most important trading
partner on the African Continent and had an overall trade volume of
CHF 953 million in 1997. The Swiss trade statistics, which exclude
gold ingots, show a decreasing commercial surplus in favour of
Switzerland. Inn 1997, the value of Swiss goods imported into South
Africa reached a level of CHF 558 million against CHF 395 million of
South African exports to Switzerland. South African statistics
provide a different picture, as these include gold as a traded
commodity. On this basis, Switzerland becomes the fifth main market
(1996) for South Africa.
In the field of investment, Switzerland is an important partner
for South Africa. According to the latest data available,
Switzerland ranked fifth among foreign investors in 1994, after
Great Britain. United States, Germany and Netherlands. By the end of
that year, the cumulative value of Swiss direct investments in South
Africa was estimated to be slightly under 3.5 billion Rand. No exact
figures are available about direct investments pledged since 1994.
Based on a recent study of the Industrial Development Corporation it
is estimated that about 1 billion Rand of new investments have been
undertaken by Swiss firms after the 1994 elections and Switzerland
ranks sixth for foreign direct investment flows in South Africa.
About 300 to 400 Swiss companies are represented in South
Africa. Most of Switzerland's major firms and multinationals have
subsidiaries or branches in the country. These include Nestle, the
big two of the Swiss chemical and pharmaceutical industry - Novartis
Group (recent merger of Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz) and Roche - as well
as ABB, Buhler, Schindler and Sulzer in the engineering sector. In
the service sector, the three biggest banks - Credit Suisse First
Boston, Union Bank of Switzerland - are represented, as well as
Danzas, Kuoni, SGS, Winterthur and Swiss-Reinsurance. In all, Swiss
owned companies employ 25 000 people in South Africa. The number of
tourists has risen considerably in recent years.
@ BOTSWANA-INFLATION
GABORONE May 22 Sapa
BOTSWANA INFLATION JUMPS AFTER TWO YEAR DOWNWARD TREND
After more than two years of a deflationary trend, with year on
year inflation dropping from 10,8 percent in December 1995 to 6,9
percent in March 1998, Botswana's annual inflation put on 0,4 of a
point over April to 7,3 percent.
Over the month, the national cost-of-living index added 1,3
percent to 111,7 points, from its November 1995 base of 100, the
Central Statistics Office said Friday.
The increase was largely attributed to items in the sub-group
Housing putting on 3,7 percent and Alcohol and Tobacco adding 3,6
percent. The two account for 26 percent of the col basket.
The Botswana Housing Corporation implemeneted its yearly rent
increases during the month. The tobacco price index shot up 5,5
percent and the alcoholic beverage index 3,1 percent.
@ ZIM-AGRICULTURE by Jan Raath
HARARE May 22 Sapa-DPA
AGRICULTURE CRASH LOOMING OVER ZIMBABWE ECONOMY
Zimbabwe's farming industry, once hailed as the bread-basket of
Africa, is threatening to collapse as rapid economic decline and
punitive state taxes wipe out profit margins.
Where repeated attempts by President Robert Mugabe for a mass
land-grab of white-owned farms have so far failed, his government's
inability to support the former vigorous agricultural community is
succeeding, with growing numbers of white farmers offering their
land for sale to resettle peasant farmers.
"To put it bluntly, it's make or break for Zimbabwean
agriculture this year," said Arthur Baisley, vice-president of the
Commercial Farmers Union (CFU), the body of large-scale commercial
producers.
Earlier this week, Harare's vast tobacco auction floors were
silent as the 5300 growers keep their crop in their barns in a
boycott to try to force up prices.
Outside of the southern United States, Zimbabwe is the world's
biggest producer of high quality Virginia tobacco with the chemical
mixture that gives the flavour to expensive international brand
cigarettes.
The crop is regarded as the cornerstone of the Zimbabwean
economy, accounting for 30 per cent of all exports, and the engine
for a huge variety of downstream industries that together are the
country's biggest employer.
But since the six-month auction season began on March 30, prices
have crashed, averaging now 1.27 U.S. dollars per kilogram, down 45
per cent on prices for the same period last year, and well below the
1.85 dollars which farmers say is the break-even price.
"Everything starts to slip once the tobacco price slips," said
Baisley, who also said that business supplying irrigation equipment,
tractors, farm implements and chemicals had virtually come to a
halt.
"Unless the tobacco prices improve significantly, were are down
the tube," he added.
The tobacco season and its vast earnings - 609 million U.S.
dollars last year - were looked to by Mugabe's government for relief
from the dramatic economic decline since late last year following
massive unbudgeted expenditures ordered by the president.
But instead, the unexpected tobacco crash is forecast to
accelerate dislocation. Already, economists say, the Zimbabwe dollar
is under pressure as foreign currency earnings fall below
anticipated levels, threatening to trigger a slump similar to last
year when the currency fell 45 per cent in a matter of weeks.
"The tobacco issue is far, far worse than the land issue," said
Ian Gordon, a farmer from Darwendale 100 kilometres northwest of the
capital, as he referred to Mugabe's threats to confiscate 4.2
million hectares of white-owned farmland.
"It's not going to be a problem for the government to get land
after this," Gordon said.
When Harare in November published a list of 1484 farms - almost
half of them tobacco farms - for confiscation, the owners of 170 of
them decided to sell to the government rather than fight, despite
government threats to pay less than the legal compensation rates.
Senior farm union executives said that since then, more listed
farmers, now faced with ruin, had decided to withdraw their
challenge to confiscation, and now were offering to sell.
All commodities in the agricultural sector are in serious
trouble, from ostriches to lumber. For more than three weeks maize
farmers, producing the country's staple food, have refused to sell
their crop unless they get 2500 Zimbabwe dollars (138 U.S. dollars)
per ton.
In January the state-owned Grain Marketing Board (GMB), the
biggest maize trader, gave the growers their price, but it was
immediately rescinded by Mugabe's government, fearing a resumption
of food riots that had broken out earlier.
Industry analysts warn that food shortages will occur soon
unless the government allows the price to rise. The worst problem,
say economists, is trying to farm in an environment of economic
decay, with inflation almost at 30 per cent, bank interest rates at
45 per cent and a financial sector jittery after a bank collapse
last month.
Added to that is the wide array of taxes, levies and duties to
haul in revenue to feed the enormous appetite of Mugabe's government
for spending.
Baisley says farmers could meet their crises without the tax
haemorrhage.
"If our input costs were not as great as they are, would could
manage with prices much lower than we are getting," he said.
"Agriculture is in dire straits. The government must put its house
in order."
@ MRC
CAPE TOWN May 22 Sapa
MRC WON'T BE TRANSFERRED TO NEW RESEARCH BODY: MTSHALI
The Medical Research Council (MRC) was not among research
institutions earmarked for transfer to the National Research
Foundation (NRF), Science and Technology Minister Lionel Mtshali
said on Friday.
The National Research Foundation Bill, introduced in the
National Assembly earlier this week, aims to combine in one
institution the natural, human and medical science functions
carried out by the Foundation for Research Development and the
Centre for Science Development.
Mtshali said the MRC would not in any manner cross over into
the NRF field because the council would concentrate on applied
health research, whereas the foundation would deal with basic
research in the health sciences.
@ MBEKI-RECONCILIATION
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY May 20 Sapa
MBEKI CONCERNED ABOUT SOUTH AFRICANS' RAGE
Deputy President Thabo Mbeki on Wednesday told MPs he was concerned
about the anger developing among South Africans, which was
threatening reconciliation.
"I'm personally very concerned that there is beginning to develop a
certain rage within our society," he said in an interpellation
debate.
Mbeki then cited examples which he said were fuelling this anger
and not helping the reconciliation process.
"When President Mandela ends up in court, that produces a
particular response of rage; when somebody says, `do not touch
rugby because it is an Afrikaner sport', that produces rage.
"When people think that people are excluded from taking
positions that are due to them within our judiciary as deputy
president of the Natal bench, whatever the merits of the case, this
in itself introduces rage."
In a broadside at the National Party, which called for debate
on the issue, Mbeki said reconciliation could not be dealt with in
the context of party politics.
"It requires very, very serious discussion among ourselves, so
that we can say what it is that we can do together to address this
question."
Mbeki said he and Freedom Front leader General Constand Viljoen
were involved in a process to deal with perceptions about the TRC.
They were involved in detailed discussions on "what to do to
remove that element of rage around (former president) PW Botha and
the TRC", he said.
National Party leader Marthinus van Schalkwyk said nation building
and reconciliation could not consist of symbolism only and had to
be underpinned by concrete steps.
The NP believed in a proper balance between the rights of the
majority of South Africans and the rights of the minority.
The most constructive way to make minorities part of the nation
"is to recognise them and to unlock their potential".
"If minorities feel safe they will become enthusiastic
contributors; if they feel threatened the natural reaction is to
withdraw, with the risk that the potentially constructive force can
become destructive."
The NP was extremely concerned about the increasing racist
attacks from within the ANC - as the government of the day - on
minority communities, Van Schalkwyk said.
This included an ANC Mpumalanga MP calling Afrikaners "bloody
boers", and deputy minister Peter Mokaba's statements on Freedom
Day that white bureaucrats were anti-ANC and should be replaced by
`our own people'.
Van Schalkwyk said if Mbeki dealt with racism in the ANC in a
decisive manner, and if he recognised that diversity among South
Africans needed to be accommodated by more than just words, then
notwithstanding party political differences, opposition parties
would become co-builders in reconciliation and nation building.
The Freedom Front's Dr Pieter Mulder said that as an Afrikaner,
he wanted to feel that there was space to be himself in South
Africa.
"If it is expected of me, for the sake of nation-building, to
be less of an Afrikaner, then the price is too high."
This was the message Afrikaners were receiving, especially as
their language was being scaled down at various levels.
"We are busy polarising and are not moving nearer to solutions,"
Mulder said.
@ CRIME-LD-DEFENCE By Mariette le Roux
PRETORIA May 20 Sapa
SIX HELD IN CONNECTION WITH BLOEMFONTEIN WEAPONS THEFT
Six people were arrested on Wednesday in connection with the
weekend's weapons theft at a Bloemfontein military base, Free State
police said.
Senior Superintendent Johlene van der Merwe said none of the
117 weapons stolen from 44 Parachute Brigade had been recovered.
They include R4 and R5 automatic rifles, rocket launchers, machine
guns, grenade launchers and mortars.
Van der Merwe said two army vehicles stolen by the thieves had
been recovered. A Samil cargo vehicle was found burning on the
Dewetsdorp road early on Sunday morning. A Mamba armoured vehicle
was found in Qwa Qwa on Tuesday afternoon.
Military police said there was no evidence of a link between
the Bloemfontein weapons theft and those at 10 Anti-Aircraft
regiment and Galeshewe police station, both in Kimberley.
Warrant-Officer Boetie Pieters said the methods used by the thieves
were not similar.
Ten R4 rifles were stolen from the regiment on Sunday, and
police last week discovered 92 firearms were missing at Galeshewe.
Defence ministry spopkesman Colonel Puso Tladi said: "This does
not appear like the work of ordinary criminals. eapons and
equipment of war were stolen. This might impact on the security of
the country and its people."
SA Army spokeswoman Major Merle Meyer said boards of inquiry
were investigating the two military base thefts.
Northern Cape police spokesman Superintendent Hendrik Swart
said nine firearms believed to have been stolen at Galeshewe had
been recovered.
Northern Cape police commissioner Johan Deyzel said the police
were embarrassed by the loss of weapons and other goods kept in
police custody in the Kimberley area.
Recently 10,000 litres of fuel went missing from a police fuel
tank in Kimberley. About 1500 litres of alcohol worth about R10000
confiscated and stored by the police also went missing.
@ DEFENCE-BUDGET
CAPE TOWN May 20 Sapa
DEFENCE SEEKS R771M FOR WEAPONS
The department of defence is seeking R771 million in bridging
finance from the private sector to augment the special defence
account (SDA), the fund that the South African National Defence
Force uses to buy and maintain major weaponry, MPs heard on
Wednesday.
Department and SANDF officials told the defence portfolio
committee that this year's Budget allocation to the SDA, down 38,1
percent in real terms on 1997/98, meant only R688 million was
available to meet contracts the defence force had already signed.
This was only half of what was needed.
Director of weapon systems acquisition in the SANDF, Rear
Admiral Kek Verster, said this amount was enough to buy a third of
a tank regiment, or 13 tanks, 1,3 advanced fighter aircraft or two
thirds of a corvette.
He said the department had asked state expenditure to approve
bridging finance of R771 million. This would come from the
armaments industry and be repaid from the defence budget over four
years, as reductions in force numbers freed more money for capital
purchases.
He said it was envisaged that the financing would be organised
by Armscor from the industry locally or overseas.
Acting chief of finance in the department, Jack Grundling, said
it was intended that manufacturers simply grant the department
credit for the materiel they delivered, and that the eventual
repayment would include interest charges.
The request was being considered by Finance Minister Trevor
Manuel. The finance would bring the account "more or less" in line
with last year's spending on capital and cover the commitments the
defence force had already entered into.
Grundling said the amount the SANDF had available this year for
capital spending was not enough for any government-to-government
arms deals. Only from the 2001/02 financial year would any
resources be available for that.
The defence review had set a target for the defence budget of
spending splits of 40 percent on personnel, 30 on operating costs
and 30 on capital spending. Because of the ongoing integration of
non-statutory forces, 57 percent of this year's budget would go on
personnel, which squeezed out the other categories.
