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A N C D A I L Y N E W S B R I E F I N G
MONDAY 8 FEBRUARY 1999
PLEASE NOTE: This News Briefing is a compilation of items from South
African press agencies and as such does not reflect the views of the
ANC. It is for reading and information only, and strictly not for
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After the first round it was 9,7 million.
@ MANDELA-WCAPE
PARLIAMENT February 5 1999 Sapa
MANDELA WARNS TERROR GROUPS IN CAPE TOWN
President Nelson Mandela on Friday chose the opening of
Parliament in Cape Town to launched a blistering attack on
perpetrators of terror in the city, warning them that his
government would ensure that they stayed in jail for a very long
time.
Speaking in his last state-of-the-nation address, Mandela
avoided apportioning blame to any organisation or individual by
name.
However, in an apparent reference to the organisation People
Against Gangsterism and Drugs, he said what had started off as a
campaign against gangsterism had now become a violent and murderous
offensive against ordinary citizens and law-enforcement agencies.
What was portrayed as moral and god-inspired against
oppression, exploitation and imperialism, had assumed the form of
terrorism to undercut Cape Town's lifeline and destabilise a
democratic government.
Moreover, what was undertaken as an expression of militancy
could very easily provide cover for right-wing counter-revolution
against the new South Africa, Mandela said.
"The campaign is rotten to the core; it is misguided; and its
attempt to invoke religion is blasphemous.
"What South African indeed, who owes loyalty to this country
and this continent, would engage in such callous deeds.
"What fighter against crime would engage in a campaign that
diverts resources of the police from dealing with criminals."
Mandela said he wished to assure the people of Cape Town that
his government knew who the perpetrators were, who trained them,
and who backed them.
"Steadily, we are building watertight cases against them that
will ensure that they stay in jail for a long, long time," he said.
@ CRIME-DIPLOMAT
CAPE TOWN February 5 1999 Sapa
CANADIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER ASSAULTED AND ROBBED
Canadian High Commissioner James Bartelman was assaulted and
robbed of R1000 at his Sea Point hotel early on Friday, police
said.
Spokesman Captain Andre Traut said Bartelman, 60, was hit with
a stun device by an intruder when he answered a knock at the door
of his room.
Bartelman, who was to have attended the opening of Parliament,
was being treated in a Cape Town hospital for a fracture to his
nose.
A spokeswoman for the Canadian embassy, Suzanne Gobeil, said
Bartelman was discharged from hospital after treatment and was on
his way to Johannesburg.
According to Gobeil, Bartelman said the incident had allowed
him to appreciate what South Africans had to live with in their
country.
@ MANDELA-CRIME
PARLIAMENT February 5 1999 Sapa
MANDELA RULES OUT DEATH PENALTY
President Nelson Mandela on Friday ruled out reintroducing the
death penalty, but said there was room to tighten existing
legislation to combt the scourge of crime in the country.
Speaking in his last state-of-the-nation address, in which he
gave an upbeat assessment of his government's successes over the
past four-and-a-half years, Mandela singled out crime and job
creation as problem areas.
Acknowledging there was public impatience on both issues, he
said: "We can and shall break out of this bog, there is hope."
Noting there were questions about whether the
Constitution-makers had achieved the correct balance between the
rights of criminals and ordinary citizens, Mandela said the
government was not about "to join the chorus baying for the death
sentence or to reverse our human rights gains".
"Yet, in addition to the measures introduced regarding bail and
mandatory sentences, we need to examine spaces that need
tightening."
Mandela mooted whether interference with witnesses and murder
of police officers should not attract very harsh mandatory
sentences.
He also questioned what form and content of evidence should be
given to defence attorneys in bail applications.
"For it does not help for the police to do their work and for
the justice system to be efficient, if criminals will subvert
investigations and prosecution by violent and foul means."
On perceptions that crime was out of control, Mandela said
statistics showed there had been a reduction or stabilisation in
most serious crime.
A myriad of laws had been passed to narrow the space for
criminals, the latest being legislation on crime syndicates, and
minimum sentences and conditions on the granting of bail.
A detective academy had been set up, and the skills learned
there were starting to be felt in dealing with crime syndicates.
Mandela repeated that there was a failure on the part of
government's critics to appreciate the fact that turning the tide
against crime could not be achieved overnight.
There were also deliberate efforts to sensationalise and
politicise the issue.
"But we are the first to acknowledge that the impatience and
dissatisfaction among ordinary people are justified."
Mandela cited the Office of the National Director of Public
Prosecutions and the special investigation unit, as proof that a
systematic approach to major crimes would bear fruit.
@ MANDELA-PENSIONS
PARLIAMENT February 5 1999 Sapa
PENSIONS AND DISABILITY GRANTS TO INCREASE BY R20
Old age pensions and disability grants would be increased by
R20 this year, President Nelson Mandela said in his
state-of-the-nation address on Friday.
This was possible because R350 million year was being saved in
the welfare area due to better management and the elimination of
corruption, he told Parliament.
@ BOTSWANA-INFLATION
GABORONE February 5 1999 Sapa
BOTSWANA INFLATION INCREASES TO 6,5 PCT IN JANUARY
Botswana's consumer price index rose 0,08 percent in January
bringing the year-on-year inflation to 6,5 percent, the Central
Statistics Office said Friday. The CPI was 7,7 percent a year ago.
The rise in the CPI in January was attributed to a 12,3 percent
jump in the "education" sub-group as fees and costs went up at the
beginning of the current academic year.
There were minor increases in three other sub-groups, with
"furniture and appliances" going up 0,8 percent, "food" 0,6 percent
and "transport and communications" 0,5 percent.
@ COURT-BARCODE
CAPE TOWN February 5 1999 Sapa
HOME AFFAIRS UNABLE TO COPE WITH ID DOCUMENT APPLICATIONS,
COURT HEARS
The Department of Home Affairs would not be able to cope with
the increasing number of applications for bar-coded ID documents in
terms of its own provisional cut-off deadline of March 7 for this
year's general election, the Cape High Court was told on Friday.
This would result in many potential voters not being able to
vote, in terms of the current Electoral Act, in the poll expected
in May, Advocate Fef le Roux, SC, leading the New National's
Party's legal team against the government, said.
The number of potential voters was estimated at between 25
million and 26 million, he said.
At the start of the hearing on riday Advocate Jeremy
Gauntlett, SC, appearing for the Independent Electoral Commission,
told the court that 13,763 million people had registered by the end
of the second round of registration last weekend.
Le Roux said it was clear from the Department of Home Affairs'
own analysis that its backlog in dealing with applications for the
green bar- coded ID documents had grown from 95000 in January 1997
to 500,000 now.
"We can show that in the time left, it is just simply
impossible to process the number of applications."
A further 14 months would be required, Le Roux said.
The case is being heard by a full bench, comprising Judge
President Edwin King, Deputy Judge President John Hlope and Judge
Deon van Zyl.
The case continues.
@ ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT MANDELA TO PARLIAMENT
Issued by: Office of The President
5 February 1999
Madame Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly;
Honourable Chairperson and Deputy Chairpersons of the National Council
of Provinces;
Honourable Members of Parliament;
Distinguished guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Today we start the ultimate session of our first democratic
parliament.
The profound changes of the past four-and-half years make the
distance traversed seem so short; the end so sudden. Yet with the
epoch-making progress that has been made, this period could have
been decades.
South Africa is in a momentous process of change, blazing a
trail towards a secure future.
The time is yet to come for farewells, as many of us - by choice
or circumstance - will not return.
However, there is no time to pause. The long walk is not yet
over. The prize of a better life has yet to be won.
Allow me, Madame Speaker, to cast my eyes further back than the
period under review.
Ten years ago, in a letter to the Head of the Apartheid State,
in an attempt to launch negotiations, one humble prisoner said that,
at a first meeting between government and the ANC, two central
issues needed to be addressed:
"...firstly, the demand for majority rule in a unitary state;
secondly, the concern of white South Africans over this demand, as
well as the insistence of whites on structural guarantees that
majority rule will not mean domination of the white minority by
blacks".
In yet another letter, it was emphasised:
"The very first step on the way to reconciliation is obviously
the dismantling of apartheid, and all measures used to enforce it.
To talk of reconciliation before this major step is taken is totally
unrealistic".
These are some of the matters that I will address today.
Our transition has been managed with such success that some
generously invoke the imagery of "miracle". Things such as equality,
the right to vote in free and fair elections and freedom of speech,
many of us now take for granted. Many past difficulties are now mere
footnotes of history.
There can be no equivocation that the majority of South
Africans, coalesced around our founding pact, are outgrowing the
apprehensions which required the convoluted "structural guarantees"
of the first few years. Though we might differ on method, it has
become a national passion to pronounce commitment to a better life
for all.
What then is the nation's scorecard on the fundamental question
of socio-economic change?
Census 96, whose result was made public last year, has for the
first time given South Africa a detailed and comprehensive portrait
of itself. And it is against its dimensions that we must measure our
progress.
In 1994, some 30% of South Africans lacked access to a safe
supply of water near their homes: today, after three million people
have benefited from the government's water supply programme, that
has been reduced to 20%.
In 1994, less than 40% of South African households had
electricity: today, after more than 2 million connections, 63% of
households are connected to the electricity grid.
In 1994, about a quarter of homes had telephones: today, after
1.3-million have been connected, 35% are linked to the telephone
system.
This means that every day on average since our democratic
elections has meant another 1,300 homes electrified; another 750
telephones installed; and another 1,700 people gaining access to
clean water... every day!
With the primary school nutrition programme reaching over
5-million children and the benefit of free health care, millions of
children are growing healthy and unstunted.
Within the framework of our Integrated National Disability
Strategy, today we have a government whose concern for the needs of
the disabled is unprecedented in the history of South Africa.
This means more than the dry rhyme of statistics. The words of
Ms Gladys Nzilane of Evaton who received keys to her new house last
year ring true from the heart:
"I hear people on radio and television saying the government has
failed; but I do not believe that.... [This government] has given us
life".
In this, she was echoing the feelings of millions, including
Mama Lenah Ntsweni of Mpumalanga who was the 3-millionth person to
receive safe and accessible water a few weeks ago.
Before we lose ourselves in detail, important though it may be,
let us come back to the trends. The critical question is about a
machinery which is improving its capacity to meet the needs of South
Africans.
Even where we might not have met our targets, this is the
question that we need to probe.
Such is the experience in the provision of subsidised housing.
With 700-thousand houses either built or under construction, we do
acknowledge that we shall not reach the target of one million that
we set ourselves. But, after the initial hiccups of the first two
years, we have now developed the capacity to build 15,000 houses
every month.
>From the Jobs Summit, new initiatives have emerged, in a
splendid partnership between business and government, to start major
projects that will put more roofs over the head of those in want. As
this project starts unlocking the problem of limited public
resources, so will its beneficiaries multiply - from the supplier of
building material to the small building contractor, from the new
employees to those who will occupy these dwellings.
The construction of sports facilities reached new levels in 1998
and the establishment of Community Arts Centres exceeded the target.
New ways of facilitating land restitution and redistribution are
being implemented. The Adult Basic Education and Training Programme
has reached more people than was originally planned.
In the area of welfare, after the pain of restructuring, the
reach and the efficiency of delivery has improved; and R350-million
is being saved a year by better management and eliminating
corruption.
The examples are many. But let us focus for a brief moment on
two of the issues, namely welfare and education. The savings that
have been effected through tackling fraud should rightly contribute
to an expansion of assistance to those in need. During this Year of
Older Persons, all of us - and I do include myself - are especially
aware of the needs of senior citizens. We are therefore pleased to
announce that we are able once again to increase old age pensions -
this year by 4%, that is R20; and the disability grant by the same
percentage.
Regarding education, why is it that the majority of South
Africans feel that things have improved in this area?
This is because many of those who were studying under trees or
in dilapidated buildings have benefited from the R1-billion spent on
the construction or renovation of 10,000 classrooms.
It is because the doors of all public schools are open; it is
because the higher education assistance scheme is reaching more
students; it is because, despite the setbacks of one or another
year, the Matric results are improving. And even if this majority
does not read or hear or see in the media the praise that is due
when the Matric examinations are conducted without a major incident,
they do not need to be told, for they live these experiences.
Last year, we made the observation that it was inexcusable that
text-books were not supplied within seven days of the beginning of
the school-term. Many areas did meet this target. However, many did
not. We hope that this year the planning and funding will be settled
earlier in the year. For, if this does not happen after the
pressured experiences of last year; if our administrations are
unable to carry out such a straight-forward project; then in the
coming year, ordinary citizens like myself, will feel justified in
calling, so to speak, for heads to roll!
Honourable Members and Delegates;
What this experience with text-books says to us is that capacity
cannot be built through ordinary motions of government as we know
it. I know Deputy President Thabo Mbeki has taken this issue to
heart: that is, how to restructure government with the prime
objective of fulfilling people-centred functions, rather than merely
observing self-serving and archaic rules.
Such is the challenge in dealing with the difficult areas of
crime and job-creation. On both these issues there is naturally
public impatience. So the question we need to ask is whether there
is a possibility of a strategic and visible break with the
perception of stagnation!
It is not my task, at this last sitting of Parliament, to set
out medium- and long-term programmes. But I feel more than confident
to say that on both counts - with regard to crime and job-creation -
there is hope.
What are the trends and concrete measures on crime?
The statistics show that there has been a reduction or
stabilisation in most serious crimes. Murder for instance has
declined by 10% since 1994. But the response is made that figures
are meaningless in the context of people's concrete experiences.
A myriad of laws have been passed to narrow the space for
criminals, the latest among these being legislation on crime
syndicates as well as minimum sentences and conditions on the
granting of bail. But the response is that not enough criminals are
being arrested and the quality of investigation is poor.
A detective academy has been set up, and the skills gathered
here are starting to be felt in dealing with crime syndicates. And
major steps have been taken to deploy police where they are needed
most. But the response is, where are the results!
All these responses arise from a failure to appreciate the fact
that turning the tide against crime cannot be achieved overnight.
There are also deliberate efforts to sensationalise and politicise
this issue. But we are the first to acknowledge that the impatience
and dissatisfaction among ordinary people are justified.
We can and shall break out of this bog. There is hope.
Examine the experience of the Johannesburg central precinct and
the Durban beach-front where communities and business-people have
joined with police and cut the crime rate, and you will know there
is hope. Ask the kingpins of cash-in-transit heists who are in C-max
and you will know there is hope. Ask the corrupt police who are
facing various charges, and you will know there is hope. Even though
the level of attacks is rather too high, assess the trends in
farming communities after the Summit on this issue and you will know
there is hope.
For this we salute the men and women in blue, the overwhelming
majority of them citizens of outstanding bravery and integrity; men
and women who daily put their lives on the line so that the nation
can enjoy security.
Above all, the establishment of the Office of the National
Director of Public Prosecutions and, along with it, the special
investigation unit, has already shown that a systematic approach to
major crimes - combining intelligence, professional investigations
and prosecutions - is bound to bear fruit. And in expressing our
appreciation to the intelligence services for their contribution in
this and other areas to guarantee our people's security, I wish to
join the public in saying: more can be done; and more must be done.
Questions have been asked whether we have got the balance right
between the rights of criminals and those of ordinary citizens. This
government is not about to join the chorus baying for the death
sentence or to reverse our human rights gains. Yet, in addition to
the measures we introduced regarding bail and mandatory sentences we
need to examine spaces that need tightening.
For instance, should interference with witnesses and murder of
police-men and women not attract very harsh mandatory sentences?
What about the form and content of evidence that should be given to
defence attorneys in bail applications? For it does not help for the
police to do their work and for the justice system to be efficient,
if criminals will subvert investigations and prosecution by violent
and foul means.
These are just some of the issues that need to be addressed,
along with, and I should underline, "along with" the plodding
industry on all fronts which will take many years, to bring crime
down to acceptable levels.
Let me also briefly reflect on recent developments in Cape Town.
Without presuming any organisation or individual guilty, there are
some obvious things that cannot be concealed.
Firstly, what started off expressly as a campaign against
gangsterism has now become a violent and murderous offensive against
ordinary citizens and law-enforcement agencies. Secondly, what is
portrayed as moral and god-inspired against oppression, exploitation
and imperialism, has assumed the form of terrorism to undercut Cape
Town's lifeline and destabilise a democratic government. Thirdly,
what is undertaken as an expression of militancy, could now very
easily provide cover for right-wing counter-revolution against the
new South Africa.
This campaign is rotten to the core; it is misguided; and its
attempts to invoke religion is blasphemous. What South African
indeed who owes loyalty to this country and this continent, would
engage in such callous deeds! What fighter against crime would
engage in a campaign that diverts resources of the police from
dealing with criminals!
I want to assure the people of Cape Town that we know who these
people are; we know who trains and backs them; and steadily we are
building water-tight cases against them that will ensure that they
stay in jail for a long, long time.
Let me reiterate: the battle against crime has been joined. And
we have no doubts at all about who the victors will be.
Madame Speaker;
There is hope too in the area of job-creation.
For a start, if economic growth last year and this year are less
encouraging, we are confident that this is an exception that
confirms an otherwise upward trend. Indeed, in this era of
volatility, what we need to ask ourselves is why South Africa did
not experience the kind of paralysing turbulence that was the lot of
most countries at our level of development.
The answer is that our fundamentals are robust. Local and
foreign fixed investments are on the rise, though not at the pace we
would prefer. Exports are increasing; and in some areas of
agriculture for instance, the increase has been by as much as
1,000%.
Steadily, our economy is becoming more competitive.
Telecommunications and tourism are growing at an impressive rate;
road construction and Spatial Development Initiatives are expanding
the economic base of regions that were ignored in the past; public
works programmes have created hundreds of thousands of jobs, though
some of them are temporary.
We have also taken impressive strides in the restructuring of
state assets. And let us remind ourselves that some of the successes
in the provision of services derive directly from this. We are
determined to continue with this programme; but to do it in a way
that is systematic and professional, and benefits the people as a
whole. This includes widening the base of ownership, among others,
through the National Empowerment Fund.
South Africa did not experience what others did because we have
credible and sustainable fiscal and monetary policies combining
discipline and flexibility. Despite the difficulties that we have
experienced, deriving from the global economy, we have resolved that
we shall not cut the social spending required to build a better life
for all, including the Poverty Relief Programme that now runs into
billions of rands.
While strict econometric models may require certain fractions
for a balance among indicators, we shall continue to discuss
realistic inflation targets and interest rates for a developing
country like ours.
We shall not divert from the course of discipline; nor shall we,
as we said last year, cut our noses in order to spite our faces.
Yet the public is within its rights to ask, if all is well, why
is the economy shedding jobs: is there hope?
Yes there is hope.
Many of the initiatives will take time to be felt in the lives
of ordinary people. But there are immediate things that can be done.
