111057

JPRS-SSA-87-006

20 JANUARY 1987

Sub-Saharan Africa Report

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JPRS-SSA-87-006

20 JANUARY 1987

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA REPORT

CONTENTS

BOTSWANA

Briefs

COMOROS

Briefs

Chinese Loan for Railway Development 1

BDF Encouraged To Defend Country 1

Wave of Arrests 2

Vanilla Sales To Resume 2

Amnesty International Report 2

KENYA

Briefs

Curfew Imposed at Vihiga 4

MADAGASCAR

Briefs

Famine Accusations 5

MALAWI

EIB Lends Funds for Portland Cement Facelift

(AFRICAN ECONOMIC DIGEST, 29 Nov-5 Dec 86) 6

Briefs

80,000 Mozambican Refugees in Country 7

MAURITIUS

Dissension Within MMM Reported

(INDIAN OCEAN NEWSLETTER, 25' Oct. 86) 8

-a -
MAYOTTE

Chirac Pledges Aid, Investment Tax Relief

(THE INDIAN OCEAN NEWSLETTER, 25 Oct 86)

MOZAMBIQUE

Visit to Renamo Territory, Meeting With Dhlakama Described

(Paul Moorcraft; SUNDAY TIMES, 30 Nov 86) 10

Malawi Officers Aiding MNR in Zambezia Attacks

(Maputo in English to Southern Africa, 16 Dec 86) 12

Official Cites Evidence of Malawi Aid to MNR

(Maputo Domestic Service, 22 Dec 86) 13

MNR Leader Says Important Victory Imminent

(Johannesburg Domestic Service 15 Dec 86) 14

Country Holds Elections for Delegate to People's Assembly

(Maputo Domestic Service, 14, 15 Dec 86) 15

Second General Elections 15

Cabo Delgado, Zambezia, Maputo 15

Manica Elects 15 Deputies 15

Gaza Elects Representative 16

Sofala, Nampula, Matola Choose 16

Zimbabwe Hauler Transports Grain to Famine Victims

(THE FINANCIAL GAZETTE, 28 Nov 86) 18

Briefs

Suspected Spies To Be Expelled 19

Journalists Support Detained RSA Editor 19

Credit Line From Zimbabwe 19

Dhlakama Reportedly in Malawi 19

Famine Relief Required for Tete 20

FPLM Captures 'Bandit' Camp 20

Cooperation With Italy 20

'Solidarity Donation' From GDR 20

British Development Grant 21

Zimbabwe Aid for Banditry Victims 21

Arrests Over Foreign Trade 21

NIGER

Briefs

Uranium Gets Sysmin Aid 22

IDA Loan for Education 22

- b
NIGERIA

Debt Package Depends on Continuing Creditor Support

(AFRICA ECONOMIC DIGEST, 29 Nov-5 Dec 86) 23

Parastatal Privatization List Drawn Up

(AFRICA ECONOMIC DIGEST, 29 Nov-5 Dec 86) ..... 28

REUNION

Chirac Pledges Aid Over Next 5 Years

(THE INDIAN OCEAN NEWSLETTER, 25 Oct 86) 29

Briefs

Boat Sunk, Spying Charged 30

SEYCHELLES

Briefs

Trade Deficit 31

SIERRA LEONE

Soviet Fishing Agreement Revised

(AFRICA ECONOMIC DIGEST, 29 Nov-5 Dec 86) 32

ZAMBIA

Zambia, Japanese Firms Sign Contract To Improve Telecommunications

(PANA, 17 Dec 86) 33

Briefs

Influx of Angolan Refugees 34

Refugee Inlux From Angola, Mozambique 34

Chinese Rice Experts Praised 34

ZIMBABWE

Zimbabwe HERALD Urges Action Against RSA 'Press Gags'

(Editorial; THE HERALD, 12 Dec 86) 35

Cluff Reports Gold Finds

(AFRICAN ECONOMIC DIGEST, 29 Nov-5 Dec 86) 36

Briefs

Rural Electricity Expansion Slows 37

Increased Sale of Ferrochrome 37

Sugar Refiner ZSR Sales Increase 37

ZAPU Leaders Pledge Unity 38

ZANU-PF Masvingo Chairman 38

- c -
SOUTH AFRICA

AFRIKANER/GOVERNMENT

Councillor Reveals JMC's 'Secret' System of Control

(Dennis Cruywagen;. THE ARGUS, 28 Nov 86) 39

Government Plans for Deregulation of Economy Viewed

(Gerhard Cloete; DIE BURGER, various dates) 41

Draft Labor Bill Proposes New Grievance System

(Johannesburg Television Service, 19 Dec 86) 48

Soldier's Detention May Involve Espionage

(SAPA, 14 Dec 86) 50

New Military Base for Venda Defense Force

(D. R. Kneen, D. 0'Sullivan; PARATUS, Nov 86) 50

Unit Color for Combat School

(PARATUS, Nov 86) 53

Troop Morale in Namibia Seen as High

(SAPA, 19 Dec 86) 54

Briefs

Ministry Seeks Propaganda Classifier 55

Terrorist Attacks Against Police 55

SAAF Jet Fighter Crash 55

BLACKS

PSCU on Plans for Implementing Effective Urbanization Strategy

(Z. B. Molefe; CITY PRESS, 7 Dec 86) 56

Natal University on Plight of Black Workers on White Farms

(THE STAR, 9 Dec 86) 59

Grievances Aired at Meeting, by Claire Robertson 59

Alcohol Used as Payment 60

Farm Villages Proposed as Solution 60

ANC Activist Discusses Role of Women in Liberation Struggle

(Frene Ginwala Interview; WORK IN PROGRESS, Nov-Dec 86) 62

Girl Admitted to Hospital After Alleged Police Assault

(Jon Qwelane, Belede Mazwai; THE STAR, 11 Dec 86) 67

Boy Alleges Assault, Torture in Police Cells

(Belede Mazwai, Jon Qwelane; THE STAR, 11 Dec 86) 68

- d -
First Black Mining Engineer Graduates

(Cherilyn Ireton; BUSINESS DAY, 9 Dec 86) 70

SARHWU General Secretary on Union Organization

(Ntai Sello Interview; GRASSROOTS, Dec 86) 71

SOCIOPOLTICAL/OTHER

Poll Indicates White Hopes for Political Future

(Poen de Villiers; THE CITIZEN, 15 Dec 86) 72

Commentary on U.S. 'Reversal' on Policy Toward ANC

(Johannesburg International Service, 22 Dec 86) 73

Commentary Praises Cooperation With Lesotho

(Johannesburg International Service, 12 Dec 86) 74

Commentary Views Tough African Economic Lessons

(Johannesburg International Service, 13 Dec 86) 75

PFP Labels Media Restrictions Despotic

(SAPA, 21 Dec 86) ,

77

Poll Reveals Television Primary Source of News

(SAPA, 17 Dec 86) 78

Black Sash Condemns Restriction Orders on Newspapers

(SAPA, 17 Dec 86) ••

80

Racial Apartheid Crumbling on Johannesburg's Buses

(Gwen Gill, Samkelo Kumalo; SUNDAY TIMES, 7 Dec 86) 81

Reporters Examine Various Factors in KwaNatal Indaba Dispute

(THE WEEKLY MAIL, 5-11 Dec 86) ... •

83

Two 'Cardinal' Defects Seen, by Patrick Laurence 83

Supporters Hope To Persuade People, by Carmel Rickard 84

Sideline Views, by Shaun Johnson 85

Indian Education Faces Crisis as Teachers Are Fired

(Khalil Aniff; POST NATAL, 10-13 Dec 86) 88

Cost of University Education in Western Cape To Rise

(THE ARGUS, 2 Dec 86) •

89

Right-wing Groups Threatening Unity of NGK

(SUNDAY TIMES, 7 Dec 86) 90

Indian Township Planned for Orange Free State

(Logan Govender; POST NATAL, 10-13 Dec 86) 91
Union Claims Riot Police Deployed for OK Strike

(SAPA, 20 Dec 86) 92

Armed Shoppers New Threat to Safety in Stores

(Janine Lazarus; SUNDAY TIMES, 30 Nov 86) 94

Group Finds 'Dramatic' Decline in Unrest Deaths Since June

(SAPA, 11 Dec 86) 95

EEC Conference, Arts Festival Banned

(SAPA, 11 Dec 86) 96

Briefs

Apartheid Signs on Beaches 97

ECONOMIC

Scarcity of Jobs Refuted, Unemployment Disputed

(Mick Collins; BUSINESS DAY, 11 Dec 86) 98

Short-Term Relief for Unemployment Not Enough

(GRASSROOTS, Dec 86) 99

U.S. Company Announces Expansion, Not Pullout

(Chris Moerdyk; THE SUNDAY STAR, 7 Dec 86) 101

Econometrix Review Says Loss From Sanctions Will Be Minimal

(David Cumming; THE SUNDAY STAR, 7 Dec 86) 102

Open CBD Trading Brings Little Change

(Dianna Games; BUSINESS DAY, 5 Dec 86) 103

Interest Charges Fall as Reserve Bank Reduces Bank Rate

(Michael Chester; THE STAR, 10 Dec 86) 104

Reserve Bank Figures on Capital Inflow

(Gerald Prosalendis; BUSINESS DAY, 8 Dec 86) 105

Bank Warns Against Government Growth Stimulus

(Stephen Rogers; BUSINESS DAY, 11 Dec 86) 106

Government Blamed for Slump in Engineering

(Mick Collins; BUSINESS DAY, 4 Dec 86) 107

Demand for Nation's Coal Continues Despite Sanctions

(Neil Behrmann; THE STAR, 10 Dec 86) 108

Vaal Dam Upgrading Raises Capacity

(Shirley Woodgate; THE STAR, 11 Dec 86) 110

Ship Owners Decrease Service to South African Market

(AFRICA ECONOMIC DIGEST, 8-14 Nov 86) Ill

Briefs

Volkskas: Gold 'Central To Growth* 112

Operation Hunger Figures 112

/7310 - f -
BOTSWANA

BRIEFS

CHINESE LOAN FOR RAILWAY DEVELOPMENT—Gaborone, 13 Dec (SAPA) The Chinese

Government has approved an interest free loan of P10.8 million (about R13.5

million) to the Botswana Government for railway line development of the

section between Gaborone and the southern border. Speaking in parliament

yesterday, the Botswana vice president and minister of finance and development planning, Mr Peter Mmusi, said the railway track renewal is one of the

major developments to be undertaken during the National Development Plan

Six when Botswana takes over the railway line from Zimbabwe early next

year. Mr Mmusi, who was presenting the economic and technical cooperation

loan ratification bill for the second reading, said a large section of the

track was worn out and required relaying as soon as possible. LTextj

[Johannesburg SAPA in English 1126 GMT 13 Dec 86 MB] /9274

BDF ENCOURAGED TO DEFEND COUNTRY—The permanent secretary to the president,

Mr Festus Mogae, today urged members of the Botswana Defense Force [BDF] to

put more effort and never yield in defending Botswana against external aggression. Mr Mogae, who was speaking at a pass out parade for 400 soldiers

at Sir Seretse Khama barracks in Mogoditshane, called on members of the armed

forces to show determination in their work because the nation has confidence

in them. He said although the BDF was a relatively small army, its quality

could still be improved. Mr Mogae said they were the servants of the public

and not the nation's masters, He further reminded them that, by «^ing in

the defense force, they were going to face challenges and responsibilities

which entailed hard work, inconvenience, and danger. Mr Mogae also congratulated the graduates on their decision to join the BDF. He said the

government was aware of the acute shortage of accommodation being experienced

by members of the force. The problem, he said, was due to shortage of resources as well as delays caused by building contractors. Mr Mogae appealed

to the army to bear with the authorities as the government ?

as *°*f *^ *est

to ease the situation. [Text] [Gaborone Domestic Service in English 1610

GMT 15 Dec 86 MB] /9274

CSOs 3400/686
COMOROS

BRIEFS

WAVE OF ARRESTS-.President Ahmed Abdallah has had a dozen members of the opposition Union pour une Republique Democratique aux Comores arrested since

October 21, the URDC said in a communique sent to THE INDIAN OCEAN NEWSLETTER.

