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DATE=5/13/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249332
TITLE=SAF/ARMS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG4
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  IN SOUTH AFRICA, THE LEADER OF THE ZULU NATIONALIST 
"INKATHA FREEDOM PARTY," MANGOSUTHU BUTHELEZI, HAS APPEALED TO 
ANYONE CONTROLLING ARMS CACHES IN THE COUNTRY TO TURN THEM OVER 
TO AUTHORITIES.  V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA REPORTS FROM 
THOKOZA, OUTSIDE JOHANNESBURG, WHERE MR. BUTHELEZI MADE A 
CAMPAIGN APPEARANCE (THURSDAY) AHEAD OF SOUTH AFRICA'S JUNE 
SECOND ELECTIONS.
TEXT:  MR. BUTHELEZI'S APPEAL FOLLOWS THE DISCOVERY AND 
DESTRUCTION OF A MASSIVE CACHE OF ARMS AND AMMUNITION IN 
I-F-P-CONTROLLED KWAZULU-NATAL PROVINCE EARLIER THIS WEEK.  
AUTHORITIES WERE LED TO THE BUNKER WHERE THE WEAPONS -- INCLUDING
HAND GRENADES AND ROCKET LAUNCHERS -- WERE STORED BY A PROMINENT 
MEMBER OF THE INKATHA FREEDOM PARTY, PHILIP POWELL.
MR. BUTHELEZI, THE I-F-P LEADER, TOLD SUPPORTERS IN THOKOZA 
(THURSDAY) HIS PARTY KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THE ACQUISITION OF THE 
WEAPONS, WHICH ARE UNDERSTOOD TO HAVE BEEN SUPPLIED TO MR. POWELL
BY SECURITY OFFICERS OF THE FORMER WHITE MINORITY GOVERNMENT, IN 
POWER BEFORE SOUTH AFRICA'S HISTORIC 1994 FIRST DEMOCRATIC 
ELECTIONS.
MR. BUTHELEZI ACKNOWLEDGED HIS PARTY HAD ACQUIRED ARMS LEGALLY IN
THE PAST FOR WHAT HE TERMED "COMMUNITY SELF-DEFENSE."  BUT, 
SPEAKING OVER A CRACKLING PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM, HE SAID THE TIME
HAS COME FOR ALL POLITICAL GROUPS IN SOUTH AFRICA TO TURN IN 
THEIR WEAPONS AND TO RENOUNCE THE USE OF VIOLENCE FOR POLITICAL 
PURPOSES.
     // OPT BUTHELEZI ACTUALITY -- AUDIO QUALITY MARGINAL //
         I BELIEVE THAT THE TIME HAS COME FOR ALL PARTIES TO SHOW
         FAITH IN THE DEMOCRATIC FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY AND 
         SURRENDER ALL ARMS CACHES, GIVING UP ONCE AND FOR ALL 
         THE OPTION TO EVER AGAIN RESORT TO ARMED CONFLICT TO  
         RESOLVE ANY OF OUR SOCIO-POLITICAL DISPUTES.  I HOPE THE
         LEADERSHIP OF THE A-N-C (AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS) WILL
         JOIN ME IN MY CALL TO ENCOURAGE ALL THOSE WHO ARE STILL 
         CLINGING TO ARMS CACHES TO GIVE THEM UP AND PARTICIPATE 
         IN THE BUILDING OF OUR FUTURE.
                       // END ACTUALITY //
THERE WAS HEAVY FIGHTING IN KWAZULU-NATAL AND SCATTERED OTHER 
LOCATIONS, INCLUDING THOKOZA, BETWEEN I-F-P AND AFRICAN NATIONAL 
CONGRESS SUPPORTERS BEFORE AND AFTER THE 1994 ELECTIONS.  HOWEVER
NEGOTIATIONS HAVE LED TO A CALMING OF POLITICAL TENSIONS IN THE 
PAST TWO YEARS.
NEVERTHELESS, THERE HAVE BEEN FEARS VOICED OF POSSIBLE RENEWED 
FLARE-UPS OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMING 
JUNE SECOND NATIONAL ELECTIONS.  ANALYSTS SAY THE DISCOVERY OF 
THE ARMS CACHE IN KWAZULU-NATAL EARLIER THIS WEEK HAS HEIGHTENED 
PRE-ELECTION TENSIONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/BEL/PCF 
13-May-99 12:46 PM EDT (1646 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.