It was in recognition of this challenge, that representatives of
government, labour, business and communities came together last
October to work out a concrete programme of action around this
challenge of job-creation. And we emerged from there confident of
the future because we set out to build it together. Among the
decisions taken there, some of them unprecedented in any country,
are:
* Firstly, the proposal of the trade union movement to mobilise
all working people to dedicate one day's pay to the projects meant
to create jobs for our fellow citizens. And today I commit all
ministers and deputy ministers in my government to take part in this
initiative by contributing a day's gross salary. We hope that all
levels of government, including parliament as well as public and
private institutions will do the same.
* Secondly, the mobilisation by the business community of funds
which should run into more than R1-billion for special projects in
tourism and skills development. We can take tourism beyond the
impressive 8.2% of Gross Domestic Product that it has already
achieved, to create hundreds of thousands of jobs.
* Over the next few years, there will be a dramatic expansion of
the existing R5-billion government package of labour intensive
programmes such as Working for Water, Land Care, Municipal
Infrastructure and selected Welfare projects.
* One major project on housing has already started, where public
and private funds will be pooled to start a process that will speed
up housing delivery at the same time as it creates jobs.=20
* The Umsobomvu Trust, which will be worth over a billion rand,
and which is aimed at creating jobs, learnerships and business
opportunities among the youth is one among projects many of which
have been proposed by the youth themselves.
Together these major initiatives have the potential to change
the face of South Africa. And if we say there is hope, in so far as
job-creation is concerned, it is because we know that all the
partners have put shoulders to the wheel to ensure that we succeed.
In this context, we should reflect on our achievements regarding
the regulation of the labour market. I refer here to the Labour
Relations, Basic Conditions of Employment and Employment Equity Acts
among others. Liberation could not have meant otherwise to a working
class that was divided by racial laws and sections of which were
blocked by edict from advancing in the work-place.
We cannot retreat from this achievement in human rights. That
our trade union movement has initiated the kind of contribution to
job-creation that I referred to, is testimony to the responsibility
that goes with a sense of social belonging.
Notwithstanding these achievements, if indeed job-creation and
ending poverty are among our primary challenges, we must continually
evaluate how our labour market policies and the rate of private
investments, among others, facilitate the realisation of these
objectives. This we must do in order to ensure that we achieve our
common objectives.
This hope that we have about the future, Honourable Members and
Delegates, derives also from the knowledge that this government is
serious about utilising state structures for the benefit of the
people. And this applies not only to the national sphere.
If in the past, the profile of provincial government was
portrayed more in the mistakes they made; it is perhaps a reflection
of great improvement in their work, in the context of South Africa's
news content, that little is heard about most of them in the media.
We referred earlier to management of the Matric results, some
improvement in the supply of text-books, and the management of
social security grants. In addition to all this, shouldn't we all be
proud as South Africans that only two years after the introduction
of mass allocations of funds to provinces, we are able to achieve
fewer overdrafts and deficits! This is not merely a stroke of good
fortune. It is a result of hard work; and congratulations go to
these public representatives and administrations.
Last year, we spoke of the need to cut expenditure on personnel,
as part of reducing a bloated civil service and changing its
orientation. That commitment remains. The new civil service
regulations based on each individual's output, especially
management, rather than just observance of rules, should see to the
improvement of service to the public.
Much progress has been made towards comprehensive agreement on
re-deployment and retrenchment. Logically, this must be based on
assessment of public needs and on the very objective of governance.
But let us emphasise that, none of the parties in these negotiations
will or should be allowed to use these processes to delay decisive
action on this issue.
Within local government, there is steady progress in
regularising finances, in implementing poverty-based assistance, in
setting up mechanisms reduce the number of councils. And there is
now seldom need for national interventions to resolve unnecessary
conflict between these structures and traditional leaders.
But we must be honest and acknowledge that, in many respects,
this level of government has often played itself out as an Achilles
Heel of democratic governance. This is not for the lack of
structures and rules. Where this happens, it has more to do with the
behaviour and attitudes of cadres that all parties have deployed in
these structures. It is a matter of the survival of democracy, of
the confidence that people will have in the new system, that all of
us should pay particular attention to this issue. The public is
justified in demanding better service, more respect and greater
concern for their needs rather than self-aggrandisement.
Our hope for the future depends also on our resolution as a
nation in dealing with the scourge of corruption. Success will
require an acceptance that, in many respects, we are a sick society.
It is perfectly correct to assert that all this was spawned by
apartheid. No amount of self-induced amnesia will change this
reality of history.
But it is also a reality of the present that among the new
cadres in various levels of government, you find individuals who are
as corrupt as - if not more than - those they found in government.
When a leader in a Provincial Legislature siphons off resources
meant to fund service by legislators to the people; when employees
of a government institution set up to help empower those who were
excluded by apartheid defraud it for their own enrichment, then we
must admit that we are a sick society.
This problem manifests itself in all areas of life. More often
than not, it is business-people who launder funds to curry favour
with public servants; it is ordinary citizens who seek to buy
themselves out of trouble; it is strange religious leaders who sing
praises to criminals or hoard land acquired by the foul means of
apartheid. All of us must work together for our redemption.
Many mechanisms have been put in place or strengthened to
investigate and ensure proper punishment for these vile deeds: the
Public Protector, the Heath Commission, the Auditor-General, the
Office for Serious Economic Offences, to name but a few. Within
government, more resources are being provided to allow them to do
their work.
And very practical resolutions emerged from the Public Sector
Anti-corruption Summit held last November.
By the time we go to the National Summit in March, which will be
informed by the decisions of the Religious Morals Summit and the
Public Sector Conference, all sectors of society, including business
and the trade union movement, should have worked out concrete
proposals to take this matter forward in a visible and meaningful
way. It is commendable that the Public Service Bargaining Chamber
has this week agreed on drafting new disciplinary mechanisms to
facilitate dealing with cases of corruption, mismanagement and
incompetence. Our nation needs, as matter of urgency, what one
writer has called an "RDP of the Soul".
When we succeed in changing our own way of doing things, when we
make progress in transforming society at all levels, we shall not
only be improving our own quality of life. We shall also be laying
the basis for a future of hope for our children and grandchildren.
We know too well that, if there is a problem of unemployment, it
is the youth who bear the brunt of it. If there are high incidences
of crime, it is the youth who are misused as foot-soldiers and
consumers of illegal substances. If there is corruption and lack of
morality, it is they who suffer a warped upbringing. If we do not
rid ourselves of the culture of violence, it is the youth who will
be infected with it.
It is therefore encouraging that youth organisations have
started to play a more visible role in initiatives such as the Jobs
Summit and community service. We value the increasingly powerful
role they are starting to play in the critical campaign against
HIV/AIDS. They do have the capacity to make a special contribution
to breaking the silence which fuels this epidemic; as we shall all
be doing during the coming National Condom Week, when we focus on
prevention.
This leadership role by the youth reinforces my own hope in the
future of our country and our nation. And I wish to call on all the
youth of our country, in their millions, to recognise their civic
duty in all spheres of life, including taking part in exercising
their right to elect a government of their choice.
Madame Speaker;
I referred at the beginning to the letters written by a
notorious prisoner. In one of them, he said:
"I am disturbed, as many other South Africans no doubt are, by
the spectre of a South Africa split into two hostile camps: blacks
on one side... and whites on the other, slaughtering one another; by
acute tensions which are building up dangerously in practically
every sphere of our lives..."
As I said earlier, we have collectively managed the transition
in a commendable manner.
But it is matter of public record that elements of these
divisions remain. We slaughter one another in our words and
attitudes. We slaughter one another in the stereotypes and mistrust
that linger in our heads, and the words of hate we spew from our
lips. We slaughter one another in the responses that some of us give
to efforts aimed at bettering the lives of the poor. We slaughter
one another and our country by the manner in which we exaggerate its
weaknesses to the wider world, heroes of the gab who astound their
foreign associates by their self-flagellation. This must come to an
end. For, indeed, those who thrive on hatred destroy their own
capacity to make a positive contribution.
To the extent that the apprehensions about the meaning of
dmocracy relate to real fears about matters such as language and
culture, we are proud that progress is being made towards the
establishment of the Commission on these and other issues so that
all can feel secure as part of a united nation.
To the extent that some of the apprehensions are imagined or
based on opposition to change, to that extent we are convinced that
history will be the best teacher.
We hope though, especially as we go into the election campaign,
that real leaders will emerge who base their messages on hope rather
than fear; on the optimism of hard work rather than the pessimism of
arm-chair whining.
Dealing with these challenges also means accepting the facts of
our history. As I said when I received the TRC Interim Report last
October, the government accepts it with its imperfections. We
recognise that it is not a definitive or comprehensive history of
the period it was reviewing; neither was it a court of law. It was
an important contribution on the way to truth and reconciliation.
The critical act of reconciliation, to come back to the letters
I referred to earlier, is the dismantling of what remains of
apartheid practices and attitudes. Reconciliation, without this
major step, will be transient, the ode of false hope on the lips of
fools.
It will therefore be critical, that when we go into the detail
of the TRC report's recommendations in the coming period, we must
elaborate concrete plans about how together we can make practical
contributions. This applies particularly to reparations, not so much
to individuals, but to communities and the nation as a whole.
Let me reiterate that we shall all assist that process of
nation-building and reconciliation, reconstruction and development,
by protecting the institutions which guarantee the checks and
balances that make social and political aberrations impossible. Our
word of acknowledgement to the Human Rights Commission, the Gender
Commission and others for the sterling work they are doing to
strengthen democracy.
We should also underline that, while it is a matter of design
rather than accident, that our social programmes for the poor impact
most significantly on the lives of women, this is but a small
element in dealing with gender relations. Need we remind ourselves
that the greatest number of violent crimes that we have referred to
take place in the home and mostly against women! Need we remind
ourselves of the various forms of discrimination that still exist in
the work-place, schools, places of worship and other social
activity!
But we should also derive pride that, never in the history of
this country has any government done so much to improve the status
of women - black and white: and this, with their active
participation!
The institution of the independent judiciary has been throughout
these first years of our freedom been a fundamental pillar of our
democracy. And it continues to be.
It is matter of great pride that we have established a
dispensation in which no-one, not even the President, is above the
law. And for this, we owe thanks to the men and women of integrity
who serve in this institution.
Another pillar of our democracy is the Independent Electoral
Commission; and we respect it as we do all the others. Like all
other such bodies, it is being assisted in various ways in
accordance with the mission set out in the constitution, and what
the country can afford. I should indicate that, after rational
discussion, agreement was reached that the IEC should be allocated
more than R160-million in additional funds, in the coming budget
year, further to enable it to fulfil its functions. For the work
that it has done to register potential voters, the IEC deserves our
encouragement.
But it is you the citizen who has to come out voluntarily to
register and take part in South Africa's governance. We urge those
who have not registered to do so without delay. Democracy needs your
voice.
Because of the impediment placed before us by some of the
parties in this parliament, I am unable to formally announce the
election date. It is the insistence that we retain the option,
contained in the constitution, for Premiers to announce their own
election dates - and not any reluctance on the part of the President
- that this matter cannot be settled here and now.
I am however able to give the indication, after extensive
consultations, that we aim to select a day for our second national
election in the period between the 18th and 27th of May.
Honourable Members and Delegates;
If we dare ourselves to succeed in this endeavour, it is because
the benefit will be primarily ours. But there is a sense in which it
will be for all humanity, the majority of whom took part in efforts
to help us achieve our democracy.
Naturally, Southern Africa is our most critical point of
reference. As we progress towards social and economic integration in
the region, we are guided by the need to reverse the legacy of our
past in the form of a trade balance skewed in South Africa's favour.
The re-negotiation of the Southern African Customs Union and the
progress towards a SADC free trade area, slow as they may seem to
outside observers, are making progress along a path that is
meaningful and sustainable. Amongst the many concrete symbols of the
integrated reconstruction of our region is the progress towards the
establishment of a Southern African Electricity Power Pool
co-ordinated from Harare, which will also augment the region's power
from the rehabilitated Cahora Bassa project.
These firm steps towards integration are part of the renewal of
our continent, an African Renaissance campaign which is growing to
become a continental movement. Our celebration of the millennium
must reinforce this campaign and draw our artists, intellectuals and
journalists more actively into this enterprise. Sports events such
as the Africa Games in Greater Johannesburg this Spring, and the
African Cup of Nations in Zimbabwe next year, should form part of
this celebration of Africa's rebirth.
Fundamental to our success in generating this rebirth is to root
out the causes of conflicts which are ravaging parts of the
continent.
It is with great concern that we see Angola once more threatened
with all-out war. We do ask ourselves whether the time has not come
to draw basic lessons from this experience: to pose the question
whether the United Nations' approach has been what is required of a
situation in which one party rejects the results of a free and fair
election.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, we do welcome the
growing realisation that political inclusivity in transition is one
of the solutions required. There can be no winner in the military
contest; there can only be untold suffering to the African people.
Further afield, we remain hopeful that the protracted conflicts
and the terrible suffering of civilians in countries such as Sierra
Leone, Somalia and the Sudan will be brought to an end.
And looking beyond our continent, we join all humanity in
calling for a speedy resolution of the problems in the Middle East
and in East Timor.
If I may I would like to say a few brief words on Lesotho. There
is no doubt that SADC's collective initiative succeeded in creating
the space for this country's political leaders to find a peaceful
resolution of their differences; and we ought to take this
opportunity to congratulate the Botswana and South African Defence
Forces on their decisive contribution; and to pay tribute to those
who lost their lives.
We wish to assure members of our Defence Force that the nation
is behind them in their endeavours: be it in the fight against
crime, in peace-keeping operations or in their calm and professional
assistance to voter registration. We remain as committed as ever to
equip the Force in a manner that ensures its effectiveness and adds
value to the economy.
The building of our region and the renewal of our continent, to
which we have referred, in turn form part of the broader movement of
developing countries to eradicate poverty and overcome the
historical imbalances between North and South.
The successful Non-Aligned Movement Summit in Durban last year
has brought South Africa the opportunity to assist in asserting the
interests of the developing world on serious issues facing humanity.
Amongst the most pressing of these is the debt burden as well as
the need to bring under control the vast movements of capital which
wash across the globe without much social benefit, and with the
capacity to undo years of industrialisation where it is most
urgently needed.
The initiatives under discussion to manage these rampant effects
of globalisation, including unfair protectionist measures in some
industrialised countries, require the reform of Bretton Wood
institutions, and even more critically, the United Nations Security
Council, in conformity with the democratic ethos of our age. We are
encouraged that more and more nations are starting to recognise not
only the need for this, but its urgency as well.
We are proud as a country that over the last four-and-half
years, we have broadened our relations with developing countries of
Asia - now the second largest bloc with whom we trade - as well as
Latin America across the Atlantic. Our strategic location places us
well to act as a bridge linking these two important regions and the
African continent.
We scarcely need to add that this burgeoning of our links with
the countries of the South is not in opposition to the our relations
with Japan, the United States, Europe, including Russia, or the new
strategic partnership we are building with the People's Republic of
China. On the contrary, they serve to enlarge the possibilities for
truly equitable partnerships of mutual benefit to all our peoples.
For a country that not many years ago was the polecat of the
world, South Africa has truly undergone a revolution in its
relations with the international community. The doors of the world
have opened to South Africa, precisely because of our success in
achieving things that humanity as a whole holds dear.
Madame Speaker;
As we reflect on the years of transition and beginnings of
transformation, we have cause to draw inspiration from what South
Africans can do. We dare to hope for a brighter future, because we
are prepared to work for it. The steady progress of the past few
years has laid the foundation for greater achievements. But the
reality is that we can do much, much better.
In the discussions that I have had with Deputy President Mbeki,
we have posed to ourselves the question whether we should be
satisfied with steady progress. Is South Africa not capable of
breaking out of the current pace and moving much faster to a better
life?
As the Deputy President has often said, the policies we have
accord with the needs of the moment. There is no need to change
them. Yet the speed and style of implementing them can be improved.
There are a few ingredients to this that need further attention. To
elaborate on some of them:
The first ingredient is Partnership: If we examine the major
successes that have been made this year in addressing the most
serious problems we face, one factor stands out above all others:
and that is partnership among various sectors of society. The Jobs
Summit, the new AIDS Awareness Campaign, the summits on morality and
corruption, and the issue of security in the farming communities are
concrete examples from recent months. So too was last year's
successful Masakhane Focus Week. And it is in this spirit that we
shall on Freedom Day announce this year's winners of the President's
Award for Community Initiative.
These initiatives have resulted in major advances, as society
mobilises hand-in-hand with government, to tackle the issues head
on. As such, one of the launching pads to faster progress has to be
the mobilisation of South African society to act in unison on
critical issues facing the nation.
The second element is Discipline - the balance between freedom
and responsibility: Quite clearly, there is something wrong with a
society where freedom is interpreted to mean that teachers or
students get to school drunk; warders chase away management and
appoint their own friends to lead institutions; striking workers
resort to violence and destruction of property; business-people
lavish money in court cases simply to delay implementation of
legislation they do not like; and tax evasion turns individuals into
heroes of dinner-table talk.
Something drastic needs to be done about this. South African
society - in its schools and universities, in the work-place, in
sports, in professional work and all areas of social interaction -
needs to infuse itself with a measure of discipline, a work ethic
and responsibility for the actions we undertake.
Thirdly, and related to the above is the question of
reconstruction of the soul of the nation, "the RDP of the Soul": by
this we mean first and foremost respect for life; pride and
self-respect as South Africans rather than the notion that we can
thrive in senseless self-flagellation.
It means asserting our collective and individual identity as
Africans, committed to the rebirth of the continent; being
respectful of other citizens and honouring women and children of our
country who are exposed to all kinds of domestic violence and abuse.
It means building our schools into communities of learning and
improvement of character. It means mobilising one another, and not
merely waiting for government to clean our streets or for funding
allocations to plant trees and tend school-yards.
These are things that we need to embrace as a nation that is
nurturing its New Patriotism. They constitute an important
environment for bringing up future generations. They are about the
involvement of South Africans in building a better life.
Thus we shall take not just small steps, but giant leaps to a
bright future in a new millennium. As we confounded the prophets of
doom, we shall defy today's merchants of cynicism and despair. We
shall, as we said in those letters of ten years ago, fully dismantle
apartheid and achieve true reconciliation. Our hopes will become
reality.
The foundation has been laid - the building is in progress. With
a new generation of leaders and a people that rolls up its sleeves
in partnerships for change, we can and shall build the country of
our dreams!
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
COMMUNICATIONS
communi...@po.gov.za
Tel: (021) 464-2100; Fax: (021) 464-2229
Tel: (012) 319-1500; Fax: (012) 323-6080
@ COURT-STAGGIE
CAPE TOWN February 5 1999 Sapa
STAGGIE INQUEST: MEDIA TESTIMONY TO BE TAKEN ON REVIEW
The Cape Town High Court is to take on review the Cape Town
Magistrate's Court judgment ordering the media to comply with
subpoenas to testify at the Staggie inquest.
