DATE=6/3/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233274
TITLE=SAF / WEAPONS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: AUTHORITIES IN SOUTH AFRICA ARE REPORTING A BREAKTHROUGH
IN THEIR INVESTIGATION INTO TWO RECENT THEFTS OF MILITARY
WEAPONS. V-O-A JOHANNESBURG CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA REPORTS
THE THEFTS HAVE BEEN LINKED TO A GROUP THAT INCLUDES MEMBERS OF
SOUTH AFRICA'S NATIONAL DEFENSE FORCE, WHICH HAS SUSPECTED
RIGHT-WING CONNECTIONS.
TEXT: SOUTH AFRICAN AUTHORITIES SAY MOST OF THE AUTOMATIC
WEAPONS AND AMMUNITION STOLEN FROM ARMY STOCKPILES IN TWO
SEPARATE INCIDENTS OVER THE PAST THREE WEEKS HAVE NOW BEEN
RECOVERED.
DEPUTY DEFENSE MINISTER RONNIE KASRILS TELLS A PARLIAMENTARY
COMMITTEE THE BREAKTHROUGH FOLLOWS MONDAY'S HIJACKING OF AN ARMY
VEHICLE NEAR THE CITY OF BLOEMFONTEIN, WHICH WAS CARRYING SOME
200 THOUSAND ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION.
MR. KASRILS SAYS THE MILITARY SUSPECTS WHO HAVE BEEN DETAINED IN
THE HEIST ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE RIGHT-WING CONNECTIONS.
//OPT// // KASRILS ACT //
MILITARY PERSONS FROM THE "SANDF" (SOUTH AFRICAN
NATIONAL DEFENSE FORCE) -- THEY HAPPEN TO BE WHITE
MEMBERS OF THE SANDF -- THERE IS SUSPECTED TO BE
RIGHT-WING CONNECTIONS. THE BREAKTHROUGH CAME FOLLOWING
THE HIJACKING OF A MILITARY TRUCK ON MONDAY.
// END ACT // //END OPT//
// OPT // AUTHORITIES HAVE MEANWHILE DISCLOSED THAT THE BODY OF
ONE OF TWO DRIVERS OF THE HIJACKED ARMY TRUCK HAS BEEN RECOVERED.
THE OTHER SOLDIER REMAINS MISSING. // END OPT //
WITH NATIONAL ELECTIONS SCHEDULED FOR NEXT YEAR, THIS RECENT
HIJACKING AND ONE EARLIER RAISED CONCERN AMONG SOME OFFICIALS THE
THEFTS MIGHT BE LINKED TO POSSIBLE PLANS BY EXTREMISTS TO
DESTABILIZE THE COUNTRY. (SIGNED)
NEB/BEL/PCF
03-Jun-98 11:12 AM EDT (1512 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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