Last year the SANDF had spent 12 percent of its budget on
capital renewal. This year's figure would be eight percent, which
would have an immediate effect on the survival of the defence
industry.
It was hoped to reach the defence review figures in the next
three years.
@ CRIME-LD-MANDELA By Kurt Swart
JOHANNESBURG May 20 Sapa
GRIEVING GERMISTON FAMILY ADDRESSES APPEAL TO MANDELA ON CRIME
President Nelson Mandela is being lied to by his own officials
about crime levels in South Africa, a Germiston family torn apart
by violence said on Wednesday.
The Krog family, grieving for their son shot dead in an armed
robbery in February, on Tuesday addressed an open letter to Mandela
in the death column of The Star's classified section.
They enclosed the letter in a message of condolence to the
relatives of Jaco Roodt, a security guard who was shot dead in
another robbery last Friday.
The Krog letter opens: "Mr Mandela, you and your government
have publicly stated that you have the crime in our country under
control.
"We ask of you why a young man with a family and a future ahead
of him had to be taken so brutally on Friday, May 15 in Refinery
Road, Germiston.
"This is the second murder of an innocent man in the same area
within three months. Our son, brother, husband and father, Brandon
Krog, was also brutally murdered on Friday 13th February, a mere
500m from where Jaco was murdered this Friday.
"Words cannot console our anger and pain. Jaco's death has made
us feel like we have lost another family member and has brought
back all the pain and suffering, as it was on the day when Brandon
was gunned down in cold blood."
Brandon's brother, Mitchell Krog, on Wednesday told Sapa the
Krog family had opened a website on the Internet as part of a
campaign to get Mandela to take action against crime.
He accused government ministers of feeding misinformation to
the president.
"Hopefully our campaign will make Mandela aware. His ministers,
his MECs, his army, his police are telling him lies.
"They put onto Mandela's desk crime statistics that mean shit.
Then the president holds a press conference and says crime is on
the way down. We feel sorry for him because he is being lied to so
much.
"He actually does not know what is going on in this country. He
goes out with 100 bodyguards and is safe. But ordinary people are
subjected to crime every day.
"I have tried e-mailing him but there has been no response. But
he is a man and he reads newspapers and by doing this our hope is
to get something done about the crime," said Krog.
Presidential aide Parks Mankahlana said the government had
taken note of the letter.
"It is regrettable that this tragic incident has happened. The
president relies and has trust in the information that he gets from
his officials and the different security agencies.
"The president is convinced that police are doing all in their
power to bring the crime situation under control and all
indications are that as high as the crime rate is, we are making
progress in bringing it under control," he said.
Krog's brother was shot dead by four armed robbers as he
entered the family scrapyard business. It was the start of a
nightmare for the family.
"On February 19, on the way back from her son's funeral, my
mother was held up in her own driveway and a car was stolen.
"Jill, the daughter of the woman who drove my mom home from the
funeral, was caught up in an armed robbery a week after that. Then
my dad went to visit Brandon's widow, and within 10 minutes of
parking his car was broken into.
"Three weeks after that one of our employees, Mr Lithgow, was
hit over the head in a robbery. This is the experience of just one
family. In the street where my parents live their next-door
neighbour has been hijacked in his driveway. Ten houses down is a
man who has been hijacked three times."
Krog said their suburb, Dinwiddie, has been dubbed "hijack
city" by the local police.
"The international press does not hear about the crime. That's
why we are setting up a website. I don't give a stuff about what
happens to the tourist industry as a result," said Krog.
In their letter to Mandela, the Krog family states: "We demand
justice... these criminals... are befouling our beloved land and
ruining all hope of a future for this country."
The family website is www.allafrica.co.za/brandon
@ REVENUE
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY May 20 Sapa
DIVISION OF REVENUE BILL PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
Legislation providing for the equitable division of national
revenue between all tiers of government, as required by the
Constitution, was unanimously passed by the House on Wednesday.
Introducing the second reading debate on the Division of
Revenue Bill, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel - who tabled the
measure with his Budget on March 11 - said the Constitution
imposed a tremendous responsibility on provincial and local
governments to deliver on basic services.
Provinces were expected to table balanced budgets, and local
governments could not budget for operational deficits.
"The challenge we all face with national, provincial and local
governments is to prioritise and reprioritise expenditure, and
spend revenues allocated to each sphere of government in a way that
promotes the objectives of the RDP," Manuel said.
Dr Gavin Woods (IFP) said the bill partly achieved the desired
equity, partly not, and in part "we do not know".
The Constitution's requirement of equity had not been met, but
because the bill was a move in the right direction, "we will today
not oppose it".
Ken Andrew (DP) said his party believd the bill was a good
start to a "very important and complicated subject".
@ CRIME-CHAUKE
JOHANNESBURG May 20 Sapa
WANTED CRIMINAL COLLIN CHAUKE SOON BEHIND BARS: MUFAMADI
Safety and Security Minister Sydney Mufamadi on Wednesday said
he was confident that one of South Africa's most wanted men, Collin
Chauke, would soon be back behind bars.
This comes after the arrest of Mafika Mahlangu, 31, who was
arrested by murder and robbery detectives in Durban over the
weekend.
Mahlangu and Chauke, both former Winterveldt African National
Congress councillors, are wanted in connection with a multi-million
rand cash heist at an SBV cash depot last year.
"The safety and security ministry confirms that it will be only
a matter of time before Collin Chauke is caught. This is because of
Mahlangu's close ties with Chauke," Martin said in a statement.
Although Mufamadi was confident that Chauke would soon be
caught, he did not want to put a specific time frame to the arrest,
Martin said.
@ MCBRIDE
CAPE TOWN May 20 Sapa
PARLIAMENT TO SEE MOTIONS AND PICKETS ABOUT MCBRIDE
Members of the Free Robert McBride Campaign plan to hold
pickets in South Africa's major centres on Thursday to protest his
continued detention in Mozambique without having been formally
charged or brought before a court of law.
About 15 African National Congress activists would picket
outside Parliament on Thursday, while it was expected that similar
demonstrations would be held in Pretoria, Johannesburg and Durban,
an organiser said.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Party on Wednesday gave notice of a
motion in the National Assembly calling on the Mozambican
authorities to charge McBride or release him.
It also requested Foreign Affairs Minsiter Alfred Nzo to report
to the House on what representations the government had made to
Mozambique on the matter over the past two months, and asked for
the findings of an internal departmental investigation into the
matter to be made public.
@ DEFENCE-CUTS
CAPE TOWN May 20 Sapa
NAVY MAY BE HEADING FOR COLLAPSE
The navy and the military medical services might both be headed
for total collapse and the army was unable to perform its primary
duty of protecting the country's borders properly, the defence
department warned on Wednesday.
In a document on its 1998/99 budget presented to the
parliamentary portfolio committee on defence, the department said
57 percent of the budget was going on personnel, rather than
operating costs or new equipment.
This meant readiness and service levels would reach an
"unprecedented low" this year.
In the navy, the shortage of cash for spares meant ships and
submarines were being cannibalised and would have to be phased out
sooner than planned.
It was estimated that by 2002 the navy would no longer be able
to run any submarines, and that its surface ships would cease to
operate by 2005.
"The navy has reached a stage where its capabilities and
activities cannot fulfil its mandate," the document said. "There is
a distinct probability that the navy will enter a period of
irreversible decline until it, to all intents and purposes,
collapses."
It said that although the budget for the defence force's
medical support programme was being increased by 16,2 percent, this
would be affected by the 21 percent medical inflation rate and
increasing demand on medical services.
The South African Medical Services (SAMS) would no longer be
able to fulfil its mandate of providing "operationally essential"
medical services to South African National Defence Force members
and their dependants.
"A total collapse of the rendering of medical services to the
department of defence is foreseen in the medium term due to a lack
of serviceable main medical equipment, logistical and
administrative support, and a drain of skilled human resources,"
the document said.
"Under these circumstances the SAMS will not be in a position
to provide support during disasters in neighbouring countries,
assist in disaster relief, maintain essential health services, or
support other national departments."
The buget allocation for the army had kept pace with inflation,
but the increased portion of this that would go on personnel
spending meant less for operating costs.
"The army has reached a point where it is unable to perform its
primary duty to protect the borders and its secondary duty to
support the South African Police Services adequately," the document
said.
Personnel were insufficiently trained for their duties,
productivity and morale were declining, and urgently-needed people
with the right qualifications were leaving.
This reduced capacity could lead to escalating crime and
instability in the country, and a lack of confidence in the defence
force.
African National Congress MP Thabang Makwetla said the
political implications of this scenario were "just unacceptable".
He did not see how cuts in training were not going to affect
representivity in the force.
"I really don't find comfort with the kind of scenario that is
now emerging," he said.
@ ANC: NP GETS ONLY 22 VOTES AS CRISIS DEEPENS
Issued by: African National Congress
DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY
Only 22 voters supported the NP in yesterday's by-election in
Bloekombos.
In 1996 the NP received 125 votes. ANC Leader Ebrahim Rasool
said last night "It is clear that the NP will not govern the Western
Cape after the 1999 elections. People have lost all faith in the NP.
They have failed to deal with rampant crime, to provide housing for
the poorest of the poor and they have failed to bring about change
for the African and Coloured poor in our province. They do not
deserve the support of the people of the Western Cape. They have
decided to govern for the few, not for the many. Even in traditional
support areas they are losing to the DP which has also chosen to
limit its focus to the white community."
ANC candidate Lenchman Dlayedwa swept to victory with resounding
1502 votes, a majority of 1380. The NP candidate did not even live
in the ward. It is clear that the Bloekombos community made up of
African and Coloured poor see no future in the NP. They believe that
the ANC is their only hope. They see the ANC as a party that will
champion the interests of the poor whether they live in backyard
shacks in Manenberg or the squatter areas of Khayelitsha.
Mr Rasool added. "We believe that voters in the Western Cape
from the white community will also begin to realise that their is no
future in parties that promise only to protect privilege. Such
parties have no chance to grow. We will over the next year be going
to these voters and saying that there is a home for them in the ANC
which is building a future for all. There can be no security for the
few if the majority are marginalised in this province".
It seems that the UDM is also competing with the NP and DP only
for the privileged in the Western Cape. The decision of the UDM not
to contest is an admission that they have no support in the area.
Mr Rasool added "We are confident that the steady increase in
support for the ANC since the elections in 1994 when we achieved 33%
of the vote is continuing. In 1995/96 the average ANC support moved
up to 38% The Idasa poll conducted in 1997 showed that 34% of voters
said they would vote ANC while only 31% said they vote NP. The
success achieved by the ANC in the December 1997 Elsies River
by-election is further evidence of growing support for the ANC in
traditional NP strongholds. Increasingly voters are seeing the ANC
in the Western Cape as not only an effective opposition to the P
but as a party which can unite the people of our province and ensure
taht change reaches all communities especially those who have been
marginalised borne the brunt of discrimination at the hands of the
NP".
"Mr Morkel has become the premier of the party with no future.
He has inherited an empty shell from Hernus Kriel who has deserted a
sinking ship. Morkel and the NP do not inspire anyone with
confidence. They have lost the trust of the people in the Western
Cape. It is clear that the NP will resort to ever more desperate
measures as they see the writing on the wall" added Mr Rasool.
Issued by the ANC Western Cape, Thursday 21 May 1998. For more
details contact Cameron at 082 894 7553 or 4184616 code 7131.
Reminder! ANC press conference with Ebrahim Rasool, Mcebisi
Skwatsha, Sean Byneveldt and Mr Dlayedwa at 12h30, ANC caucus room
4th Floor, 7 Wale Street today.
@ MCBRIDE-LD-PROTEST
JOHANNESBURG May 21 Sapa
CONSULATE-GENERAL DECLINES TO RECEIVE MCBRIDE MEMORANDUM
The Mozambican consulate-general in Johannesburg on Thursday
declined to receive a memorandum calling for the immediate release
of Robert McBride, the South African foreign affairs official being
held in Maputo on suspicion of arms smuggling.
Protesting members of the Free Robert McBride Campaign
attempted to present the memorandum to Antonio Tauzene at the
offices of the Mozambican consulate, but he sent a subordinate to
take the document instead.
Campaign spokesman Aubrey Lekwane told reporters he earlier met
Tauzene and the Mozambican official had agreed to receive the
memorandum.
It was also agreed that the memorandum would be handed to
Tauzene in his office, not outside.
But when Lekwane, other sympathisers and reporters went up to
his office, they were told Tauzene was not available. A security
officer said Tauzene was in but could not receive the memorandum.
A subordinate then accepted the memorandum on behalf of
Tauzene.
Earlier, about 20 placard-carrying protesters gathered outside
the consulate offices, calling for McBride's immediate release.
McBride has been held in a Maputo prison since his arrest more
than two months ago.
The memorandum said: "Your country continues to keep Robert
McBride behind bars in spite of the fact that all information
presented as evidence against McBride was discredited by a
commission set up by the South African government.
"The 40-day period allowed by Mozambican law to investigate
this case has passed."
Some of the placards read: "(outgoing SA Defence Force chief
Georg) Meiring gets R5 million, McBride gets 73 days' detention",
"McBride was set up" and "(Defence Minister Joe) Modise and (deputy
minister Ronnie) Kasrils, what are you doing".
Socialist Party president Lybon Mabaso and SA Prisoners'
Organisation for Human Rights president Golden Miles Bhudu were
among the protesters.