This wave of arrests began immediately after the visit to the archipelago of

French prime minister Jacques Chirac, when the URDC evidently greatly annoyed the Comorian president by displaying banners with slogans against his

regime on the road. Mr Chirac took from Hayaya airport to the presidential

residence of Beit-Salaam at Moroni. URDC leader Mouzaoir Abdallah was also

refused an exit visa to go to Mauritius on October 22. Meanwhile the holding

of early legislative elections seems increasingly probable. According to information obtained by THE NEWSLETTER, a date for them could be announced by

President Abdallah after parliament votes on the budget. In normal circumstances elections would not be held for another five months. [Text] [Paris

THE INDIAN OCEAN NEWSLETTER in English 25 Oct 86 p 4] /9274

VANILLA SALES TO RESUME—The European Association of Vanilla Importers will

shortly lift its suspension of the convention concluded with the Comoros on

the marketing of 150 tonnes of Comorian vanilla. The sale above quota of 20

tonnes of vanilla by the Kalfane company, which was responsible for the suspension of the agreement, is no longer considered important, at least at an

economic level. The vanilla importers have obtained an agreement that export

licences delivered by the government should also be approved by the stabilisation fund as a supplementary check. THE INDIAN OCEAN NEWSLETTER has

learned in addition that the Comoros authorities kept the government of

Madagascar regularly up to date with developments. Madagascar, the leading

world producer of vanilla, is a signatory with the Comoros and Reunion of the

agreement fixing the price of vanilla at 70 dollars a kilo. However the political battle between the Comorian president Ahmed Abdallah and his rival in

the vanilla export business, Amine Kalfane, who is supported by the opposition, is not yet over. It seems, though, that in this incident, at least,

neither has emerged the winner, [Text] [Paris THE INDIAN OCEAN NEWSLETTER

in English 25 Oct 86 p 7] /9274

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL REPORT-.Among 76 people jailed for alleged opposition

to the government, Amnesty International has adopted more than 40 as prisoners

of conscience, being all the civilians jailed after the trial of November 1985

of soldiers and civilians accused of involvement in the purported coup attempt

of March 8, The organisation expressed concern at tortures inflicted on
certain prisoners held in preventive detention, one of whom, said Adamou, a

French citizen, is said to have died under interrogation. Amnesty also

noted that during the two trials staged between November 4 and 8, 1985, by

Moroni courts, the prosecution provided no proof of the participation of

civilians in the events of March, There was also no evidence that the

soldiers on trial intended to overthrow the government, although several of

them admitted taking part in a mutiny. [Text] [Paris THE INDIAN OCEAN NEWSLETTER in English 25 Oct 86 p 8] /9274

CSOr 3400/652
KENYA

BRIEFS

CURFEW IMPOSED AT VIHIGA—A one-month curfew has been imposed in part of

Kakamega district in Luhya territory because of the activities of

"terrorists" of the Angola-Musumbiji group, the Kenyan News Agency reported

on December 6. This group, whose aims are obscure, is said to have been

active for some time in several regions of western Kenya. [Text] [Paris

THE INDIAN OCEAN NEWSLETTER in English 13 Dec 86 p 6] /9317

CSO: 3400/676
MADAGASCAR

BRIEFS

FANINE ACCUSATIONS-^onja Jaona, the opposition leader who was Didiet

Ratsiraka's rival in the presidential elections of 1982, recently accused

the government of depriving the southern part of the country of rice while

the region is threatened by famine because of the drought which has afflicted

it for the past two years. (A majority of voters from the south voted for

Monja Jaona in 1982.) The accusations, which put the number of those affected

by food shortages at 185,000, were contained in a letter appealing for outside

assistance, notably from the International Red Cross. The letter also accused the government of hiding the existence of a famine in the south from

International Organisations. [Text] [Paris THE INDIAN OCEAN NEWSLETTER in

English 25 Oct 86 p 4] /9274

CSO: 3400/652
MALAWI

EIB LENDS FUNDS FOR PORTLAND CEMENT FACELIFT

London AFRICAN ECONOMIC DIGEST in English 29 Nov-5 Dec 86 p 17

[Text]

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has

signed loans totalling ECU 4 million ($4.1

million) with Malawi Development

Corporation (MDC). The funds, advanced

undertheterms ofthethird Lome

Convention, will beon-lentto Portland

Cement Company(Malawi), which is

wholly owned by MDC.

A ECU 2.5 million ($2.6 million)

commercial loan is to goon rehabilitation

and modernisation ofthe Changalume

clinker plant, near Zomba inthe south, and

on upgradingthe company's Blantyre

cement works. Repayment is over 15 years

at 5 per cent interest, after deductingthe

interest subsidy drawn from the European

Development Fund (EDF).

EIB has also advanced MDC a

conditional loan of ECU 1.5 million ($1.6

million) to helpfund a subscriptionfor

income notes. The loan, repayableover a

maximum 25 years, carries 2 per cent

interest.

Thefunds will gotowards reviving

Portland's flaggingfortunes through a

modernisation programme, which will

hopefully encourage investors totake up

some ofthe shares now held by MDC. A

six-year management contract has been

signed with Irish Cement Consultancy

Services, which has discussedthe project

with EIB and Portland. Part of Irish

Cement's contractinvolves taking a

nominal stake in Portland, building upto 10

per cent ofthe equity.

Work, costedat ECU 6.5 million ($6.7

million), involves installing new quarrying

equipment, renovating one kiln and

overhauling another, which will be kept as

a standby. With one kiln in full production,

capacity should riseto 100,000tons. Other

aspects are improving storage facilities,

the coal firing system, instrumentation and

handling equipment at Changalume as

well as upgrading cement packing

machines, and installing conveyors for

loading at Blantyre.

As technical partner, Irish Cement—

which already operates the cement works

at Chilanga in Zambia and is studying

otherAfrican projects—is supplying

personnel tooversee accounting,

administration and training; Portland will

tender for supply contracts itself.

The scheme aims to increase annual

capacity to 100,000tons; it is now about

70,000tons, although production is nearer

60,000. Domestic demand, which is setto

increase, is put at 80,000-90,000tons, with

the balancecomingfrom Zambia.

In additiontothe EIB loans, funds are

expected tocomefrom share

subscriptions, MDC'sown resources and

possibly from external sources in theform

of supplier's credits.

EIB part-financed feasibility studies in

1983, and in 1984 funded a geological

survey which confirmedthat limestone

reserves at Changalume were sufficientto

meetthe plant's requirements. It also

provided a ECU 3.97 million ($4.1 million)

conditional loan earlierthis yearto back

equity participation in the much-delayed

integrated saw and panel mill at

Chikangawa (AED 26:4:86).

CSO: 3400/665

/9317
MALAWI

BRIEFS

80,000 MOZAMBICAN REFUGEES IN COUNTRY—Blantyre—There are now 80 000

Mozambican refugees in Malawi, reports in Blantyre have disclosed. A

few weeks ago the Mozambique News Agency, Aim, estimated that at least

200 000 Mozambicans had fled to Malawi to escape from the war between

government forces and rebels of the Mozambique National Resistance movement. But the Malawian Red Cross said that it was coordinating all relief

work for the Mozambicans who had fled from the war and sought refuge in the

Nsanje, Chikwawa, Mulanje, Ntcheu and Dedza districts and that, in these

areas, there were an estimated 80 000 refugees. Yesterday, the Save the

Children Fund of Malawi donated 3 000 kg of flour to the Malawian Red

Cross for distribution to the displaced Mozambicans. [Text] [Johannesburg

THE STAR in English 11 Dec 86 p 6] /9317

CSO: 3400/665
MAURITIUS

DISSENSION WITHIN MMM REPORTED

Paris INDIAN OCEAN NEWSLETTER in English 25 Oct 86 p 4

[Text] The main opposition party in Mauritius, the Mouvement Militant

Mauricien is suffering from substantial internal dissension which has emerged

recently notably during its congress (see ION No 250), in contradictory statements by the party leadership, in particular on the question of the demilitarisation of the Indian Ocean, THE INDIAN OCEAN NEWSLETTER has learned from

reliable sources that moves are afoot inside the party, led by one faction,

to depose Paul Berenger as prime minister of the shadow cabinet and replace

him by Prem Nababsingh, who is a former ambassador to France in 1982 and the

current chairman of the MMM politbureau. The plan is backed by all those in

the MMM who have believed since the electoral defeat of 1983 that the party

should have a Hindu as a potential future prime minister, Paul Berenger would,

on the other hand, be put forward as president of a so-far hypothetical republic,

THE NEWSLETTER has also learned that a serious dispute has arisen between Paul

Berenger and Jean-Claude de l'Estrac, responsible for foreign affairs in the

party. This dispute is also connected, among other things, to the matter of

replacing the head of the shadow cabinet. Mr de l'Estrac supports Prem

Nababsingh,

Some sources say the pro-Berenger faction is prepared to call on Nuvin

Ramgoolam, son of the late former prime minister and governor-general Sir

Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, who returned to Mauritius this week after several months

in London, if he remains opposed to the present government's alleged policy of

communalism.

The Labour Party, whose leadership recently decided to rejoin the government

without consulting the rank and file, is also shaken by an internal crisis.

Some elements are said to be actively trying to ditch the party leader, Sir

Satcam Boolell, Sir Satcam is also still being ignored by Dr Ramgoolam, whose

father built up the Labour Party in the 1960s into the country's main political

force, and who is seen by some as a man of providence to counter present

policies,

/9274

CSO.' 3400/652
MAYOTTE

CHIRAC PLEDGES AID, INVESTMENT TAX RELIEF

Paris THE INDIAN OCEAN NEWSLETTER in English 25 Oct 86 p 5

[Text] Mayotte welcomed for the first time ever a head of government on

October 19, but prime minister Jacques Chirac did not bring it the status of

a French administrative department which its representatives have so loudly

demanded. The local party, the Mouvement du Peuple Mahorais, gave him a cool

reception, therefore, particularly as the inhabitants had learned from Radio

Comores that Mr Chirac would be going on to Moroni for talks with President

Ahmed Abdallah the same day. However, no fewer than 10,000 people turned

out to see the French premier, whose party, the Rassemblement pour la

Republique, is expanding in Mayotte to the detriment of the MPM. Mr Chirac

put economic and social development before any modification of Mayotte's

status, and promised that in any case the island would remain French as long

as it wished.

Under the "loi-programme" covering France's overseas territories Mayotte will

benefit from substantial aid over the next five years. Included in the budget

are 130 million francs for a deep water port, 45 million for air links, 20

million for agricultural development and 34 million in 1986 for public housing.

Tax relief on investment in overseas territories will also apply to Mayotte.

For their part, Mayotte's elected representatives asked for a FASSO (obligatory fund for social and sanitary action), such as exists on Reunion, which

provides for collective rather than individual distribution of certain welfare

benefits. An agremeent on this will be signed with the government in the next

few months,

I.0.N,—Mayotte's representatives, led by Senator Marcel Henri, have not

abandoned their initial demands for a change in status and see a sign of hope

in the "departmentalisation in principle" conceded by Mr Chirac during talks.

However, the present government in Paris does not envisage such a move in the

short of medium term.

Whatever happens, though, for the first time Paris is to devote substantial

sums to the development of Mayotte, beyond comparison with that given to the

Comoros. This can only widen the gap between Mayotte and the other islands

in the archipelago and give rise to disparities which French governments previously had tried to avoid.

/9274

CSO! 3400/652 n
MOZAMBIQUE

VISIT TO RENAMO TERRITORY, MEETING WITH DHLAKAMA DESCRIBED

Johannesburg SUNDAY TIMES in English 30 Nov 86 pp 23, 25

[Article by Paul Moorcraft]

[Text]

DESERTED towns, empty roads, cannibalised

machines, fighting over precious fuel... hints of

the Mad Max movies, but this was Mozambique.

