DATE=6/10/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233636
TITLE=SAF / ARMS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IN SOUTH AFRICA, A CONFIDENTIAL POLICE DOCUMENT
REPORTEDLY SAYS AUTHORITIES ARE INVESTIGATING THE POSSIBLE
INVOLVEMENT OF FORMER BLACK LIBERATION ARMY MEMBERS IN WEAPONS
THEFTS. JOHANNESBURG CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA REPORTS.
TEXT: POLICE HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THE ARREST OF THREE SUSPECTED
WHITE RIGHT-WING EXTREMISTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE RECENT THEFT
OF AUTOMATIC WEAPONS AND AMMUNITION FROM AN ARMY BASE.
BUT THE SOUTH AFRICAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION (S-A-B-C) SAYS
AUTHORITIES ARE ALSO PROBING POSSIBLE LEFT-WING INVOLVEMENT IN
THAT INCIDENT NEAR THE CITY OF BLOEMFONTEIN. THE S-A-B-C SAYS
THE THIEVES WHO TOOK RIFLES, GRENADE LAUNCHERS, AND MORTARS LEFT
BEHIND SPRAY-PAINTED SLOGANS INCLUDING "VIVA MANDELA" AND "KILL
THE BOER," A REFERENCE TO WHITE AFRIKANERS.
THE BROADCAST ORGANIZATION SAYS THIS IS REVEALED IN A
CONFIDENTIAL, 15-PAGE POLICE REPORT IT HAS OBTAINED. IT SAYS THE
REPORT IDENTIFIES ONE LEFT-WING GROUP THAT IS SUSPECTED OF
INVOLVEMENT IN ARMS THEFTS. IT IS KNOWN AS "MKAPLA" -- A
COMBINATION OF THE ACRONYMS M-K AND APLA, THE NAMES OF THE ARMED
WINGS OF THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS AND THE PANAFRICANIST
CONGRESS DURING THE ANTI-APARTHEID STRUGGLE.
THE S-A-B-C SAYS THE GROUP IS SUSPECTED OF PLANNING TO DISRUPT
NEXT YEAR'S NATIONAL ELECTIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA.
IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER THE REPORT HAS BEEN FORMALLY PRESENTED TO
PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA. BUT PARKS MANKAHLANA, MR. MANDELA'S
SPOKESMAN, WARNS THE S-A-B-C NOT ALL SUCH REPORTS ARE ACCURATE.
// MANKAHLANA ACTUALITY //
I AM NOT SAYING THAT ALL REPORTS THAT COME FROM OUR
SECURITY AGENCIES ARE NOT TRUE, BUT IT IS NOT UNUSUAL
FOR FALSE FLAGS TO BE FLOWN IN ANY SECURITY
ORGANIZATION. BUT THERE IS A MECHANISM FOR SCREENING
ALL REPORTS AND THAT IS WHY WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DISMISS
SOME AS LUDICROUS AND SOME AS FANTASTIC.
// END ACTUALITY //
AUTHORITIES HAVE REASON TO BE SUSPICIOUS OF SOME INTELLIGENCE
REPORTS. EARLIER THIS YEAR, A SECRET DEFENSE DEPARTMENT REPORT
SAID THERE WAS A PLOT TO TOPPLE MR. MANDELA. OFFICIALS LATER
DETERMINED THE REPORT WAS A HOAX. THE CHIEF OF THE DEFENSE
FORCE, GENERAL GEORGE MEIRING, RESIGNED BECAUSE OF THE AFFAIR.
// REST OPTIONAL //
BUT, PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESMAN MANKAHLANA ACKNOWLEDGES THE
POSSIBILITY OF BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT-WING THREATS TO STABILITY IN
SOUTH AFRICA.
// MANKAHLANA ACTUALITY //
WE WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED THAT THERE WOULD BE EFFORTS BY
FORCES OPPOSED TO TRANSFORMATION AND ORDERLY DEVELOPMENT
TO CREATE THE IMPRESSION THERE WAS A THREAT TO THE
COMING ELECTION SO THAT THE STABILITY THAT IS TAKING
ROOT IN THE COUNTRY IS QUESTIONED, NOT ONLY BY SOUTH
AFRICAN CITIZENS BUT BY OTHER COUNTRIES.
// END ACTUALITY //
THE PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESMAN SAYS SUCH IMPRESSIONS OF A THREAT TO
SOUTH AFRICAN STABILITY COULD DETER POTENTIAL FOREIGN INVESTORS.
(SIGNED)
NEB/BEL/KL/RAE
10-Jun-98 8:19 AM EDT (1219 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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