A handful of pro-McBride protesters also held a lunch-time
placard demonstration outside the gates of Parliament in Cape Town.
In a memorandum handed to the office of Foreign Affairs
Minister Alfred Nzo, the group urged the South African government
to intervene in the controversy surrounding McBride.
He had been in solitary confinement in a Mozambican prison for
73 days and the Mozambican authorities had not been able to present
a clear case for charging him, the group's memo said.
"Given the ties between the recent Meiring report about an
alleged coup against the South African government and the Robert
McBride case, there is a just cause for concern.
"Surely it is not coincidental that the co-accused, Vusi Mbatha
(arrested with McBride), was the prime source in the Meiring
report.
"The fact that the provisional charge sheets rely primarily on
Mbatha's statements suggests foul play," the memorandum said.
It demanded that the Department of Foreign Affairs "do its job"
and intervene with Mozambican authorities to ensure that McBride
was either charged or released immediately.
@ COURT-ARMSTHEFT
BLOEMFONTEIN May 22 Sapa
THREE SOLDIERS CHARGED WITH THEFT OF ARMOURED VEHICLE
Three SA National Defence Force members appeared in the
Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court on Friday charged with stealing a
Mamba armoured personnel carrier.
The three suspects would be questioned further in connection
with last weekend's massive arms theft at the Bloemfontein base of
the 44 Parachute Brigade, Network Radio News reported.
Police spokeswoman Johlene van der Merwe said there was as yet
no evidence linking the three to the arms theft.
There was also no evidence on speculation that the arms theft
was connected with either the right or left of the political
spectrum.
@ DEMARCATIONS
CAPE TOWN May 22 Sapa
MUNICIPAL DEMARCATION BILL HEARINGS POSTPONED, SHORTENED
Next week's public hearings on the Municipal Demarcation Bill,
scheduled for May 26 and 27, would now only take place over one day
on Wednesday (May 27), the National Assembly's constitutional
affairs committee said.
The hearings - to be held in Parliament's Old Assembly chamber
- had been changed because they clashed with a training programme
for MPs, committee secretary Enoch Gqotso said.
@ MINERAL-NP
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY May 22 Sapa
NP URGES MANDELA TO FIRE MADUNA
The National Party on Friday called on President Nelson Mandela
to fire Mineral and Energy Affairs Minister Penuell Maduna within
24 hours.
Alternatively, said NP MP Adriaan Blaas, speaking during debate
on the mineral and energy affairs budget vote, Maduna's salary
should be reduced to R1 a month.
He accused Maduna of having sown confusion among members of the
Central Energy Fund over his handling of the saga concerning
Liberian oil consultant Emanuel Shaw, and of having forced a former
competent director-general to resign.
The new appointee's only credentials were that he and Maduna
"had old boy connections from the struggle days".
Blaas said the NP further believed that state tender procedures
had not been followed in the selling off of South Africa's oil
reserves.
Ndaweni Mahlangu (ANC) accused Blaas of making his charges
because he was not used to a minister and a director-general who
were black.
@ CONFERENCE ON VULNERABLE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES
Issued by: The Ministry for Provincial Affairs and
Constitutional Development
MEDIA STATEMENT BY MINISTER M V MOOSA, MINISTER FOR PROVINCIAL
AFFAIRS AND CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT ON THE CONFERENCE ON THE
CONSTITUTIONAL ACCOMMODATION OF VULNERABLE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES IN
SOUTH AFRICA
The Department of Constitutional Development and the Geneva
based International Labour Office (ILO) will be co-hosting a
conference on the rights of vulnerable groups in South Africa from
23 to 24 May 1998 at Upington.
The issue regarding the constitutional rights of vulnerable
communities is presently high on the international political agenda
and the United Nations is drafting a declaration on the rights of
such communities.
Within South Africa, this issue is also viewed as very important
and the Government has taken the first step regarding the
constitutional accommodation of vulnerable communities with the
establishment of the National Griqua Forum. Other communities, such
as the Nama, Koranna and San who, view themselves as vulnerable
communities, have also expressed an urgent need that attention be
given to their needs in this regard.
This conference will therefore mainly focus on the Nama, Koranna
and San groups and aims to address issues such as the definition of
a vulnerable community, identity, first nation status, leadership,
interest groups, protection of cultural ad linguistic rights and
constitutional accommodation.
Besides representatives from these communities, representatives
of the ILO, the African Forum on Vulnerable Communities, the
National Griqua Forum and the South African San Institute will also
be adding inputs into the conference.
The venue for the conference is the Upington Protea Hotel with
the welcoming scheduled for 09:00 on 23 May 1998 and the opening
address of Minister Moosa scheduled for 09:15.
Issued on behalf of the Ministry for Provincial Affairs and
Constitutional Development on 23 May 1998
Enquiries: Mr Onkgopose (JJ) Thabaneat 082 465 6166
Mr Johan Meiring at (012) 334 0800 or 082 577 6630
@ ANC ON THE REBURIAL OF AN MK COMMANDER
Issued by: African National Congress
DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY
The remains of an UMkhonto weSizwe Commander, Victor Mafoyi
Mngadi, alias Danny-Boy, who was killed and secretly buried by the
apartheid regime security forces, will be formally laid to rest
tomorrow. He was exhumed two weeks ago by the TRC in Piet Retief
after sixteen (16) years buried on a secret grave. His remains will
lie in state at:
Date: Saturday, 23 May 1998
Venue: Inanda Mission (next to Inanda Seminary), Nqabeni (home)
Time: 10h00
The ANC has sent Comrade Sbusiso Ndebele, ANC National Executive
Committee member and MEC for Transport in KZN who will deliver a
speech on behalf of the ANC and Sihle Mbongwa, former MK National
Deputy Commissar.
The procession will then leave for the Inanda Mission Cemetery,
next to Inanda Seminary reburial of his remains.
Members of the media are requested to cover this reburial.
Issued by: ANC KwaZulu-Natal Department of Information and Publicity
22 May 1998
Contact Mlungisi Ndhlela, ANC Media Officer at 082 5519 184
@ MINERAL-MADUNA
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY May 22 Sapa
STATE CONTROL OVER PETROL PROFIT MARGINS TO BE PHASED OUT
Government control over profit margins in the liquid fuels
industry would be phased out and the margins determined according
to normal commercial principles, Mineral and Energy Affairs
Minister Dr Penuel Maduna said on Friday.
A temporary moratorium would be placed on self-service petrol
stations to minimise job losses and promote small business, he
said, introducing debate on his budget vote in the National
Assembly.
One key challenge was to determine the appropriate level of
government involvement during the transition to a competitive
liquid fuels industry, Maduna said.
A white paper on energy policy is due for release on June 1.
The energy sector remained critical to South Africa's economy,
contributing about 15 percent of its GDP and employing about 250000
people.
Maduna said a white paper on a minerals and mining policy
should be available towards the end of this year.
"While government recognises the constitutional constraints of
changing the current mineral rights system, it does not accept the
system of dual state and private ownership of mineral rights.
"Government's long-term objective is for all mineral rights to
vest in the state, but, as a transitional measure, a new system for
granting access to mineral rights is proposed, the main aspect
being that the right to prospect and to mine for all minerals will
vest in the state."
The rationale behind the proposed change was to open up access
to mineral rights, and enable government to deal with the imbalance
in the distribution of resources, opportunities, wealth and income
in the mining industry, Maduna said.
Experiments had shown that private ownership of mineral rights
did not work effectively and did not promote development.
Government was not saying mineral rights could not be held
privately, but if they were not used they would be forfeited.
"No serious developer of mineral rights will ever need to fear
that his or her right to prospect or to mine will be taken away
from him."
Maduna said the state oil company Soekor had produced six
million barrels of oil from the Oribi field near Mossel Bay since
the project was started last year. Production was expected to last
another four years.
The Central Energy Fund had accepted a recommendation that the
nearby E-AR (Oryx) oilfield also be brought into production by
Soekor, at a cost of US75,9 million, Maduna said.
Cabinet had also approved that Soekor start prospecting for oil
beyond South Africa's shores.
@ ZIM-CAHORA
JOHANNESBURG May 22 Sapa
ZIMBABWE, SA INTERESTED IN BUYING A STAKE IN CAHORA BASSA DAM
The Zimbabwean and Mozambican governments are soon to meet to
negotiate the acquisition of a stake in the Cahora Bassa hydro
electricity power station by Zimbabwe, Ziana news agency said on
Friday.
The news agency said the negotiations had reached an advanced
stage and an agreement was expected to be reached soon.
Zimbabwe's transport and energy minister, Enos Chikowore said
the negotiations could be concluded as early as next month in
Maputo
- where he would meet his counterpart over the issue.
Zimbabwe is understood to be seeking up to a 30 percent stake
in the Mozambican hydro electricity power station.
It is still not clear how much the Mozambican government is
prepared to offer.
"I am meeting the Mozambican minister of minerals and energy
next month to discuss the issue of Zimbabwe acquiring shares in the
power station," Chikowore said adding that his government had
already made some headway in that direction.
The South African power utility Eskom is also understood to be
interested in securing a substantial share of the power plant.
Zimbabwe is seeking a stake in the power station to boost its
power supply hard hit by a lower internal power generating
capacity.
It currently imports 40 percent of its power needs with 400
megawatts coming from Cahora Bassa through the Songo-Bindura-Dema
420 kilovolts interconnector.
Negotiations for the deal are being done through Mozambique's
power utility, Electricite de Mozambique and Hidroelectrica de
Cahora Bassa (HCB) which owns the power station.
Eighty-two percent of HCB is owned by the Portuguese government
and the other 18 percent by the Mozambican government.
The Cahora Bassa dam is one of the largest hydro-electric
station in sub-Saharan Africa and capable of supplying Zimbabwe
with its entire electricity needs.
Sources told the news agency plans were underway for the
construction of another dam on the Zambezi river for hydro-electric
power generation in the northern Tete province.
The sources said Zimbabwe had been invited by the Mozambican
government to partner in the construction of the dam - expected to
have a capacity to generate over 2500 megawatts of power.
@ SURVEY-MARKINOR
CAPE TOWN May 22 Sapa
UDM THE ONLY REAL COMPETITION FOR ANC: SURVEY
The United Democratic Movement was potentially the only real
competition for the African National Congress, which, despite
having lost some support, would remain the dominant party for some
time, according to the findings of a Markinor poll released on
Friday.
The ANC's support had dropped from 58 percent in November last
year to 54 percent in May , while support for the NP fell from 12
percent to 10 percent over the same period.
The UDM and the DP had benefited from this loss of support,
researchers said.
UDM support had increased from four to five percent, and support
for the DP from three to five percent.
The number of undecided voters had increased from 12 to 14
percent, although a large number of these would probably revert
back to their original parties, with the ANC benefiting the most,
followed by the UDM.
The Inkatha Freedom Party's support remained at five percent,
the Freedom Front's at two percent and the Conservative Party's at
one percent, the poll found.
The Pan Africanist Congess had increased its support from two
to three percent, while the Azanian People's Organisation, which
had one percent support in November, registered no support in the
May poll.
According to Markinor's findings, the rise in DP support was
mainly a result of its sound performance as an opposition party,
which had translated into a series of victories in municipal
by-elections.
However, whether the DP had further growth potential remained
questionable, as the party's profile was predominantly white,
middle class South Africans and "this constituency has limits in
numerical terms".
The UDM seemed to be the only party that stood a chance of
attracting disillusioned ANC supports, as the NP and the DP were
shifting deck chairs and were not offering material opposition to
the majority party, it said.
The IFP stood to lose its leading position in KwaZulu-Natal and
this could force them into a marriage of convenience with the ANC.
Independent analyst Sipho Maseko of the University of the
Western Cape said the results of the poll were not surprising, and
confirmed there would not be a change in government in 1999.
Left-wing parties such as the PAC and Azapo had so far not been
convincing.
"Both have either commented on, or criticised, the ANC's
programme, but fall short of producing alternative programmes for
public scrutiny."
Another analyst, Prof Susan Booysen of the University of Port
Elizabeth, said the poll indicated the NP was under siege.
"The most dramatic finding probably lies in the closing of the
gap between the NP, as official opposition, and the DP and the
UDM."
Both parties were poised to overtake the IFP, she said.
In its reaction the DP said the poll demonstrated that the
party was on track to become the official opposition.
The party's recent by-election victories showed that when
undecided opposition voters were faced with a choice, they were
turning out overwhelmingly for the DP, spokesman Ryan Coetzee said.
In contrast to Markinor's analysis and findings, Coetzee said
the DP's profile base was changing, with 19 percent of its
supporters now black, (including coloured and Indian) and 38
percent Afrikaans-speaking.
The Markinor poll shows DP support among blacks at almost 7
percent, Indians at 4 percent, coloureds at 9 percent and whites at
81 percent.
The DP had also shed its elitist image with a broad-ranging
income profile among supporters, Coetzee said.
The National Party said the poll indicated the viability of
more provinces falling into the hands of the opposition.
"It underscores that a joint opposition approach and a
commitment to coalition formation can achieve victory for the
opposition in the Western Cape, Northern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and
Gauteng."
The ANC's 54 percent support was a challenge to opposition
parties to bring the majority party's support to below 50 percent.
The NP said the survey clearly indicated that it was the only
political party to draw significant support from among all
populations groups.
"For the opposition to be effective, they must be able to draw
support from all sectors, and the pivotal role that the NP has to
play is therefore evident."
