DATE=11/15/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ANGOLA / MBEKI (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-256166
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: South African President Thabo Mbeki has
rejected allegations that he had ever been detained in
Angola in the early 1980s. He says they are totally
false even though widely accepted as true in Angola.
V-O-A Southern Africa Correspondent Alex Belida
reports the rumors of Mr. Mbeki's jailing are often
seen in Luanda as one reason for alleged tensions
between his government and that of Angolan President
Jose Eduardo Dos Santos.
TEXT: South African presidential spokesman Parks
Mankahlana is categorical in his denial that Mr. Mbeki
was ever detained in Angola.
/// MANKAHLANA ACTUALITY ///
It's totally untrue. Untrue. It never
happened.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
Mr. Mankahlana tells V-O-A that the Secretary-General
of Angola's ruling M-P-L-A party, Joao Laurenco,
recently told South African authorities that he
believes the Mbeki detention story was being
circulated by Portugal's government. He says the
Angolan party official described it as a
disinformation plot designed to spoil relations
between South Africa and Angola.
/// MANKAHLANA ACTUALITY ///
When the Secretary-General of the M-P-L-A came
here about two months ago, the President asked
him about these allegations and rumors, and he
said, no, the Angolans have nothing to do with
it. As far as they know, those are rumors
spread by the Portuguese, that the reports
originate from Lisbon and their understanding is
that the Portuguese are anxious about good
relations between South Africa and Angola.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
The stories of Mr. Mbeki's alleged detention in Angola
vary but often appear in Angolan publications as fact.
One version contends Mr. Mbeki, while working in exile
for the African National Congress, was detained in
1983 for involvement in an alleged plot against then
A-N-C leader Oliver Tambo. Another version claims Mr.
Mbeki was imprisoned for protesting the alleged
execution in Angola of 70 A-N-C trainees because they
refused to fight Angola's UNITA rebels.
South African officials claim relations between the
two countries are good and that South Africa, under
Mr. Mbeki, is committed to enforcement of United
Nations sanctions against the Angolan rebels.
Despite this, Angolan officials and state-controlled
news media continue to suggest South Africa is somehow
pro-UNITA and they accuse South Africa of playing a
crucial role in the rebels' clandestine supply
network.
Angolan Deputy Foreign Minister Jorge Chicoti was
quoted in September as saying relations were tense and
as hinting that personality factors involving Mr.
Mbeki's assumption of the presidency in South Africa
were the cause. (Signed)
NEB/BEL/JWH/JO
15-Nov-1999 06:19 AM EDT (15-Nov-1999 1119 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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