DATE=6/8/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233505
TITLE=SAF / ARMS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: ANOTHER SUSPECTED WHITE RIGHTWING EXTREMIST HAS BEEN
ARRAIGNED IN CONNECTION WITH THE RECENT THEFT OF WEAPONS AND
AMMUNITION FROM SOUTH AFRICAN MILITARY STOCKPILES. V-O-A
JOHANNESBURG CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA REPORTS ON THE COURT
APPEARANCE OF THE SUSPECT AS WELL AS OTHER DEVELOPMENTS IN THE
CASE.
TEXT: THE 42-YEAR-OLD MAN APPEARED IN BLOEMFONTEIN REGIONAL
COURT ON MONDAY FOR A CLOSED-DOOR HEARING AMID TIGHT SECURITY.
POLICE PREVENTED PHOTOGRAPHERS FROM TAKING PICTURES OF THE
SUSPECT, WHO HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH MURDER AND ARMED ROBBERY.
THE CHARGES RELATE TO THE THEFT LAST MONTH FROM A BLOEMFONTEIN
ARMY BASE OF MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED MILITARY WEAPONS, INCLUDING
MACHINE GUNS, MORTARS AND AUTOMATIC RIFLES, AS WELL AS THE
HIJACKING OF A MILITARY TRUCK CARRYING AMMUNITION. THE DRIVER
AND ANOTHER SOLDIER IN THE TRUCK WERE MURDERED. MOST OF THE ARMS
AND AMMUNITION HAVE BEEN RECOVERED.
TWO OTHER SUSPECTS -- AN ARMY SERGEANT AND HIS FARM EMPLOYEE
BROTHER -- WERE ARRESTED AND BROUGHT BEFORE THE COURT LAST WEEK.
THE ARRAIGNMENT OF THE LATEST SUSPECT CAME AS THE "SOWETAN"
NEWSPAPER REPORTED POLICE ARE FOLLOWING LEADS THAT TWO RIGHTWING
AFRIKANER EXTREMIST GROUPS WERE INVOLVED IN THE THEFT. THE
NEWSPAPER QUOTED POLICE SOURCES AS SAYING THE WEAPONS WERE TO
HAVE BEEN USED TO PROTECT THE PROPERTIES OF AFRIKANER FARMERS.
AFRIKANERS, DESCENDANTS OF SOUTH AFRICA'S FIRST EUROPEAN
SETTLERS, HAVE RECENTLY EXPRESSED ALARM AT A SERIES OF ATTACKS ON
WHITE FARMERS. SOME FARMERS HAD THREATENED TO TAKE ACTION TO
PROTECT THEMSELVES IF THE AUTHORITIES WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE
ADEQUATE SECURITY. (SIGNED)
NEB/BEL/KL
08-Jun-98 8:47 AM EDT (1247 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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