"Mike Davies" — that's not his real name; he still has

family in Zimbabwe, now at war with Renamo — and I

wanted to make a film about Renamo and its elusive

president, Afonso Dhlakama.

One or two journalists had got into Renamo areas, despite the

rebels' cut-throat reputation, but no one had been crazy enough

to attempt a long-range penetration with modern - and heavy

— professional video

equipment. But Mike is a

Rambo type, and I tagged

along.

We" intend to go back, so it

would be unwise — and dangerous — to describe exactly

how we got in, but it wasn't

easy.

Inside Mozambique the

journey began with a dugout

canoe. Wobbling through fast

currents, with hippos grunting alongside, pushing

through croc-infested

swamps, we fretted over our

four heavy packs and the sensitive, expensive camera

equipment

Anxious

Curious

This was the start of a hard

trip through some exquisitely

beautiful countryside.

After a short march we met

our first Renamo contact...

blue jeans, purple teacosy hat,

riding a bicycle and carrying

the ubiquitous symbol of Renamo rank, a transistor radio

in a gaudy, homemade bag.

He led us past curious sentries carrying that other symbol of guerrilla war, the AK

rifle.

Everybody tended to stare,

especially in isolated villages

where young people were perhaps seeing white men for the

first time.

Eventually we walked into

a small transit camp. Language was immediately a

problem.

We managed to communicate vaguely in a mixture of

pigeon Portuguese and basic

Shona, although I insisted on

amusing myself, and confusing our hosts, by quoting continuously from a very old

Portuguese phrase book.

Thus: "Would anyone care to

partner me in a waltz?"

We were treated politely

and fed mealie meal and

chicken. For two weeks we

had the same food, except

when we ate tinned Russian

fish, courtesy of Frelimo.

Mike and I had been together behind the Russian lines in

Afghanistan and so we worried about those terrible Soviet gunships which make local

choppers look like dragonflies.

Mike had secretly been into

Maputo the week before and

had counted the gunships

lined up at the airport The

guerrillas appeared to be using a very basic radio code to

arrange our transit from one

base to the next, so we were

anxious about Soviet interception of the signals.

If caught, we would no

doubt have been paraded as

' South African spies. As it happened, our worst problems

did come swooping out of the

sky — mosquitoes.

After the transit camp we

travelled on small motorbikes, again a reluctant gift

from Frelimo, 60km to the

main base in Zambesia Province.

It was large and well hidden among mountains and in

deep forest. About 500 guerrillas lived there, plus thousands

of camp followers.

Here we witnessed examSles of the stern discipline of

le rebels, who have a strict

punishment code, especially if

the guerrillas intimidate the

povo (the masses).

Renamo troops sign up for

the duration. They are-not

supposed to marry any of the

female warriors who fight

10
alongside them ... until tue

war is over.

Morale is high, although the

standard of military training

is very low and the weapons

were usually in a terrible condition.

Remember, these are

second-generation guerrillas;

Frelimo perhaps absorbed 30

percent of the expertise of

their Eastern bloc instructors, and Renamo, many of

whose officers are ex-Frelimo, have in turn adopted a

percentage of their original

training, beefed up occasion

ally in the past by Rhodesian and South African training.

The general in

charge of Zambesia

Province is something

of an eccentric; his

whimsically autocratic ways reminded us of

Shaka's court.

Mike, a former medic, cured the general's

stomach problems,

and he reciprocated

with a series of drunken parties where we

were obliged to dance

and, in my case, to sing

a "traditional song", a

rather rude rugby ditty in Welsh.

Drunkenness is exceptional, however,

partly because of the

tight discipline and

partly because of the

paucity of any commercially produced liquor (or any goods).

After a week in the

camp, which was infested with rats, we

travelled 200km south to the

Zambesi River in a convoy of

three small motorbikes. Villagers rushed to greet us everywhere we stopped bringing mealiepap and water.

In this raw, primitive, regressive Africa, Renamo

seemed to have no problems

with their "hearts and minds"

campaign.

We passed abandoned Portuguese stores and farms:

here a beautiful cathedral

picked clean, and there a devastated town, eerily still, a

HNP nightmare realised.

A tractor stood gutted on

the dirt road; later a train

with carriages strewn over

the overgrown enbankment

We saw no wildlife except for

four buck, two troops of baboons and many snakes. It

was a little like the postapocalypse film "The Day

After".

Crippled

A half-finished bridge stood

to attention on each side of

the wide Zambesi; millions

and millions of rands' worth

of heavy plant equipment

were frozen and derelict

A large sub-station for the

Cabora Bassa grid lay crippled and helpless; bits of the

transformers decorated the

locals' huts.

All was not death and destruction, however. The peasants had been given T>ack

their land and their chiefs.

Elementary schooling had recommenced. The Catholic religion seemed to flourish

again.

After crossing the Zambesi

on a captured Frelimo inflatable boat, our small party

reached Caia in Sofala Province.

Rendezvous

Again an obviously once

pretty Portuguese town, now

empty except for a Renamo

control point and some Frelimo prisoners eking out an

existence on the outskirts.

We raced now on tarmac

roads, then later turned into

the forests of the Gorongosa

region to keep our rendezvous

with Mocambique's Scarlet

Pimpernel, Afonso Dhiakama.

He is a key man in the

future of Southern Africa: he

controls the destiny of the

Beira Corridor. Without that

escape hatch there can be no

effective war — economic,

political or military —

against Pretoria.

Enemy

The first time we saw him

he was dressed very simply in

a blue shirt and dark slacks,

sitting quietly at a simple

table in a grass hut. At 33 and

bespectacled he looks like a

younger, chubbier, version of

his arch-enemy, Robert Mu-,

gäbe. He laughs easily.

This Catholic missiontrained father of two little

girls is both relaxed and confident Highly intelligent, he

speaks a very precise Portuguese, although he understands English. Unlike other

politicians, he was keen to listen.

He vehemently denied any

involvement with Malawi or

South Africa, and emphasised

Renamo's self-sufficiency:

"We have no complex theory;

our strategy is simple. It is

based upon the support of the

people.

For almost two days Mike

and I grilled him, especially

about the fatal South African

connection. Here was a movement born and reborn in original sin from Rhodesian and

South African parents.

But he demonstrated a dislike of-South Africa which

was exacerbated by the signing of Nkomati Accord. "We

were told about it just a week

before the signing," he said.

Our discussions and examination of captured new equipment suggested, but did not

prove, that South Africa had

not only switched sides, but

was busy militarily supporting Frelimo, not Renamo.

Our long talk touched on

many fascinating topics: how

the Vaz diary was forged by

Frelimo intelligence; the propaganda victory Frelimo had

secured when Renamo temporarily withdrew, after a tipoff, from their Gorongosa HQ

in 1985, "without the loss of a

single man or piece of equipment"; the Renamo distrust

of Chester Crocker, and historical details such as new

light on the murder of Zanla

general Josiah Tongogara,

arranged by Machel and Mugabe.

We did demur on some;

points. I argued that if thei

infamous Vaz document was i

a forgery, then the

forger had shown brilliant insights into the

rifts between Pretoria's civil-military

elite.

Dhlakama felt utterly confident about

the future. The war, he

prophesied, would be

won within two years.

"The economy of

Mozambique is in

pieces and paralysed,"

he said. "There can be

no recovery until the

end of the war. A large

part of the population

a controlled by Renamo. Frelimo is only

found in the cities."

When we pointed

out that Renamo had

very little international support, an atrocious public image,

lacked modern weapons and even a propaganda radio station,

the president was unperturbed.

Even if black rule

came to "Azania" and

Malawi went socialist it

would not affect the popular

support of the people and the

fact that Frelimo was crumbling, he maintained.

"I would like to tell those

Western countries which give

aid to Frelimo that all the aid

goes to the armed forces.

When they supply food, it

doesn't go to the needy people, but to the Frelimo army.

"And aid money is used to

buy weapons to maintain

themselves in power. The aid

doesn't reach those who are

dying of hunger, the money

goes only to the government

and army."

Honest

We bade farewell to this

impressive man and promised to return again. His lack

of experience with journalists showed — he was too

honest.

Because his off-the-record

discussions were potentially

damaging and naive, we

reckoned that perhaps his

denials about any entanglements with Pretoria and

Banda — as well as the evidence of our own eyes — rang

true.

Nevertheless, as we made

the arduous return trip, we

wondered about the amazingly coincidental congruence of Renamo's and Pretoria's strategies.

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/9317

11
MOZAMBIQUE

MALAWI OFFICERS AIDING MNR IN ZAMBEZIA ATTACKS

MB161327 Maputo in English to Southern Africa 1100 GMT 16 Dec 86

[Text] Members of the Malawian Armed Forces integrated into gangs of the

South Africanwsponsored MNR bandits are taking part in attacks against the

central Mozambican Province of Zambezia, In its front page lead article of

today, the Mozambican daily paper, NOTICIAS, cites the administrator of the

Zambezia District of Namarroi as saying that high-ranking Malawian officers

take part in bandit raids. He said that three bandits captured in Upper

Zambezia, although they carried no identifying documents, appear not to be

Mozambicans. They expressed themselves not in Portuguese or in one of the

vernacular languages mostly spoken in central Mozambique, but in English or

in Chichewa, a major language in Malawi, Combat rations and other military

equipment of Malawian origin have been captured by Mozambican troops in

Zambezia,

There are also strong suspicions of direct South African participation in the

war in Zambezia, NOTICIAS states that in one clash in Upper Zambezia three

white men fighting of the MNR were killed. They carried no documents and

are believed to be members of the South African Armed Forces. The administrator of He District told the paper that a captured MNR spy confessed of

being a group of five men integrated from Malawi with the mission of reconnoiterina Mozambican troop positions and important economic targets in the

districts, of He, Gurue, and Namorroi. The same spy said that bandit gangs

entering Zambezia from Malawi go back to transit camps in the border district

of Milanje, These camps are named (Nanfuto) and (Marrituro), and in November

they received 5,000 bandits who were then sent on raiding missions throughout

Upper Zambezia,

The administrator of Nogela District in the center of the province told

NOTICIAS that the MNR had destroyed (?80) primary schools and the only

secondary school in the district. The school network in Nogela has been

reduced to five primary schools.

There are now some 5,000 displaced people in the northern part of Nogela who

have fled from the MNR. They are seriously short of food, clothing and

medicine. Similar dramas face displaced people in many parts of Zambezia,

According to Mozambique's national disasters officer, there are at least

270,000 displaced people in Zambezia, But there is also popular resistance

to the MNR and NOTICIAS cites occasions on which local peasants, sometimes

armed only with spears and arrows, have attacked bandit camps.

/9274

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12
MOZAMBIQUE

OFFICIAL CITES EVIDENCE OF MALAWI AID TO MNR

MB222137 Maputo Domestic Service in Portuguese 1030 GMT 22 Dec 86

[Statement by (Martins Kmathi), first secretary of the Frelimo Party and

governor of He District of Zambezia Province; date and place not given—

recorded]

[Text] I can prove with concrete evidence that Malawi actively participates

in the destabilization of our country. Not so long ago we captured an agent

of the armed bandits sent to spy on the headquarters of the He and Namarroi

Districts and the Socone tea estate. This agent said that he was born in

Namarroi and had been in Malawi a long time, where he joined the armed

bandits. He was sent on an espionage mission so that they could attack the

headquarters of the districts of He and Namarroi, and the Socone tea

estate, Meanwhile, he brought with him a group of about 5,000 armed bandits

from Malawi,

So, as far as I know, Malawi participates in the destabilization of our

country, because it receives and sends armed bandits into Mozambique

/9274

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13
MOZAMBIQUE

MNR LEADER SAYS IMPORTANT VICTORY IMMINENT

MB150650 Johannesburg Domestic Service in English 0500 GMT 15 Dec 86

[Text] The president of the Renamo Movement in Mozambique, Mr Afonso

Dhlakama, says Renamo is on the point of scoring an important military

victory in Mozambique.

In the first interview he has granted in the past 11 years Mr Dhlakama

told a major Portuguese radio station that his movement would talk to

Frelimo on condition that all foreign troops were withdrawn from the country.