Unlike appeals, where the High Court either confirms or sets
aside a lower court judgment, the review proceedings deal with the
correctness or otherwise of lower court procedures.
The High Court is to be asked to rule whether the order issued
by the Magistrate's Court where the inquest was heard - that the
media furnish the necessary testimony or be summarily punished by
the inquest court itself for refusing - is correct.
Eduard Fagan, representing the media, undertook to treat the
High Court's proceedings as a matter of urgency, and the hearing
was postponed to March 1 for him to inform the court about the
progress.
The subpoenas were issued to the media after an inquest was
launched into the death of Hard Livings gang leader Rashaad
Staggie, who was beaten, shot and set alight by a mob in August
1996.
@ MANDELA-CORRUPTION
PARLIAMENT February 5 1999 Sapa
CORRUPTION AN INDICATION OF SICK SOCIETY: MANDELA
Corruption at all levels of government and in other areas of
life should compel South African society to admit it was sick and
needed to work together for redemption, President Nelson Mandela
said on Friday.
Delivering his state-of-the nation address at Parliament in
Cape Town, he said the new cadres in all levels of government
appeared to be even more corrupt than those of the previous regime.
Mandela referred to the siphoning off of resources by
provincial legislature leaders and the defrauding of services aimed
at empowering the formerly disadvantaged.
He said when these forms of corruption occurred, "then we must
admit we are a sick society".
Business-people who laundered funds to curry favour with public
servants were equally to blame.
Mandela said that although many mechanisms had been put in
place to investigate corruption and punish the culprits, there was
a need for concrete proposals on how to uproot this evil from
society.
These should be prepared for submission to the national
anti-corruption summit in March.
He said he recognised the agreement made earlier this week by
the Public Service Bargaining Chamber to draft new disciplinary
mechanisms to facilitate dealing with cases of corruption,
mismanagement and incompetence.
"Our nation needs, as matter of urgency, what one writer has
called an RDP of the soul," the president said.
@ TOLLGATES-DP
JOHANNESBURG February 5 1999 Sapa
TOLLGATES LOOMING ON N12, WARNS DP
Suggestions to convert the N12 highway from Johannesburg to
Witbank into a toll road to fund road repairs are cause for
concern, the Democratic Party said on Friday.
In response to questions by the DP about the deterioration of
the N12, the National Roads Agency said it was investigating toll
strategies for the N12 to facilitate its upgrading, a DP statement
released in Johannesburg said.
"It is not acceptable that national roads are funded by toll
fees whenever the government runs out of money. It is enough that
many highways are built and maintained through this method," DP
Benoni spokesman Malcolm Lennox said.
The government had a responsibility to maintain old roads
through petrol tax imposed on motorists and through a portion of
their personal income tax, he said.
Apart from the financial cost, he estimated that a toll road on
the N12 would add on 20 minutes' driving time during peak hours to
Johannesburg from the East Rand with present traffic volumes.
@ MANDELA-MBEKI
PARLIAMENT February 5 1999 Sapa
MANDELA TELLS SA WHAT TO EXPECT UNDER MBEKI
President Nelson Mandela on Friday set the tone for the
presidency of his successor, Thabo Mbeki, indicating that
government policy would remain the same, but its implementation and
delivery would be speeded up.
In his last state-of-the-nation address, Mandela said the
steady progress of the past few years had laid the foundation for
greater achievements.
"As the deputy president has said, the policies we have accord
with the needs of the moment. There is no need to change them. Yet
the speed and style of implementing them can be improved."
To achieve this would require partnership among various sectors
of society, discipline, and a reconstruction of the soul, Mandela
said.
One of the launching pads to faster progress had to be the
mobilisation of South African society to act in unison on critical
issues facing the nation.
Initiatives such as the jobs summit, the Aids awareness
campaign, the summits on morality and corruption, and the issue of
security in the farming communities, were concrete examples of
successful partnerships aimed at addressing problems.
"These initiative have resulted in major advances, as society
mobilises hand-in-hand with government, to tackle the issues head
on."
The second element that was necessary would be discipline, the
balance between freedom and responsibility, Mandela said.
"Quite clearly, there is something wrong with a society where
freedom is interpreted to mean that teachers or students get to
school drunk; warders chase away management and appoint their own
friends to lead institutions; striking workers resort to violence
and destruction of property; business people lavish money in court
cases simply to delay implementation of legislation they do not
like; and tax evasion turns individuals into heroes of dinner
table-talk."
Mandela said something drastic needed to be done.
South African society needed to infuse itself with a measure of
discipline, a work ethic and responsibility for actions taken.
Related to this was the question of the reconstruction of the
soul of the nation, which had been labelled the "RDP of the Soul"
"By this we mean first and foremost respect for life; pride and
self-respect as South Africans rather than the notion that we can
thrive in senseless self-flagellation."
Mandela said the foundation had been laid towards dismantling
apartheid and achieving true reconciliation.
"With a new generation of leaders and a people that rolls up
its sleeves in partnerships for change, we can and shall build the
country of our dreams."
@ CRIME STOP - FIGHT AGAINST CRIME
Issued by: South African Police Services
CRIME STOP ONCE AGAIN PROVES TO BE A
VALUABLE SUPPORT IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME
Crime Stop once again proved to be a very successful Community
Policing project during 1998. As a result of Crime Stop initiative
the SAPS recovered exhibits in excess of 44 million rand, more than
13 000 information pieces were investigated as a direct result of
information received via the 08 00 11 12 13 number and almost 1200
alleged offenders were arrested. During 1998 alone, 1064 stolen
vehicles were recovered.
The main purpose and function of Crime Stop office is to
encourage the public to contribute any piece of information which
can assist the South African Police Service in combating or in the
investigation of crime.
Over and above the function of receiving information Crime Stop
has two additional responsibilities ie: the Bureau of Missing
Persons Project and the Captain Crime Stop Project. These projects
are to generate intelligence regarding the mandate of Crime Stop.
Since the inception of the National Bureau for Missing Persons
in 1994 until December 1998, 9895 persons were reported missing at
the Bureau of which 6464 were found and returned to their families.
Prior to this, the success rate of locating missing persons was
negligible.
The public is requested to report missing persons to the nearest
police station immediately and to furnish us with a recent
photograph and as much detail as possible.
The concept of Crime Stop began as early as in 1976 in
ALBURQUEQUE, NEW MEXICO. Frustrated by a lack of clues, it was
decided by law enforcement authorities to recruit the assistance of
the public in the fight against crime. So successful was this effort
that it was expanded international with more than 1000 programmes
throughout the world internationally known as "CRIME STOPPERS".
The South African Police Service enlisted into this programme in
1992 and it has since proved to be a very successful community
policing project.
Crime Stop also experiences a lot of apathy from the public for
the following reasons:
* fear of retaliation;
* an attitude of passiveness; and
* reluctance to become involved.
It is also very unfortunate to mention that a major portion of
the telephone calls received at the office of Crime Stop did not
contribute to the fight against crime in any way but rather
consisted of the constant abuse of the Crime Stop interviewers and
enquiries which are not policing related.
These types of calls not only prevent real contributions from
reaching Crime Stop for genuine reasons but leads to frustration and
stress for the Crime Stop interviewers.
Crime Stop assures the public of total anonymity and offers
financial renumeration for information received.
The South African Police Service expresses its sincere gratitude
to the public for their co-operation without which a project of this
nature will certainly have not been a success. This project
demonstrates successful police/community relations.
The community is urged to utilise the Crime Stop facility in
order to make a significant contribution in the fight against crime.
Any person with information is to please contact CRIME STOP at
0800 11 12 13
For any further enquiries please contact Snr Supt Faizel Abdul-Kader
at 082 808 6438
@ MEDIA ADVISORY ON ISSUE OF ELECTION DATE
Issued by: Office of The President
In response to queries regarding the issue of the period in
which elections will be held, we wish to reiterate that the approach
remains as contained in the text of the President's Speech
distributed to the media. In other words, it remains the
government's intention, all thins being equal, to hold elections on
a date between the 18th and 27th of May.
However, given the discussions currently under way among legal
representatives of the various parties in the case being heard at
the Cape Town Supreme Court, the President decided not to expressly
pronounce on these putative dates in his Address.
However, the media are advised that the fact of this intention
can be made public.
5 February 1999
For further information contact:
Joel Netshitenzhe
082-900-0083
Parks Mankahlana
082-553-4569
@ OPENING-NAPWA
CAPE TOWN February 5 1999 Sapa
AIDS ACTIVISTS DEMONSTRATE AT PARLY OPENING
About thirty members of the National Association of People with
Aids (NAPWA) on Friday staged a peaceful demonstration on the steps
of St Mary's Catholic Cathedral in Cape Town to show their support
for people living with Aids.
The demonstration took place next to the route taken by
President Nelson Mandela's cavalcade on its way to the opening of
Parliament on Friday morning.
NAPWA regional co-ordinator Colwyn Poole said the aim of the
demonstration was to canvas support and to brimg to the attention
of MPs the condition of HIV and Aids sufferers.
He said studies showed that the anti-Aids drug AZT reduced the
likelihood of a mother passing the virus to her child from 30 to
between five and ten percent.
However, the government had refused to adopt an AZT programme.
"The argument that they can't afford it is full of loopholes,
because there have been many economic studies that show that it
would be cheaper than caring for the children who develop the
disease," Poole said.
He said his association had collected signatures on a petition
to hand to Health Minister Dr Nkosazana Zuma, calling for AZT to be
supplied to pregnant women.
The demonstrators wore white T-shirts printed with a photograph
of Gugu Dlamini, an Aids activist who was killed on December 20
last year after she publicly disclosed her HIV status.
After the cavalcade had passed the activists dispersed
peacefully.
@ NAMIBIA-CONGO
WINDHOEK February 5 1999 Sapa-AP
SPECIAL U.S. ENVOY WOLPE MEETS WITH NAMIBIAN PRESIDENT
WINDHOEK, Namibia (AP)- The U.S. special envoy to the Great
Lakes region said Friday he was hopeful the Congo war could be
halted because all sides agree the conflict can't be won.
Envoy Howard Wolpe has been engaged in the latest round of
mediation to halt the 6-month-old war. South Africa and Zambia also
have unsuccessfully sought to bring an end to the fighting.
Wolpe met with Namibian President Sam Nujoma and Foreign
Minister Theo- Ben Gurirab for 90 mintues on Friday. Wolpe
expressed U.S. support for a recent initiative in Windhoek to bring
the non-Congo parties together, he told reporters afterwards.
Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Chad are backing the government
of President Laurent Kabila, while Rwanda and Uganda - Great Lakes
countries - support the rebel coalition.
Wolpe said that though he believed there was still a lot of
distrust between the warring parties, this was slowly being
overcome.
The most encouraging development so far has been that none of
the countries involved believed a military solution was feasible,
he said.
"I have not talked to anyone who does not say - and I think
with conviction - that there is no military solution, that everyone
understands that there must be a political settlement of this
conflict," said Wolpe.
"Everyone is also committed to the view that it's important to
end the fighting, so that there can be enough space to commit to
that kind of political negotiation.
"Clearly, there is still a lot of distrust, suspicions on all
sides, but I think there has been an important line of
communications opened up and I think that a possibility does exist
that a way can be found to establish (a) ceasefire in the
not-too-distant future," he said.
Wolpe, appointed by President Clinton in 1996 as his Special
Envoy to the troubled Great Lakes area, has been travelling through
the region for the last two weeks to meet with all the parties to
the conflict.
Before coming to Windhoek, he had met with Kabila in Kinshasa,
the Congo capital, as well as the rebels and their Ugandan and
Rwandan backers in Kigali, Rwanda.
Wolpe will be flying to Angola, Uganda and Kenya to hold
similar talks over the next two weeks.
@ MANDELA-JOBS
PARLIAMENT February 5 1999 Sapa
MANDELA SAYS HE'S UPBEAT ABOUT JOB CREATION & ECONOMY
President Nelson Mandela on Friday countered criticism about
his government's inability to create jobs with an upbeat assessment
of the country's economy and its potential for job creation.
There was hope for an increase in employment because South
Africa's economy was becoming steadily more competitive, he said in
his state-of-the-nation address.
Although this year and last year's economic growth was less
encouraging, "we are confident that this is an exception that
confirms an otherwise upward tend".
South Africa, unlike other emerging markets, had not
experienced a paralysing turbulence, because its economic
fundamentals were robust.
Local and foreign investments were on the rise, exports were
increasing, and in some areas of agriculture the increase was by as
much as 1000 percent, Mandela said.
Telecommunications and tourism were growing at an impressive
rate, and road construction and spatial development initiatives
were expanding the economic base of regions that were previously
ignored.
Public works programmes had created hundreds-of-thousands of
jobs, even though some were temporary.
Government had also made impressive strides in the
restructuring of state assets, Mandela said. The government was
committed to continuing with this programme, but in a systematic
and professional way which benefited all.
South Africa had not experienced the full effects of the global
crisis, because it had credible and sustainable fiscal and monetary
policies, combining discipline and flexibility.
The government would continue to set realistic inflation
targets and interest rates for South Africa.
"We shall not divert from the course of discipline, nor shall
we - as we said last year - cut our noses in order to spite our
faces."
Mandela said the public had the right to question whether all
was well, why the economy was shedding jobs, and if there was hope.
"Yes, there is hope," he said, adding that many of the
initiatives would take time to be felt in the lives of ordinary
people.
Among these initiatives was the trade union movement's project
to mobilise all working people to dedicate one day's pay to job
creation projects.
Mandela announced that he, his cabinet and deputy ministers
would participate by contributing a day's gross salary.
"We hope that all levels of government, including parliament as
well as public and private institutions will do the same."
Other initiatives included the mobilisation of the business
community for funds which should see about R1 billion for special
projects in tourism and skills development. This had the potential
to create hundreds of jobs.
More jobs would also be created through the expansion of
government's existing R5 billion package of labour intensive
programmes such as working for water, land care, municipal
infrastructure and selected welfare projects.
A major project on housing had already started, where public
and private fund would be pooled to start a process that would
speed up housing delivery at the same time as it created jobs.
The Umsobomvu Trust, which would be worth over a billion rand,
was also aimed at job creation.
"Together, these major initiatives have the potential to change
the face of South Africa. And if we say there is hope, in so far as
job creation is concerned, it is because we know that all the
partners have put shoulders to the wheel to ensure that we
succeed."
@ HEATH-DEFENCE
PRETORIA February 5 1999 Sapa
HEATH UNIT TO PROBE MALADMINISTRATION IN DEFENCE DEPARTMENT
President Nelson Mandela on Friday instructed the Heath special
investigative unit to probe alleged maladministration in the
Department of Defence since January 1990.
According to a proclamation in the Government Gazette, the
alleged offences relate to the maintenance and repair of military
vehicles.
The Heath unit would also examine the loss of public money
because of the alleged transgressions.
It would investigate allegations including the unlawful,
unauthorised or irregular acquisition of spare parts, and the
contractual assignment of private businesses to do certain work.
Another claim was that officials or former members of the
department involved in the maintenance of military vehicles had
received irregular or unauthorised money or goods in exchange for
certain favours.
Also to be probed was the alleged failure of officials to sell
scrap metal timeously, which resulted in the loss of public money.
@ MANDELA-REAX
CAPE TOWN February 5 1999 Sapa
MANDELA'S SPEECH SLAMMED BY OPPOSITION
Seeing President Nelson Mandela take his first step towards
leaving the political and parliamentary scene was a historic
moment, New National Party leader Marthinus van Schalkwyk said on
Friday.
Speaking after Mandela's last opening of Parliament speech, Van
Schalkwyk said he had sympathy for him.
Mandela was the African National Congress' best weapon and
asset, and he had been "sent in" to gloss over its bad record in
government.
His speech should have been labelled "the speech of broken
promises".
Van Schalkwyk said Mandela conceded that the government had
failed with regard to crime, education, job creation and
corruption, and had then added that there would be no change in
policy.
This meant there were no action plans to address their failures
in government.
The speech had a "defensive tone", meaning that the ANC would
enter the election campaign from a weaker position, Van Schalkwyk
said.
Democratic Party leader Tony Leon said it had been unfair of
Mandela to blame opposition parties for his not being able to
announce the date of the elections during his speech.
Leon said Mandela could easily have announced his intention of
holding the elections on a specific date pending legislative
amendments.
The blame should be placed on him having received poor legal
advice on the issue.
Leon said he was disappointed Mandela had not given any
indication of concrete action to curb crime and create jobs, both
of which were of major concern.
Freedom Front leader Constand Viljoen said he had expected much
more from Mandela. He had failed to address the security fears of
Afrikaners, who felt disempowered and threatened.
There was little hope for improved economic growth and a more
positive approach to crime, and Mandela had failed to give any
specific reasons why South Africans could expect a better situation
in this regard, Viljoen said.
@ SWORN IN-NGUBANE
CAPE TOWN February 5 1999 Sapa
NGUBANE RETURNS AS ARTS MINISTER
Former KwaZulu-Natal premier Dr Ben Ngubane was on Friday sworn
in for the second time as arts, culture, science and technology
minister.
He has swapped offices with former arts, culture, science and
technology minister Lionel Mtshali, who earlier this week took over
as KwaZulu-Natal premier from Ngubane.
Ngubane has previously held the position of arts minister, but
left the post in 1996 to take up the KwaZulu-Natal premiership.
The swearing in took place at Tuynhuys in a ceremony conducted
by Judge Edwin King.
Another Inkatha Freedom Party member, Buyisiwe Maureen
Nzimande, was sworn in as deputy public works minister at the same
ceremony.
Nzimande's replaces Eileen Shandu, who was appointed education
MEC in KwaZulu-Natal.
President Nelson, his wife Graca, Deputy President Thabo Mbeki
and other Cabinet ministers welcomed Ngubane back into the national
government.
The ceremony was preceded by Mandela's state-of-the-nation
address to a joint sitting of the National Assembly, and a photo
opportunity on the steps of Tuynhuys.
@ MANDELA-ELECTIONS
PARLIAMENT February 5 1999 Sapa
SA TO VOTE TOWARDS END OF MAY
South Africans can expect to go to the polls between May 18 and
May 27, the president's office said on Friday.
Although President Nelson Mandela decided not to announce this
in his state-of-the-nation address, his office said elections would
be held on a date during this period.
A presidential aide said Mandela had received a call from
government lawyers shortly before delivering his speech, asking him
to postpone the announcement.
The lawyers are appearing in the Cape High Court, which is
hearing the New National Party's case against government on the
question of barcoded identity documents.
In a statement after the address, Mandela's office said: "It
remains the government's intention, all things being equal, to hold
elections on a date between the 18th and 27th of May".
