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DATE=3/12/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246558
TITLE=SAF/CORRUPTION/ANGOLA (L ONLY) -- CQ
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE HEAD OF THE SPECIAL SOUTH AFRICAN UNIT PROBING 
OFFICIAL CORRUPTION AND THE LOSS OF GOVERNMENT FUNDS AND ASSETS 
HAS UNCOVERED EVIDENCE OF ILLEGAL WEAPONS TRANSFERS TO ANGOLA.  
V-O-A JOHANNESBURG CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA REPORTS THE 
DISCLOSURE IS SURE TO FUEL ANGOLAN SUSPICIONS ABOUT A SOUTH 
AFRICAN ROLE IN SUPPORT FOR THE "UNITA" REBEL MOVEMENT.
TEXT:  JUDGE WILLEM HEATH SAYS THE SPECIAL UNIT HE HEADS HAS 
UNCOVERED INFORMATION APPARENTLY INVOLVING OFFICIAL CORRUPTION IN
CONNECTION WITH THE MOVEMENT OF WEAPONS THROUGH SOUTH AFRICA TO 
ANGOLA.
JUDGE HEATH DECLINES TO GIVE ANY SPECIFIC DETAILS.  BUT 
RESPONDING TO QUESTIONS FROM THE VOICE OF AMERICA FOLLOWING A 
NEWS BRIEFING IN JOHANNESBURG, HE SAYS FOREIGNERS ARE INVOLVED IN
THE TRANSACTIONS.  HE WILL  NOT  IDENTIFY THEM BY NAME OR 
NATIONALITY.
HE CONCEDES THE INFORMATION THE UNIT HAS IN ITS POSSESSION ABOUT 
ILLEGAL WEAPONS TRANSFERS IS LIMITED.  BUT HE SAYS IT IS MORE 
THAN MERE RUMOR OR GOSSIP.
                      // HEATH ACTUALITY //
         NO, WE'VE GOT SUBSTANCE.  BUT WE'RE LOOKING FOR MORE.
                          // END ACT //
// OPT //  JUDGE HEATH SAYS ONE PROBLEM HOLDING UP ACTION IS THE 
LACK OF A FORMAL PROCLAMATION FROM THE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE 
AUTHORIZING A FULL-SCALE INVESTIGATION BY HIS SPECIAL 
ANTI-CORRUPTION UNIT.   IT HAS RECOVERED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN 
STATE ASSETS LOST THROUGH FRAUD AND OTHER CORRUPT PRACTICES SINCE
ITS ESTABLISHMENT THREE YEARS AGO.
// OPT //  MR. HEATH CALLS THE PROCLAMATION PROCEDURE A DRAWBACK 
TO THE INDEPENDENT UNIT'S WORK AND IS APPEALING FOR THE 
REQUIREMENT TO BE DROPPED.  IN THE CASE OF THE ANGOLAN ARMS 
TRANSFERS, THE JUDGE INDICATES THE UNIT HAS BEEN WAITING FOR 
SEVERAL MONTHS FOR PRESIDENTIAL APPROVAL -- EVEN THOUGH HE SAYS 
IN OTHER INSTANCES A PROCLAMATION HAS BEEN ISSUED WITHIN A MATTER
OF HOURS.
             // OPT // // SECOND HEATH ACTUALITY //
         IF YOU'RE SAYING THE COUNTRY IS LOSING MONEY AS A RESULT
         OF THAT, THEN I'M VERY SORRY ABOUT THAT.  THAT'S THE 
         MORE REASON WHY WE SHOULD GET RID OF THE PROCLAMATION 
         SECTION IN THE ACT (EDS: WHICH ESTABLISHED THE UNIT).
                  // END ACT //   // END OPT //
LAST YEAR, SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE REPORTED THEY WERE CONDUCTING  
INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE UNAUTHORIZED USE OF SOUTH AFRICAN AIR 
FIELDS BY FOREIGN REGISTERED AIRCRAFT.  THEY SAID AT THE TIME 
THEY HAD  NO  EVIDENCE OF ARMS BEING FLOWN TO ANGOLA.  BUT THEY 
SAID THEY WERE PROBING INFORMATION THAT MILITARY TRUCKS AND 
CLOTHING HAD BEEN DELIVERED TO UNITA FROM SOUTH AFRICA.
// OPT //  A POLICE SPOKESMAN CONTACTED FRIDAY BY V-O-A WAS 
UNABLE TO SAY WHAT PROGRESS, IF ANY, HAS BEEN MADE SINCE THE 
POLICE PROBE WAS LAUNCHED 11 MONTHS AGO.  // END OPT // 
ANGOLAN AUTHORITIES HAVE FREQUENTLY EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT SOUTH
AFRICAN INVOLVEMENT IN ILLEGAL TRANSFERS OF WEAPONS AND OTHER 
MILITARY EQUIPMENT TO THE UNITA REBEL MOVEMENT.  
SOUTH AFRICAN OFFICIALS SAY THEY FULLY SUPPORT ALL 
INTERNATIONALLY-APPROVED SANCTIONS AGAINST THE REBELS AND ARE 
SEEKING TO STRENGTHEN THEIR INTERNAL CONTROLS TO PREVENT ANY 
ILLEGAL TRANSACTIONS ON UNITA'S BEHALF.  A FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAYS IF SUCH TRANSACTIONS ARE STILL TAKING 
PLACE, THEY ARE  NOT  WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN 
GOVERNMENT.  (SIGNED)
NEB/BEL/PCF
12-Mar-99 10:05 AM EST (1505 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.