He said that several thousand Ethiopian troops have arrived in Mozambique,

and Indian commanders would be expected to bolster the Frelimo government.

Mr Dhlakama denied that Reraano was being supported by South Africa. He said

that nothing had changed in Mozambique since the death of President Samora

Machel, He added that President Chissano was not the moderate politician

that many thought he was.

The Renamo leader said that the ultimate goal of his movement was to hold a

general election and set up a multiparty democratic government. He said

that after the imminent military victory, Renamo would allow a transitional

period, during which the population census would be conducted before the

holding of a general election. Cooperation would be possible with the

Frelimo government on condition that it guaranteed a cease-fire and accepted

the principle of free elections.

He said that Frelimo generals he had spoken to had spoken to had said they

were tired of the war and of fighting against their own people. He added

that there were frequent clashes between Frelimo and their Zimbabwean allies.

He accused a number of Western countries of helping Frelimo when it was

Renamo which was in real need of help.

/9274

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14
MOZAMBIQUE

COUNTRY HOLDS ELECTIONS FOR DELEGATE TO PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY

Second General Elections

MB141955 Maputo Domestic Service in Portuguese 1900 GMT 14 Dec 86

[Text] The second general elections which began last August today reached

their climax following the election throughout the country of deputies to

the People's Assembly, the supreme body of state power in the People's

Republic of Mozambique. According to latest information received at our

news desk, the provinces of Nampula, Zambezia, and Sofala have already

elected their deputies to the People's Assembly. As already announced in

our previous news bulletins, the City of Maputo elected 37 deputies and the

Province of Maputo 21 deputies and 1 alternate. We still do not have information on the election results from Niassa, Cabo Delgado, Tete, Manica,

Inhambane, and Gaza because of communication difficulties,

Cabo Delgado, Zambezia, Maputo

MB151902 Maputo Domestic Service in Portuguese 1700 GMT 15 Dec 86

[Excerpts] The Cabo Delgado provincial assembly yesterday elected 24

deputies and 1 alternate member to the People's Assembly. The elected

deputies include the following officials: Marcelino dos Santos, Tome

Eduardo, Joao Baptlsata Cosme, and Julio Carrilho,

In Zambezia Province, 23 deputies were elected to the supreme body of state

power,

The Province of Maputo elected 21 deputies and 1 alternate member while the

City of Maputo elected 37 deputies,

Manica Elects 15 Deputies

MB151246 Maputo Domestic Service in Portuguese 1030 GMT 15 Dec 86

[Excerpt] The Manica Provincial Assembly, which was constituted on

12 December, convened in its first ordinary session in Chimoio yesterday

and elected 15 deputies to the People's Assembly.

15
Among the 15 deputies elected In Manica Province for the People's Assembly

are Jorge Rebelo, member of the Frelimo Party Central Committee Political

Bureau) Minister of Justice Ali Dautoj and Manica Province Governor Rafael

Maguni,

Gaza Elects Representative

MB151243 Maputo Domestic Service in Portuguese 1030 GMT 15 Dec 86

[Text] The Gaza provincial deputies convened in its first provincial assembly session yesterday. They elected 19 deputies and 1 alternate for the

People's Assembly, Ninety-six out of 100 Gaza Provincial Assembly deputies

participated in the secret ballot. Two blank votes were registered.

Among the 19 deputies who were elected yesterday are some senior national

officials, including Sebastiao Mabote, member of the Frelimo Party Central

Committee and deputy minister of national defense; Minister of Trade Aranda

da Silvaj Deputy Minister of Health Fernando Vaz; Gaza Province Governor

Francisco Pateguana: and Fernando Matavel, military commander of Gaza

Province,

During the proceedings, the deputies elected Francisco Pateguana as chairman

and created a standing commission consisting of 10 members,

Sofala, Nampula, Matola Choose

MB151302 Maputo in English to Southern Africa 1100 GMT 15 Dec 86

[Text] Results from the elections to Mozambique's parliament--the People's

Assembly—are now available from 3 of the country's 10 provinces as well as

from the City of Maputo. These results were announced yesterday.

In the central province of Sofala, 22 full members of the assembly were

elected. These include Prime Minister Mario Machungo; Minister of Interior

Manuel Antonio? the Director of Mozambique's Eduardo Mondlane University,

Rui Baltazar; and the general secretary of the Mozambican Women's Organization, OMM, Salome Moiane. The election took place in the City of Beira.

In the northern province of Nampula, 29 deputies were elected, including

Cooperation Minister Jacinto Veloso; Agricultural Minister Joao Ferreira;

Deputy Transport Minister Azarias Muhate; and the provincial military commander Major General Eduardo da Silva Nihia.

In the City of Matola, just outside the capital, elections were held by the

Maputo Provincial Assembly for 20 deputies to the legislature. Among those

elected were Frelimo Party Political Bureau member Armando Guebuza; Secretary

of State for Defense, Joaquim Munhepe; Secretary of State for Culture and

Mozambique's best known prose writer, Luis Bernardo Honwana; and Finance

Minister Abdul Magid Osman. Mr Osman received the lowest number of votes

16
among the successful candidates with seven members of the provincial assembly

voting against him.

In none of these three provinces were any of the Frelimo Party Central Committee recommendations overturned, The Central Committee drew up the list

of candidates for the election. The list contains (?80) precent more

names than (?the 62 received) but the Central Committee also indicates

which of the candidates it would like to see in the assembly. Results from

the other seven provinces are expected later today or tomorrow.

/9274

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17
ZIMBABWE HAULER TRANSPORTS GRAIN TO FAMINE VICTIMS

Harare THE FINANCIAL GAZETTE in English 28 Nov 86 p 27

MOZAMBIQUE

[Text]

NORTH Eastern Transport

(NET) is the "mission of mercy"

haulier. Every day their vehicles

make the long haul into remote

areas ofMozambique loaded with

grain.

Their latest contract, operated

from a special depot next to the

GMB at Mutoko, is to ferry 3 000

tonnes northwards to Changara,

Tete, Moatize and Estima. After

completeing the run, the NET crew

will repeat the same mission again

early in the New Year.

The Mutoko depot is manned by

a crew of drivers, mates, maintenance men and office staff. It is

their job to keep operations going,

regardless.

EEC-FUNDED

The European Economic Community (EEC) is funding this exercise, although the North Eastern

crew mainly work through World

Vision.

In September and October, using

Rusape as their base, they transported 5 000 tonnes of grain to needy

people in the Chimoio and Beira

areas, delivering mainly to Red

Cross distribution points. In 10

weeks, operating day and night,

they were received as heroes everywhere they arrived. T>~ special

crew finished the contract two

weeks early and didn't suffer a single breakdown. They logged the

equivalent of twice around the

world.

For this kind of work, NET uses

its repowered horses. These are vehicles that have been stripped right

down tfthe chassis and rebuilt, with

a new engine installed. The engineers have taught other major

transport companies the technique,

and meanwhile NET saves enormous sums of foreign exchange.

NET's Ian Strachan says: "Our

repowers are more reliable and cost

efficient than their originals."

These are also being used to take

farm implements and seeds, both

maize and vegetables, into Mozambique from Harare and Bulawayo

direct. This project is funded by

Denmark.

NET is part ofthe TA Motor and

Transport Division, which also includes Glens. There are 54 vehicles

under rigid maintenance schedule at

Plymouth Road, Harare and it is

probably the only Zimbabwe company that can offer a comprehensive

service — freight forwarding,

removals, airfreighting, shipping

and a triple rail siding facility, as

well as the contract work for aid

agencies.

CSO: 3600/667

/9317

18
MOZAMBIQUE

BRIEFS

SUSPECTED SPIES TO BE EXPELLED-~Three Portuguese nationals are to be expelled from Mozambique after almost 3 months in jail. The three were arrested in September on charges of acting against state security. All three

were released from prison early this month. They are expected to arrive in

Lisbon early next year. Meanwhile, the MNR rebels fighting the Frelimo

government say they have killed 135 soldiers and captured another 15 since

last Sunday, The MNR has not acknowledged any casualties. The Mozambique

Government rarely comments on rebel claims. The MNR says recent operations

included a heavy artillery attack on the port Nacala, [Text] [Umtata

Capital Radio in English 0600 GMT 16 Dec 86 MB] /9274

JOURNALISTS SUPPORT DETAINED RSA EDITOR—We begin our news service today

with a vote of solidarity with Zwelache Sisulo, a South African journalist

who is the editor of the NEW NATION newspaper, and who was arrested by the

Pretoria regime on Friday, [Begin Zwelache recording in English] The

struggle must continue so that the greatest respect we can pay to Samora

Machel is to complete the revolution that he did not complete, [end recording] That was Zwelache Sisulu when he called Radio Mozambique, expressing

his sorrow at Machel's death and solidarity with our struggle. Now, more

than ever before, Sisulu and the South African people need that solidarity.

In these times, the Mozambican journalists state that people like Zwelanche

Sisulu cannot be left in the hands of a state that is known worldwide for

killing patriots in his jails, [Text] [Maputo Domestic Service in Portuguese

1030 GMT 17 Dec 86 MB] /9274

CREDIT LINE FROM ZIMBABWE—Zimbabwe has opened a 5 million Zimbabwean dollar

line of credit for Mozambique, The credit is to be used for the importation

of Zimbabwean raw materials for Mozambican industries over the next 2 years.

Among the items to be imported are: cotton fiber, tobacco, steel [word indistinct], asbestos, and seeds. Agreement on the credit was reached at a

meeting in Harare of the Mozambique-Zimbabwe Joint Commission. [Text]

[Maputo in English to Southern Africa 1100 GMT 21 Dec 86 MB] /9274

DHLAKAMA REPORTEDLY IN MALAWI—A former Mozambican prisoner of the armed

bandits, [Wahid Lidissone), has told AIM that the president of the armed

bandits, Afonso Dlakama, was evacuated to Malawi on 2 December. (Wahid

Lidissone) who arrived in Moatize 2 weeks ago from Malawi, said the

Malawian authorities had sent two buses to the Code region to transport

19
Dhlakama and his most trusted collaborators. (Lidissone) told AIM that

Dhlakama had been living at an armed bandit base in Milanje district,

Zarobezia Province, before he was evacuated to Malawi. According to

(lidissone), the withdrawal of the president of the armed bandits was a

result of the concentration of Mozambican forces near the base. [Text]

[Maputo Domestic Service in Portuguese 0500 GMT 22 Dec 86 MB] /9274

FAMINE RELIEF REQUIRED FOR TETE—Tete Province Governor Eduardo Arao has

said that the province requires immediate aid to confront famine situation,

but greater importance was given to projects which would ensure a sound

future, Eduardo Arao said this during a meeting he held last week with a

UN delegation which visited Tete for familiarizing itself with the situation created by natural disasters in order to better study the kind of

support to be extended to the region. The situation is dramatic in that

there is a combination of the effects of natural disasters and the war of

aggression mounted against us by South Africa through armed bandits. The

war forces the people to leave their residential areas in disarray- abandon**

ing their fields and property, thus substantially increasing the need for

assistance. According to the governor, a total of 458,000 people are af<-

fected by famine in Tete, [Text] [Maputo Domestic Service in Portuguese

1030 GMT 21 Dec 86 MB] /9274

FPLM CAPTURES 'BANDIT' CAMP^Last Tuesday FPLM forces attacked and captured

an armed bandit camp in Chlchanga, on (Inhazombue) Plateau, in Inhambane

Province. Second Lieutenant Joao Sitoi, who commanded the operation, told

Radio Mozambique that the final assault was preceded by two battles, during

which the bandits suffered losses. Later, the bandits tried to attack our

forces' flanks but were promptly checked. [Text] [Maputo Domestic Service

in Portuguese 1030 GMT 21 Dec 86 MB] /9274

COOPERATION WITH ITALY^The total value of Mozambique-Italy cooperation has

been estimated at $100 million, Italian Charge d'Affaires to Mozambique

(Alfredo Bastianelli) told Radio Mozambique that the amount has been spent

on two main sectors, namely development and emergency aid. The diplomat

disclosed that there could be an increase in the value of cooperation within

the next few years when projects in the telecommunications sector worth $50

million are implemented. These projects will provide Mozambique with a

modern telecommunications system within 2 years. In his interview with Italian charge d'affaires further stated that a further $22 million will be allocated to the purchase of assorted goods for the Mozambican market, and

that $19 million would be spent on an irrigation project in the Umbeluzi

area, [Text] [Maputo Domestic Service in Portuguese 1030 GMT 20 Dec 86 MBl

/9274

'SOLIDARITY DONATION' FROM GDR—In Maputo today, Helmut Matthes, GDR ambassador to Mozambique, turned over various articles, including clothing, food,

office equipment, and agricultural implements as a solidarity donation from

the GDR people to the Mozambican people, The donation is specifically

destined for the Frelimo Party Central Committee, the Mozambique Workers

Organization [OTM], the Ministry of Mineral Resources ' the Higher Institute

of International Relations, Eduardo Mondlane University, and a number of

20
agricultural enterprises. The donation was received by Jose Luis Cabaco,

Frelimo Party Central Committee secretary. Present at the ceremony, apart

from other party and state officials, were Augusto Macamo, OTM secretary

general, Abner Sansao Muthemba, secretary general of the Mozambican Association of Friendship and Solidarity With Peoples; and Felix Amane, political commissar of Maputo port. [Text] [Maputo Domestic Service in Portuguese 1730 GMT 19 Dec 86 MB] /9274

BRITISH DEVELOPMENT GRANT—rln Maputo yesterday our country and Britain signed

an accord worth about 6.5 million pounds sterling, some 350 million meticals.