"However, given the discussions currently under way among legal
representatives of the various parties in the case being heard at
the Cape Town Supreme Court, the president decided not to expressly
pronounce on these putative dates in his address."
In his speech, Mandela blamed "some parties" in Parliament for
his being unable to formally announce the election date.
"It is the insistence that we retain the option, contained in
the Constitution, for premiers to announce their own election dates
- and not any reluctance on the part of the president - that this
matter cannot be settled here and now."
Mandela also announced that the Independent Electoral
Commission would receive an additional R160 million in the coming
Budget to enable it to fulfil its functions.
"For the work that it has done to register potential voters,
the IEC deserves our encouragement."
He repeated calls for potential voters to register, and urged
the youth to recognise their civic duty in all spheres of life,
including taking part in exercising their right to elect a
government of their choice.
On the forthcoming election campaign, he said: "We hope that
real leaders will emerge, who base their messages on hope rather
than fear, on the optimism of hard work rather than the pessimism
of armchair whining."
@ MANDELA-ANGOLA
PARLIAMENT February 5 1999 Sapa
MANDELA QUESTIONS UN APPROACH TO ANGOLA
President Nelson Mandela on Friday questioned whether the
United Nations approach to Angola had been sufficient, and said
there were basic lessons to be learnt from the world body's
involvement in the Southern African country.
In his opening address to Parliament, Mandela said he was
greatly concerned that Angola was once more threatened with an
all-out war.
"We do ask ourselves whether the time has not come to draw
basic lessons from this experience; to pose the question whether
the United Nations' approach has been what is required of a
situation in which one party rejects the results of a free and fair
election."
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan last month recommended the
pullout of UN peacekeepers in Angola because of renewed fighting.
However, the Security Council wants him to find out whether the
Angolan government would agree to a small UN presence.
On the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mandela said he
welcomed the growing realisation that political inclusivity in
transition was one of the solutions required.
"There can be no winner in the military contest; there can only
be untold suffering to the African people."
@ DIPLOMAT-NNP
CAPE TOWN February 5 1999 Sapa
NNP CONDEMNS ATTACK ON CANADIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER
The attack on Canadian High Commissioner James Bartleman in his
hotel room in Sea Point early on Friday bordered on economic
suicide, the New National Party said.
"If Tuesday's murder of Daewoo president Yong Koo Kwon in
Johannesburg amounted to economic sabotage then this incident
surely borders on economic suicide," NNP spokeswoman Juli Kilian
said on Friday.
An intruder hit Bartleman, 60, with a stun device when he
answered a knock at the door of his room. His nose was broken. He
was treated at a Cape Town hospital before he flew back to
Johannesburg.
Bartleman was to have attended the opening of Parliament.
Kilian said the negative international publicity of these and
other acts of violence were harming the country's image abroad.
"It has a devastating effect on foreign investment in the
country, impacts negatively on the tourism industry, and leads to
job losses rather than job creation," Kilian said.
He said it was ironic that while President Nelson Mandela in
his opening address in Parliament brushed aside, and even accused
the media and opposition parties of sensationalising crime,
Bartleman had to recover from a violent criminal attack.
"The rampant crimewave is now fast reaching its peak and still
it seems as if the government continues turning a blind eye towards
the problem instead of taking every possible measure to eradicate
it."
The NNP called on the government to study the recommendations
contained in the NNP's "Blueprint Against Crime".
"If the government has the political will to tackle the crime
scourge, it will immediately implement the NNP's proposals of
harsher sentences, and the reintroduction of the death penalty for
serious crimes.
"Without tough action against crime the country's already
tarnished image will worsen and the flight of capital and skills
from the country will continue," Kilian said.
@ MANDELA-WIFE
PARLIAMENT February 5 1999 Sapa
`BEGGAR' MANDELA RAISES LAUGH
President Nelson Mandela had MPs rolling with laughter at the
opening of Parliament on Friday with a vision of himself as a
penniless geriatric, begging in order to support a new wife.
Announcing a four percent increase in old age pensions, the
80-year-old president said he was very excited about the extra
money.
"In Davos in Switzerland I told the plenary session (of last
week's World Economic Forum meeting) that in a few months I'll be
standing next to the road saying `Please help - unemployed, no
money, a new wife'," he said.
MPs and the public galley dissolved into roars of laughter.
A page further on in the speech, Mandela paused to take a sip
from the glass on the speaker's podium, and acknowledged with a
gesture the "cheers" that came from the New National Party benches.
Then he complained that since this was his final session of
Parliament he had hoped he would have been given "something a
little stronger than water".
Mandela faltered only once during the speech, a small cough
halfway through the hour-and-twenty-minute delivery, when he again
reached for the water.
"I urge you to remember the impressive performance I've made so
far," he said drily, to the delight of his audience.
The strongest response to his speech came in a section dealing
with the "misguided and blasphemous" terror campaign in the Western
Cape, when he was repeatedly applauded by the African National
Congress benches.
At the end of his speech, after his final message about
building "the country of our dreams", he concluded with a "Thank
you".
As MPs rose to their feet, and a wave of applause swept through
the chamber, he stepped carefully down from the podium and walked
slowly over to his desk.
There he remained standing as the applause gave way to a
stirring praise song from the ANC benches.
Members of the public who managed to secure a seat at the
opening were told on the back of their tickets that their admission
meant they could only observe the proceedings, and not involve
themselves in the business of the chamber "by means of loud
commentary, demostrations or unruly behaviour".
Ironically, the only unruly behaviour was from the cellphone of
ANC MP Adelaide Tambo, which began ringing a few minutes after the
president began speaking.
She managed to shut it up, but it fought back with an
electronic version of "Fur Elise". In desperation, she handed it to
fellow MP Ben Turok, who was also unsuccessful.
As the ringing continued, labour portfolio committee chairman
Godfrey Oliphant reached for the phone with an air of authority; it
defeated him and a benchmate, and got dumped back on Bunting.
The instrument was eventually stilled by a fifth MP in the
backmost benches, and returned to Tambo, who shut it firmly in her
handbag.
@ MANDELA-BAC
JOHANNESBURG February 5 1999 Sapa
BUSINESS AGAINST CRIME WELCOMES MANDELA'S MESSAGE ON CRIMINALS
It was encouraging that President Nelson Mandela acknowledged
an unjust balance in the rights of criminals over those of ordinary
citizens, said Gauteng's branch of Business Against Crime on
Friday.
Following Mandela's speech at the opening of Parliament on
Friday regarding the progress in the fight against crime, it said
it would support his call that more can and should be done by South
Africans.
Mandela's recognition that in this context the tide would not
turn overnight reinforced the integrity of his repeated message
that there is hope, Business Against Crime spokesman Llewellyn
Kriel said.
Kriel said the president's claim that the government was
committed to closing gaps used by criminals to escape the justice
system was also encouraging.
He endorsed Mandela's call for the country's moral regeneration
and his recognition that businesses were central to the growth of
South African society and to the fight against crime.
@ TRC DENIED IFP MEMBER AMNESTY
Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
5 February 1999
The Amnesty Committee of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
today refused amnesty to a member of the Inkatha Freedom party
(IFP); bringing to two the number of IFP members to be denied
amnesty at the Committee's hearing in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga this
week.
Solomon Mtambo, currently serving twelve years imprisonment, was
seeking amnesty for the murder of Mshengu Phungwayo, a prominent
member of the African National Congress at Kwadela, Davel,
Mpumalanga in May 1993. The Committee earlier this week turned down
a bid by another IFP member, Anthony Ndlangamandla, also seeking
amnesty for murder.
In both men's testimonies the Committee found that: "...they
were fraught with numerous inconsistencies and contradictions. It is
clear to us that these are aimed at establishing a political context
to support their (respective) assertions that their acts were
associated with a political objective".
Inquiries: Vuyani Green 082 452 7858
@ ONDERSTEPOORT-HANEKOM
CAPE TOWN February 5 1999 Sapa
ONDERSTEPOORT TO BE PRIVATISED
Cabinet had given the greenlight for the privatisation of the
department of agriculture's veterinary laboratories at
Onderstepoort, Agriculture Minister Derek Hanekom said on Friday.
Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP), situated near
Pretoria, is the manufacturer and supplier of strategic animal
vaccines.
"This is the first step towards enabling us to bring in equity
partners which will give OBP access to international expertise and
a much needed capital injection," Hanekom said in a statement.
However, the state would remain a shareholder in OBP in order
to guarantee the continued production of the vaccines.
Hanekom assured farmers that the transformation of OBP would
improve service rendered to them over the years, and that the
company would continue to ensure a reliable supply of high-quality
vaccines.
@ MBULI-CHIKANE
CAPE TOWN February 5 1999 Sapa
MBULI TOLD ME ABOUT DRUG CLAIMS: CHIKANE
The director-general in Deputy President Thabo Mbeki's office,
Frank Chikane, confirmed on Friday that detained ""people's poet"
Mzwakhe Mbuli told him that he believed he was arrested on armed
robbery charges because he had information that could implicate top
South African leaders in drug smuggling.
The allegations were passed on during a pastoral visit by
Chikane to the Moot police cells in Pretoria.
Chikane has also been Mbuli's pastor at the Apostolic Faith
Mission church in Naledi, Soweto.
He said he told Mbuli during that visit nothing could be done
about his claims and that there was not sufficient evidence to take
the matter further.
"He (Mbuli)...in trying to explain why he was arrested... said
that he believed this was related to the information he had about
some leaders who are involved in drug dealing," Chikane said in
Cape Town.
Mbuli was arrested nearly two years ago on armed robbery
charges related to a First National Bank robbery in Waverley,
Pretoria.
He told the Pretoria High Court on Thursday that he had
informed Chikane about the alleged involvement of some leaders in
drug dealings.
"Of course I said to him unless he (Mbuli) had information that
was very concrete, it would be difficult for anybody to do anything
about it," Chikane said, adding that "it ended there...we didn't
take it (the discussion about alleged drug dealer leaders)
further".
Chikane said he thought it would not be useful to listen to a
detained person who claimed he had been framed. Mbuli could not
provide sufficient evidence to take the matter any further, Chikane
added.
@ MANDELA-AHI
PRETORIA February 5 1999 Sapa
AHI LAUDS MANDELA FOR NOT SHYING AWAY FROM PROBLEMS
The Afrikaans business community on Friday lauded President
Nelson Mandela for not shying away from South Africa's problems in
his opening of Parliament speech earlier in the day.
"We welcome the president's courage to not only focus on the
government's achievements... but also to point out current problems
such as corruption, joblessness," the Afrikaanse Handelsinstituut
said in a statement in Pretoria.
AHI president Jacob de Villiers expressed support for Mandela's
focus on discipline, a proper work ethic, and the responsibility of
the individual to create a better future for the country.
Major challenges lay ahead to achieve economic growth and to
alleviate poverty in the long term, De Villiers said.
"We refer to factors such as low saving rates and South
Africa's inability to attract sufficient foreign investment. The
AHI will continue to work together in partnership to accept these
challenges."
De Villiers also saluted Mandela for what he described as the
president's contribution to stability in the country over the past
five years.
@ DIPLOMAT-FF
CAPE TOWN February 5 1999 Sapa
FREEDOM FRONT CONDEMNS ATTACK ON CANADIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER
The attack on Canadian High Commissioner James Bartleman,
shortly after the murder of Daewoo South Africa's boss, made a
mockery of President Nelson Mandela's statement that there was hope
to combat crime in South Africa, the Freedom Front said on Friday.
Bartleman, 60, who was in Cape Town to attend the opening of
Parliament, answered a knock at the door of his Sea Point hotel
early on Friday and was attacked by a man with a stun device. The
intruder kicked and beat Bartleman and fled with R1000.
Bartleman flew back to Johannesburg after being treated in a
Cape Town hospital.
"This attack further damages South Africa's image in the eyes
of international investors," Constand Viljoen said.
"South Africa urgently needs foreign investment and cannot
afford this negative publicity."
Viljoen said the African National Congress government must be
held responsible for the attack on Bartleman and other crime in
South Africa, as it was their primary responsibility to safeguard
foreign visitors and South Africans through effective crime
combating methods.
@ TORNADO-PROCLAMATION
PRETORIA February 5 1999 Sapa
GOVERNMENT DECLARES EASTERN CAPE TORNADO A DISASTER
The tornado that hit the Eastern Cape districts of Mount Ayliff
and Ntabankulu last month was declared a disaster on Friday.
A presidential proclamation to this effect in the Government
Gazette opens the way for residents in the area to get direct relief
from the government.
More than 20 people died and about 370 were injured when a
tornado wreaked havoc in the Mount Ayliff, Ntabankulu and surrounding
areas on January 18. Several buildings were extensively damaged.
A spokesman for the Department of Welfare said the main focus
of relief would be on residents who had not been insured against
damage.
"They can now apply for government assistance to rebuild their
houses, and to replace basic household items, furniture and
clothing."
The state could also be asked to help cover medical expenses
incurred because of the tornado.
Applications, to be assessed by local committees and welfare
officials, would be processed within six months, the spokesman said.
The money would come from the Disaster Relief Fund being
administered by the Department of Welfare.
@ KATHRADA VISIT MBULI IN PRISON
Issued by: Office of the President
I wish to confirm that I visited Mr. Mzwakhe Mbuli on 20th
January 1999, in Pretoria Local Prison.
I informed the Prison official who granted the visit that I was
visiting Mr. Mbuli in my personal capacity, and not on behalf of the
ANC, or the Government. I was seeing him as an ex-prisoner myself to
express my admiration and appreciation for his work while we were in
prison and after our release. I repeated this to Mr. Mbuli in the
presence of the prison officer, who remained with us for the entire
duration of the visit. At no stage did Mr. Mbuli's case come up for
discussion.
Because this was a personal visit I did not find it necessary to
inform the President before or after the visit.
For further enquiries, please contact
Olive Oliver (021) 464 2122
@ NORTHWEST-FRAUD
MAFIKING February 5 1999 Sapa
NORTH-WEST WELCOMES IMPRISONMENT OF JAMAICAN FRAUDSTER
The North-West government on Friday welcomed the imprisonment
this week of Jamaican-born Norman Escofferey, who was linked to
fraud, corruption and theft involving R15,5 million from the
province's department of agriculture.
Escofferey was sentenced in Pretoria on Wednesday to 44 years'
imprisonment, of which he will serve an effective nine years. He
was convicted on 65 charges of fraud, theft, reckless management of
a company as well as contraventions of the Aliens Control Act.
"We welcome the court decision on this matter and we wish to
congratulate the judicial system," said Smuts Matshe, a spokesman
for North-West premier Popo Molefe.
"This case serves as a reflection of the commitment of the
North-West government to uproot corruption in the public service,"
Matshe said in a statement.
The Office of Public Prosecutions in Pretoria said it was
considering fraud and corruption charges against Rocky
Malebane-Metsing, who was the North-West MEC for agriculture in
1994 at the time Escofferey was involved in fraudulent activities
in the province.
"In principle we have decided to pursue a case against
Malebane-Metsing but given the length of time, we are not sure if
all the witnesses are available and we are waiting for the police
to get back to us," Pieter Luyt in the office of public
prosecutions said.
@ MANDELA-UDM
CAPE TOWN February 5 1999 Sapa
MANDELA UNDERSTANDS GRAVITY OF CRIME: UDM
It was clear that President Nelson Mandela understood the
gravity of crime and unemployment, United Democratic Movement
vice-president Roelf Meyer said on Friday.
Commenting on Mandela's opening of Parliament speech, Meyer
said Mandela had in fact acknowledged shortcomings in government
policy on both these issues.
However, Meyer said he was left with the impression that the
government was not offering the bold and decisive measures South
Africans were yearning for.
Mandela had been equally vague on job creation.
"From what was said, or more importantly, from what was not
said, I think it is fair to say that if South Africans want more of
the same when it comes to a crime policy and an unemployment policy
they only need to vote for the African National Congress," he said.
@ MANDELA-PAC
CAPE TOWN February 5 1999 Sapa
MANDELA'S SPEECH VAGUE: PAC
President Nelson Mandela's opening of Parliament address was
both defensive and vague on important national issues, Pan
Africanist Congress leader Dr Stanley Magoba said on Friday.
The African National Congress had no clear stategy to deal with
the crime wave and the government was not serious about the working
conditions and remuneration of employees in the criminal justice
system.
"The result is a demotivated body of employees and thus the
inability to deal with the escalating crime wave," he said.
In addition, the growth, employment and redistribution strategy
had failed and would continue to fail. Yet Mandela did not refer to
it at all, Magoba said.
@ TRUTH-MPUMA
NELSPRUIT February 5 1999 Sapa
IFP HITMAN IMPLICATES SENIOR PARTY MEMBERS IN AMNESTY HEARING
A self-confessed Inkatha Freedom Party hitsquad member demanded
amnesty on Thursday night after denying he had killed an opposition
politician six years ago, African Eye News Service reported on
Friday.
Mondli Wiseman Ngxongo, 32, told the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission's amnesty committee in Nelspruit that he had helped
plan assassinations. He said he smuggled weapons for the IFP, but
never killed anyone.
Ngxongo is serving a 10-year jail term at Westville Prison for
the 1993 murder of Bushbuckridge businessman Jappie Theledi.
His accomplice and triggerman, Romeo Mbuso Mbambo, is serving a
similar sentence for shooting Theledi in his supermarket on June
13.
Mbambo was a policeman at that time of the shooting. He shot
Theledi in front of seven witnesses before fleeing with Ngxongo.
Ngxongo told the amnesty committee a senior Umlazi IFP member,
a Mrs Mbuyase, ordered the assassination and sent the two-man team
to a Nelspruit police station to meet guide Willy Mokoena.
Mokoena, also a Bushbuckridge businessman, took the two men to
his hotel and then helped them observe Theledi's supermarket.
"We walked into the supermarket and cornered Theledi near some
shelves where Mambo executed him with a 9mm pistol while I stood
guard. We then fled in a minibus van and we were not chased," said
Ngxongo.
The hitmen and Mokoena then stopped at Mambo's police station
in Esikhawini in KwaZulu-Natal, where they phoned colleagues in
Mpumalanga to check that Theledi had died.
"After making sure that he was dead, we then phoned Mbuyase and
reported that our mission was successful," said Ngxongo.
Ngxongo conceded he had not previously mentioned the role of
senior IFP members in the incident, but said he had protected them
out of loyalty until recently when they stopped visiting him in
prison.
@ MBULI-KATHRADA
JOHANNESBURG February 5 1999 Sapa
KATHRADA CONFIRMS VISITING MBULI IN PRISON
President Nelson Mandela's parliamentary counsellor, Ahmed
Kathrada, confirmed on Friday that he had visited "People's Poet"
Mzwakhe Mbuli, who is facing charges of armed robbery, in the
20 this year.
"I was seeing him as an ex-prisoner myself to express my
admiration and appreciation for his work while we were in prison
and after our release," said Kathrada in a statement.
