DATE=2/9/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245305
TITLE=SAF / TERROR (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IN SOUTH AFRICA, THERE WAS A BOMB THREAT AT THE COUNTRY'S
PARLIAMENT COMPLEX IN CAPE TOWN TUESDAY AS THE JUSTICE MINISTER
SPOKE OF THE NEED FOR NEW ANTI-TERRORISM LEGISLATION. V-O-A
CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA REPORTS FROM OUR SOUTHERN AFRICA
BUREAU.
TEXT: JUSTICE MINISTER DULLAH OMAR WAS INTERRUPTED BY A SECURITY
OFFICIAL AS HE SPOKE TO JOURNALISTS ABOUT THE RECENT SPATE OF
TERRORIST BOMBINGS IN CAPE TOWN AND ABOUT WHAT HE SAID WAS THE
URGENT NEED FOR NEW ANTI-TERRORISM LEGISLATION.
MR. OMAR LISTENED TO THE OFFICIAL, THEN ANNOUNCED THERE HAD BEEN
A BOMB THREAT. HE ASKED WHAT THE OFFICIAL WANTED THE GROUP TO
DO. WHEN ADVISED EVERYONE SHOULD REMAIN IN THEIR SEATS, THE
MINISTER CONTINUED WITH HIS BRIEFING.
POLICE LATER DISCLOSED THEY HAD RECEIVED AN ANONYMOUS TELEPHONED
BOMB THREAT TO THE PARLIAMENT COMPLEX. BUT THEY GAVE NO
DETAILS.
CAPE TOWN HAS BEEN ROCKED BY A SERIES OF BOMBINGS, INCLUDING ONE
LAST MONTH OUTSIDE POLICE HEADQUARTERS CLOSE TO PARLIAMENT.
AUTHORITIES HAVE DETAINED SEVERAL MEMBERS OF A MAINLY-MUSLIM
VIGILANTE GROUP IN CONNECTION WITH THE ATTACKS.
OFFICIALS OF THE GROUP -- CALLED PAGAD, OR PEOPLE AGAINST
GANSTERISM AND DRUGS -- HAVE SHARPLY CRITICIZED PRESIDENT NELSON
MANDELA, WHO LAST WEEK IN A SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT CONDEMNED THOSE
WHO HE SAID HAD TURNED A CAMPAIGN AGAINST GANGSTERISM INTO A
TERROR CAMPAIGN AGAINST POLICE AND CIVILIANS.
PAGAD CHARGES IN A STATEMENT THAT MR. MANDELA UNDERMINED HIS OWN
INTEGRITY BY MAKING STATEMENTS WHICH THE GROUP SAYS WERE NOT
BASED ON FACT. THE GROUP ALSO SAYS IT WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED
IF AUTHORITIES PLANTED EVIDENCE ON PAGAD MEMBERS IN WHAT PAGAD
SUGGESTS IS A DESPERATE EFFORT TO SHOW RESULTS IN THEIR HUNT FOR
THOSE BEHIND THE BOMBINGS. (SIGNED)
NEB/BEL/JWH/KL
09-Feb-99 9:39 AM EST (1439 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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