According to the poll, 11,5 percent of NP supporters are black,
12 percent Indian, 37 percent coloured and 40 percent white.
In the ANC the majority of support comes from blacks (94
percent), which is also the case with the IFP (89,5 percent) and
the UDM (73 percent).
@ CRIME-INTERFAITH
CAPE TOWN May 22 Sapa
RELIGIOUS LEADERS MEET TO DISCUSS VIOLENCE ON CAPE FLATS
Religious leaders of all denominations on Friday met in the
offices of the Western Cape government to discuss violence
affecting Cape Flats communities.
The meeting, convened by premier Gerald Morkel, was attended by
provincial police commissioner Leon Wessels and Western Cape police
head of intelligence Jeremy Veary.
The meeting followed the murder of five Muslim mourners in
Athlone on Tuesday.
At a media briefing after the meeting, the chairwoman of the
Inter-Religious Commission on Crime and iolence in the Western
Cape, Dr Amy Marks, said the religious communities watched with
horror the way in which people were killed with no regard for the
sanctity of life.
"It is a callous day when people are callously shot while
attending a prayer meeting in remembrance of somebody killed
through crime," Marks said.
"It s sad for South Africa, and for Cape Town in particular,
to see people being killed who have no affiliation to any of the
protagonists of violence and have themselves committed no crime."
She said the commission was committed to fighting crime and
violence in their communities and had sought to liaise with many
role players, among them President Nelson Mandela, the Departments
of Justice, Correctional Services and Safety and Security, and the
police services and the defence force.
The commission, formed last year by Anglican Archbishop Winston
Ndungane, reaffirmed its call to Mandela to use the strongest
possible measures to curb crime and violence.
The Imam of the Claremont Mosque Rashied Omar said there should
be no doubt in the minds of government that stronger action was
necessary to combat the levels of crime.
Safety and Security MEC Mark Wiley said he had every intention
of using whatever means at his disposal in the fight against crime.
"The government needs to become more pro-active in its efforts
to combat violence," Wiley said.
He said the levels of violence in the province had reached
unacceptable levels, but the nature of the violence had taken on
aspects of urban terrorism "and that is alarming".
He said the government had a responsibility to ensure peace and
stability.
@ ENTERPRISES-SIGCAU
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY May 22 Sapa
AVENTURA BIDDER SELECTED
The successful bidder for the state holiday resort company,
Aventura, had been chosen and would be be announced soon, Public
Enterprises Minister Stella Sigcau said on Friday.
"I know the name of the bidder, but I must inform my colleagues
first," she said.
Introducing debate on her budget vote, Sigcau said the
restructuring of transport parastatal, Transnet, would have to
follow the restructuring of its pension fund debt.
Its management had recently met the parastatal's overseas
creditors for talks on the necessary arrangements for its divisions
to be turned into separate corporate entities.
For the first time in three years, Transnet expected to show a
profit after all payments to its pension fund had been made.
Profits amounted to R48 million for the first six months of the
financial year, compared to a loss of R170 million incurred last
year, Sigcau said.
Its Spoornet division had also shown a marked turn-around,
increasing its turnover for 1997/8 by 6,3 percent.
Portnet also had a successful year, upping its turnover in
1997/8 by seven percent. However it had not met its targets due to
a slowing-down of the economy.
Scanning equipment to enable Portnet and the customs and excise
department to check containers had been ordered, and the first of
these would be operational in Durban by March next year.
Sigcua said Portnet was involved in the construction of a new
deep water port at Coega near Port Elizabeth, and had spent R20
million on designing it thus far. A further R20 million had been
budgeted for the detailed planning phase of the project.
She also announced that Portnet would formally enter into talks
with petroleum companies about relocating their fuel tank farms,
and with ore companies to relocate their ore-loading facilities,
near Coega.
Portnet's land near Coega would also be made available for
development along the lines of the Cape Town waterfront.
This project, to be known as Trilogy, would free up valuable
wterfront for development in Port Elizabeth, Sigcau said.
The restructuring of container company PX was well under way
and it had been repositioned into four focused businesses.
About 45 contianer terminals had been identified for closure,
and 4000 employees ahd been retrenched with the consent of the
relevant labour unions.
However, South African Airways continued to face difficulties,
and further losses were anticipated in the current financial year.
Some problems such as the rationalisation of its fleet would
take time, Sigcau said.
SAA would take posession of two new 747-400 Boeing aircraft in
July and October which would be used on long cross-continenal
routes.
@ LESOTHO-ELECTION
MASERU May 22 Sapa
LESOTHO GOVERNMENT WISHES ITS CITIZENS HAPPY VOTING
The Lesotho government on Friday wished the Basotho nation a
free, fair and peaceful election on Saturday with an outcome
acceptable to all.
In a message broadcast on local radio and television, Deputy
Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili congratulated the country for
conducting a vigorous but peaceful election campaign.
The campaign culminated in rallies by the three main political
parties which drew huge crowds in Maseru last Sunday.
"The fact that these rallies were held next to each other
without any incident was an indication of the celebratory mood of
the nation, and also demonstrated the political maturity of our
people," Mosisili said.
He thanked the country's neighbours in the Southern African
Development Community and also the international community for
their moral support during an important juncture in Lesotho's
political history.
The government was grateful to those countries which had
provided both material and moral support, as illustrated by the
arrival of numerous election observers in the mountain kingdom in
the last few weeks.
Mosisili also commended the country's Independent Electoral
Commission on its work in facilitating the election.
He similarly thanked the Lesotho Mounted Police Force, the
Lesotho Defence Force and the national security services for the
support and co-operation they had rendered to the IEC.
"I am also satisfied that any grievances of political parties
have been resolved by talks or through the independent decisions of
our courts of law."
IEC chairman Sekara Mafisa told Sapa that election materials
had been delivered to polling centres and that consignments were
still being sent to remote areas.
"I am convinced that by 7am tommorrow (Saturday) when the
stations open, all material will be there. I expect the process to
go smoothly."
The Lesotho weather has been sunny and warm and Mafisa said he
hoped it stayed that way to encourage Lesotho's 1,3 million voters
to go the polls.
@ TRUTH-SHELL by Ken Daniels
JOHANNESBURG May 22 Sapa
SHELL HOUSE MARCHERS CONSIDERED THEMSELVES WARRIORS: TRC TOLD
The marchers who converged on Shell House and the Library
Gardens in Johannesburg in 1994 considered themselves warriors
ready to fight for the Zulu monarchy, the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission heard on Friday.
One of the marchers injured outside the African National
Congress' Shell House headquarters, Amos Ngobese, told the TRC's
amnesty committee he took part in the march in support of the
existence of the Zulu monarchy.
He said he was told the marchers would gather at the Libary
Gardens where they would be informed about the latest developments
regarding the future of the Zulu king.
He conceded under cross-examination that he considered himself
and his fellow marchers as warriors ready to fight for their king
if necessary.
During the hearing a video clip showing an Inakatha Freedom
Party leader, Humphrey Ndlovu, addressing a crowd of Zulu marchers
at the Libary Gardens. Ndlovu said the people of South Africa would
have to "pass by the spears of IFP warriors" before the 1994
election could be held.
Ngobese said he had not heard Ndlovu's speech, but said that if
he had, he probably would have associated himself with the
sentiments expressed.
However, he denied that when the group of marchers approached
Shell House they were in an aggressive mood and said they were
singing. He also denied they were carrying firearms.
Ngobese said he was shot by the ANC guards at Shell House and
was injured in the right knee.
The hearing into the shooting at Shell House on March 28, 1994,
when eight people were killed and scores injured, was on Friday
postponed to a date that is still to be decided upon by the various
legal representatives.
Eleven ANC guards are appling for amnesty for the shooting,
which they claim was necessary to prevent the marchers from
overrunning the ANC headquarters.
@ MANDELA-BIRTHDAY
JOHANNESBURG May 22 Sapa
MANDELA JOKES ABOUT AGE AT THE LAUNCH OF BIRTHDAY COMMITTEE
A jovial President Nelson Mandela on Friday told reporters that
everyone should live to be his age as it elicited respect from the
community, regardless of what a person did.
Mandela was in Johannesburg to launch a committee to oversee
his 80th birthday celebrations.
He also accepted a R5 million donation from MTN and R1 million
from Nedbank to fund a series of concerts and events in honour of
his birthday on July 18.
Proceeds from the birthday celebrations and promotional items
such as a commemorative postage stamp and brochure will go to the
President Mandela Millenium Fund, in aid of youth development and
other projects.
Mandela said he had been warned 55 years ago by a friend who
was studying medicine not to eat red meat as it would kill him
before he was 40.
"When I got out of prison, she was a qualified doctor, and I
went to her and said: `See, I'm still very much alive'."
Public Works Minister Jeff Radebe, who is chairman of the
co-ordinating committee, said it was fitting that Mandela be
honoured in a "tangible and enduring way".
"It was decided that the most suitable way of honouring the
president was to raise funds to meet social needs, particularily
those he already supports and many others."
Radebe said Mandela's 80th birthday celebration was a fitting
tribute to a man whose "magnanomity in victory, humility and
profound humanity single him out as a living legend".
"He is not only an icon in South Africa as a father-figure, a
stalwart of our struggle for freedom... he is also the embodiment
of what is best in our nation," said Radebe.
Radebe said the celebrations included a "jumbo-sized" birthday
party, music concerts in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town with
local and international artists, as well as the release of an
offical birthday song CD.
The list of artists performing in the concerts have not been
finalised, but Radebe promised the events would be "star-studded".
Members of the president's 80th birthday committee include his
daughter Zindzi Mandela, Telkom chief executive Dikgang Moseneke,
African National Congress secretary-general Kgalema Motlanthe,
Kagiso Trust chairman Eric Molobi, Robben Island Council Museum
chairman Ahmed Kathrada and Financial and Fiscal Commission
chairman Murphy Morobe.
@ CRIME-WEAPONS
KIMBERLEY May 22 Sapa
R50,000 REWARD OFFERED FOR INFORMATION ON MISSING GALESHEWE ARMS
Northern Cape police have offered a R50,000 reward for
information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or
persons responsible for the disappearance of 92 firearms from the
safe at the Galeshewe police station.
The disappearance of the firearms was discovered during an
internal inspection at the station, police spokesman Superintendent
Hendrik Swart said.
Only nine of the weapons had been recovered so far, he said.
Anyone with information about the missing weapons is asked to
contact Director Le Roux on (0531) 884233 during office hours or
082-808-6675.
Members of the public may also contact the Crime Stop number
0800-11-12-12.
@ STALS-FF
CAPE TOWN May 22 Sapa
STALS DESERVED MBEKI'S SUPPORT: FF
Reserve Bank governor Dr Chris Stals deserved the public
backing he had received from Deputy President Thabo Mbeki, the
Freedom Front said on Friday.
It was reacting to Mbeki's defence on Thursday of the Reserve
Bank's autonomy and the way it exercised monetary policy.
"Dr Stals deserves this support as his actions have always been
devoid of political motives and are of the highest form of
professionalism one can expect from a person in his position," FF
finance spokesman Dr Willie Botha said.
"It was a pity that some ANC MPs and members of Cosatu wanted
to interfere with the Bank's autonomy.
Mbeki's statements could be interpreted as a setback for those
factions propagating primitive ideas about the country's financial
management, he said.
@ LOCAL-BUTHELEZI
DURBAN May 22 Sapa
WHITE PAPER ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT WILL HARM TRADITIONAL LEADERS:
BUTHELEZI
The implementation of central government's white paper on local
government will deprive traditional leaders of any meaningful role
in the governance of their communities, Inkatha Freedom Party
leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi said on Friday.
Addressing traditional leaders at a meeting at Emandleni camp
near Ulundi, Buthelezi said if the white paper was implemented it
would mark the end of the traditional model of societal
organisation and most of the customs and traditions in
KwaZulu-Natal.
"More importantly, if implemented, this white paper will
effectively delay the achievement of our final liberation because
it will create such chaos in rural areas that it will hinder rather
than foster economic development, social upliftment and the
delivery of services."
Buthelezi accused the African National Congres in KwaZulu-Natal
of promoting the demise of traditional leadership in the province.
He said never in the history of the Zulu nation had there been
the division which now existed between the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal and
the amakhosi.
He added that while the rest of the country seemed to recognise
the importance of traditional leadership, there were still people
within the Zulu nation who seemed determine to undermine it.
Buthelezi cited as an example the ANC's failed attempt to have
the establishment of the House of Traditional Leaders, of which he
is the chairman, declared null and void.
He said, however, he was encouraged by ANC president Thabo
Mbeki's recognition of traditional leadership.
The IFP leader said given the ANC national leadership's
apparent support for traditional leaders, he could not understand
the provincial leadership's opposition to it.
"The openness towards traditional leaders shown by ANC national
leaders makes it even more incomprehensible how it is possible that
the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal could be so much against it, and how Zulu
amakhosi could be challenged by Zulus within this province."
The white paper proposes that amakhosi have ex officio status
on local councils without having a right to vote.
It also calls for the abolition of traditional authorities and
for their replacement by elected municipalities.
@ TAXIS-NP
CAPE TOWN May 22 Sapa
SA ON THE BRINK OF ANARCHY: NP
South Africa was teetering on the brink of anarchy and
government should make the safety and security of citizens its
highest priority, the National Party's safety and security
spokesman Piet Matthee said on Friday.
He was reacting to the death of four people, including a
policeman, on Thursday, in a shootout outside the Durban Hight
Court believed to be linked to a taxi-violence trial in one of the
courts.