He emphasised that the visit was not on behalf of the African
National Congress, but a personal one.
As a result, he did not see it necessary to inform Mandela
about it.
@ PHOLAPARK-ANC
JOHANNESBURG February 5 1999 Sapa
DISPLACED PHOLA PARK/GREENFIELD FAMILIES RETURN BACK HOME
Saturday will see the return of about 147 families who fled
their homes in the East Rand townships of Phola Park and Greenfield
following violent clashes between United Democratic Movement and
African National Congress supporters three years ago.
ANC deputy regional secretary Mbongeni Radebe in a statement
said this followed a peace deal brokered by his organisation.
The conflict appeared to be a clash between two Transkei clans
when it started, but manifested itself into ANC/UDM clash when the
latter was formed. It claimed 100 lives.
Radebe said the return of the displaced people would be
monitored by the SA National Defence Force and the police.
@ COURT-N/L-BARCODE
CAPE TOWN February 5 1999 Sapa
ELECTION PROCESS COMPROMISED, NNP TELLS COURT
The election process would be compromised and the spirit of the
Constitution breached by the inability of the department of home
affairs to deal with the projected number of applications for
bar-coded IDs it could receive, the New National Party told the
Cape High Court on Friday.
Even if 25 percent of potential voters were apathetic, the rate
at which applications needed to be processed would have to be
increased from 25000 a day
- a figure which Home Affairs Minister Mangosuthu Buthelezi has
said the
department could handle - to 150,000 a day between now and the
department's March 7 registration cut-off date, NNP legal team head
Advocate Fef le Roux, SC, said.
The NNP is contesting the constitutionality of the bar code
requirement, as well as what it claims is interference with the
autonomy of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
Le Roux said the Constitution stated that the IEC had to be
clearly independent.
"Its independence is at least as important in the
constitutional context as that of the judiciary."
Yet it appeared from correspondence that the home affairs
department considered the IEC as having a line function to it, Le
Roux said.
Asked by Judge President Edwin King what exactly the NNP was
asking the court for, Le Roux said it was asking for it to decide
whether the government's conduct was constitutional or not.
"We shouldn't pay lip service to the Constitution."
It would then be up to the executive and legislative branches
of government to take appropriate action.
"We're dealing with the right of ordinary people to demand
compliance with the Constitution," Le Roux said.
Earlier, he told the court the number of potential voters was
estimated at between 25 million and 26 million.
At the start of the hearing on Friday, Advocate Jeremy
Gauntlett, SC, appearing for the IEC, said 13763 million people had
registered by the end of the second round of registration last
weekend.
The case, which has been set down for three days, is being
heard by a full Bench, comprising Judge President King, Deputy
Judge President John Hlope and Judge Deon van Zyl.
It continues on Monday.
@ COURT-KRUGEL
PRETORIA February 5 1999 Sapa
FORMER INTELLIGENCE SPY, KRUGEL, DENIED BAIL
Former Centurion restaurant owner and intelligence operative
Schalk Willem Krugel was denied bail by the Pretoria Regional court
on Friday.
Krugel, 35, who still works for national intelligence and who
is a former employee of paramilitary organisation, Executive
Outcomes, is facing charges of conspiring to murder Fanie Pelser,
Andrew Sweetnam and Namibian advocate Jan Malan in Angola in 1996.
His trial will resume in the Pretoria High Court on May 10.
The three murder victims were allegedly lured first to Namibia
and thereafter to Angola under the pretence that they would be able
to buy diamonds cheaper from generals serving with the Angolan
rebel movement UNITA.
They were shot dead and buried in previously prepared graves
next to a river in Angola with the help of a UNITA officer.
Magistrate Marlene Greyvenstein said it would not be in the
interests of justice to grant bail to Krugel - a man with contacts
in the Russian Mafia, Korean crime syndicates and various drug and
car theft syndicates.
She added that there was a strong possibility that he would
evade his trial or attempt to do so and that he would endanger or
intimidate state witnesses.
The state alleges that Krugel committed the murders with the
help of Tom Saunders, who is believed to have turned state witness.
@ COURT-MBULI
PRETORIA February 5 1999 Sapa
MBULI'S TRIAL POSTPONED TO MARCH 19 WHEN WINNIE WILL TESTIFY
The armed robbery trial of People's Poet Mzwakhe Mbuli and two
co-accused was on Friday postponed to March 19 when African
National Congress Women's League president Winnie
Madikizela-Mandela is expected to testify.
Ben Bredenkamp, for Mbuli, told the Pretoria Regional Court he
would be calling one or two more witnesses. He said one of the
witnesses was not available on Friday as she was in Parliament.
It is believed Bredenkamp was referring to Madikizela-Mandela,
who earlier this week told reporters outside the court Mbuli had
been to see her to ask for protection two days before his arrest.
Mbuli testified earlier that he told Madikizela-Mandela about
sensitive information he had about a South African leader being
involved in drug trafficking.
He told the court on Thursday he had also been to see former
Gauteng safety and security MEC Jessie Duarte about the
allegations, but that she referred him to President Nelson Mandela.
Mbuli, Happy Shikwambane and Ben Masiso were arrested on
October 28, 1997 in connection with a robbery at the First National
Bank in Waverley, Pretoria in which R15000 was stolen.
Shikwambane on Friday told the court he and Masiso were not
involved in an attempt to frame Mbuli. They went to Pretoria on the
day of their arrest to meet a David Dlamini, who claimed to have
information about an earlier attempt on Mbuli's life.
He said Dlamini spoke to Masiso shortly after they parked
Mbuli's car at a garage in Waverley. Dlamini also passed a bag
through the car window to Shikwambane, saying it contained the
information. Dlamini fled and has since not been seen.
Shikwambane denied he, Mbuli and Masiso were involved in the
robbery or that he was in possession of an unlicensed firearm at
the time of his arrest.
He also denied there was a handgrenade in Mbuli's car and that
they were in possession of the stolen money. He said he thought
there were documents and photographs in the bag related to the
assassination attempt.
@ STAGGIE-FXI
JOHANNESBURG February 5 1999 Sapa
FXI CRITICISES RULING WHICH VALIDATES STAGGIE SUBPOENAS
The Freedom of Expression Institute on Friday criticised a
ruling which validated subpoenaes compelling the media to disclose
information regarding the inquest for murdered Cape gang leader
Rashaad Staggie.
The FXI in Johannesburg said despite arguments from various
media institutions regarding protection of sources, the Cape
Regional Court magistrate had ruled the subpoenaes were valid and
the media were forced to comply with them.
The FXI understood the parties involved might take the matter
on review to the High Court.
But, it was worrying that despite recognition of freedom of the
press in the constitution, the international recognition of the
need to protect sources and the development of the common law
towards protection of sources by extending the meaning of a "just
excuse" to include an excuse based on freedom of the press,
journalists were still vulnerable under South African law.
The FXI said should the media fail to comply with the
subpoenaes they could face - in terms of the Criminal Procedures
Act - heavy penalties. The FXI would continue to monitor the
progress in the Staggie inquest, including the taking of the
current decision to the High Court for review.
@ SPEECH BY MANDELA AT DIPLOMATIC CORPS BANQUET
Issued by: Office of the President
5 February 1999
Minister NZO;
Deputy Minister Pahad;
Dean of the Diplomatic Corps;
Your Excellencies Heads of Foreign Missions;
Distinguished Guests,
As we remarked this morning in Parliament, the time for
farewells is yet to come. There is much work still to do before we
can shake hands and finally relieve public life of the burden of
having to put up with an octogenarian.
We do also wish to avoid setting off a train of farewell
functions. That could mean that we do no work between now and our
actual retirement. And then we would lose any credibility we may
have left, because people tend to remember you for what happened in
the last part of your life.
This is, however, probably my last opportunity to meet with such
an assembly of the heads of foreign missions in our country. It was
my great honour to receive each of your with the presentation of
credentials.
We also developed the practice of according a farewell audience
to departing diplomats, where schedules allowed it. The pressures of
the the few months remaining will probably make this practice
impossible - hence my special pleasure at this opportunity to pay
collective respects to those who have served this country so well,
by promoting bilateral relations between their respective countries
and ours.
One very evident difference between democratic South Africa and
its apartheid predecessor is the enormous expansion in our
international relations.
It was because we understood the depth of the international
community's commitment to justice, and the strength of its wish that
we should succeed in rebuilding our society, that we could say at
our inauguration: "Never, never and never again, shall it be that
this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by
another, and suffer the indignity of being the skunk of the world."
It is a mater of great pride that our Constitution enshrines the
negotiated expression of the will of all the people of this land. It
therefore ensures that the law protects all our people against abuse
of power, against the indignity of discrimination and against
oppression of one citizen by another.
The Constitution of which we are all proud, whatever our
political differences, is guarded over by independent bodies and
protected by entrenched clauses which cannot be changed at the whim
of any party.
The Constitution and the culture of respect and tolerance which
it embodies, are amongst the reasons, we do know, that South Africa
is today a respected and respectable member of the community of
nations. Your presence in our country, and at this function, bears
witness to that.
We are aware that sometimes ambassadors even get into trouble
with their capitals for presenting South Africa's case so well that
doubts grow as to whether they are the ambassadors of their own
country or of their hosts. We owe your, our visitors who have become
such loyal advocates, a great debt of gratitude.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank your governments
and peoples for having supported the struggle to end the nightmare
of apartheid and for helping us to usher in the ear of a free and
democratic South Africa.
We thank you for now engaging with us, as partners, in the
arduous task of building a new and united nation, by overcoming the
legacy of the past and creating a more equitable society that meets
the basic needs of all our people and that promotes sustainable
development in our own country as well as the African continent.
We have achieved much since 1994. Of course, the task of
reconstruction and development is not over and most of us would have
liked to make more progress by now in bettering the lives of our
people. We inherited not only the social deprivation of millions but
social structures designed to perpetuate the old order and attitudes
nurtured by minority power and privilege. It is when the mammoth
task of transformation is seen in this broader view that a realistic
assessment can be made as to what has been achieved and what remains
to be done.
I will not dwell on this subject but I do need to say to each
and every diplomatic representative this evening that whilst our
achievements - like our hope for the future - would not be possible
without the patience, sacrifice, commitment and determination of all
our people, our task has been made easier because we have been
blessed and sustained by the goodwill and support of our sub-region,
our continent and the global community. For this we are very
grateful to you all.
We have also tried, in our international relations, to be a good
and responsible citizen of the world, giving high priority to
promoting democracy and human rights, sustainable development and
peace in the world. At times we have faced very high expectations
and we have tried to respond to them as major challenges and
opportunities, rather than burdens to be avoided. Naturally we have
not ben able to meet all the expectations, but that has not been due
to any lack of political will.
I have noticed, recently, that serveral of the new 1994 High
Commissioners and Ambassadors have completed their tour of duty ad
left whilst others are in the process of preparing to leave, just as
I too prepare to leave office.
As I look around I am conscious that we ahve not only developed
relations with states but also with unique human beings. It is as
individual and special friends of a democratic South Africa that I
also wish to thank you all personally, for your friendship, which we
know will be a lasting one.
I will now conclude so that we can all enjoy the rest of the
evening.
I thank you.
@ DIPLOMAT-NZO
SOMERSET WEST February 5 1999 Sapa
GOVT DISMAYED AT BARTLEMAN'S ATTACK: NZO
The government was shocked and dismayed at the attack on
Canadian High Commissioner James Bartleman and would do everything
possible to stop these attacks, Foreign Affairs Minister Alfred Nzo
said on Friday evening.
Speaking at a banquet for ambassadors and high commissioners
who attended the opening of Parliament, he said the government
remained committed to ensuring the safety of the diplomatic
community.
Bartleman suffered a broken nose when he was attacked with a
stun device on answering a knock at his Sea Point hotel room early
on Friday.
Turning to South Africa, Nzo said his government was pleased
with the co- operation and support it had received from
representatives of various countries, more particularly since the
1994 election.
The government was aware of the changing environment,
particularly before the next millenium, hence the meeting of the
country's heads of foreign missions earlier in January to
critically assess the activities of the department.
"We remain convinced that the principles of foreign policy
remain unchanged
"This in essence means that our foreign policy is firmly
anchored in reflecting and promoting our democratic priorities,"
Nzo said.
To successfully realise its priorities, the South African
government was convinced that peace and stability was critical in
the region.
"We will relentlesly continue to persue these objectives with
our partners".
Nzo also paid tribute to President Nelson Mandela, who will be
stepping down after the 1999 election.
He said generations to come would marvel at the impact Mandela
had in promoting the cause of South Africa internationally.
Nzo also announced that not less than seven world leaders were
expected to visit the country in the next few days.
@ MANDELA-FOREIGN
SOMERSET WEST February 5 1999 Sapa
GOVERNMENT WILL HUNT DOWN DIPLOMATS' ATTACKERS:
The government regretted the attack on Canadian High
Commissioner to South Africa, James Bartelman, as well as other
diplomats and would do everything possible to hunt down the
perpetrators, President Nelson Mandela said on Friday night.
Bartelman was hit with a stun device and robbed of R1000 when
he answered a knock at the door of his Sea Point hotel early on
Friday. He was treated for a fracture to his nose.
"We send our sympathies to Mr Bartelman and we also want to
assure the diplomatic community that everything possible will be
done to assure their safety in South Africa," Mandela said at a
banquet for the diplomatic community held in Somerset West.
He paid tribute to representatives of foreign countries for
their contribution to the struggle against apartheid and sustaining
democracy.
He said he was aware that sometimes some ambassadors got into
trouble with their governments for presenting South Africa's case
so well.
"We owe you, our visitors who have become such loyal advocates,
a great debt of gratitude," Mandela said.
@ ADDRESS BY MINISTER NZO TO DIPLOMATIC CORPS
Issued by: The Department of Foreign Affairs
CHARLES HOTEL: 5 FEBRUARY 1999
Dear Friends
Welcome again to what has now become a traditional occasion for
the diplomatic family in South Africa. It is always been a great
pleasure for me and my Department to host you on the day of the
opening of our National Assembly each year.
Tonight it is particularly gratifying for me to welcome our
President, who has made a special effort to be with us. Mr
President thank you. I am sure I speak for us all when I say how
thrilled we are to have you among us. I might tell you all that it
was not too difficult to convince him to come along tonight.
Despite his demanding programme he responded immediately to my
invitation to be here because I know how much he enjoys sharing
time with you all.
The significance of this evening has not escaped us Mr
President. We are all acutely aware that this is probably going to
be the last time that you will join us as a group in your official
capacity as President, before you take your well deserved rest in
the valleys of qunu.
This morning while listening to you in the National Assembly
you stated that, and I quote "For a country that not many years ago
was the polecat of the world, South Africa has truly undergone a
revolution in its relations with the international community. The
doors of the world have opened to South Africa...". Your now
customary modesty has again seen you master the art of the
understatement. What you neglected to mention, Madiba, it is that
you have been primarily responsible for this dramatic change in the
fortunes of our country and its peoples. Not a day goes by without
one or other world statesman seeking your audience culminated in
the gathering of all our heads of mission in a ten day indaba in
mid- January. We felt it timeous, wit the benefit of hindsight of
almost five years in government and with the tumultuous changes
around us going into the new millennium, to critically assess our
activities as a Department. We are now acutely aware that the
environment in which we are now operating is more complex than the
one we found in 1994. We remain convinced that the principles of
our foreign policy remain unchanged. This in essence means that our
foreign policy remains firmly anchored in reflecting and promoting
our domestic priorities. We are equally convinced that to
successfully realise these priorities we have to secure peace and
stability in our region. We will relentlessly continue to pursue
these objectives with our partners. However, we felt it necessary
to redefine the core business of our Department in a concerted and
extensive process of setting objectives for ourselves and mapping
our strategic plans to firmly consolidate the advances we have made
during the last few years.
In the process of defining this core business we also engaged
in the process of the internal transformation of the Department to
ensure that our structures, policies and operating tools are
refined to achieve the goals we set ourselves. Furthermore, you
will all be aware that our Department has undergone a very complex
period of transition since 1994. There were many issues, often
difficult, which included the need to mould together disparate
entities, the reality of lack of experience, human resources and
expertise. I am confidant that we have now achieved this and built
a coherent and effective team to boldly fact the challenges which
lie ahead - central among these is our objective to sustain the
level of interest shown by our friends and allies in our emerging
democracy. I know we can count on all of you to assist us in our
efforts to translate the political successes we have achieved
together, into durable and material differences in the lives of all
South Africans.
In acknowledging the growing partnership with our private
sector, allow me to thank BMW for again assisting us their
contribution to making this occasion a memorable one.
Without further ado ladies and gentlemen, it gives me great
pleasure to ask President Mandela to address us.
@ NIGER-VOTE
NIAMEY February 6 1999 Sapa-AFP
WEEKEND LOCAL POLLS SET TO SEAL NIGER'S RETURN TO DEMOCRACY
A dozen parties are to contest local polls in Niger on Sunday,
completing the restoration of a democracy robbed from the west
African country when President Ibrahim Bare Mainasssara first came
to power in a 1993 coup.
The road thus far has been rocky. After Mainassara won a
presidential poll held under pressure from donors, opposition
parties contested the result and boycotted subsequent legislative
polls in 1996.
Sunday's elections will distribute some 2,050 local, regional
and municipal council posts, as part of an administrative
decentralisation programme, also the fruit of donor pressure.
Opposition parties agreed to contest the elections, partly
because their demands have been met, and partly because another
boycott would spell political suicide.
The National Independent Election Commission (CENI) said no
major incident had taken place during the campaign, which opened
January 26 and ends Saturday.
The polls will affect both internal and external attitudes to
Mainassara's regime.
"If they go well, they will further convince" foreign aid
partners who have insisted on the effective return of democracy,
according to one diplomat in Niamey.
Aid money is now only trickling into Niger a country ranked
among the poorest on the planet which has been badly hit over the
last decade by the collapse of world prices for uranium, Niger's
main natural resource.
If the country begins to show real signs of pluarism, donors
should soften their stance and increase the flow of their aid.
The tense political landscape has been marked by a series of
violent demonstrations with protests calling for the president to
stand down.
The flow of opposition figures into Mainassara's camp and the
favour of international donors have done little to calm things
down.
Social tension has grown among civil servants who are owed
between seven and eight months' salary.
This has prompted demonstrations by soldiers and policemen
demanding their backpay as well as an open-ended strike by teachers
for the same reason.
@ SLEONE-FIGHTING
FREETOWN February 6 1999 Sapa-AFP
INTERVENTION FORCE ATTACKS REBEL HIDEOUTS IN SOUTHWEST FREETOWN
Troops of the West African intervention force ECOMOG attacked
rebel hideouts in hilly areas of south and southwest Freetown for
most of Friday, military sources said.
They said that ECOMOG forces had surrounded the area then
shelled and mortared it systematically, but no figures were
available on casualties or prisoners among the rebels of the
Revolutionary United Front (RUF).