The accord, which was signed by Minister of Cooperation Jacinto Veloso and

British Ambassador to Mozambique James Allan, provides for the granting of

two donations to Mozambique. Of that amount 5 million pounds sterling will

be used to import spare parts for agricultural equipment, and consumer goods

for light and food industrial sectors. The remainder has been earmarked

for technical assistance and the rehabilitation of the northern railroads,

as well as the acquisition of tools, [Text] [Maputo Domestic Service in

Porguguese 1030 GMT 20 Dec 86 MB] /9274

ZIMBABWE AID FOR BANDITRY VICTIMS—The current war situation in our country

has produced a mass movement in Zimbabwe in support of Mozambique. The

Zimbabwe-Mozambique Friendship Association, Zimofa, which was created at

the beginning of this year, is one of the organizations that support

Mozambique with the objective of strengthening friendship ties and cooperation between the peoples of the two countries. Lieutenant Colonel (Clemence

Kazan), chairman of Zimofa, speaking on his organization's objectives in an

interview in Harare recently, said that Mozambique^-Zimbabwe friendship is

a normal occurrence due to the historical ties between the two countries.

He also said that Zimofa has already managed to gather an assortment of aid,

including clothing and foodstuffs, for the victims of armed banditry in our

country, [Text] [Maputo Domestic Service in Portuguese 0500 GMT 15 Dec 86

MB] /927A

ARRESTS OVER FOREIGN TRADE—Maputo—Mozambique's security police, the SNASP,

yesterday arrested an unspecified number of people for "unauthorised foreign

trade." Several foreigners were arrested and unconfirmed reports said at

least two Portuguese were among them. A SNASP spokesman said goods had

been confiscated and those people arrested were "managers or representatives

of companies operating illegally." [Text] [Johannesburg THE STAR in

English 10 Dec 86 p 3] /9317

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21
NIGER

BRIEFS

URANIUM GETS SYSMIN AID—The EEC has agreed to grant funds from the Lome

Convention's Sysmin facility to help cope with dramatic downturns in

uranium export earnings. The amount has yet to be calculated, but the

funds will be in addition to the ECU 120 million ($123.7 million) already

pledged under Lome 3. The industry has been devastated by the mineral's

declining fortunes on the world market, which led to a 26.2 percent drop

in exports between 1981 and 1985. At its peak, uranium production from the

Akouta and Arlit mines in Air accounted for 43 percent of the state budget.

The two operating companies, Compagnie Miniere d*Akouta (Cominak) and

Societe des Mines de l'Air (Somair), in which the government has a one-third

stake have been badly damaged by the crisis—Somair is considered to be in

a critical state. By 1984, uranium's contribution to the state budget had

fallen to just 14 percent (CFA 80,000 million—$243 million). The EEC does

not intend to prop up the industry itself, but will direct funds to

programmes within the World Bank structural adjustment programme, negotiated

at the start of 1986. This programme, fed by World Bank adjustment credits,

aims to concentrate on introducing budgetary rigour, streamlining the public

sector, encouraging private enterprise and reorganising agricultural policies

to boost output. Preliminary EEC proposals identify energy and economic

infrastructure in rural areas as two areas likely to quality for Sysmin aid.

[Text] [London AFRICAN ECONOMIC DIGEST in English 29 Nov 86 p 9] /9317

IDA LOAN FOR EDUCATION—The International Development Association (IDA) has

approved an $18.4 million credit for a $26.2 million primary education

project, part of the World Bank-supported structural adjustment programme,

which includes funding for human resources development (AED 29:3:86;

1:3:86). The project aims to increase primary school enrolment by some

34,000 by 1993 and involves building 750 classrooms and renovating 3,000.

The National and Higher Education and Research Ministry will be strengthened to improve its capacity to plan, monitor and implement education

projects. Other elements include promotion of a community-based school

maintenance system, limited recruitment and in-service training of teachers,

development and use of low-cost textbooks and teacher guides. Co-financing

is coming from the Norwegian government ($4.7 million), West Germany's

Kreditanstaltfuer Wiederaufbau (KfW—$1.7 million) and the government

($1.4 million). [Text] [London AFRICAN ECONOMIC DIGEST in English

29 Nov 86 p 9/ 9317

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22
NIGERIA

DEBT PACKAGE DEPENDS ON CONTINUING CREDITOR SUPPORT

London AFRICA ECONOMIC DIGEST in English 29 Nov-5 Dec 86 pp 2-3

[Text]

NEITHER side was prepared to pop champagne corks to

celebrate the agreement in principle reached on 20 November on

a debt rescheduling package between Nigerian government

officials and the creditor banks' steering committee.

The agreement came after three weeks of what one banker

described as "very strident negotiations." Its confirmation, and

any ensuing celebrations, wilf depend on the reactions from the

300-plus creditor banks represented by the steering committee to

the matter of their contribution to the $320 million new money to

be raised and to the 'boilerplate' of the agreement — the

arrangement fees, interest rates and spreads (see page 3).

8ut what the 20 November agreement does mean is that both

creditors and the government can now, with some confidence,

S88 their way through the financing maze to a viable schedule for

the implementation of the agreement and the disbursement of

new credits.

While the creditor banks are expected to signal their views on

the package by mid-December, the Paris Club of official creditors

is due to start a two-day meeting on 15 December to agree on

details of rescheduling Nigeria's debts to western export credit

agencies.

Rescheduling is expected to follow the commercial bank deal

and cover the 1986/87 period, although short-term arrears could

present a problem in the negotiations. Also of vital importance is

the amount of new money that would be agreed. Lagos had

originally hoped for $296 million this year and $590 million in

1987, with repayments starting in 1992. The Paris Club is now

being asked for $600 million in new money, with the UK's Export

Credits Guarantee Department backing half of this amount.

The World Bank started disbursement of its $452 million trade

adjustment loan to Nigeria on the day the debt deal was reached

and the last piece in the jigsaw, the uninsured short-term

creditors holding promissory notes, are now due to be sent

proposals by the government some time in December. A circular

is to be sent out to all note-holders in the week ending 29

November, informing them of the delay in the despatch of the

23
proposals and the postponement of the projected London

meeting to discuss rescheduling the maturity of the notes.

The whole operation has been made necessary by Nigeria's

determination not to be seen to be kow-towing to the IMF, and the

resultant delays during which the arrears problems have

mounted. To that end, the government has been prepared to

accept more expensive money in order to retain its political

credibility at home. That aim it seems to be achieving—although

rising prices may change that — with President Babangida

apparently winning a large measure of public support for the

strategy, although some criticisms of the terms of the deal have

begun to emerge.

The deal also confirms a political, as well as economic,

commitment by western governments and their banks. While the

commitment by US banks was always far less — hence their

tougher stance in the negotiations — they recognised that

"Nigeria is Europe's Mexico," as one US banker put it. Certainly

the deal follows Mexico — where US bank exposure, as well as

Washington's strategic concerns, are much more critical — in

developing novel means of easing Third World debt problems.

But Nigeria remains a unique case and the nature of its short-term

debt problems have ensured that it has got harsher terms.

Nigeria's rescheduling package is the first attempt in Africa at

the much-vaunted 'Baker plan' approach to Third World debt,

launched last year by the US treasury secretary to pump

commercial funds into major debtors. As such, it is a filip to the

plan in a continent that felt it was being bypassed by the initiative.

It is also the firsttime that a majordebtor has concluded a standby

arrangement with the IMF without any compulsion to draw the

money; the Mexican deal requires full IMF involvement.

The uniqueness of the Nigerian deal has failed to make the

commercial banks loosen the purse strings beyond the $320

million originally proposed, to which the steering committee have

still to persuade the creditor banks to contribute. Senior Nigerian

officials and some of the country's traditional medium-term

bankers have expressed dismay at the squabbling over $320

»million when, under pressure from the US Treasury, commercial

banks stumped up $6,000 million in new financing for Mexico.

Aside from Nigeria's relationship with the IMF, and the public

relations job that needs to be done to raise the new money, the

viability of the package in relation to Nigeria's foreign exchange

earnings remains in question. Projections used in the rescheduling talks set Nigeria's 1987 oil earnings at $6,169 million, based

on an average price of $13 a barrel and production of 1.55 million

barrels a day (b/d). This is considered extremely cautious, and is

some 20 per cent down on estimates made in July (see table).

The government is also cautious on the medium-term outlook,

positing an oil price of $15.05 by 1990 and $19.21 in 1995.

These projections clearly understate the case when measured

against recent forecasts of oil price movements. Nigeria's

Petroleum Resources Minister Rilwanu Lukman, for example,

recently predicted that: "Prices in the next year will rest in a range

between $15-18 a barrel — a level just sufficient to keep fuel oil

competitive with coal in the electricity sector and a level that could

discourage further investments in hostile oil-producing areas in

the short to medium term. In the next years I envisage oil prices

rising to $20 a barrel and thereafter rising at the rate of inflation

until 1995 or thereabouts."

24
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25
OPEC is now committed to achieving a price of $18 a barrel for

its oil, possibly by the reintroduction of a fixed price. Although this

would necessitate production cuts by OPEC members, oil

analysts, including the International Energy Agency, believe the

$15-18-a-barrel range put forward by Lukman is tenable as an

ayarage for prices next year.

The situation may become clearer after OPEC's crucial 11

December meeting in Geneva (AED 22:11:86; Market Report).

The federal government's assumption of a 1.3-million-b/d export

level is also realistic for such an average, provided others now

overproducing make cuts. But it will face a tough time in Geneva

defending this quota and arguing that it should equal exports

rather than total production.

Under existing and proposed criteria for quota allocation and

weighting of country characteristics, proposed to OPEC ministers

in October, Nigeria does not score well in comparison to other

high-population oil-producing countries, or even the lowpopulation Gulf producers. While oil industry officials are more

bullish about Nigeria's oil prospects in the medium term, they

advocate caution with revenue projections at least during the

ihree-year structural adjustment programme.

The government's cautious approach extends to the non-oil

sector, export earnings from which have been revised down. The

impact of more cautious planning is a slashing of import

projections. The gloomy mood for imports this year has darkened

further, with 1986 levels now put at $5,460 million (goods only),

over 20 per cent down on the July prediction of $7,040 million.

Imports next year are now put at $6,300 million, compared with a

hoped-for $8,040 million earlier. By 1995 they are still put at only

$3,865 million, as import-substitution policies make themselves

really felt.

