DATE=4/6/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-229278
TITLE=SAF DEFENSE CHIEF (L ONLY)
BYLINE=DELIA ROBERTSON
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA HAS ACCEPTED THE
RESIGNATION OF THE COUNTRY'S NATIONAL DEFENSE FORCE CHIEF, GEORGE
MEIRING. V-O-A'S DELIA ROBERTSON IN JOHANNESBURG REPORTS THE
RESIGNATION FOLLOWS A REPORT GENERAL MEIRING MADE OF A PLOT TO
OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT.
TEXT: GENERAL GEORGE MEIRING SAYS HE HAS ASKED PRESIDENT NELSON
MANDELA TO SUSPEND HIS CONTRACT AND ALLOW HIM TO LEAVE HIS
POSITION BY THE END OF MAY. HE SAID HE TOOK THE STEP TO RESTORE
THE CREDIBILITY OF THE NATIONAL DEFENSE FORCE.
LAST MONTH, GENERAL MEIRING TOLD MR. MANDELA ABOUT AN ALLEGED
PLOT BY SENIOR MILITARY OFFICERS AND AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS
OFFICIALS TO OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT. HIS REPORT WAS BASED ON
INFORMATION PROVIDED BY A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL.
A COMMISSION OF SENIOR JUDGES APPOINTED BY MR. MANDELA TO
INVESTIGATE THE ALLEGATIONS SAID IT FOUND THE SINGLE SOURCE WAS
NOT RELIABLE AND THAT THERE WAS NO SUBSTANCE TO HIS
ALLEGATIONS OF A COUP PLOT. THE COMMISSION ALSO SEVERELY
CRITICIZED GENERAL MEIRING, SAYING HE FAILED TO PROPERLY
INVESTIGATE THE INFORMATION BEFORE REPORTING IT TO THE PRESIDENT.
MR. MANDELA WAS FURIOUS THAT GENERAL MEIRING USED HIS ACCESS TO
HIM TO BYPASS DEFENSE MINISTER JOE MODISE. HE ALSO WAS ANGRY
THAT GENERAL MEIRING PRESENTED HIM WITH UNTESTED AND UNVERIFIED
INFORMATION.
GENERAL MEIRING, WAS CHIEF OF THE DEFENSE FORCE IN THE WANING
DAYS OF APARTHEID. HE WAS REAPPOINTED TO THE POST BY MR MANDELA
AS PART OF AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE THEN NATIONAL PARTY
GOVERNMENT AND THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS THAT LED TO THE 1994
ELECTION. HIS APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED TO LAST UNTIL THE
OFFICIAL PERIOD OF TRANSITION ENDS IN APRIL 1999.
PRESIDENT MANDELA SAYS HE WILL CONSULT HIS CABINET ABOUT A
REPLACEMENT. HOWEVER, IT IS WIDELY EXPECTED THAT GENERAL MEIRING
WILL BE SUCCEEDED BY HIS DEPUTY, GENERAL SIPHIWE NYANDA, WHO WAS
A COMMANDER IN THE A-N-C MILITARY WING, UMKHONTO WE SIZWE (SPEAR
OF THE NATION). (SIGNED)
NEB/DAR/JWH
06-Apr-98 11:57 AM EDT (1557 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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