ECOMOG officers said they were convinced that many rebels were
still hiding in the capital, which they entered on January 6 before
being repulsed by the Nigerian-led intervention force.
Former members of the Sierra Leone army loyal to a junta which
briefly ruled the country before being ousted by ECOMOG, they were
doubtless being sheltered by relatives, the officers said.
During Friday's operation, ECOMOG forces sealed off a large
part of the city centre to traffic.
A team from the international aid agency Medecins sans
Frontieres which was forced to turn back said a civilian had been
killed by an ECOMOG "warning shot" when he tried to obtain a pass
to leave the country.
Thousands of people attempted to flee Freetown on Friday as
fears mounted of a new rebel attack on the devastated city.
Troops from ECOMOG fired in the air to disperse a crowd of
several hundred civilians without passports lined up at the
emigration bureau for authorization to leave for neighboring
Guinea.
@ REGISTER-IEC
PRETORIA February 6 1999 Sapa
NUMBER OF REGISTERED VOTERS IN SA RISES TO MORE THAN 14 MILLION
The number of registered voters in South Africa rose to more
than 14 million on Saturday as the Independent Electoral Commission
continued tallying figures from last weekend's registration drive.
By 8am on Saturday, the IEC said details of 14128075 voters had
been loaded on to the main computer at its headquarters in
Pretoria. This is 52,04 percent of the estimated 26960217 potential
voters.
This figure includes the 9,8 million people who registered in
November and December last year. This means that about 4,3 million
last Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The figure of 26,9 million potential voters was devised when
statistics gathered during the 1996 Census were adjusted.
Chief electoral officer Mandla Mchunu said in Pretoria on
Thursday, however, that South Africa might have fewer eligible
voters than estimated.
This made it difficult for the IEC to assess how close it was
to reaching its target of registering all potential voters.
With 57,92 percent of its voters on the roll, Gauteng had the
highest percentage of registrations, while the Western Cape
continued to lag behind with only 40,78 percent of its voters
registered.
The provincial breakdown of registered voters at 8am on
Saturday by number of potential voters, registered voters and
percentage of registered voters is as follows:
- Eastern Cape: 3863149 (potential), 1967327 (registered),
50,93 percent
- Free State: 1786371 (potential), 967191 (registered), 54,14
percent
- Gauteng: 5689764 (potential,) 3295328 (registered), 57,92
percent
- KwaZulu-Natal: 5494445 (potential), 2720896 (registered),
49,52 percent
- Mpumalanga: 1738960 (potential), 995322 (registered), 57,24
percent
- Northern Cape: 560891 (potential), 301522 (registered),
53,76 percent
- Northern Province: 2813093 (potential), 1535191
(registered), 54,57 percent
- North-West: 2213080 (potential), 1213112 (registered), 54,82
percent
- Western Cape: 2800464 (potential), 1132186 (registered),
40,78 percent
- Countrywide: 26960217 (potential), 13128075 (registered),
52,40 percent.
@ ANGOLA-HUMANITARIAN
LUANDA February 6 1999 Sapa-AFP
HUMANITARIAN CONDITIONS WORSEN IN ANGOLA
The resumption of civil war in Angola has placed serious
constraints on humanitarian efforts, which must now be conducted
entirely by air, the UN food agency said.
"Up until last year, less than 20 percent of the aid was
transported by plane, and the rest by road from Luanda and
(southwestern) Benguela," Maria Flynn of the UN World Food Program
(WFP) said in Luanda. "Delivery costs have tripled."
She added that humanitarian needs have surged since fighting
resumed last November between the National Union for the Total
Independence of Angola (UNITA) and government forces.
"We are sending 1,500 tonnes of food each week, but we will
have to deliver another 3,000 tonnes a month to meet the needs of
people displaced by the war," Flynn said. "We need more planes."
The WFP had estimated its needs for 1999 at least 79,000 tonnes
for some 530,000 people. However now it is thought that 780,000
people will need food aid, including half a million displaced by
the fighting.
The Humanitarian Assistance Coordination Unit in Angola (UCAH),
formerly satisfied with financing levels for humanitarian
operations, has revised cost estimates upwards, and now fears that
donations will drop off just as Angola has the most pressing need
for humanitarian assistance.
Humanitarian aid in Angola had been difficult during four years
of relative peace following the signing of peace accords in Lusaka,
Zambia, in November 1994. With the renewed fighting,
non-governmental organizations face severe constraints and
heightened dangers.
"We go where we can go, and it is obvious that our statistics
don't take into account the situation in areas that are
inaccessible," a UCAH official said, indicating that the actual
humanitarian situation could be far worse.
"Roads have been mined again, and acces to combat zones is
impossible," the official said.
Those working to make mines safe in Angola are devastated by
the development. Of more than five million mines laid in Angola up
to 1994, only 16,000 have been destroyed by demining teams since
the peace accords.
The resumption of fighting has put paid to anti-mining efforts,
and reversed the positive effects of the high-profile visit to
Angola by Britain's late Princess Diana one year before her death
in August 1997.
"Everywhere they are relaying mines, which continue to blow off
arms and legs," a UCAH official said, recalling that "mines that
cost three dollars to make cost 1,000 dollars to eliminate."
The health budget has also had to be revised upward.
Vaccination programs alone, intially costed for one year at 1.4
million dollars by the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), are now
estimated at 2.5 million.
"In addition, as in every war situation, each side accuses us
of sympathizing with the other," Flynn said. "That's obviously not
true. We go wherever we can go."
@ AZAPO-MANDELA
JOHANNESBURG February 6 1999 Sapa
MANDELA'S ADDRESS GIVES NO HOPE FOR MAJORITY: AZAPO
President Nelson Mandela's address at the opening of Parliament
on Friday gave no hope that the situation of most people in the
country would change under the present government, the Azanian
People's Organisation said on Saturday.
"He kept urging the nation to be hopeful but he provided no
concrete proposals to address most of the ills afflicting the
majority of the people," Azapo president Mosibudi Mangena said in a
statement.
Aware of the general criticism of the the government's
performance in the areas of education, health, welfare, crime and
job creation, Mandela devoted a huge part of his speech to
defending the government, he said.
"Positive sparks in his address were provided by the increase
in pensions to the aged by R20, the provision of clean tap water to
greater numbers of the rural people and the donation of one day's
wages by the labour movement towards job creation."
Mangena said he supported Mandela's call for the need to
balance freedom with discipline and the need to regenerate the
moral fibre of society.
"The many incidents of child abuse, murder, car hijackings, and
corruption point to a society that has lost its soul," he said.
@ MR VASSEN DECIDED NOT TO TAKE UP POSITION IN INDIA
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
Mr Ramesh Vassen has requested the Department of Foreign Affairs
to release the following statement on his behalf:
QUOTE
I have noted the controversy surrounding my appointment to India
as Consul General for South Africa. I am also acutely sensitive to
the public concerns on the matter.
I should like to place on record that I have not been convicted
by a court of law and that I do not have a criminal record, despite
persistent attempts by certain political parties to characterise me
as such. I have been deeply hurt by these distortions which have
negatively affected the public perceptions on the matter.
I recognise that I have made a mistake by borrowing money from a
Trust Fund; however, I would like to emphasise again that I marked
it as a loan and repaid all the monies.
As regards the persistent reference to the eighteen (18)
incidences of underbanking I wish to state that I was a sole
practitioner with no partners or professional assistants and due to
a lack of back-up these errors occurred. Upon being advised of my
shortfalls I immediately paid these amounts in. Not a single client
suffered any loss nor did the fidelity fund have to pay out any
moneys on my behalf.
In the light of the above, I have informed the Minister of
Foreign Affairs, Mr Alfred Nzo, that in the interest of the
Department, and indeed of South Africa I have decided not to take up
my appointment to India.
My family and I suffered terrible trauma and heavy financial
losses as a result. I deeply regret the one major lapse in my life
and appeal to both the public and the media to allowme and my
family to pull our lives together again.
I have been in practice for over twenty (20) years as Human
Rights lawyer and served my clients and the community with total
dedication.
I would like to take the opportunity to thank all those people
who have stood by me, telephoned and called on me personally
expressing their abhorrence of the tactics of a certain political
party and the factually misleading reporting of the medial their
support for me during this difficult time has been a great solace to
me and my family.
I also wish to thank the Ministry and the Department of Foreign
Affairs for their support and their confidence in me.
I have come to my decisions in the belief that it is the
honourable thing for me to protect the interest of my country, which
I have always held very dear to me
Signed by:
Ramesh Vassen
Cape Town
6 February 1999
@ FEATURE-POLITICS-CONGO
POINTE NOIRE, Republic of Congo February 6 1999 Sapa-IPS
CONGO'S ECONOMIC CAPITAL LIVING IN FEAR OF IMMINENT WAR
Residents of Pointe Noire, the economic capital of Congo, are
living in fear of an imminent war, as the conflict opposing
government forces and rebels is quickly moving to the southern part
of the country.
In the past weeks, the Congolese army has engaged in a major
battle against Cocoyes militiamen of former president Pascal
Lissouba, in the towns of Dolisie and Nkayi, in the Lekoumou and
Bouenza regions, in the South western part of Congo.
Since December of last year, the Pool region, also in the south
has been combed by the army that is hunting down former Prime
minister, Bernard Kolelas' Ninjas militiamen who have infiltrated
the capital, Brazzaville.
Lissouba and Kolelas have been living in exile since they lost
the war that opposed them, between June and October 1997, to
current Congolese head of state, Denis Sassou Nguesso who
proclaimed himself president at the end of the conflict. Since
then, militiamen supporting the two leaders have vowed to topple
Nguesso's regime.
With the conflict advancing to their city, the residents of
Pointe Noire are fearing that the nightmare other parts of Congo
are living through would not spare them.
To prevent the wave of violence from reaching the economic
capital, Christian and secular organizations are sending messages
of peace to populations.
Authorities in Pointe Noire as well as the local police are
warning people and are asking them to denounce armed bandits that
may infiltrate the city.
Numerous demonstrations calling for peace have been staged in
the city. The police, reinforced by the army is conducting regular
searches of vehicles coming or leaving Pointe Noire. Night patrols
are also carried out in the suburbs.
"It's the only town that has been left unscathed, all the other
cities must be rebuilt," said the Regional Director of the national
police, Ilobakima Theophile, during a public meeting with local
officials, the police and representatives of the city residents.
The fear in which the residents of Pointe Noire have been going
through was somehow justified by the visible consequences of the
war in Southern Congo.
Though the casualties of the conflict in the south of the
country is unknown, Pointe Noire has received a huge number of
refugees from the war areas. Relief organizations put their number
up to 100,000.
The Cocoyes militiamen whose aim is to paralyze the Congolese
economy have succeeded in preventing water and electricity
distribution in Pointe Noire and in other cities, in the southern
part of the country, by occupying the power station of the national
electricity distribution company, the Societe Nationale
d'Electricite (SNE), located in Bouansa, 412 km of Pointe Noire, in
the Bouenza region.
This power station provides with electricity all southern
Congo, from the 75 MW Moukouundou dam.
The water and electricity shortage is creating perturbations in
industrial plants in Pointe Noire.
Many small factories have closed and larger ones have laid off
their workers.
Richard Massengo, one of the managers of BOPLAC SA, a timber
company thinks this situation is simply strangulating his business.
"We have always received raw material from Ouesso, at 1,500 km
of Pointe Noire, in the northern part of the country, by train, via
Brazzaville. Since the railroad traffic was shut down in
September, we are no longer supplied with timber. All our stock was
consumed after the power outage. The management has then decided to
lay off the workers until further notice."
The Cocoyes and Ninjas militias have paralyzed sincee 5 months,
510km of the railroad between Pointe Noire and Brazzaville.
Pointe Noire was considered vital to the economy of Congo.
Since the destruction of Brazzaville, it has been the unique pillar
of the country's economy. The Kouilou region, which Pointe Noire is
the capital, is also where most of the oil industry, the principal
source of income of Congo, are located.
Pointe Noire is a port city where most of the goods and
supplies for the land-locked countries of Central Africa are
forwarded. The port also concentrates 85 percent of the volume of
the country imports and exports of Congo, as well as the principal
industries.
In the town of Dolisie, the whole infrastructure, public
buildings and private houses have been looted. In Nkayi, the Sugar
refinery which employed more than 2,000 workers has also been
ransacked.
Pointe Noire was barely spared during the offensive of
Nguesso's Cobra militia, backed by the Angolan army, in October
1997. Local authorities decided in the last moment to surrender, to
avoid a blood bath.
@ ANGOLA
LISBON February 6 1999 Sapa-AP
ANGOLAN ARMY REPELS REBEL ATTACK ON PROVINCIAL TOWN
The Angolan army on Saturday repelled a rebel attack on a
provincial town, killing more than 20 rebels and imprisoning six
others, according to news reports.
Five government troops also died in the clashes at Caala, in
the southwest African country's central highlands, the Portuguese
news agency Lusa reported from the town.
The government has held Caala, about 500 kilometers (310 miles)
southeast of the capital, Luanda, since 1994, when both sides
signed a U.N.-brokered peace deal to end a two-decade civil war
that followed the country's 1975 independence from Portugal.
A UNITA rebel, contacted Saturday by satellite phone, said no
top officials were available for comment.
Fighting between the government and rebel group UNITA - the
National Union for the Total Independence of Angola - flared up
again last December when the army charged the rebels' central
highland bases, Andulo and Bailundo.
The 1994 pact required UNITA to disarm and hand over control of
almost half the vast country to the government. In turn, the rebels
were guaranteed political and military posts in the capital.
The army and UNITA have been fighting around Andula since
Wednesday, Lusa quoted an army official as saying.
@ VASSEN-QUIT
PRETORIA February 6 1999 Sapa
VASSEN DECIDES NOT TO TAKE UP POSITION IN INDIA
Ramesh Vassen, whose appointment as consul-general to India
caused a national outcry, on Saturday turned down the appointment.
In a statement Vassen asked the Department of Foreign Affairs
to release, he said: "I should like to place on record that I have
not been convicted by a court of law and that I do not have a
criminal record, despite persistent attempts by certain political
parties to characterise me as such."
In August 1996 the Cape High Court found that Vassen misused
trust money, and ruled him as unfit to practise as an attorney. His
appeal against the decision was turned down in May last year.
"I recognise that I have made a mistake by borrowing money from
a trust fund; however, I would like to emphasise again that I
marked it as a loan and repaid all the monies."
Vassen said he had been deeply hurt by these distortions which
had negatively affected the public perceptions on the matter.
"As regards the persistent reference to the 18 incidences of
underbanking I wish to state that I was a sole practitioner with no
partners or professional assistants and due to a lack of back-up
these errors occurred.
"Upon being advised of my shortfalls I immediately paid these
amounts in. Not a single client suffered any loss nor did the
fidelity fund have to pay out any monies on my behalf."
Vassen said he decided against taking up the post in the belief
that it was the honourable thing to do to protect the interest of
the country.
Foreign Affairs Minister Alfred Nzo accepted Vassen's reasons
for turning down the post, spokesman Marco Boni said.
Vassen's decision had rescued the government from embarassment,
the Freedom Front said on Saturday.
Welcoming Vassen's announcement, the FF's foreign affairs
spokesman Pieter Mulder said: "With this decision, Mr Vassen has
rescued the ANC government from the embarassment which their unwise
appointment has caused."
@ MANKAHLANA-MAINTENANCE
JOHANNESBURG February 6 1999 Sapa
MANKAHLANA FACES ARREST OVER MAINTENANCE DISPUTE
A warrant of arrest has been issued against President Nelson
Mandela's spokesman Parks Mankahlana for his alleged failure to pay
maintenance for his eight-year-old daughter, the Sunday Times
reported.
The mother of Mankahlana's daughter claimed that he had only
paid once for the upkeep of their child and is seeking R40,000 in
maintenance back payments.
Mankahlana confirmed that he had been contacted at home by
police after the opening of parliament (in Cape Town on Friday) and
informed that the warrant of arrest was issued in October.
He told the Sunday Times: "I live in Pretoria and only came to
Cape Town recently. If a warrant of arrest had been issued for me
in October then the right thing would have been for police to
arrest me.
"It is true that I have a baby in Nelspruit, but as far as I
know everything is okay."
@ ANGOLA-FIGHTING
LUANDA February 7 1999 Sapa-AFP
FULL-SCALE WAR RETURNS TO ANGOLA
Full-scale civil war is raging once more in Angola between
government forces and Jonas Savimbi's UNITA movement, bringing
misery, despair and a feeling among the people that their country's
valuable resources are being totally wasted.
Since independence from Portugal in November 1975 the Angolans
have known only five years of a doubtful peace which failed to
reconcile Savimbi with President Jose Eduardo dos Santos.
Four years of efforts by the United Nations, which deployed
7,000 men to supervise the implementation of the Lusaka accord of
November 1994 have come to nothing.
Thousands of people are again fleeing the combat zones, while
mines are once more being laid in the areas where the UN and other
organisations had managed to defuse a meagre 16,000 out of the more
than five million estimated to exist in Angola.
The resumption of the civil war has placed serious constraints
on humanitarian efforts, which must now be conducted entirely by
air, Maria Flynn of the UN World Food Program (WFP) said in Luanda.
"Up until last year, less than 20 percent of the aid was
transported by plane, and the rest by road," she said. "Delivery
costs have tripled."
She added that humanitarian needs have surged since fighting
resumed last November between the National Union for the Total
Independence of Angola (UNITA) and government forces.
"We are sending 1,500 tonnes of food each week, but we will
have to deliver another 3,000 tonnes a month to meet the needs of
people displaced by the war," Flynn said. "We need more planes."
The WFP had estimated its needs for 1999 at least 79,000 tonnes
for some 530,000 people. However now it is thought that 780,000
people will need food aid, including half a million displaced by
the fighting.
Responsibility for the renewed fighting is generally laid on
Savimbi, whose National Union for the Total Independence of Angola
(UNITA) has fought the ruling Angolan People's Liberation Movement
(MPLA) since before independence.
He is accused of failing to comply with the Lusaka accord by
refusing to hand over territory, and retaining a small but powerful
army despite requirements to disband his forces.
UNITA justified its reluctance to give up territory by claiming
that Luanda carried out reprisals against its supporters after
regaining control.
At the end of last year the government lost its patience,
renounced the Lusaka accords and determined on a military solution,
which analysts predict will be a long and difficult task.
While Savimbi can no longer count on his former allies,
apartheid South Africa and the United States, which backed him
against the Marxist dos Santos, he has a string of new regional
friends as a consequence of civil strife in Angola's neighbours.
Luanda, which has sent troops to aid government forces against
rebels in Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), claims
that UNITA is aided by Burkina Faso, Rwanda, Uganda and Zambia.
Information on the actual fighting in Angola is sparse and
one-sided.