"When judges are attacked and smeared by high-ranking ANC
officials and ANC government ministers, as has been happening over
the last few weeks, it is not surprising that criminals show this
kind of contempt and disrespect for our courts and its officials.
"Criminals clearly have no fear or respect for law enforcers or
the criminal justice system under our criminal friendly
government."
This and other incidents of taxi violence, showed that there
was open warfare between rival taxi-operators and gangs, Matthee
said.
He repeated his party's call for a national crime summit to be
convened by President Nelson Mandela.
@ HEATH-PHOSA
NELSPRUIT May 22 Sapa
ANTI-CORRUPTION JUDGE DENIES SMEARING PHOSA
Special government investigator Judge Willem Heath on Friday
rejected allegations that he attempted to smear or criticise
Mpumalanga premier Mathews Phosa through the media last week.
A press statement from Heath said he had simply noted that not
a single corruption case had been referred by the province to
either his special investigation unit or President Nelson Mandela,
African Eye News Service reported.
Heath stressed that the remark was made in response to
questions put to him at a business luncheon in Nelspruit last week.
Heath's comment prompted Phosa to accuse the judge of venturing
into politics and of wasting taxpayers' money by duplicating
completed investigations.
Heath said his investigative unit had spent a significant
portion of its "extremely limited funds" to probe a number of cases
referred to it by the auditor-general in Mpumalanga over the past
year.
As a result, it was now ready to formally investigate 14 cases
involving more than R22 million.
The investigation unit, which was created in 1996 to recover
misspent state funds, cannot act without a formal proclamation from
Mandela, which in turn has to be drafted by Phosa.
Heath said he had not accused Phosa of delaying the
proclamation, but had noted that lack of progress had forced the
unit to consider withdrawing from Mpumalanga.
"During the week preceding my speech, (we) discussed the
possibility of withdrawing from the province, but decided not to in
the interests of the public, provincial and national government,"
Heath said.
He also challenged Phosa's allegation that the unit would waste
taxpayers' money by reopening investigations into a series of
provincial scandals.
Insisting he already worked closely with the bodies which had
finalised the scandal probes, Heath said neither the
auditor-general nor commissions of inquiry had the legal power to
actually recover state assets or funds through litigation.
Heath's unit has recovered more than R10 million in other
provinces and is investigating cases involving more than R6
billion.
"We have the capacity to really bring matters to finality by
way of actual recoveries through litigation," said Heath.
@ SAFRICA-NORDIC
JOHANNESBURG May 22 Sapa
SMME DELEGATION TO VISIT NORDIC COUNTRIES
A South African delegation of small business representatives is
to visit the Nordic countries to market the region as a viable
investment destination and promote exports, the department of Trade
and Industry said on Friday.
The delegation, to be led by Trade and Industry deputy
minister, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngquka, is expected to leave South Africa
on Monday next week and return on Friday.
Apart from promoting South African goods and investment, the
delegation is expected to sign co-operation and protection
agreements in Sweden and Finland.
Other Nordic countries are Denmark and Norway.
@ GOVERNMENT-APPOINTED ANTI-DISCRIMINATION UNIT
Issued by: Government Communications & Information System (GCIS)
GOVERNMENT-APPOINTED UNIT TO UNVEIL DISCRIMINATION LEGISLATION
PLANS FOR YEAR 2000.
The Minister of Justice, Mr Dullah Omar, is to unveil a special
project unit set up to draft anti-discrimination legislation for
South Africa planned to be passed before February 4, 2000.
Mr Omar will launch the Equality Legislation Drafting Project at
the Union Buildings, Pretoria, (Room 153, East Side Amphitheatre) on
May 25, 1998 (Monday) from 12h30 to 14h00.
Professor Johann van der Westhuizen, a human rights and
constitutional expert from the University of Pretoria, who
previously advised the Constitutional Assembly, is the Co-ordinator
of the Project set up by the South African Human Rights Commission
(SAHRC) and the Minister of Justice.
Other members of the Drafting Unit are two researchers, Advocate
Sicelo Mthethwa (member of the Johannesburg Bar) and Dr Lindelwa
Ntutela (a sociologist who researched in the USA and Canada).
The objective of the Draft Unit is to enable Parliament to pass
anti-discrimination before February 4, 2000, as requested by the
Constitution. This deadline must be met or the Government will be in
breach of a constitutional obligation.
This Anti-discrimination legislation will prevent or prohibit
unfair discrimination. This includes discrimination by private
parties, based on race, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation,
etc in areas such as schools, health care, banking, public
facilities, etc.
The Legislation is extremely important for transformation
Legislation of this kind, (eg the Civil Rights Act in the USA and
Discrimination Acts int he UK and Australia) can however also be
controversial.
According to the Equality Clause in the Constitution, everyone
is equal before the law and has the right to equal protection and
benefit of the law. Equality includes the full and equal enjoyment
of all rights and freedoms.
The Draft Unit is accountable to the Minister of Justice and to
a Project Management Team represented by inter-personnel.
The foreign-funded Drafting Unit will do and co-ordinate
research, consult as widely as possible, conduct a public awareness
campaign, and produce discussion documents, policy papers and draft
legislation.
PRESS CONFERENCE INVITATION
SUBJECT: INVITATION TO LAUNCH OF EQUALITY LEGISLATION DRAFTING
PROJECT
Your are cordially invited to attend the lunch of the Equality
Legislation Drafting
VENUE: UNION BUILDINGS, PRETORIA
Room 153 - on the east side of the Amphitheatre
WHEN: Monday, May 25, 1998
TIME: 12H30 - 14H00
The Equality Legislation Drafting Project is a joint venture of
the Ministry of Justice and the South African Human Rights
Commission (SAHRC). Its aim is to assist the Government, and
Parliament to pass legislation to prevent or prohibit unfair
discrimination, as required by Section 9(4) and Item 23 of Schedule
6 of the Constitution.
This legislation bound to be extremely important for the process
of transformation. However, similar laws have also been very
controversial in some other countries.
The Equality Legislation Drafting Unit is housed in the offices
of the SAHRC and will do and coordinate research, consult widely,
contact a public awareness campaign and prepare draft discussion
documents, policy documents and legislation.
Please confirm your attendance with Ms Zoleka Moon or Ms Nomisa
Twnia. Tel: 484 8300.
For media enquires contact:
John Mojapelo: Tel: 484 8300/083 265 3603 or
Professor Johann van der Westhuizen: Tel: 082 888 1911
Yours truly,
Prof Johann van der Westhuizen
Project Coordinator
EQUALITY LEGISLATION DRAFTING
PROJECT LAUNCH
Room 153, East Side, Amphi Theatre, Union Buildings, Pretoria
May 25, 1998, 12H30-14H30
P R O G R A M M E
12H45 Opening and Welcoming of Guests
13H00 Dr. Dullah Omar, MP, Minister of Justice
13H10 Dr. Barnay N. Patyana, Chairperson, Human Rights Commission
13H20 Ms. Phumelede Ntonbela-Nzimande, Acting Chairperson
Commission on Gender Equality
13H30 Dr. Manto Tahathalala-Msimang, Deputy Minister of Justice
13H40 Overview of Equality Legislation Drafting Process
13H50 Questions and Discussion
14H05 Thanks and Program Closure
14H10 Light Launch and Departure
Contact Person:
Nomusa Twala Telephone: 484-8300
Re: venue contact person:
Tina (012) 351 0068
@ NORTHPROV-MALARIA
PIETERSBURG May 22 Sapa
DROP IN REPORTED MALARIA CASES IN NORTHPROV
The Giyani, Malamulele, Thohoyandou, Messina and Mutale
districts remain high risk areas for malaria in the Northern
Province, according to the provincial health department.
However, there has been a noticeable drop in the number of
reported malaria cases during the past twelve months, department
spokesman Phillip Kruger said.
By the beginning of May, 18 people had died of the disease,
compared to 64 last year.
Kruger ascribed this to the drier climate experienced this
year. Malaria-carrying mosquitoes are known to breed more rapidly
in extremely wet conditions.
Another important factor, Kruger said, was that more manpower,
vehicles and spraying equipment were deployed by the department
during the past year.
No malaria cases were reported in Pietersburg this year, and
the city was currently regarded as a low risk malaria area.
Meanwhile, a Kruger National Park spokesman advised visitors to
the park to take all necessary anti-malaria precautions, despite
the present dry and cool weather conditions in the lowveld.
@ TRAFFIC
CAPE TOWN May 22 Sapa
COUNCIL'S AREA TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM ALMOST COMPLETE
The Cape Metropolitan Council's R36 million area traffic control
system installation will be launched in June this year, the CMC
announced on Friday.
The system, subsidised by the provincial administration of the
Western Cape, will render a centralised control programme that will
enhance the performance of traffic signal control pints, and
ultimately, traffic flowpatterns.
CMC transportation and traffic directorate executive director
Dave Eadie estimated the system would save motorists and road users
between R2 million and R3 million in time and operating costs.
@ EDUC-UNITRA
UMTATA May 22 Sapa
UNITRA GRADUATION CEREMONY GETS UNDERWAY - NOT MANY STONES
THROWN
Except for an isolated stone-throwing incident, the first day
of the University of the Transkei's graduation ceremony got
underway without serious incident on Friday.
Students excluded from the university this year had vowed to
disrupt the proceedings.
There was a heavy police presence at the campus, as well as
members of the SA National Defence Force.
Unrest started two months ago when students began a boycott of
lectures.
On Wednesday the private dining room of vice-chancellor Alfred
Moleah was set alight and there was an attempt to petrol bomb the
car of finance registrar Ralph Jefferies.
The commander of the police public order unit, Superintendent
Wayne Halkart, said a small group of students threw stones at a
lecturer's flat. There were no injuries.
"We also disarmed several students who were carrying stones and
halfbricks," he added.
@ STATEMENT BY NTSEBEZA INVESTIGATIVE HEAD OF THE TRC
Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
22 May 1998
STATEMENT BY DUMISA NTSEBEZA, INVESTIGATIVE HEAD OF THE
TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission will be holding a
special public hearing into South Africa's chemical and biological
warfare (CBW) programme from 8 to 12 June.
The hearing will focus on the SADF's CBW programme from 1981 to
1994. It will explore:
* the institutional arrangements that made the programme possible
* the front companies that were established to support it, and
individual human rights violations that resulted from the
programme
* the involvement of the SADF in experimentation on humans and
animals
* the financial implications for the state; and
* the involvement of scientific and research institutions.
A number of witnesses will be called by the Truth and
Reconciliation Commission over the five days. Key witnesses are:
Dr Wouter Basson; Dr Niel Knobel, the former Surgeon General; Dr
Wynand Swanepoel, former MD of Roodeplaat Research Laboratories
(RRL); Dr Philip Mijburg, former MD of Delta G Scientific; Dr Brian
Davey, currently the head of the Health and Safety Division of the
Organisation for the Prevention of Chemical Warfare in The Hague; Dr
Johan Koekemoer, former head of Research at Delta G Scientific; Dr
Daan Goosen, who headed RRL before Swanepoel took over from him;
Prof CFG Hofmeyr, former head of the Veterinary Faculty at the
University of Pretoria and advisory to the Surgeon General; Dr Mike
Odendal, former researcher at RRL; Dr Schalk van Rensburg, former
employee of RRL; and Dr Lothar Neethling, former head of Forensics
for the SAP. Other witnesses' names will be withheld until they have
been offered witness protection.
The panel of commissioners presiding over the hearing includes:
Dr Alex Boraine, Mr Dumisa Ntsebeza, Dr Fazel Randera, Dr Wendy Orr,
Ms Yasmin Sooka and Mr Richard Lyster.
The hearing will be conducted in Cape Town and will be held in
the hearing room at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission offices
in Adderley Street.
@ NAMIBIA-DEPORT
WINDHOEK, May 22 Sapa-AFP
NAMIBIA DEPORTS ANGOLAN HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST
The Namibian government has deported an Angolan human rights
activist it said was a threat to national security, bringing
criticism Friday from local and international rights groups.
Manuel Neto, director of the Angolan Human Rights League based
in Namibia, was deported to his home country on Tuesday, apparently
just before a High Court order was issued to stop his expulsion.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) representative in
Namibia, Adama Wurie, told AFP that Neto's deportation was a
violation of the UN Convention on Refugees to which Namibia is a
signatory.
Human rights organisations, including Human Rights Watch,
attending an international workshop on landmine clearance in
Johannesburg, South Africa, also condemned Neto's arrest and
deportation.
Neto was due to attend the workshop on Tuesday.
In an urgent court hearing in Windhoek on Tuesday, High Court
Judge Mavis Gibson ordered the home affairs ministry to stop Neto's
deportation. However, by the time the order was issued, Neto had
apparently already been sent home.
Two Namibian organisations, the Legal Assistance Centre and the
National Society for Human Rights, said in a statement Friday that
Neto had been "engaged in peaceful and lawful human rights
activities in Namibia."
The two organisations - Namibia's most prominent human rights
groups - called on the government to provethat Neto's activities
were a threat to national security.
"Dr. Neto's deportation without appearing before an immigration
tribunal is a violation of the Namibian constitution," the
statement said. The constitution's Article 11 stipulates that "no
person can be deported from Namibia without appearing before a
tribunal."
The two groups said Neto's life could be in danger as he is a
well known opponent of the Angolan government of President Eduardo
dos Santos.