The even more austere view now taken by the government

does mean that the estimated financing gap before rescheduling

is lowered. However, the sums are still impressively large. On

government calculations — based on a slightly more optimistic

rescheduling package — the 1987 and 1988 financing gaps of

$4,225 million and $3,971 million ($5,120 million and $4,660

million predicted in July) translate into a residual financing gap of

$1,150 million and $1,273 million. On this basis, the debt

servicing burden is reduced to 20 per cent of merchandise

exports, instead of the 72 per cent the bunching of repayments

and arrears had originally — and theoretically — siqnalled for

1987.

If, as expected, 1988 and 1989 debt is rescheduled on similar

terms — hopefully after less protracted negotiations — debt

servicing should hold at around 20 per cent until 1990, when

repayments will move it up to 30 per cent.

The 'manageability' the rescheduling gives to Nigeria's payments problems is crucially dependent upon a continued flow of

new money. The $1,150 million residual financing gap for 1987 is

already plugged, provided the commercial creditors agree the

$320 million proposed and the Paris Club fulfils its part.

But similar amounts are going to be needed in subsequent

years — the government suggests $1,273 million for 1988 and

$1,530 million for 1989. This will depend upon the whole complex

mesh — commercial banks, official credit agencies, IMF and

World Bank — staying in harmony and coughing up more funds.

This is something the bank, at least, says it will do.

26
Above all, it means the government's programme staying on

track The austerity of the present calculations has given

creditors confidence and hopefully provides room for some

slippage. The programme will place a heavy strain on the

domestic economy, particularly manufacturing.

If the package is not successful—giving a boost to productive

activity and soaking up rising unemployment — it will quiqkly fail

politically. That is a chance the Babangida government will not be

willing to take. While political sensitivities will influence how the

package is implemented, the government is clearly geared up to

making it work. To do so it needs a protracted period of external

support — including additional project funding to help transform

the economy — and a reasonable oil price. On the latter, its

attitude is pessimistic, hoping that prospects will improve. Its

creditors probably feel the same way.

CSO: 3400/675

/9317

27
NIGERIA

PARASTATAL PRIVATIZATION LIST DRAWN UP

London AFRICA ECONOMIC DIGEST in English 29 Nov-5 Dec 86 pp 9-10

[Text]

The inter-ministerial committee on

commercialisationhas recommended the

full and partial privatisation of 91 state

enterprises, in a report submitted to

National Planning Ministry permanent

secretary Abubakar Alhaji, the committee

chairman (AED 30:8:86).

This provides thefirst indication ofthe

scopeofthegovernment's privatisation

scheme. The list recommends 15federal

government-owned parastatal and public

enterprises forfull privatisation. These

include Nigerian National Petroleum

Corporation (NNPC), Nigerian

Telecommunications(Nttel), National

Insurance Corporation of Nigeria

(NICON) and Nigerian Coal Corporation.

The list also includes thesix agricultural

commodity marketing boards, someof

which—includingthosefor cocoa, rubber

andgroundnuts—havealready been

wound up (AED 6:9:86; 7:6:86).

Concerns recommended for partial

privatisation—which could comprisethe

introductionof commercial accounting

practices—include National Electric

Power Authority, Nigerian Ports

Authority, Nigerian Airport Authority,

Nigerian Television Authority and

Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, as

well as teachinghospitals, river basin

authorities and research institutes.

The sub-committee—made up of

representatives from the National

Planning, TransportsAviation, Mines,

Power& Steel, Employment, Labours

Productivity, and Finance Ministries and

the cabinet officeeconomic department—

states that projected revenue from these

enterprises was N 995 million ($282.7

million) for 1985. But actual receipts had

amounted to only N 576 million ($163.6

million), ashortfall of 42 per cent. Funding

by thefederal government during the year

totalled N 2,580 million ($733 million).

The sub-committee's report contains 28

recommendations for implementation.

It proposes that all parastatals should be

directedto pay at least halftheir net annual

surplus to thetreasury and that

government guarantees for loans should

beterminated from 1 July 1987 and all

grants to national professional bodies

halted by 31 December 1986.

However, informed sources in Lagos

caution that it is extremely unlikely that the

government will agree to implement the

sub-committee's recommendations in full.

In particular, there is strong oppositionto

any saleof national assets that might lead

tocontrol over strategic sectors ofthe

economy reverting to non-Nigerian hands.

For this reason, full privatisation of NNPC

is considered a non-starter, particularly as

the company has recently started an

extensive re-organisation, setting up

separate product units expected to

operate on acommercial basis. Nitel, too,

has recently disclosed plans to allow

"reputable" private telecommunications

firms to participate in certain areas of its

activities—including provision of

telephone and telex equipment—in a bid

to improve efficiency.

CSO: 3400/675

/9317

28
REUNION

CHIRAC PLEDGES AID OVER NEXT 5 YEARS

Paris THE INDIAN OCEAN NEWSLETTER in English 25 Oct 86 p 6

[Text] French prime minister Jacques Chirac justified his choice of Reunion

to present the "loi-programme" adopted by the cabinet on October 8 by saying

that the island's deputy in the national assembly, Michel Debre, was its

instigator. The measure provides for 3.6 billion francs for France's overseas departments and territories (DOM-TOM) over the next five years to

achieve 'social parity" with the mainland. Mr Chirac said the financial

investment would be proportional to the population in both cases and the

notion that the DOM-TOM should receive according to their contribution to the

national wealth no longer applied. Spending on housing would be doubled, and

the prime minister also took the opportunity to present the notice of implementation of the law on tax relief on investments in the DOM-TOM, which had

been delayed.

Finally, Mr Chirac disclosed the sums decided for the integrated development

operation between France and the European Community. Out of a total four

billion francs over five years, 670 million would come from the French

treasury. This aid would in particular enable the western side of the island, which experiences regular droughts, to be irrigated. It will also assist training, family and social tourism schemes, fishing and the sugar industry.

Mr Chirac attacked Paul Verges, the secretary-general of the Reunion communist

party, going so far as to call him an "enemy" for calling the notion of global

social parity "social apartheid" (see ION No 251).

With this visit the French prime minister has confirmed that the overseas

territories feature among the priorities of his government.

/9274

CSO: 3400/652

29
REUNION

BRIEFS

BOAT SUNK, SPYING CHARGED-After the sinking of the trawler Southern Raider on

October 9 of the island of Saint Paul (see ION No 252), the boat's flight and

its possible scuttling (it was hit forward by shells from a French patrol

ship and sank by the stern, is being officially explained by its suspected

xnvolvement in some form of drug-running. Six crew members, Australians and

New Zealanders. have been charged with this offence, while reports from

Australia say the captain and owner of the Southern Raider, John Andrew

Chadderton, was allegedly mixed up in a drug racket in southeast Asia,

though he was never convicted. I.O.N.—Information obtained by THE INDIAN

OCEAN NEWSLETTER indicates that the French authorities are more inclined to

suspect a case of spying. A government representative contacted members of

the crew of the sunken trawler before the French ship landed them at Reunion,

and is said to have offered to pay for the boat and repatriate the crew if

the captain gave full details of his mission in the waters round the French

Southern and Antartic Territories. Senior officials suspect Australia, which

has always been interested in this area. [Text] [Paris THE INDIAN OCEAN NEWSLETTER in English 25 Oct 86 p 6] /9274

CSO: 3400/652

30
SEYCHELLES

BRIEFS

TRADE DEFICIT—According to the latest official statistics the Seychelles

saw imports rise by 17 percent in 1985 to 718.7 million rupees (120 million

dollars) compared with 1984, Exports plummeted, on the other hand, to 19,5

million rupees, the worst performance for nine years. The overall trade

deficit at 523 million rupees, has grown by 20 percent. In a recent speech

President France Albert Rene referred to a serious shortage of foreign currency but he ruled out devaluation of the rupee or the introduction of exchange controls. [TextJ [Paris THE INDIAN OCEAN NEWSLETTER in English

25 Oct 86 p 7] /9274

CSO: 3400/652

31
SIERRA LEONE

SOVIET FISHING AGREEMENT REVISED

London AFRICA ECONOMIC DIGEST in English 29 Nov-5 Dec 86 pp 10-11

[Text]

CSO: 3400/676

/9317

The government has failed in its bid to

secure 25 per cent of profits from the sale

of fish caught in territorial waters under a

non-exclusive agreement with the Soviet

Union.

A new agreement signed in Freetown in

November gives the governmentT5»per

cent of the value of fish sales—onlyS

percentage points more than under the

previous 1976 agreement.

The agreement also provides for

increased training of nationals by the

Soviet Union, constitution of a national

fishing fleet, supply of 20,000 tonnes a year

of fish for sale locally and of 10 shrimping

vessels during the season.

The government is also released from

financial obligations due to Franco-Soviet

fishing company, Fransov. Fransov has a

' 20 per cent holding in Sierra Fisheries

Company, set up in 1976 with the

government holding 25 per cent, Sierra

Leone National Development Bank 10

per cent, and private interests 45 per cent.

The government is reported to be

unhappy about the level of compensation

agreed in the new deal. It believes it can

get better terms elsewhere and is actively

looking for other interested parties.

There are now about 35 fishing

companies operating in Sierra Leone's

territorial waters; six are joint ventures with

foreign interests.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Suffian

Kargbo, has announced that the

government will soon launch a national

surveillance programme to stop illegal

fishing, following the supply of two patrol

craft by the US and China.

32
ZAMBIA

ZAMBIA, JAPANESE FIRMS SIGN CONTRACT TO IMPROVE TELECOMMUNICATIONS

MB171512 Dakar PANA in English 1431 GMT 17 Dec 86

[Text] Ndola (Zambia), 17 Dec (ZANA/PANA)—Zambia Wednesday signed two

contracts with a Japanese company for the rehabilitation of country's

telecommunications network at a cost of 20 million U.S. dollars.

Post and Telecommunications Director General Mr Langston Kawesha

signed on behalf of Zambia while Mitsui and Company Limited general manager, Mr Kazuo Sato signed on behalf of his company,

The first contract for the sum of 7,620,398 U.S. dollars is for the supply, installation and commissioning of eight digital telephone exchanges.

The second contract is for the supply of 46,500 different types of telephone sets at the cost of 13.53 million U.S. dollars. Both contracts

are funded under the African Development Bank loan given to the Government

of Zambia for the rehabilitation of telecommunications network.

At the signing ceremony, Kawesha said the contracts were designed to increase the number of lines in Lusaka and to provide additional capacity at

provincial centres where the existing capacity had already been exhausted.

/9274

CSOf 3400/686

33
ZAMBIA

BRIEFS

INFLUX OF ANGOLAN REFUGEES--A total of 1,421 Angolan refugees have allegedly

entered Mwinilunga through Jlmbe border post this year and have settled in

villages in the district, Mwinilunga District executive secretary (Mhloko

Mango Makwate), disclosed this today and said there are now 7,000 refugees

who have settled in the district, Mr (Makwate) said that the latest arrivals

of refugees in the district (?were from 8 December), [Text] [Lusaka Domes,

tic Service in English 1115 GMT 19 Dec 86 MB] /9274

REFUGEE INFLUX FROM ANGOLA, M0ZAMBIQUE~The authorities in the eastern and

northwestern provinces of Zambia have reported a sharp increase in the number

°L!e!

U

!

eeS An8°la and Mozambi<lue: They say it is indicative of intensified fighting between government troops and rebels in Angola and Mozambique.

The president of the Renamo movement in Mozambique, Mr Afonso Dhlakama, told

a Portuguese radio station yesterday that his movement was on the threshold

of a major victory in Mozambique, A member of the Central Committee in the

eastern province of Zambia said that the number of Mozambican refugees had

increased from 19,000 to 23,000 in the past few weeks. In the meantime the

United States has decided to grant Mozambique more than 30,000 tons of food

for starving people in the drought-stricken northwestern province of Tete

over the next 10 months, A spokesman for the American Embassy in Maputo

said that 500 tons of oil, maize, and beef had already arrived in Tete.