The government said Friday that its forces had encircled two
cities controlled by UNITA, including the strategic northern town
of Mbanza- Congo lost on January 20.
Battles were also raging around central Andulo, military
spokesman General Jose Manuel Jota said, following the January 28
capture of Nharea, a UNITA stronghold 40 kilometers (25 miles) to
the east.
Mbanza-Congo is important for UNITA's lines of communication to
the east and south, and lies close to the DRC border post of Buela,
which is in rebel hands.
The government controls most of the country's provincial
capitals, but UNITA holds a large part of the diamond-producing
areas of the northeast, a valuable source of income for the rebels,
as well as much of the central plateau and the eastern and southern
provinces.
Analysts consider that neither side can win outright, but think
that Savimbi is hoping for a new accord which would be more
advantageous to him than that of Lusaka.
"Jonas Savimbi can not tolerate anything that smacks of
provocation or bullying," said a former adviser. "He is a warlord
who reacts immediately to any provocation, which might explain his
current behaviour."
@ PRESIDENT MANDELA IN DIE GROOTE KERK
Issued by: Office of the President
OPMERKINGS DEUR PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA BY GELEENTHEID
VAN SY BYWONING VAN DIE EREDIENS IN DIE GROOTE KERK
KAAPSTAD, 7 FEBRUARIE 1999
Ds Botes
Lede van die Kerkraad
Gemeente-lede
Vriende
Met die geskiedkundige eerste opening van ons
demokraties-verkose parlement in Mei 1994, het u my uitgenooi om die
ere-diens in u gemeente by te woon. Daarmee het u 'n ou tradisie
voortgesit dat die Suid-Afrikaanse staatshoof die Sondag voor
parlementsopening aan die Groote Kerk se diens deelneem.
Ek was baie getref en aangedaan deur u gebaar. Ek het u daarmee
hoor se dat u gemeente, en die Afrikaner-gemeenskap in die algemeen,
volledig deel is van die nuwe politieke en maatskaplike bestel. En
die die Kerk in die veranderde omstandighede van ons land nie sou
terugdeins van die nuwe uitdagings nie.
Ek is baie bly oor die geleentheid om vanoggend, na die laaste
opening van hierdie parlement, weer met u te kon wees en in u
ere-diens te deel. En om my dank en waardering aan u oor te bring
vir die voorbidding wat u en u kerk oor die afgelope vyf jaar vir
ons land, sy leiers, ons regering, ons demokrasie en ons mense
gedoen het. En vir die rol wat u en u gemeenskap gespeel het om
vrede, naasteliefde en saam-bestaan in ons eens-verdeelde land te
bevorder en te bestendig.
Ek sal binnekort uit die openbare lewe tree. Van die innigste
herinneringe wat ek met my sal saamdra, is oor hoe ons mense, in die
bestek van so 'n kort tydjie, geleer het om bo historiese verskille
uit te reik en hande te vat om saam te bou aan 'n nuwe verenigde
nasie. Dat die verdelende politiek van ons verlede waansinnige
dwaling was, word vir my deur niks anders so treffend bewys as die
gemak waarmee ons mense nou saamwerk en saamleef.
As daar een boodskap is wat ek met u sou wou laat, dan is dit
dat Afrikaners 'n besondere rol te speel het in die voortgesette
heropbou van ons land. Sonder die bereidwilligheid van u leiers om
aan onderhandelinge deel te neem en minderheidspolitiek af te sweer,
sou onns nie destyds die doemprofete verkeerd kon bewys het oor
Suid-Afrika se politieke toekoms nie. Ons moet ook nie toelaat dat
vandag se doemprofete ons mismoedig maak nie. Natuurlik is daar
probleme en uitdagings, maar daar is ook ruimte en geleenthede vir
almal om hulself uit te leef en te help bou aan 'n beter lewe vir
aimal. U ervaring en kundigheid is onontbeerlik vir daardie poses
van heropbou.
Ek het Vrydag in die parlement gepraat van 'n "RDP of the soul".
Dit is ons eerste taak as regering om die basiese
lewens-omstandighede van mense te verander en te verbeter deur die
voorsiening van huise, skoon water, elektrisiteit, gesondheidsorg,
ordentlike onderwys, werksgeleenthede, veiligheid en beskerming. Ons
leer egter daagliks dat daar 'n nog meer basiese taak van heropbou
voor ons le om ons land en samelewing kern-gesond te maak, en
lewensvatbaar te hou. Dit is die taak van 'n morele heropbou. Die
beste pogings van 'n regering of owerheid, sal vrugteloos wees as
die mense van 'n land nie in hul eie lewens en innerlike 'n
verandering ondergaan nie. Selfsug, korrupsie, 'n gebrek aan 'n
gemeenskapsgevoel en naastediens - hierdie is die geestelike vyande
van ons pogings om 'n nuwe samelewing te bou waaring ons almal in
ordentlikheid kan saamleef.
Dit sal oorbodig wees vir my om uit te ewi oor die rol van die
kerk in hierdie taak van morele heropbou; u sal dit baie beter week
as ek. Wat ek wel mag se, is dat die wyse waarop die verskillende
kerke en godsdienste saamwerk en na mekaar uitreik, self 'n
voorbeeld sal stel aan die res van die land. Ook op hierdie gebied
sien ek daarna uit dat die Afrikaanse gemeenskap 'n leidende rol sal
speel; dat hulle gesien sal word as 'n kragtige skakel in die band
van samewerking en naasteliefde wat die nuwe Suid-Afrika werklik
nuut sal maak.
Ek bedank u vir u vriendskap en ondersteuning, en ek wens u
alles van die beste toe, soos ons ons land en al sy mense seen en
voorspoed toewens in die jare wat voorle.
Baie dankie.
@ ZIM-MUGABE
JOHANNESBURG February 7 1999 Sapa
MUGABE BREAKS SILENCE ON DETENTION OF JOURNALISTS
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has broken his silence on
the illegal detention and torture of two journalists who reported
an alleged coup attempt against him, Network Radio News reported on
Sunday.
Mugabe, in a nationally televised address, was far from
apologetic. He lashed out at the Supreme Court judges who had
called on him to pledge his commitment to the rule of law. He
called on them to toe the line or resign.
A visibly furious Mugabe also attacked Zimbabwe's whites,
particularly the publishers of the Standard Newspaper which carried
the story. He further accused British agents of trying to topple
his government.
Without specifically referring to the torture of the
journalists, he appeared to suggest they got what they deserved,
saying his army had been provoked by the report of disaffection in
its ranks.
@ MANDELA-VASSEN
CAPE TOWN February 7 1999 Sapa
VASSEN DID A GOOD THING BY STEPPING DOWN: MANDELA
Ramesh Vassen did a good thing by stepping down from his
diplomatic posting as consul-general designate to India once the
public was not satisfied with the appointment, President Nelson
Mandela said on Sunday.
Speaking to journalists after attending a church service in
Cape Town, he said he believed the department of Foreign Affairs
appointed Vassen because he had spent three years in Parliament
wintout anybody objecting.
Secondly, Mandela said, Foreign Affairs got a good
recommendation from the New National Party and the Pan Africanist
Congress, adding that on the "basis of these recommendations, the
department then councluded that he could be appointed to the
position.
Vassen on Saturday announced his resignation from the post he
was yet to take up in Bombay, India.
On Sunday the president responded: "But I think he did a good
thing to step down once the public was not satisfied with the
appointment."
Mandela - in response to a question regarding the diplomatic
posting of axed Inkatha Freedom Party education MEC, Vincent Zulu
to Saudi Arabia - said it would be unfair not to consider him for
a positon simply because of his removal as head of the
KwaZulu-Natal education department.
It would also not be correct to refuse a request by IFP leader,
Dr Mangosuthu Buthelezi to consider deploying a particular
minister.
"Chief Buthelezi is a respected member of the Cabinet, and when
he makes a request to me, I am obliged to deploy him (an IFP
minister) as he (Buthelezi) wants," Mandela said.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Alfred Nzo on Sunday reiterated
while in Cape Town that former Mpumalanga enviromental affairs MEC,
David Mkhwanazi was never considered for an overseas diplomatic
posting.
The minister's statement followed persistent media reports to
this effect, and this led to the Public Protector Selby Baqwa
stating he would investigate this matter.
DFA spokesman, Marco Boni told Sapa Sunday: "Minister Nzo made
the same statement last Monday - in which he categorically stated
that Mr Mkhwanazi was not being considered for a diplomatic
posting".
@ MANDELA-CHURCH
CAPE TOWN February 7 1999 Sapa
WE SHOULDN'T ALLOW PROPHETS OF DOOM TO DISCOURAGE US : MANDELA
We should not allow prophets of doom to discourage us, there
are problems and challenges but there is also room and opportunity
for everyone to attain their goals and to help build a better life
for all, President Mandela remarked in an address at the Groote
Kerk Sunday service in Cape Town.
Mandela, who delivered his last opening-of-parliament speech on
Friday, said the experience and knowledge of the Afrikaans
congregation and Afrikaners in general was essential to the process
of reconstruction.
"Without the willingness of your leaders to participate in
discussions and avoid petty politics, we would not have been able
to prove the prophets of doom wrong about South Africa's future,"
he said.
Mandela was first invited to attend the service in May 1994,
after being appointed president in the first democratic elections.
This signalled the continuation of a tradition whereby the head of
state attended the service on the Sunday before the parliament's
opening.
He thanked the congregation for their prayer intercessions and
the role they had played over the past five years in promoting
peace and unity.
Soon after the church service the president and his wife, Graca
spent time with the children, asking them what they were taught at
their Sunday school classes earlier.
A shy child was reluctant to shake hands with Mandela, while
others used the opportunity to chat to the president about various
issues, including wishing him well in his retirement.
The couple also enjoyed tea with the congregation before
departing for the president's Cape Town official residence,
Genaadendaal.
@ VASSEN-NP
PRETORIA February 7 1999 Sapa
NP WELCOMES BAILING OUT OF DIPLOMATIC MISSION TO INDIA
The New National Party on Sunday welcomed the decision by
disgraced lawyer, Ramesh Vassen to turn down his diplomatic posting
to India.
NNP spokesman, Juli Kilian, said Vassen's "controversial"
appointment was not the only diplomatic posting that reinforced the
perception that the government was paying lip service to the
eradication of corruption.
Vassen was barred from practicing as a lawyer in 1996 after his
misappropriation of trust funds.
"The postings of discredited IBA commissioner Lyndall
Shope-Mafole and ousted Mpumalanga MEC for Environment, David
Mkhwanazi, as well as the unacceptable social behaviour of other
diplomatic representatives in recent months, created the impression
that South Africa's foreign missions have now been turned into
useful dumping grounds where 'struggle comrades' could be placed in
quarantine for a period before their reintroduction into South
African politics," he said in a statement.
"The fact that Vincent Zulu, the disgraced and sacked MEC for
Education in KwaZulu-Natal, has now been offered a diplomatic
posting in Jordan, will further enhance the perception that South
African missions have become places of exile, where politicians and
ANC 'cronies' could recover from embarassing legacies which they
themselves created."
Kilian added the African National Congress government and
particularly Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alfred Nzo, were to blame
for this international embarrassment.
"The sooner he would vacate his position of Minister of Foreign
Affairs, the better," Kilian said.
@ STATEMENT ON THE DEATH OF KING HUSSEIN OF JORDAN
Issued by: The Department of Foreign Affairs
President Nelson Mandela, responding to the news of the death of His
Majesty King Hussein of Hordan, said that the King's passing was to
be deeply mourned by all peace-loving people.
King Hussein was a man of extraordinary vision and deep principled
commitment to the cause of peace, President Mandela said. He worked
tirelessly for this cause so as to achieve the benefits peace could
bring to his nation and all the people of his region. This
commitment and contribution to ensure that the Kingdom of Jordan
could play a vital role in the achievement of a just and lasting
peace in the Middle East, is his greatest legacy, President Mandela
added.
President Nelson Mandela will be represented by the Minister of Home
Affairs, Mr Mangosuthu Buthelezi, at his Majesty's funeral.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
PRETORIA
7 FEBRUARY 1999
@ ANC CONCERNED AT LACK OF PROGRESS WITH INVESTIGATION
Issued by: African National Congress
AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS
DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY
Sunday 7th February 1999
ANC CONCERNED AT LACK OF PROGRESS WITH OSEO INVESTIGATION INTO
UNAUTHORISED EXPENDITURE OF OVER R21 MILLION BY FORMER HOUSE OF REPS
ADMINISTRATION IN 1992
Background
The standing committee on public accounts (SCOPA) in the Western
Cape, under the Chairperson ship of Tasneem Essop MPL, is currently
discussing the Auditor General's report on the accounts of the
Western Cape Provincial Government for the 1996/97 financial year.
Last week the committee dealt with the accounts of the Education
Department.
ANC members on the committee have been outraged at the lack of
progress by OSEO concerning unauthorised expenditure by the former
House of Representatives (HOR) Education Department amounting to
over R21 million on literacy programmes. Abe Williams, NP MP in the
National Assembly and former Minister of Welfare and Peter Saaiman,
now NP leader in the Northern Cape were Education Ministers for the
House of Reps in the early 1990'sIn a reply to the committee Dr Niel
Barnard, Director General and accounting officer for the province,
said that the Western Cape Education Department had sent a letter to
OSEO on 27 October 1998 requesting a report on progress. Dr Barnard
says that OSEA's reply indicates that this matter is part of a
"COMPREHENSIVE INVESTIGATION" and that the matter was "RECEIVING
PRIORITY ATTENTION".
Commenting on the issue, ANC MPL AND MEMBER OF SCOPA, LYNNE
BROWN SAID: "The slow pace of the OSEO investigation is a disgrace.
This unauthorised expenditure happened in 1992, over seven years
ago. The public still does not know what happening to this money. Of
greater concern is the possibility that senior officials from the
old House of Reps who could be implicated, continue to hold office
in the Western Cape Administration.
"The ANC will be proposing that the committee calls OSEO to
account on progress in regard to this and other outstanding matters.
If we are not satisfied with the replies we will consider calling on
the Health Commission to take over the investigation into
allegations of corruption in the former House of Reps
administration."
Issued by the ANC Western Cape. For further comment contact Cameron
Dugmore on 082 894 7553 or 418 4616 code 7131.
@ TRUTH-COMPENSATION
JOHANNESBURG February 7 1999 Sapa
MANKAHLANA DENIES DECISION MADE TO REFUSE CASH TO APARTHEID
VICTIMS
Presidential spokeman Parks Mankahlana on Sunday denied reports
that a decision had been made to refuse compensation to individuals
identified by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission as victims of
gross human rights violations.
He told Sapa the issue was still to be discussed in parliament
when cabinet deals with the TRC report later this month or early
March.
"Cabinet will give a concrete answer on what form reparations
will take," he said.
Mankahlana said the government would put forward a suggestion
that instead of making payments to the more than 20,000 individuals,
symbolic reparations be made to communities and the nation as a
whole, as it was not possible to attach monetary value to
suffering.
He said this did not necessarily mean the suggestion would be
adopted by cabinet.
The move will come as a blow to many of the officially
designated apartheid victims who had pinned their hopes on
receiving R26000 each, spread over six years, in line with the
commission's reparations and rehabilitation committee.
If the government were to pay out the victims, the bill would
amount to R520-million.
Mankahlana said it was true that money required for this might
not be available and the government had to do something within its
means to compensate people.
"It is a very complex situation. We have to do something as a
nation, and not just for individuals.
"It has to be accepted that reconciliation is a process.
Sometimes it is inevitable to aim for the skies and reach the
clouds," Mankahlana said.
There were hundreds of thousands people who did not have a
chance to go and testify before the TRC.
"How do you compensate a person who left school because of
police harrassment. A person who wanted to be a doctor and had
never gone back to school.
"When we reduce this into rands and cents then we are not
addressing the whole notion of reconciliation, it has much more
value than money," Mankahlana said.
Meanwhile, TRC spokesman Mdu Lembede said the commission had
not received any official notification from government that it will
not compensate people individually.
"As far as we know, people are going to be reparated as
individuals as well as communities depending on their cases,"
Lembede said.
It has always been the commission's position not to place
monetary value on reparation, but where a need arose people would
be compensated in monetary terms, he said.
@ ZIMBABWE-MUGABE
HARARE February 7 1999 Sapa-AFP
MUGABE PLUNGES ZIMBABWE INTO CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS
Zimbabwe was plunged into a constitutional crisis at the
weekend when President Robert Mugabe sided with the military's
illegal detention of two journalists and challenged Supreme Court
judges to resign.
"The facade of democracy is down and we have a full-blown
constitutional crisis, a crisis of proportions this country has
never seen before," said prominent lawyer and human rights activist
David Coltart.
"To all intents and purposes this is now a military regime," he
added.
In a nationally televised address run on Saturday night and
repeated Sunday morning, a visibly furious Mugabe lashed out at the
country's top judges, white human rights activists and the former
colonial power, Britain.
He accused the judges of "an outrageous and deliberate act of
impudence", and the others of trying to topple his government.
The Supreme Court judges had petitioned Mugabe to pledge his
commitment to the rule of law after the illegal detention and
alleged torture of two journalists, and the military's rejection of
a court order to free them.
Instead, the president charged that the judges were meddling in
politics and "in those circumstances the one and only honourable
course open to them is that of quitting the bench and joining the
political forum."
Without referring to the fact that it is against the law for
the military to detain civilians in Zimbabwe, or to the alleged
torture of the journalists, Mugabe appeared to suggest they got
what they deserved.
He said the army had been shocked and horrified by a story in
the Sunday Standard last month which claimed 23 officers had been
arrested over a plot to oust the government.
"Propelled by the unquestionable loyalty and commitment to the
defence and security of the state, they wanted to establish the
source of the falsehood and so they proceeded in the manner they
did.
"If the Standard had not behaved in such a blatantly dishonest
and unethical manner, the army would not have acted the way they
did," Mugabe said.
He also attacked some journalists and human rights activists
among the country's white minority population, saying "they have
pushed our sense of racial tolerance to the limit", warning of
"very stern measures against them".
Coltart, who was one of the activists named by the president,
told AFP he took the threat "very seriously, given the nature of
this regime and what they've done in the last few weeks."
But, he said, "the big issue is the independence of the
judiciary and the respect for the rule of law.
"I think we have to see the president's statement as coming
from a person and a government which is embattled ... and they are
now going to rely on the military to remain in power."
The two journalists detained over the report - editor Mark
Chavunduka and reporter Ray Choto - are black, but Mugabe accused
the paper's white publishers, Clive Wilson and Clive Murphy, of
deliberately running a story they knew to be "blatantly untrue".
"Their heinous objective was to plant an idea of a coup,
thereby causing disaffection in the army and to instil alarm and
despondency among the peace-loving Zimbabweans," he said.