There are almost 2,000 registered Angolan refugees in Namibia,
who mostly arrived after renewed civil war broke out following 1992
general elections held under UN auspices.
Rebels of the National Union for the Total Independence of
Angola (UNITA), who lost that poll, signed a new peace pact with
the Luanda regime in November 1994, providing for a political
settlement and demobilisation of the rival sides. but this accord
has yet to be fully implemented.
@ TRUTH-BIO
CAPE TOWN May 22 Sapa
TRC TO HOLD SPECIAL HEARINGS ON CHEMICAL WARFARE
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission will hold a special
public hearing into South Africa's chemical and biological warfare
(CBW) programme, TRC investigative unit head Dumisa Ntsebeza said
on Friday.
The hearing, to be held from June 8 to 12, would focus on the
South African Defence Force's CBW programme between 1981 and 1994,
he said in a statement.
Matters to be explored included:
- the institutional arrangements that made the programme
possible;
- the front companies that were established to support it;
- individual human rights violations that resulted from the
programme;
- the involvement of the SADF in experimentation on humans and
animals;
- the financial implications for the state; and
- the involvement of scientific and research institutions.
Key witnesses would include, among others: Dr Wouter Basson, of
the former SADF's CBW programme; Dr Niel Knobel, the former Surgeon
General; Dr Wynand Swanepoel, former MD of Roodeplaat Research
Laboratories; Dr Brian Davey, currently head of the health and
safety division of the Organisation for the Prevention of Chemical
Warfare in The Hague; Prof CFG Hofmeyr, former head of the
veterinary faculty at the University of Pretoria and advisor to the
Surgeon General; and, Dr Lothar Neethling, former head of forensics
for the SAP.
Other witnesses' names would be withheld until they had been
offered protection, Ntsebeza said.
The hearing would be held in Cape Town at the TRC offices in
Adderley Street.
@ MDLULI-NIA
PRETORIA May 22 Sapa
POLICE PROBE OF MDLULI'S DEATH AT FAULT, SAYS NIA
A National Intelligence Agency official on Friday criticised
police handling of the investigation into the death of NIA security
chief Muziwendoda Mdluli, saying the processes "left much to be
desired".
The inquest into Mdluli's death - he allegedly committed
suicide in October 1995 - drew to a close in the Pretoria
Magistrate's Court on Friday.
At an informal briefing at the court, a senior NIA official,
Sizwe Mtembu, told the Press that while he did not want to make a
blank statement on a cover-up, the NIA did not agree with police
findings that Mdluli's death was suicide.
"We want to repudiate statements made by (investigating officer
Superintendent Anton) Botha that we are one with the version that
asserts suicide. We suspect foul play in his death," Mtembu said.
Mdluli, a former Azanian People's Liberation Army member,
joined the NIA in 1995. He was found behind the wheel of his red
BMW with a gunshot wound to his forehead. At the time of his death
he was allegedly involved in sensitive investigations into third
force activities.
Mtembu said contrary to police testimony during the inquest
that Mdluli was not looking into third force activity and
gun-running, he had in fact been investigating a so-called X-squad.
Mtembu said evidence, which could have provided a clue as to
who was responsible for Mdluli's death, was wiped out through
police handling of the investigation. "If the whole scene had not
been interfered with, it could have resulted in a different
investigation," he said.
Earlier testimony at the inquest disclosed that police did not
take fingerprints at the scene of Mdluli's death, and fingerprints
on the car were only taken the next day, after it had already been
taken to a private panelbeater for sakekeeping.
Police testified at the inquest that they would have handled
the investigation differently had they known from the start who
Mdluli was - as he was a high-profile person who would have been
at risk of being killed.
They had determined at the scene, police testified, that it had
been a suicide and had handled the investigation correctly under
the circumstances.
Mtembu said there were "startling resemblances" between the
death of Mdluli and that of police internal security chief
Assistant Commissioner Leonard Radu.
Radu died in a vehicle accident on his way to Johannesburg
International Airport early last year.
Mtembu could not give any reasons why police would want a
cover-up on Mdluli's death other than to say "the only purpose of a
cover is not to expose the culprits".
He said the NIA could give police the benefit of the doubt if
negligence had been involved, but it could not accept mistakes made
by detectives in basic investigation procedures.
Mtembu was appointed by the NIA to handle the Mdluli
investigation and police accused him of not co-operating. He denied
this allegation, saying he "went out of his way" to assist police.
Meanwhile, legal counsel for the NIA during final argument in
court also stated that the balance of probabilities inclined to
there having been a cover-up of some sort.
Advocate Simon Lebala argued that evidence pointed to the fact
that Mdluli never handled the gun he was supposed to have used to
kill himself. Lebala said the fact that the gun belonged to Mdluli
did not necessarily mean he committed suicide, and said the police
had not shown any investigative instincts.
State advocate Andre Bezuidenhout said, in final argument, that
the NIA had since the start of the inquest created the impression
that they possessed information which could convince the court that
Mdluli did not commit suicide.
Bezuidenhout said the fact that the NIA did not come forward
with such evidence in this regard indicated that they also believed
Mdluli had committed suicide. In the process, they misled the court
and Mdluli's family and lengthened the process unnecessarily.
"In the light of the evidence placed before the court, I submit
that Mdluli committed suicide," Bezuidenhout said.
Advocate Llewelyn Curlewis, who acted for the family, said they
felt the court should find that a person not known to the court was
prima facie responsible for the death of Mdluli.
"There were many questions which were not answered and too many
suspicions. The family feel there is a possibility that a crime
could have been committed," Curlewis said.
The ruling, by magistrate Adriaan Bakker, is expected on July
17.
@ REVD NDUNGANE, ON A MEETING WITH PRESIDENT NUJOMA
Issued by: Church of the Province of Southern Africa
MEDIA RELEASE BY THE OFFICE OF THE ARCHBISHOP OF CAPE TOWN, THE MOST
REVD NJONGONKULU NDUNGANE, ON A MEETING WITH PRESIDENT SAM NUJOMA OF
NAMIBIA, FRIDAY, MAY 22, 1998
President Sam Nujoma of Namibia and the Anglican Archbishop of
Cape Town and leader of the Church of the Province of Southern
Africa, the Most Revd Njongonkulu Ndungane, exchanged views today on
the need for economic co-operation amongst African states and for
the eradication of poverty.
Meeting at President Nujoma's residence outside Windhoek, the
two agreed that it was critically important to eradicate poverty if
there was to be progress in Africa.
President Nujoma noted that other major countries in the world
had entered into economic unions, such as the European Union, and
encouraged Archbishop Ndungane to promote his suggestion, first made
in Accra last month, for African countries to promote an economic
union of states. He said that this was consistent with a treaty
agreed to by the Organisation for African Unity at a meeting in
Nigeria in 1991.
"I would like to advocate that you push governments, especially
of the SADEC countries, on the need for economic union", President
Nujoma told the Archbishop and his delegation, which included the
newly consecrated Bishop of Namibia, the Rt Revd Shihala Hamupembe.
President Nujoma said he was looking forward to working with the
new bishop, noting that the Church had stood together with
liberation movements such as SWAPO during the struggle for
liberation in Namibia.
"The challenge now is to show the same fire determination in the
second phase of our struggle", he said, "namely, economic
liberation."
An important part of this was to ensure that people received
good education and training, and told the delegation that Namibia
aimed to spend up to half of its national budget on this. While the
rewards of such expenditure would only be seen in the long-term, it
was necessary to make sacrifices now in order to eradicate poverty.
"Ignorance and disease remained the main enemy in Namibia.
Poverty is the inevitable off-shoot," he said.
Ignorance and disease had to be combated by providing education
and training for as many as possible, he said.
Archbishop Ndungane said he was encouraged by the commitment of
the President to the eradication of poverty and the issue of the
international debt of developing countries. He was also pleased by
the commitment of the Namibian government to the promotion of
education and training.
Issued on behalf of the Church of the Province of
Southern Africa.
Media contact: Theo Coggin
(011) 648 5461
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for
good men to do nothing - Edmund Burke
Tel: (011) 648-5461; (011) 487-0026
Fax: (011) 487-1994
Cell: 082-900-0168
e-mail: cog...@sn.apc.org
@ HEALTH-NP
JOHANNESBURG May 22 sapa
NP SAYS NO TO PRISONERS IN OPEN HOSPITAL WARDS
The National Party tabled a motion for discussion in the
Gauteng legislature on Friday about the proposed treatment of
prisoners in public hospitals in Gauteng.
The NP said it identified completely with the concerns of
health workers regarding the proposed treatment of prisoners at the
Helen Joseph Hospital as from 1 July 1998.
Medical staff at the hospital were on Thursday reportedly
considering a work stoppage in protest against having to treat
prisoners in open wards.
"The assurance from the Gauteng Health department that no
dangerous prisoners will be treated does not suffice. The NP holds
the Gauteng Health department responsible for the safety of
patients and health workers," said the NP's Gauteng media spokesman
on Friday.
@ EDUC-WITS
JOHANNESBURG May 22 Sapa
WITS UNIVERSITY NOT IN FAVOUR OF QUOTAS PLAN
The dean of health sciences of the University of the Witwatersrand
said it was not in favour of the government's plan to enforce
racial quotas on the country's medical and dental schools.
"If we were to implement quotas now we would end up accepting
ill-prepared students because of their many years of disadvantaged
education.
"With respect to quotas, we have no intention of implementing
such a system in the foreseeable future that would result in the
recruitment of students who have little or no likelihood of
succeeding," Professor Max Price said on Friday.
@ NAMIBIA-NDUNGANE
WINDHOEK May 22 Sapa
NDUNGANE MEETS PRESIDENT NUJOMA
The need for economic co-operation among African states and the
eradication of poverty were among matters discussed when Namibian
president Sam Nujoma and the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town
Njongonkulu Ndungane met on Friday.
Meeting at Nujoma's residence outside Windhoek, the two agreed
it was critically important to eradicate poverty if there was to be
progress in Africa.
Nujoma noted that major countries in the world had entered into
economic unions, such as the European Union, and encouraged
Ndungane to promote his suggestion - first made in Accra last
month - for African countries to promote an economic union of
states, a statement said.
Nujoma said this was consistent with a treaty agreed to by the
Organisation for African Unity at a meeting in Nigeria in 1991.
"I would like to advocate that you push governments, especially
of the SADC (Southern African Development Community) countries, on
the need for economic union", Nujoma told Ndungane and his
delegation, which included the new Bishop of Namibia, Shihala
Hamupembe.
Nujoma said he was looking forward to working with the new
bishop, noting that the church had stood together with liberation
movements such as SWAPO during the struggle for liberation in
Namibia.
"The challenge now is to show the same fire determination in
the second phase of our struggle, namely, economic liberation.
"Ignorance and disease remain the main enemy in Namibia.
Poverty is the inevitable off-shoot," he said. This could be
achieved through education and training.
Ndungane said he was encouraged by Nujoma's commitment to the
eradication of poverty and the issue of the international debt of
developing countries.
@ SA PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL EXPO '98 IN LISBON
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
MEDIA STATEMENT ON SOUTH AFRICA'S PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL
EXPO '98 IN LISBON, PORTUGAL
South Africa joins 150 other countries by opening its pavilion
at the Lisbon International Expo 1998 this weekend. The Expo, which
is held every 5 years, will focus on the Marine Environment with
"The Oceans, a Heritage for the Future" as its theme. The Expo will
run through to 30 September 1998 and is expected to attract 16
million people.
This theme, which coincides with the declaration of 1998 as the
year of the oceans, is intended to enhance the knowledge of the
oceans and its resources. The general focus articulated under
several categories such as knowledge of the seas, the ocean and the
ecological balance of the planet, the oceans and leisure and the
oceans as a source of artistic inspiration.
South African participation in the Expo '98 will bring together
and display South African knowledge of the oceans and related
matters. It will highlight the interdependence of the South African
coastline and oceans with the economy, the face of its people, their
achievements and aspirations, and their endeavours to contribute in
their own particular way and through international cooperation to
improving the quality of life of humanity in general.
South African participation is seen as a national event in which
various government departments, NGOs, corporate bodies and other
revelant parties will participate.
The event will provide South Africa with a magnificent global
platform and a unique opportunity to promote its investment, trade
and tourism potential. The Department of Arts, Culture, Science and
Technology has arranged an exhibition of fine art coordinated by the
South Africa Association of Arts, and artefacts assembled by the
African Window will also be showcased at the South African
pavillion.
South Africa has been allocated 3 August 1998 as its courtesy
day during which a range of cultural events by various South African
performing artists and groups will receive special attention.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
PRETORIA
24 MAY 1998
@ LAND-MAKULEKE
JOHANNESBURG May 22 Sapa
MAKULEKE LAND CLAIM TO BE SIGNED ON MAY 30
The Makuleke community will sign a historic agreement with the
government on May 30 giving it title to its ancestral land in the
Kruger National Park.
Mike Rautenbach, spokesman for Land Affairs Minister Derek
Hanekom, said in a statement the 20000ha Pafuri region of the
Kruger National Park would in future be known as the Makuleke
region.
The agreement, which would be signed on behalf of six national
ministers, the Northern Province executive and SA National Parks,
would give the Makuleke Communal Property Association ownership of
the land on behalf of 2570 families.
The land was returned to the community in March, 30 years after
they were forcibly removed to Ntlhaveni in the Northern Province.
After 18 months of intensive negotiation it was agreed that the
community would take ownership of the land subject to certain
conservation and environmental constraints.