[Text] [Johannesburg Domestic Service in English 1500 GMT 15 Dec 86 MBl

/9274

CHINESE RICE EXPERTS PRAISED^-Lusaka, 4 Dec (XINHUA)Member of the Zambian

ruling party Central Committee Rankin Sikasula has commended the Chinese

expert team for its contribution to the development of Zambia's rice production. Sikasula told the official Zambia News Agency ZANA today that he was

highly impressed by the work being carried out by the Chinese experts to

find best varieties of rice after visiting the Kafushi rice project in Kabwe

of Central Province Wednesday. He appealed to the Chinese experts to extend

their knowledge to farmers in other districts and provinces in Zambia so as

to help the nation produce sufficient rice for herself and even for export.

Sikasula said the Zambian Government was doing everything possible to find

solutions to the problems in the project, such as a critical shortage of

transport and materials. The rice project, a joint venture between the

Zambian and Chinese Governments beginning in 1975, is currently experimenting on 26 varieties of rice with a view to finding high-yielding, fastSSTäx TLi^mTlllT'varieties

-

ITextl tBeiJln

s

XINHUA in **u*

CSO: 3400/686 _. 34
ZIMBABWE

ZIMBABWE HERALD URGES ACTION AGAINST RSA 'PRESS GAGS'

MB201525 Harare THE HERALD in English 12 Dec 86 p 8

[Editorials "SA [South African] Press Gag"]

[Text] The press in South Africa has been stood up against the wall and

President P, W. Botha's executioners are now bludgeoning opponents of

apartheid without having to look over their shoulders.

That media executives actually helped Botha to administer this paralysing

dose to the press, through new curbs introduced yesterday, points to a

grave situation faced by the oppressed masses in the apartheid state who

can no longer communicate their suffering to the outside world with the

press thus totally gagged.

With no outsider knowing what is going on inside the massive wall of

silence, South Africa is sure to become a bloodier theatre of torture and

murder? otherwise, why muzzle the press at all?

But experience has taught us that it will not help the black people, and

other opponents of apartheid now facing extermination by the boers, for the

outside world merely to express feable protests against the new Draconian

measures. The rulers in South Africa are amenable to change only when they

feel the heat which, in this case, the outside world must direct at Botha

before the situation down there worsens,

/9274

CSOf 3400/684

35
ZIMBABWE

CLUFF REPORTS GOLD FINDS

London AFRICAN ECONOMIC DIGEST in English. 29 Nov-5 Dec 86 p 18

[Text]

Cluff Mineral Exploration (Zimbabwe—

CMEZ), a wholly owned subsidiary of the

UK's Cluff Oil Holdings, has announced

two gold discoveries in its Bindura

concession. After six months of drilling,

CMEZ was granted an exclusive

prospecting order (EPO) for Bindura (EPO

613) on 26 September, giving it sole rights

in the concession.

On 2 October, the company announced

drilling results in its Rebecca prospect in

EPO 613 which indicated a mineralised

resource of 1.5 million tons at 3.9 grams a

ton, or 188,000 ounces of gold.

On 24 November, a second discovery in

EPO 613, at the Freda prospect adjacent to

Rebecca, was announced. Freda's

mineralised resource is estimated by

CMEZ at 51,023 ounces. The company

also gave a revised estimate for the

Rebecca resource at 242,098 ounces.

CMEZ's revised estimate for the two

prospects is 56 per cent higher than

previously announced.

CMEZ says it is exploring in two other

zones of the Rebecca/Freda area, where it

plans to start a percussion drilling

programme. Drilling has also started in

CMEZ's Mount Darwin concession (EPO

609).

The company's other Zimbabwe

concession is the Royal Family mine at

Filabusi, its original EPO in the country. The

mine has been producing fortwo years

and, the company says, is "earning a

steady profit." Half the profits are remitted

to the UK, with the remainder used for

exploration and development. Reserves at

Royal Family, where heap-leaching

facilities are being enlarged, are put at

52,972 ounces as of 30 September, higher

than earlier estimates.

CSO: 3400/665

/9317

36
ZIMBABWE

BRIEFS

RURAL ELECTRICITY EXPANSION SLOWS—Harare—Shortages of supplies and

equipment due to a lack of foreign currency has considerably slowed down

electricity expansion in Zimbabwe's rural areas. A spokesman for the

Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority said the foreign currency allocation

for ZESA had been cut drastically. Suppliers of creosote, used to safeguard

electricity poles against termites, were only able to provide sufficient

for what the authority would need to lay 150km of line. ZESA normally laid

500km a year. There was no zinc available for the galvanising of cross arms

and bolts. Zinc could be bought from preferential trade area countries but

it was one of the items exempt from the PTA hard currency arrangement and

so the PTA clearing house could not be used for buying it. There was no

aluminium ingot being allowed into the country at present and normal line

material could not be made, he said. ZESA was now using copper for as

much of its line requirements as it could.—Sapa [Text] [Johannesburg THE

CITIZEN in English 9 Dec 86 p 13] /9317

INCREASED SALE OF FERROCHROME—Ferrochrome producer Zimbabwe Alloys reports

substantially increased sales volumes, with turnover rising to Z$52.8

million ($31.3 million) in the six months to 30 September. Lowr-carbon

ferrochrome exports to Europe performed particularly well. However, higher

interest charges of Z$3.3 million ($1.97 million) kept net profits down to

Z$4.3 million ($2.5 million). The interim dividend has been held at four

cents a share. Directors say higher costs also contributed to reduced

profitability and warn that second-half results are likely to be lower.

[Text] [London AFRICAN ECONOMIC DIGEST in English 29 Nov 86 p 18] /9317

SUGAR REFINER ZSR SALES INCREASE—Sales of sugar refiner ZSR increased by

8.5 percent in the six months to 30 September. The company reports

significant growth.in the industrial sector and continued growth in the

rural sector through improved distribution. Turnover, at Z$46.7 million

($27.7 million), compared to Z$36.2 million ($21.3 million) in the corresponding period of 1985. Net profits rose from Z$258,000 ($158,000) to

Z$389,000 ($230,600), but the directors say that higher input costs have

eroded the sugar refining margin and they want another price increase. The

last domestic price rise was in August 1985. Another application was submitted to the Trade and Commerce Ministry in March and the directors say

"there appears to be no reason why this increase should not be granted."

[Text] [London AFRICAN ECONOMIC DIGEST in English 29 Nov 86 p 18] /9317

37
ZAPÜ LEADERS PLEDGE UNITY^-The ZAPU Central Committee has pledged Its commitment to unity since there is no alternative other than unity in the country.

At its 6<*hour long meeting chaired by Dr Joshua Nkomo at his residence in

Highfield, the 100-member ZAPU Central Committee praised the prime minister,

Comrade Robert Mugabe, for his constructive statements. The Central Committee

called on all ZAPU supporters to rededicate themselves to the service of

Zimbabwe. [Text] [Harare Domestic Service in English 0500 GMT 14 Dec 86 MB]

/9274

ZANU^PF MASVINGO CHAIRMAN—The ZANU-PF secretary for administration, Comrade

Maurice Nyagumbo, has told THE HERALD that the party's deputy chairman for

Masvingo, Comrade Oliver Munyaradzi, will act as provincial chairman. This

follows the removal of Comrade Eddison Zvobgo on charges of misconduct.

Comrade Nyagumbo said Comrade Munyaradzi will remain acting chairman for

the province until elections are held at a date to be announced in due

course. Comrade Nyagumbo said Comrade Zvobgo has also lost his post as a

member of the Masvingo Party Provincial Council, but still retains his

central committee membership. [Text] [Harare Domestic Service in English

0400 GMT 22 Dec 86 MB] /9274

CSOJ 3400/684

38
SOUTH AFRICA

COUNCILLOR REVEALS JMC'S 'SECRET' SYSTEM OF CONTROL

Cape Town THE ARGUS in English 28 Nov 86 p 23

[Article by Dennis Cruywagen]

[Text]

THE Joint Management

Centres (JMC) formed a

secret system of control answerable only to the State intelligence service and were

usurping the functions of public representatives, the Divisional Council was told this

week.

Little is known about the

JMCs, described as an "important element of the regional network of the State

Security Council" by councillor Mr Neil Ross who dissected the organisation at this

week's council meeting.

He discounted a council

works committee report

which claimed "no politics is

involved in the system because it is run by officials".

Mr Ross said two JMC subsidiaries, the Constitutional,

Economic and Social Committee (Staatkundige, Ekonomiese en Maatskaplike Komitee), and a communications

unit known as KomKom, reported directly and indirectly

to the State Security Council

which was dominated by National Party members and a

few officials.

POLITICIANS serving on

the State Security Council included President P W

Botha and Cabinet Ministers,

Dr Neil Barnard, director of

the National Intellegence Service, the Chief of the Army,

the Commissioner of Police,

and the directors-general of

the departments of justice

and foreign affairs.

"The body is therefore high.-

ly political," said Mr Ross. ~-

He quoted a works committee report which said: "The

primary objective of the JMC

system is to establish a countrywide management network which could defuse a

possibly revolutionary climate."

Nothing could be more political than that, he said.

The report said the JMC

system merely co-ordinated

departmental action to reduce the revolutionary climate and to prevent unrest.

"I am not saying these

functions are not sometimes

necessary. Let us not bluff

ourselves — our officials are

involved in a highly political

body."

MR Ross said the existence of the JMC system was not a secret. However its modus operandi was

clouded in secrecy.

The network set its own

goals and objectives. In the

end, means of achieving these

goals did not matter.

It worked hand-in-hand

with the first, second, and

third tier of Government on

an official-to-official basis.

This was particularly evident

at the third tier — the directly elected representatives of

various communities.

The JMCs had no funds to

dispense and their secret

hand was never visible. But

money for "special projects"

such as upgrading township

infrastructures was made

available through local authorities administering them.

If they had no money a

Minister in the House of Representatives might well make

the funds available.

Divisional Council officials

served on the local branch

without the council's approval.

The council had never

sanctioned its officials' serving on the JMC or its subsidiary bodies, nor had it ever

had reports from officials on

how they, while serving the

Divisional Council, were contributing to bring about "a reduction in the revolutionary

climate".

"This is a serious matter.

Serious because officialdom,

serving on behalf of this council, is, I believe, usurping

some of the responsibility we

as councillors should be taking," he said.

THE works committee report claimed the JMC

was involved in civil defence.

Mr Ross said the JMC dealt

with security matters and

had little to do with civil defence "and much to do with

39
the implementing by containment of PW Botha's response

to the vision ofa total onslaught against the Republic".

The Divisional Council was

not serving on the JMC "for

purposes of activating civil

defence". Instead it had been

co-opted bya secret system

whose recommendations

were scrutinised only by its

masters.

Examining the JMC network in the Western Cape, he

said the local branch wasa

fairly large body of about 60

people. The chairman wasa

well known and "controversial" figure, police divisional

commissioner Brigadier Chris

Swart.

The JMC met irregularly

and most of its functions

were carried out by three

sub-committees,a joint intelligence committee (gesamentlike intelligensie komitee)

(JIC),a constitutional, economic and social committee

(CESC) and KomKom.

The JIC, which probably

met oncea week, was dominated by the security police,

representatives of the National Intelligence Service, the

police and army. Its objects

were to identify possible local

security threats and to co-ordinate a response.

"They are usually well-informed. I have no doubt that

ifa private and important

United Democratic Front

meeting were held in Cape

Town, the JIC would be well

informed about who were

present, who spoke, and what

was said. If there isa major

political funeral, the JIC directs and decides tactics by

the State."

At this point MrLJ Rothman, council chairman, said

the Divisional Council was

not involved with the JIC.

MR Ross said the JIC

identified possible security threats and distributed

information ona need-toknow basis to other JMC subcommittees. "They obviously

distribute their reports upwards."

The CESC— on which the

Divisional Council is represented according to Mr Roth-"

man— was dominated by the

Department of Constitutional

Development.

"They examine things in local communities which they

believe may contribute toa

revolutionary climate and

then make recommendations

as to how this should be resolved," Mr Ross said.

Illustrating this point many

of the roads in Grassy Park

were untarred and badly

damaged. Local community

organisations could use this

"to increase the revolutionary

factor".