"The likes of Clive Wilson and Clive Murphy, complemented by
the Aurets (Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace chief Mike
Auret) and Coltarts of our society, are bent on ruining the
national unity and loyalty of our people and their institutions.
"But we will ensure that they do not ever succeed in the evil
machinations.
"Let me state this and quite emphatically; they have pushed our
sense of racial tolerance to the limit.
"Let them be warned therefore, that unless their insidious acts
of sabotage immediately cease, my government will be compelled to
take very stern measures against them and those who have elected to
be their puppets."
Mugabe, who has recently faced unprecedented social unrest and
opposition to his 19-year rule - fuelled by Zimbabwe's costly
involvement in the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo - also
accused the former colonial power Britain of trying to topple his
government.
"We... abhor and deprecate insidous attempts by British agents,
planted or recruited in Zimbabwe, to bring about disaffection
amongst us, with the object of undermining a legitimate government
of our country," he said, without giving details.
@ KING CARLOS I AND QUEEN SOFIA OF SPAIN TO VISIT SA
Issued by: The Department of Foreign Affairs
MEDIA STATEMENT ON THE STATE VISIT BY KING JUAN CARLOS I AND QUEEN
SOFIA OF SPAIN TO SOUTH AFRICA - 15 TO 18 FEBRUARY 1999
King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain will pay a State
Visit to South Africa from 15 to 18 February 1999 at the invitation
of President Mandela. Their Majesties will be accompanied by the
Spanish Foreign Minister, Mr Abel Matutes, the Deputy Minister of
Trade, Tourism and Small and Medium Enterprises, Ms Elena Pisonero,
senior government officials, high level business representatives and
members of the Spanish media.
King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia will be officially received
at Tuynhuys, Cape Town, on 15 February 1999 by President Mandela.
The King is scheduled to address parliament and will further meet
with Deputy President Mbeki. Foreign Minister Alfred Nzo and his
Spanish counterpart will hold bilateral discussions. A State banquet
will be hosted by the President in honour of the King and Queen, who
will also visit Robben Island.
The visit will enjoy a strong economic focus and a Spanish/South
Afircan business seminar is scheduled to take place in Johanesburg
on 17 February 1999 with the participation of the King. Senior
representatives of approximately forty of the most prominent Spanish
companies will be present.
The Spanish Government favours the further expansion of economic
relations with South Africa and has expressed its commitment to
developing long term bilateral trade and investment releations in
the Southern African region.
The total bilateral trade between the two countries amounted to
R4876 million in 1998 with the balance in South Africa's favour.
Spain is currently South Africa's 12th biggest export market with
exports to the value of R2595 million.
Relations between Spain and South Africa are strengthening and a
Bilateral Air Servies Agreement as well as an Agreement on the
Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments were signed
during 1998. Spanish development co-operation with South Africa has
focussed on capacity building in South Africa's tourism industry and
a feasibility study for the establishment of a Tourism Academy in
South Africa has been completed. Spanish companies continue to show
a strong interest in spatial development initiatives in South Africa
and the region.
On 24 July 1983 President Mandela, then still incarcerated on
Robben Island, and King Juan Carlos I were joint recipients of the
International Simon Bolivar Prize. All recipients are awarded the
prize on the basis of their decisive roles played in promoting
democracy, human rights and peace. President Mandela also received
the prestigious Principe de Asturias International Cooperation Prize
in Spain in 1992. The same prize was bestowed upon Mrs Graca Machel
in October 1998.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
PRETORIA
7 FEBRUARY 1999
@ CARLOS-VISIT
JOHANNESBURG February 7 1999 Sapa
SPANISH KING AND QUEEN TO VISIT SA
King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain will pay a state
visit to South Africa from 15 to 18 February, the department of
foreign affairs said on Sunday.
The visit will have a strong economic focus and a Spanish/South
Afircan business seminar is scheduled to take place in Johanesburg
on 17 February, with Carlos' participation, the department said in
a statement.
@ SURVEY-PARTIES
PRETORIA February 7 1999 Sapa
ANC SUPPORT STANDS AT 61 PERCENT, VERY CLOSE TO ITS 1994 VOTE
SHARE
A recent survey has shown support for the African National
Congress stands at 61 percent, which is very close to its 1994
election vote share, but short of a two-third majority.
The Human Sciences Research Council said in a statement on
Sunday that while its survey showed the ANC had retained its
ground, there had been significant change in support for a number
of other parties.
The biggest gains since 1994, when South Africans went to the
polls in the country's first democratic election, had been achieved
by the United Democratic Movement and the Democratic Party.
The HSRC said this emerged from a comparison of the 1994
election results and the latest estimates of the HSRC's voting
model, based on a survey completed in early December 1998.
"The rise of the UDM, launched in September 1997, and the DP
into contention for status of official opposition has been one of
the major developments in party politics since 1994," said the
HSRC.
In February 1998, the HSRC voting model placed the UDM's
support at about 9 percent. The HSRC's December 1998 estimates
confirmed an almost identical level.
Under Tony Leon's leadership, the DP had more than tripled its
backing since winning only 1,7 percent of the vote in 1994.
HSRC's election research task group leader Rod Alence said the
HSRC's most recent estimates put the DP at 6 percent, a significant
increase even over the party's 4 percent in February 1998.
A large part of the gains by the UDM and the DP appears to be
at the expense of the New Natinal Party and the Inkatha Freedom
Party.
NNP support has dropped from just over 20 percent in the 1994
election to 12 percent in the HSRC's latest estimates.
Over the same period, IFP support decreased from 10,5 percent
to 3 percent.
"Support for the ANC remains very close to the 62,7 percent it
was in the 1994 election, when our voting model put the party's
support at 58 percent."
@ EDUC-MPUMALANGA
KWAMHLANGA February 7 1999 Sapa
MPUMA EDUC DEPT SUPPORTS MARAPYANE RECTOR
Mpumalanga's education department on Sunday came out in support
of Marapyane College of Education vice-rector who continues to draw
a salary, but has not been at work for six months.
Acting head of the department Lucas Mello said Solly Ranamani,
who is also the African National Congress mayor in Mathanjane, was
not reporting to work because the staff and students had made it
unbearable for him.
"It's not like he's deliberately avoiding reporting to the
college, it's just that the environment is unbearable for him,"
Mello said.
Students and lecturers chased Ranamani off the campus in July
last year, in protest against not being consulted about his
appointment.
They said he had allegedly skipped classes while he was Tswaa
lecturer at the college.
Mello dismissed the protests as a smear campaign and said the
department would be tough on the protesters.
"They are deliberately smearing Ranamani and we're going to be
tough on those who oppose the department's appointment," he said.
He said he had spoken to Ranamani about his reporting back at
work, but that a date hadn't been determined yet.
Meanwhile, the students and college staff have given the
department until the end of the month to withdraw Ranamani's
appointment and probe alleged maladministration at the college.
@ FF-MURDER
PRETORIA February 7 1999 Sapa
FF LEADER BLAMES NATAL FARMER'S MURDER ON ANC SPOKESMAN'S
HATE-SPEECH
Freedom Front leader Constand Viljoen threatened on Sunday to
report an African National Congress spokesman to the Human Rights
Commission for allegedly inciting racial hatred, following the
murder of a farmer over the weekend.
Kwazulu-Natal spokesman Dumisani Makhaye reportedly claimed in
a speech at the end of last year : "White farmers in Muden can only
blame themselves if they are murdered and their ground burned."
Vijoen said this was a violation of a clause in the
Constitution which prohibits hate speech and incitement to do harm,
he said.
The statement could be seen as a contributing factor to the
murder of Kwa-Zulu Natal farmer Hermanus Botha, as the ANC did not
repudiate Makhaye's statement, which implied they supported racial
hatred, he said.
Viljoen said it was not the first time a member of the ANC had
made statements geared to inciting racsim.
@ SACP-ELECTION
JOHANNESBURG February 7 1999 Sapa
SACP'S FULL WEIGHT BEHIND ANC IN FORTHCOMING ELECTION
The South African Communist Party will throw its full weight
behind the African National Congress in the forthcoming election
campaign toensure an ANC victory, the SACP's central committee
said on Sunday.
Speaking after a weekend of meetimgs between the SACP's central
committee members in Johannesburg, party secretary general Blade
Nzimande told reporters that a large part of the party's membership
was already integrated into and active in ANC election structures.
"The SACP, in its own right, has set aside a budget of more
than R1 million to do targeted work amongst organised workers,"
SACP Secretary General Blade Nzimande told reporters.
In calling on workers to vote ANC, the SACP would be
highlighting the significant gains made in the struggle for greater
equity and democracy in the workplace since April 1994, he said.
"The SACP has built a significant base amongst the rural poor
and farm workers, at least in some provinces. We shall also give
focused electoral attention to these constituencies, ensuring in
particular that they are able to exercise their democratic rights."
Other issues discussed over the weekend included a decision on
the SACP's role in the election campaign participation in the trade
union job fund campaign, Nzimande said.
"Workers will be contributing, on March 3, a day's wage for job
creation. this underlines that, notwithstanding their often low
wages, organised workers in our country have not forgotten social
solidarity."
The campaign, Nzimande said, was very much in line with the
struggle for an RDP of the soul, called for by President Nelson
Mandela in his opening of Parliament address on Friday.
"In the coming months the SACP will be campaigning around all
of these issues. Our main focus for the year will be building and
consolidating the political consciousness of the working class."
The marginalised and the unemployed had to be drawn together
and convinced that it was in their own best interests to vote for
the ANC.
"Regardless of the gripes and irritations these marginalised
groups might have, the ANC is still the only party that has their
particular interests at heart," Nzimande said.
@ COURT-REGISTER
CAPE TOWN February 7 1999 Sapa
NEW NP BARCODE CASE CONTINUES MONDAY
More than half of South Africa's eligible voters have registered to
have their names included on the voters' roll, the latest tallies from the
Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) showed this weekend.
However, with around four months to go before the general election - which
is expected to be held towards the end of May following an announcement by
President Nelson Mandela at the opening of Parliament on Friday - the entire
election hangs in the balance because of court cases against the government
and the IEC.
Monday, the New National Party's case against the government
and the IEC continues in the Cape High Court.
It started on Friday when Fef le Roux, SC - heading the case for the NNP's
legal team - submitted that "there is a real risk that a significant
percentage of eligible voters will not be able to vote because of the
insistence by the government that only bar-coded identity documents are
allowed".
Le Roux said it was not the NNP's contention that the provisions of the
Electoral Act concerning the bar-coded IDs were unconstitutional, but that
because of the Department of Home Affairs' inability to issue all the
documents in time, some people's constitutional right to vote was being
prejudiced.
He said that in January 1997, the Department of Home Affairs was already
processing 9000 fewer applications than they had received.
"That has now grown to over 500000," Le Roux told a full bench of the
High Court, which was presided over by Judge President Edwin King.
Court action against the government and the IEC by the Democratic Party is
also pending and there appears to be consensus that whatever the outcome of
the two court cases, the matters are likely to end up in the Constitutional
Court.
Although all parties concerned have expressed a need for expedience, there
is a good chance the election could be delayed because of the court action.
The IEC this weekend said that more than 14 million of South Africa's 26
million potential voters had registered. This figure constitutes 52% of the
voter population and includes the figures from December and January's voter
registration drives. Another round of voter registration is expected to take
place on the first weekend in March.
@ STATEMENT ON MEC DAVID MKHWANAZI
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
STATEMENT ON FORMER MPUMA ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS MEC DAVID
MKHWANAZI
Minister of Foreign Affairs Alfred Nzo on Sunday reiterated in
Cape Town that former Mpumalanga environmental affairs MEC David
Mkhwanazi was never considered for an overseas diplomatic posting.
This follows persistent media reports to this effect, which led
to Public Protector Selby Baqwa stating he would investigate the
matter.
Minister Nzo made the same remarks on Monday last week, in which
he categorically stated that Mr Mkhwanazi was not being considered
for a diplomatic posting.
7 February 1999
Contact person: Marco Boni
Tel: 083 443 7740
@ CUBA-NP
'CUBAN MILITARY INVOLVEMENT IN ANGOLA': NEW NP WANTS
EXPLANATION
Media reports that Cuban military assistance is being given to
the Angolan government forces fighting against Unita rebels deserve
the South African government's attention, the New National Party
said on Sunday.
If these reports were true it constituted a violation of the
1994 United Nations Peace Agreement, said NNP spokesman Hennie Smit
in a statement.
He added that the South African government should act to
promote peace in southern Africa, especially if international
agreements were being violated.
In January this year the weekly Angolan newspaper, Folha 8,
claimed that 200 Cuban advisers has arrived in Angola since the
fighting resumed in December.
On January 20, Angolan Defence Minister Pedro Sebastiao would
not confirm the rumour but acknowledged the presence of foreign
militia within Angola to support the government's stance against
Unita forces.
@ MANKAHLANA-FF
PRETORIA February 7 1999 Sapa
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS SHOULD NOT BE ABOVE THE LAW : FREEDOM
FRONT
Prominant African National Congress members such as
presidential spokesman Parks Mankahlana should not be treated
differently in the judicial system because of their status, the
Freedom Front said on Sunday.
He was reacting to a report in the Sunday Times that a warrant
of arrest had been issued against Mankahlana for his alleged
failure to pay maintenance for his eight-year-old daughter.
The mother of Mankahlana's daughter claimed that he had only
paid once for the upkeep of their child and was seeking R40,000 in
maintenance back payments.
Mankahlana confirmed that he had been contacted at home by
police after the opening of Parliament (in Cape Town on Friday) and
informed that the warrant of arrest was issued in October.
He told the Sunday Times: "I live in Pretoria and only came to
Cape Town recently. If a warrant of arrest had been issued for me
in October then the right thing would have been for police to
arrest me."
FF spokesman Kallie Kriel on Sunday questioned whether
Mankahlana would not have been arrested earlier if he were nota
government official and said the legal process should be allowed to
run its proper course.
@ OBIT-SCHOON
JOHANNESBURG February 7 1999 Sapa
MARIUS SCHOON DIES
African National Congress member and poet Marius Schoon, 61,
died at the Park Lane Clinic in Johannesburg just before 6pm on
Sunday.
He was diagnosed with lung cancer shortly after testifying at
the Truth and Reconciliation Commission amnesty application of
Craig Williamson in November last year, a close personal friend,
Hugh Lewin said.
Schoon's wife, Jeanette, and his daughter, Katryn, 6, were
killed by a letter bomb in Lubango, Angola, in 1984.
Williamson has admitted responsibility for the bomb which
killed Jeanette and Katryn but spared Schoon, who was not at home,
and his son, Fritz, then three.
Fritz turned 17 on Saturday.
"He (Schoon) epitomised the sacrifices that people made for the
struggle," Lewin said.
Schoon was imprisoned between 1964 and 1976 by the South
African government for sabotage. Lewin and Schoon met in jail and
were prison mates for seven years.
Schoon and his wife-to-be became involved after Schoon's
release, when the two were both banned.
At the time it was illegal for them to be working together, and
they started receiving threats.
The couple joined the African National Congress in Botswana in
1977 and later settled in Angola.
The two were never involved in the armed struggle, a fact that
was confirmed by Mac Maharaj at Williamson's amnesty application.
Schoon accepted a job with the Development Bank of South Africa
in 1990 after his return from exile.
Lewin, who was appointed a TRC commissioner, confirmed that
Schoon brought a civil suit against Williamson earlier this year.
The application was put aside pending the outcome of
Williamson's amnesty application, which will be wrapped up later
this month when final arguments are presented.
Lewin denied that Schoon was outspoken against the amnesty
process.
"He was very strong in pushing the case ... for there to be
some justice to come out of Williamson's admissions that he was
responsible for the deaths," Lewin said.
Schoon told the amnesty committee he never wanted to speak to
Williamson, and found it "unfair and embarrassing" to be called on
by the applicant's lawyer to reconcile with Williamson.
Sadly, Schoon will never know the fate the man whose actions
gave him bloody nightmares for 15 years.
Lewin said Schoon was operated on after he was diagnosed to try
to reverse the cancer, but it did not resolve anything.
"He has basically gone down very quickly," Lewin said.
@ VASSEN-OMAR
CAPE TOWN February 7 1999 Sapa
OMAR REJECTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR VASSEN FIASCO
Justice Minister Dullah Omar has slammed claims that he is to
blame for the foreign affairs fiasco that resulted in the
resignation of his former partner, Ramesh Vassen, at the weekend as
"ridiculous". He has also denied reports of "jobs for pals" in
his department.
Vassen resigned from his diplomatic posting as consul-general
to India after a public outcry over reports that he was struck from
the roll of attorneys in 1996 for taking money from clients' trust
funds. The Cape High Court found that Vassen - referred to Vassen
as "Omar's crooked buddy" by weekend newspapers - had misused
public money on several occasions over the years.
"Ramesh Vassen and I were partners in a law firm until 1982
when I left to join the bar. He then went into partnership with
other people. That was 17 years ago. The reports (linking the two
men) are sickening."
There have also been raised eyebrows about the number of people
who occupy top jobs today who once worked at Omar's law firm. The
appointments of Truth Commissioner and acting judge Denzil
Potgieter, Judge Siraj Desai, Judge Joe Ebrahim, Norman Arendse SC,
who sometimes represents the state, and chief state law adviser
Enver Daniels are among those being questioned.
"I am surprised that the press named so few people," said
Omar. "There are dozens more people who worked with me who are in
prominent positions now and I am very proud of that. I am proud
that my firm produced these people."
Omar said he had started practising as an attorney in 1960 and
stopped in 1982. In those 22 years a number of young lawyers went
through his firm. He was also involved in the leadership of the
Democratic Lawyers' Association and the National Association of
Democratic Lawyers.
"I helped to mobilise black lawyers throughout the country
because of this involvement, and I got to know hundreds of lawyers.
Many of these people are in high positions today and to suggest
that the only reason they got those positions is because of their
relationship to me is highly insulting to them.
"My practice was a practice with a difference because we took
on (political) cases that very few firms were prepared to touch.
The people who joined my firm had to show a commitment to the same
ideals that I stood for."
Omar addressed some of the cases individually:
l Daniels: Daniel's post as chief state law adviser is subject
to a labour dispute with one of the people overlooked for the job,
JH Bruwer, who is claiming before the Council for Conciliation,
Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) that he was unfairly prejudiced by
the appointment of Omar's former colleague.
"We formed a selection committee for that post and we
interviewed all the applicants," said Omar. "There was consensus
on the committee - except for (Justice Department director-general
Jasper) Noeth - that Bruwer and the other applicants were
unsuitable. That was the committee's finding, so we had to make an
appointment from outside.
"Since Daniels has been appointed the backlog of cases has
been cleared, he has brought in black staff and set up consultation
structures. There has been a dramatic change and he has done an
outstanding job. I make no apologies for his appointment."
+-----------------------------------------------------------+
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