More than 12000 people are expected to benefit from eco-tourism
ventures to be set up through a 50-year contractual agreement
between the Parks Board and the community in the region, including
5000ha outside the Park.
The signing ceremony is to be held at Ntlhaveni.
@ ZIM-ARMY
HARARE, May 22 Sapa-AFP
ZIMBABWE'S MUGABE UNEASY ABOUT ARMY CUTS
President Robert Mugabe warned Friday that plans by his
government to cut the country's 40,000-strong defence forces should
not compromise Zimbabwe's capacity to defend itself.
Under pressure from donors to cut its spending, Zimbabwe plans
to slash the size of its army by at least 10,000 troops.
But Mugabe, speaking at the graduation of 60 army officer
cadets from a military academy in the central town of Gweru, said
reductions should take into account organisational needs and match
them to available resources.
"The culmination of this policy should, however, never be the
injudicious reduction of our national army to levels that will
deprive us of an adequate capacity to cope with situations that
could arise in the future," Mugabe said.
He added that the maintenance of a well-trained and
sufficiently-equipped military was a pre-requisite for any defence
force for it to be effective against any would-be aggressors.
A report to parliament last week painted a bleak picture of the
condition of the country's army.
The report said the army was in a deplorable state, with
soldiers living in barracks not fit for human habitation, some
troops sent home because the army could not afford to feed them and
less than five percent of the army's vehicles in running order.
Zimbabwe's defence forces were once regarded as among the
best-equipped and most disciplined fighting forces in Africa
@ EVEREST-SA By David Isaacson
JOHANNESBURG May 22 Sapa
SA EVEREST EXPEDITION HOPING TO SUMMIT ON SUNDAY
South Africa's Everest expedition will make an assault on the
8848m summit on Sunday if heavy winds lashing the world's highest
mountain ease off.
An official at the team's information hotline in Johannesburg
on Friday said Ian Woodall and Cathy O'Dowd were pinned down at
camp two at 7600m on the North, or Tibetan side, throughout the
day.
The gale has forced other climbers higher up to retreat,
according to the latest report on the Everest News website.
"If the winds subside, they (Woodall and O'Dowd) will move up
to camp three on Saturday with a potential summit bid on Sunday
morning," Claire Ellis said in Johannesburg.
Camp three is at 8200m.
Success on Everest depends on a short window period when the
jet stream, or high winds that create the familiar plume off the
summit, abate for about two weeks in early May.
But the gap this year has arrived later than normal - the
first successful summit bid this season was made only on Monday.
On May 12, 1996 Woodall and O'Dowd negotiated Everest from the
South, or Nepalese side, to become the first South Africans to
stand on the Himalayan peak. Team photographer Bruce Herrod
summitted a few hours later, but died on the descent soon
afterwards.
He was the last to summit during the May 1996 window period.
A Mountai Clb of South Africa team failed in its attempt up
the North side nearly six months later.
@ UN-ANGOLA
UNITED NATIONS May 22 Sapa-AFP
UN SECURITY COUNCIL CONDEMNS UNITA
The 15 UN Security Council members on Friday unanimously
strongly condemned Angola's former rebel force for not implementing
peace accords and threatened the group with sanctions.
The National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA)
could face "additional measures" for not implementing the 1994
Lusaka peace accords, the council said in a "presidential
statement," which requires unanimous approval.
The council in August had placed travel limits on UNITA
leaders, closed UNITA offices outside Angola, and had warned that
trade and financial sanctions could be in the works.
The council "strongly deplores the failure by UNITA to complete
the implementation of its remaining obligations" under the accords
and "relevant Security Council resolutions."
The UN body cites UNITA's "failure to cooperate in completing
the normalization of State administration throughout the national
territory, including in particular in Andulo and Bailundo," the
group's central Angolan strongholds.
The last clauses of the accords are due to go into force at the
end of May. By then, UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi must have
demobilized all his remaining troops.
The council "endorses" UN representative Alioune Blondin Beye
of Mali's plan to press the peace process forward, which UNITA
opposes.
Beye has asked the government and UNITA to set a timetable for
implementation of the accords, including the completion of
administrative reunification and UNITA's disarmament.
The council said a lack of progress towards peace "has led to a
serious deterioration in the military and security situation in the
country."
And the UN body called on the government and UNITA "in the
strongest terms to refrain from any action which might lead to
renewed hostilities or derail the peace process."
Moreover, the council also "expresses its deep concern at the
serious abuses committed by the Angolan national Police,
particularly in areas recently transferred to State administration,
as well as the recent increase in hostile propaganda."
And the council "strongly condemns" attacks UNITA carried out
against UN mission in Angola (MONUA) staff. In the latest such
violence, one person was killed and several injured Tuesday.
The security council "demands" that the government and UNITA
"guarantee unconditionally the safety and freedom of movement of
all United Nations and other international personnel."
@ LESOTHO-N/L-ELECTION By Israel Mogale
MASERU May 22 Sapa
IEC CLAIMS IT HAS INFO OVER ATTACKS ON LESOTHO VOTERS
It would be a high price to pay if anyone was killed in
Lesotho's general election while people with information about
threats of an attack against voters did not go to the police, the
government or election officials, the Independent Electoral
Commission said on Friday night.
"If the attack occurs it will take this country back to the old
days of a reign of terror under a dictatorship government. We don't
want any violence but a peaceful, free and fair election tomorrow,"
IEC chairman Sekara Mafisa said in Maseru.
Basutoland Congress Party leader Molapo Qhobela told
journalists in Maseru, 11 hours before the country's third
democratic poll for 1,3 million voters, that he had information
that arms were being smuggled into Lesotho and suspected they could
be used during voting.
"I can tell you that from my reliable sources a black Mercedes
Benz entered Lesotho on Wednesady loaded with weapons. My
authoritative sources tell me that these weapons are stored at a
building in the centre of Maseru," Qhobela said.
He refused to give the registration of the the car, or to
disclose the name of the building where the arms were kept.
Qhobela said he would not pass the information on to the
police, saying police commissioner Major General Bolutu Makoaba
should do his his own research.
Mafisa said it was highly irresponsible of Qhobela not to
notify the authorities about the planned attack.
"This is not befitting the stature of a political leader and
there is no justification for him to withhold such information," he
said.
The BCP leader said the poll would not be free or fair because
of irregularities already highlighted by the three main opposition
parties. He accused the IEC of conspiring with the Lesotho Congress
for Democracy government to rig the poll.
By 6pm on Friday the three main parties said they had not yet
received the voters roll.
"We suspect there is something wrong with these lists which
Mafisa is refusing to give to us, and also that he has been
instructed by Prime Minister Ntsu Mokhehle to hide these riggings."
he said.
Qhobela accused two countries from the Southern African
Development Community counties of being behind Moklehe's
"dictatorial" government, but refused to name them.
He said this was done to ensure that the LCD party stayed in
power.
He was pleased that election facilities were in place and
predicted his party would win the election.
"Tomorrow the balloon will blow up and someone will be left
sitting with his bum flat on the ground," he said.
Qhobela was optimistic that the youths of Lesotho would rally
behind the BCP, not only to vote out the LCD and its "rotten
policies", which he said included the looting of state coffers.
Asked why the party would be participating in an election while
its process was flawed, Qholbela replied: "If we don't take part in
them, it wil be a betrayal of our nation's fundamental interest."
King Letsie III on Friday issued a proclamation declaring
Saturday a holiday to give the electorate time to vote.
Government offices closed around lunchtime to allow people to
travel to their constituencies. Schools released teachers and
students earlier to ensure that they reached their destinations in
time for Saturday's poll.
Traffic at Lesotho's border posts increased on Friday,
particularly in the afternoon, as citizens living outside the
country returned home to vote.
Foreign Minister Kelebone Maope said arrangements had been made
so that officials at border posts were flexible and help those
wanting to enter the country after border closing hours.
The IEC despatched officials to more than 2700 polling stations
throughout the country, and Mafisa said all polling material had
been distributed.
"I am sure that when the voting stations open at 7am tomorrow
there will be no problem," he said.
The weather has warmed up in the last few days and IEC
officials were hopeful it would stay warm to encourage voting.
@ HEALTH-ZUMA
PRETORIA May 22 Sapa
JAKOB ZUMA SHOUTED DOWN AT GARANKUWA HOSPITAL CEREMONY
African National Congress deputy president Jakob Zuma was on
Friday prevented from speaking at a long-standing service ceremony
at the Garankuwa Hospital, north of Pretoria, by hundreds of
chanting National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union
members.
SABC TV news reported that when Zuma and ANC veteran Gertrude
Shope arrived at the hospital on Friday morning they were greeted
confronted by the employees, who then took over tables set for the
ceremony and ate food prepared for the guests.
When Zuma tried to speak he was shouted down and forced to
retreat. The hospital's management disappeared and Zuma was left to
negotiate with the Nehawu members.
A meeting between Zuma and the union's leaders failed to
resolve the standoff between workers and management, which started
in 1992 when about 700 workers went on strike. They were later
re-employed, but withut theirservice benefits.
The ongoing dispute was being blamed for inefficient delivery
at the hospital where patients sometimes spend hours queueing
before being assisted.
Zuma said afterwards he would attend a postponed long-standing
service ceremony if invited.
"It is clear to me there are issues that need to be clarified
between Nehawu and management," he said.
Management on Friday promised to restart negotiations with
staff.
@ NAIDOO AT THE LAUNCH OF THE (DECT)
Issued by: Department of Post and Telecommunications
STATEMENT GIVEN BY JAY NAIDOO, MINISTER FOR POSTS,
TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND BROADCASTING AT THE LAUNCH OF THE DIGITAL
ENHANCED CORDLESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS (DECT) NETWORK, KHAYELITSHA,
WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE
Saturday, May 23, 1998
Sizwe Nxasana, CEO of Telkom
Joe Foster, chairperson of the National Council of
Provinces Select Committee on Communications
Motato Ngomane, community representative,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Two weeks ago, I told the assembled members of the National
Assembly during my Budget speech that this month, the people of
Khayelitsha would have two good reasons to celebrate because two
things were going to happen for the first time ever:
Khayelitsha was going to get its first direct telephone services
and it was going to get its first street delivery of post.
Today marks the switch-on of the first direct telephone services
and on Monday, I will be returning to Khayelitsha to celebrate the
launch of the first street delivery of post.
Both these phones we will be switching on today and the street
service I will inaugurate on Monday represent something more
significant than new services. They represent an improvement in the
quality of lives of people.
And improving the lives of our people is the goal which gives me
the energy to keep going and keep fighting. It would be true to say
that what the people of this community has been given in the past
four years.
Not just in terms of post and telephones is more than
they were given in 40 years of apartheid rule.
As Minister responsible for telecommunications, I have made sure
that all our efforts are aimed not only at bringing South Africa as
a country into the information age, but also at giving universal
access to telecommunications services to thousands of communities..
As a result, South Africa has one of the fastest roll-out
programmes in the world.
Over the next five years, 2,8 million new lines, including 120
000 payphones and 1,6 million new lines will be installed in our
townships and our villages to bring telephone penetration in
economically qualified households in all provinces to more than 50%.
Schools, clinics, libraries, community centers and small
villages in under-serviced areas have been identified as priorities
in our roll-out programme. According to our roll-out programme, 55%
of these priority customers will be connected within three years and
80% of all villages within four years.
And I am happy to report today that the Western Cape is making
good progress in meeting its share of these targets. Last year, a
total of 76 000 new lines were installed (April 1997 to March 1998)
against a total of 70 000 new lines installed the previous year.
Under-serviced areas were the main beneficiaries of Telkom's
efforts to get people talking in the Western Cape. Of the 76 000 new
lines installed, 33 000 were in under-serviced areas.
Of the 3 888 new pay phones installed, 3 305 were in
under-serviced areas.
Significantly, the biggest growth in business connections was
from companies and businesses in under-serviced areas, with some 18
000 new lines being installed.
Telkom in the Western Cape aims to installed 85 000 new lines
this year and I believe they will not only meet their target, they
will exceed it.
So why is getting a telephone service in a community like
Khayelitsha an important milestone? Because information and
knowledge is the guarantee of our freedom, the guarantee of
openness, accessibility, accountability, and the vehicle for social
transformation.
Thousands of people in places like Khayelitsha are being give n
opportunities that never existed before. Now if you have a sick
child, you will be able to call a doctor or the local clinic. If you
are an entrepreneur, you can call your suppliers or your customers.
If you have family who live or work far away, you ca n call them to
say hello.
A telephone network makes it possible for government to
introduce services such as distance learning and Tele-Medicine and
the Internet to citizens in even the remotest corners of our
country. And all at an affordable cost.
The power of knowledge and the power of communication are being
built on the foundation of democracy. This government is committed
to making the lives of our people better and today is clear evidence
that it is succeeding in its quest.
Thank you.
@ HEALTH-WINNIE
JOHANNESBURG May 22 Sapa
WINNIE MADIKIZELA-MANDELA BACKS UNREGISTERED AIDS CLINIC
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has personally witnessed
controversial "miracle treatments" on volunteer HIV-infected
patients at a secret and unregistered Johannesburg clinic - and
given the procedures her tacit stamp of approval, the Saturday Star
reported late on Friday night.
The paper reported that she disclosed this week that health
minister Nkosazana Zuma had been informed and would visit the
clinic, where procedures banned in the United States and most
European countries were being carried out.
It said the clinic had operated covertly for several months
using human volunteers as guinea pigs, and claimed a high success
rate treating Aids and other deadly diseases.
Madikizela-Mandela apparently did not know that one patient,
suffering from lupus and treated at the unregistered clinic, was
taken to a hospital after severe bleeding a few weeks ago. Four
pints of blood saved her life.
An ex-Security Branch policeman is apparently involved in
running the clinic.
The Saturday Star said two medical specialists asked the
Medicines Control Council for approval to carry out legitimate
tests on the controversial procedure, known as oxytherapy, or
polyatomic apheresis.
Madikizela-Mandela appealed to officials not to write off
oxytherapy until it had been thoroughly tested.
She was quoted as saying: "We don't want these people to be
discouraged, but we also don't want them to go ahead if it
scientifically wrong. We don't want people to be harmed in any way.
"As the president of the (African National Congress) Women's
League, as a Member of Parliament and as a fellow South African,
speaking broadly, we would welcome any clinicaly proven measure to
fight Aids.
"I want to clinic to establish whether there was any validity
to their claims."
@ NP READY TO FIGHT ELECTION UNDER IFP OR DP BANNER
JOHANNESBURG May 22 Sapa
The National Party is ready to fight next year's general
election under the banner of the Inkatha Freedom Party - or if
that does not work, under the Democratic Party, Beeld newspaper
reported late on Friday night.
It quoted NP media director Daryl Swanepoel as confirming that
the NP caucus on Thursday supported the idea in principle.
The question of leadership of such an election deal should not
stand in the way of an agreement, he said. It was a question of the
right leader at the right time.
No other NP member was quoted in the report, but Beeld reported
that senior party members said they would prefer to work with IFP
leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi. If that did not work out, several NP
members would be in favour of doing a deal with DP leader Tony
Leon, it said.
A Markinor survey on Friday said the NP's support base among
voters had dropped to 10 percent, with the DP and the United
Democratic Movement at 5 percent each.
The NP has lost three municipal by-elections in a row to the
DP, and got only 22 votes this week in a by-election at Bloekombos
in the Western Cape.
Swanepoel said three broad principles were discussed during the
four-hour caucus meetings;
- The leadership issue should not stand in the way of
opposition co-operation;
- Parties in negotiations on co-operation should be equal
partners, and
- There were no preconditions on the leadership issue.
It said the caucus acknowleged that the NP was in deep trouble,
and needed to take urgent steps to reverse its diminishing support,
or simply to maintain its level of support.
Beeld said some NP members were putting out feelers to the
rightwing Freedom Front.
@ TODAY IN HISTORY (May 29)
HIGHLIGHTS IN SOUTHERN AFRICAN HISTORY
MAY 29:
1807 - A Court of Appeal in civil cases is established at the
Cape.
1884 - Sir Bartle Frere, who became Governor of the Cape
Colony and High Commissioner for South Africa in 1877, dies.
1977 - A Rhodesian communique says Rhodesian troops overran a
terrorist camp three miles inside Mozmbique, killing at least 20
terrorists and seizing large quantities of arms and ammunition.
1987 - West Germany's Minister of Foreign Affairs says in
Lesotho that his government will invite the ANC, the SA Government
and others to talks in October to help solve SA's racial problems.
1990 - State President F W de Klerk delays his trip to the US
indefinitely, saying he had taken this decision because controversy
had arisen regarding its timing and that there were urgent matters
in South Africa which he had to attend to.
1991 - An Appeal Court ruling sets aside all 14 death
sentences and overturns all but four of the 25 murder convictions
handed down in the "Upington 26" trial which followed the murder of
policeman Lucas Sethwala by a mob in 1985.
1991 - The Organisation of African Unity decides not to lift
sanctions against South Africa.
@ FEATURE-RECONCILIATION By Andrew Selsky
JOHANNESBURG May 23 Sapa-AP
SOUTH AFRICANS ON BUMPY ROAD TO RECONCILIATION
Boitumelo Makhuza's eyes filled with tears as a white man
described the night he blasted bullets into her son and other
blacks cowering in a ditch.
"I must be honest with you," she later seethed, glaring at
the killers. "Those fools. Those monsters. I hate them."
But the former teacher then altered her tone, and her words
expressed the kind of change South Africa needs to overcome
centuries of hatred and mistrust between blacks and whites.
"I don't hate other white people," she declared. "It depends
on how each one treats me."
How each one treats me. South Africans of all races and ages
are contemplating that question four years after apartheid ended
and Nelson Mandela, the former political prisoner with a spirit of
forgiveness, came to power.
Race permeates every aspect of daily life here, from the
political debates in Parliament to exchanges at the grocery cash
register.
Stark examples of the extremes - cruel attacks and stubborn
intolerance vs. tender forgiveness and opening hearts - regularly
remind a troubled people how far they've come and still must go.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission created by Mandela's
government to investigate apartheid atrocities completes its work
this year, and Mandela will retire after elections in the first
half of next year.
Those events mark the end of South Africa's formal
reconciliation era, when the country has tried to confront its past
before fully adopting a complete structural transformation from the
white dominance of apartheid.
Mandela has held back radical transformation to protect the
white minority, and he promoted unity so strongly it has become a
theme in advertising, such as the slogan for Castle beer: "One
Nation. One Soul. One Beer. One Goal."
But reconciliation goes beyond government policies. It also
involves blacks' desire to see their lives improve, white
resentment over loss of privilege - ultimately, whether blacks and
whites can get along.
Although the Truth Commission was meant to promote
reconciliation, it has caused much controversy. Many whites
consider it biased, particularly against Afrikaners, the
Dutch-descended white settlers who ruled during apartheid.
Others, mostly blacks, complain apartheid-era leaders and
generals are escaping commission scrutiny. Former President P.W.
Botha, who tried to crush the anti-apartheid movement, snubbed the
commission and now faces trial for contempt.
"It's been rough," admitted Desmond Tutu, the retired
Anglican archbishop who is chairman of the commission. "But ... it
points out that reconciliation is not easy. It's not cheap."
Tutu, who won the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize for his anti-apartheid
activities, said most people thought reconciliation meant "sort of
patting one another on the back and saying `Let bygones be
bygones."'
"That's not reconciliation," he insisted in an interview.
"Reconciliation is actually facing up to a thing that caused the
alienation."
His commission can grant amnesty to people who make full
confessions of apartheid-era crimes, but it has rejected some
applications. The panel doesn't have the power to file charges for
abuses it uncovers, although the government has tried some people.
South Africans have a lot to face up to.
Black activists were routinely tortured and murdered, and
hundreds were secretly buried, burned to ashes or even blown up to
obliterate their bodies.
Thousands died in political violence between Mandela's African
National Congress and the rival Inkatha Freedom Party. Apartheid
security forces fomented some of that unrest.
ANC guerrillas killed and maimed hundreds of whites in their
bombing and sabotage campaigns.
A Truth Commission hearing into the killing of Boitumelo
Makhuza's son Teboho exhibited one side of the brutality.
Petrus Matthews, a 30-year-old with shoulder-length blond hair,
testified how he and eight other members of the neo-Nazi Afrikaner
Resistance Movement erected a bogus police roadblock to kill ANC
supporters in December 1993.
The whites pulled over two carloads of blacks, including
Makhuza, who at 21 had just graduated from college.
They made the blacks squat in a ditch, lined up behind them and
opened fire. Then one of the whites cut off the ear of a dying
victim, to show his commander, Matthews said.
The Makhuzas didn't lose just Teboho. His younger brother,
Thabiso, committed suicide eight months later.
"This thing had really been eating him up. He said he didn't
enjoy anything anymore after Teboho died," recalled Tshepo
Makhuza, the eldest - and now only - son.
"I never thought I could forgive the system and forgive,"
Tshepo said. Somehow, though, he stopped blaming Afrikaners and
shifted his anger to their belief that non-whites were inferior.
"It's something that is put to them at a very early age,"
Tshepo said. "In fact, I pity them. They are victims of apartheid
as much as we are, though at different levels."
Such understanding and forgiveness has come from all sides.
Neville Clarence, blinded in a 1983 ANC car bombing, recently
shook hands with former guerrilla Aboobaker Ismail, who planned the
attack. Clarence later told how both seemed reluctant to let go of
their clasp of forgiveness.
more
D3@ FEATURE-RECONCILIATION 2 last JHB
P2: SOUTH AFICANS ON BUMPY ROAD TO RECONCILIATION
"We held tight. We didn't want the moment to end too soon,"
he said.
At Melpark Primary School in Johannesburg, headmaster Badie
Badenhorst watched white and black students playing together on a
recent sunny day.
"I used to be very right-wing," said Badenhorst, 55, who
worked in all-white schools before joining Melpark in 1993. Seeing
how eager black children were to learn changed his views.
"What I've been taught by children in five years time, I
hadn't learned in my whole previous life," he said, shaking his
head and smiling.
To be sure, many South Africans remain mired in old attitudes.
The Afrikaner Resistance Movement still sports swastika-like badges
and issues its threats of war against black rule.
Rioting erupted this year in the town of Vryburg over the high
school's failure to integrate. Near Johannesburg, a white man shot
at black children crossing his property, killing an infant and
provoking national outrage.
Attacks on white farmers continue, with some victims apparently
murdered because of their race.
But there are signs of change, particularly among the young.
At a hamburger stand in Vryburg a few weeks after the rioting,
two black students speaking with a journalist were joined by two
white schoolmates.
"My parents told me blacks are bad," said one of the white
youths. "When I used to see them I wanted to hit them or throw
stones at them. But then, when I began going to school with them
... I learned they are people, like us, who have feelings and can
get hurt, like us."
The student wouldn't give his name, saying his parents would
punish him if they knew he socialized with blacks.
Tutu feels such learning is more critical to reconciliation
than even his commission's work.
"It's something that has to be a national project," he said.
"Every South African has to make their contribution."
@ FARM
TORONTO May 23 Sapa
SOUTHERNERA HALTS LEGAL PROCEEDINGS OVER DISPUTED LAND
SouthernEra Resources Ltd of Toronto has halted legal action in
South Africa over disputed mineral rights to a diamond property
near the northern Drakensberg foothills, sought also by De Beers
Consolidated Mines Ltd.
The abandoned Supreme Court case in Pretoria concerns a rich
M-1 kimberlite pipe on the Marsfontein 91KS farm.
Last month, the heirs to the property reportedly agreed,
through NGS Minerals (Pty) Ltd, to sell the mineral rights to De
Beers if and when they themselves assumed ownership.
A SouthernEra official said in Toronto the withdrawal this week
of the Supreme Court case in Pretoria would enable the South
African ministry of mineral and energy to consider expropriating
the farm.
Such a measure, under Section 24(1) of the Minerals Act of
South Africa, would clear the way for negotiations between the
heirs and SouthernEra.
Alternatively, the heirs might seek a court-imposed settlement.
The Canadian company told the ministry in Pretoria it was willing
to match De Beers' R75-million offer.
After SouthernEra's announcement on Thursday that it was
withdrawing the court case, its shares fell by more than 15 per
cent on the Toronto Stock Exchange, closing at seven Canadian
dollars (about R24,50).
@ CHILDREN-MARCH
PARIS May 23 Sapa-AFP
MARCH AGAINST CHILD LABOUR REACHES PARIS
A party of children and adults taking part in a world-wide
protest march against child labour, were due to arrive in Paris
Saturday after crossing Africa from south to north.
The group, comprising a score of children from India, Brazil
and Bangladesh and members of non-governmental organisations, set
out from Cape Town in South Africa on March 20. Another group left
Manila in the Philippines on January 17, to cross Asia and a third
party set off from Sao Paulo in Brazil on February 25. Part of the
group has been criss-crossing Latin America, while others are
moving round the United States.
All the groups will converge on Geneva at the beginning of June
with the aim of putting pressure on governments in the
International Labour Office, which will be studying a draft
convention against "extreme" forms of child labour.
France has reserved a high-profile welcome for the marchers,
including a meeting on Saturday with President Jacques Chirac and
visits to UNESCO and the new Stade de France stadium north of
Paris, built specially for the Football World Cup. On Sunday, they
are due to meet members of the National Assembly.
On Monday, they have meetings lined up at the labour ministry
with Labour Minister Martine Aubry and trade union officials.
The march was organised at the initiative of a group of
associations based in New Delhi, headed by the Indian NGO, the
South Asian Coalition against Child Servitude.
According to the ILO, some 250 millioin children between the
ages of five and 14 in the world, are working for their living,
though not all are victims of exploitation. The majority work to
boost the family earnings, in agriculture, domestic work,
handicrafts or street peddling.
But many others are virtual slaves. They toil in the mines of
Peru and Bolivia, are exploited as prostitutes in the Philippines,
Thailand or Brazil, and find themselves in bondage to pay off
family debts (this practice is widespread in India and Pakistan).
@ LESOTHO-ELECTIONS
MASERU May 23 Sapa
THOUSANDS OF BASOTHO BRAVE CHILLY WEATHER TO CAST VOTES
Thousands of Basotho people braved the chilly morning weather
on Saturday to queue for the mountain kingdom's third democratic
general elections.
Polling stations opened at 7am and will close at 5pm.
At the Phetahatso medium school in Mohalalitoe near Maseru -
one of the more than 2000 polling stations countrywide - about
1000 people were on the queue by 5.30 am.
They had made a fire to ward off the cold weather while
election officials inside the polling station enjoyed warmth from a
heater.
Twelve political parties and 31 independent candidates will be
participating in the elections.
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| PO Box 16469 Tel: (+27 21) 262740 |
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