The CESC, however, would"

or could take steps to overcome the problem and in the

process enable the Divisional

Council and or management

committees to discount the

claims of "the revolutionary

forces" and give legitimacy

to the present participatory

political organisations.

"The function of CESC has

everything to do with the lowering of the revolutionary climate — a highly political act — and little or nothing to do

with civil defence."

KomKom was dominated

by the Bureau for Information. "It is their job to bolster

the achievements of the present statutory authorities and

to try to alienate the community at large from alternative

structures such as the civic

associations which have

mushroomed in the Western

Cape." IN addition there were numerous examples of anonymous disinformation pamphlets which attacked various

organisations.

"Many,I believe, flow from

recommendations by KomKom. I know that many anon- ' ymous pamphlets, posters,

and stickers are printed in

Cape Town ... not more than a stone's throw away from

this building."

The three chairman of the

three sub-committee formed

an executive which probably

met oncea week.

Mini JMCs such as the local government committees

gathered information for the

JMC. The Divisional Council,

management committee

members, and others served

on these smaller models of

the JMC. • Mr Ross, also

a Cape

Town city councillor, raised

the issue in the City Council

this week.

During debate ona R3-million upgrading programme

for Bonteheuwel and Heideveld, he said the council's

comprehensive plans for upgrading the areas had "fallen

on deaf ears" in 1981.

There has been no negotiation with the council on the

programme and funds had

been made available "through

very odd routes".

"Nobody disputes the need

for this upgrading andI believe some of the motives of

the people who serve on the

JMCs may be very good and

very well." However, the

JMCs "could well be impinging on the authority of the

council" and another level of

government was being created, Mr Ross said.

/9274

CSO: 3400/647

40
SOUTH AFRICA

GOVERNMENT PLANS FOR DEREGULATION OF ECONOMY VIEWED

Cape Town DIE BURGER in Afrikaans 13, 14, 1b Oct 8b Lib Oct not available]

[Report by Gerhard Cloete: «Deregulation Aids in Building Future; Ways of

Deregulation} Economy must Determine Deregulation"; first paragraphs are DIL

BURGER introductions]

[13 Oct ob p 7]

[Text] Unnecessary bureaucratic red tape when a businessman joins the economy

is something which, for a long time already, has caused discontentment in the

business community. In the first of four parts, Gerhard Cloete of our

economic editorial staff reports on the Government's solution for that problem

and on what deregulation entails.

Deregulation currently forms an important part of South Africa's economic

strategy for the future. This part of that strategy primarily deals with a

problem which shows up very prominently in the current recession, namely the

creation of work opportunity for a continually growing population.

Creating employment opportunity can furnish a big contribution toward

stability and social order in the country. Especially during a recession,

stability is threatened because of employment opportunities which vanish. In

that context the Government has already started the ball rolling. On i>

November 19Ö4 the State President asked the President's Council to advise nim

on the following matter:

Small Businesses Sector

"The design and initiation of a strategy and program of action to increase

participation of the developing communities in South Africa in the private

system of enterprise."

Following that request, a supplemental request was directed at the President's

Council on 7 March last year to advise the State President on the following:

"Taking into account that which has already been done, [investigate] all

regulations, standards, licensing requirements and conditions, as well as

administrative red tape which may hinder economic development in general and

41
the small business sector in particular. This investigation must include all

levels of government."

In that context, a report on a Strategy for the Development of Small

Businesses and for Deregulation was submitted to the Government on 20 November

last year by the Economic Affairs Committee of the President's Council. The

report was written under the chairmanship of Dr F.P. Jacobsz.

According to that report, it is assumed that deregulation is the process which

will eliminate controlling laws in order to facilitate entry into the market

and competition in the economy.

Case studies by the committee showed that there is a real forest of

regulations and legal requirements which potential entrepreneurs have to meet.

The number of regulations was so great that it was possible to include in the

study only those requirements which turned up repeatedly.

Price determination based on realistic or true costs, increased production,

and a decrease in exorbitant profits are seen as the result of the more

competitive environment which would be created by deregulation.

Population Groups

The report further states that it started from the premise that deregulation

would stimulate both the development of small businesses in particular and

economic development in general.

An increase in economic growth and in employment opportunity would be the

final result of deregulation.

Further, it was assumed that deregulation is of special importance in

connection with the role played by race and by regulations based on

differentiating between population groups in the restrictions on entering and

participating in the economy.

The inquiry also showed that existing requirements sometimes can be applicable

in general, sometimes are limited to certain areas, and sometimes apply only

to certain population groups.

The committee came to the conclusion that /ex post/ control alone cannot

preserve a proper balance between the public interest and freedom of private

enterprise. Under it, the protection of the public is primarily based on

common law.

Better results can be obtained by using a combination of /ex post/ control and

minimum entry standards.

That approach essentially means that in reality there should be free entry,

subject to /ex post/ control over previously determined minimum standards.

Ultimately this would mean that minimum standards must certainly be met.

42
Non-Discrimination

The committee stated further that non-discrimination with respect to economic

participation is taken to be a cornerstone of its approach.

The equivalence in the regulations with which businessmen from all population

groups will be concerned, forms part of the philosophy of non-discrimination.

It was warned, however, that the principle of equivalence does not exclude the

possibility of affordable standards for developing communities.

The right of ownership can serve as an example here. The credible acceptance

of freehold for blacks must not result in leasehold being excluded as a less

expensive alternative, according to the committee.

—Tomorrow the proposed procedures for deregulation will be looked at.

[It Oct 190b p lb]

[Text] Proposals on procedures for regulations and for what steps should be

followed have already been made by the Economic Affairs Committee of the

President's Council. Gerhard Cloete of our economic editorial staff discusses

possible ways for deregulating the South African economy in this second part

of a series on that subject.

Deregulation is everywhere regarded as one of the ways to straighten out the

economy. This means essentially that in the shortest possible period one will

have to eliminate or adapt rules, laws and regulations which have been

established over many years.

Proposals on steps to be taken and on deregulation procedures have already

been made by the Economic Affairs Committee of the President's Council.

They are in a report on a Strategy for the Development of Small Businesses and

for Deregulation submitted to the Government.

According to the committee, procedures in that context would require already

identified legislation to be modified as soon as the deregulation process gets

going.

Continuity

Afterward it would be necessary to continually reexamine existing legislation

and to judge the effect of proposed new legislation.

This must be done in order to ensure that deregulation becomes a continuous

process which can react positively to existing and future circumstances.

In order to ensure continuous deregulation, a procedure would also have to be

established in the initial phase to keep an eye on restrictive legislation.

43
Furthermore, procedures should also be established for the continuous revision

and modification of legislation which possibly will be identified in the

future.

Effect

The committee also was of the opinion that initially one should concentrate on

specific modification of legislation with a curbing effect on small

businesses, although deregulation ought to be applicable to all business

activities.

The reason for that is that the effect of existing over-regulation can take on

different forms in large and small businesses.

In the case of larger businesses, the effect is in many cases negative. Such

enterprises are, however, well equipped—they usually have the needed

personnel and infrastructure—to overcome over-regulation in the short term.

Small businesses, on the other hand, are particularly vulnerable to the high

costs arising from over-regulation. These costs originate from the observance

of procedures and laws through filling out forms and the time which has to be

given to that.

More Complicated

In the initial phase it would also not be too difficult to identify policy

regulations which are obviously unsuitable in the small business sector and

especially in the informal sector.

Much of the existing legislation regulating the economy was established with

large enterprises in mind. Thus it may be assumed that deregulation of large

business enterprises will possibly result in complicated questions.

In the case of smaller enterprises it is not such a complicated process to

identify—at least in the beginning phase—legislation which is obviously

inappropriate for smaller enterprises.

The committee fears, however, that if the legal changes initially proposed

should also affect larger enterprises, the problems which would surface, would

undo any initial steps.

This implies, thus, that for legal purposes a difference must be made between

larger and smaller enterprises.

As to the framework which can be created to facilitate a continuous

deregulation process, the committee considered the following steps essential:

—Revision of all legislation on the central, provincial and local government

level which is not specifically dealt with or deregulated at the start of the

process;

44
—The effect of proposed new legislation on business development in South

Africa;

Special Powers

—Performing a general monitoring function by linking all government levels,

the private sector in general and small businessmen in particular and having

them play a role in formulating policy. It must also be assured that

deregulation goals are achieved.

The committee also expressed the opinion that, in order to ensure that

deregulation takes place rapidly, special powers ought to be granted to the

State President to enable him to postpone the enforcement of legislation until

the next session of Parliament. Then matters can be properly considered by

Parliament.

—Tomorrow the degree to which progress has been made with deregulation will

be discussed.

[16 Oct ob p 13]

[Text] In the last part on deregulation Gerhard Cloete of our economic

editorial staff reports on how four big employers» organizations, a well-known

economist and the KSOK [Small Business Development Corporation] feel about

this subject.

The speed of any privatization and deregulation program must be determined by

the ability of the economy to finance and absorb that program.

That is the opinion of four big employers' organizations, ASSOCOM, the African

Trade Institute, the Federated Chambers of Industries and the South African

Agricultural Union.

Those four organizations have set up a full-time task force which is studying

privatization and deregulation. A joint memorandum on those two subjects was

recently submitted to the Government.

The task force wants to create the necessary link with the government to help

with the design of a strategy for privatization and deregulation. By that

means priorities will be determined, goals will be set and a time schedule

will be established.

Problem of Poverty

The four organizations say that one should realize there is a great need to

tackle the serious structural problems which have arisen in the economy over a

period of several years.

The shortcomings are a slow growth, insufficient investment by the private

sector and the problem of poverty and inadequate economic opportunities.

45
"Privatization and deregulation can be used as important tools in countering

those problems," the organizations say.

A prerequisite for successful privatization is that it ought to be coupled to

planned deregulation.

The latter is the partial or total elimination or rewriting of the laws and

regulations which hamper the effective functioning of the private sector in

the production of goods and services which were formerly provided by the

state. As an example the deregulation of transport is mentioned. '

An appropriate strategy for privatization means a definite decision to change

the role of the government in the economy and to redefine the relationship

between the public and private sectors. The principal goals of privatization

and deregulation are, in the eyes of the four entities:

—To decrease the upward tendency in state spending and the public sector's

involvement in the economy, with an ultimate decrease of 20 percent by the

year 20U0;

—To decrease the costs of services for the taxpayer and consequently to help

decrease the tax burden, broaden the tax base and increase income from taxes

as the economy expands accordingly;

—To help the economy by increasing economic opportunities, expanding

individual entrepreneurship, and spreading economic ownership;

—To benefit the consumer by means of greater competition, which will improve

effectiveness and will ultimately lead to greater innovation; and

—To allow the market to meet the demands of individuals and the community

with a minimum of intervention.

The four entities propose that a full-time and independent advisory council on

privatization and deregulation be founded, composed of representatives of the

state, the private sector, consumers' organizations and trade unions.

This council should be entrusted with the responsibility to determine which

assets of the state or of semi-state entities should be leased or sold to the

public, and in any event to recommend which procedures should be followed.

In the practical application of deregulation, matters come up for discussion

such as where rest rooms are located in commercial premises, how high tiles

and windows must be located, licenses, permits, the size of the building and

the length of business hours allowed.

Even something like costume—for example the wearing of a white coat or a

suit—sometimes can be unnecessary. Hospital services and the construction of

roads and schools are also matters which come up for discussion in the

decision to deregulate.

46
Dr Ben Vosloo, the managing director of KSOK, says there are already more

businessmen who see the benefits of deregulation than is generally accepted.

With certain regulations and procedures however, a long road still lies ahead.

He said that the number of queries about setting up a business by small

businessmen has risen from about 2,0UU per month at the beginning of last year

to no less than about 1b,üüü at present. A third of those came from blacks.

Professor Jan Sadie, formerly of the Bureau for Economic Research at the

University of Stellenbosch, says that the entire question of deregulation can

be looked at from two sides—the informal and the informal side.

Bureaucratic Red Tape

"Deregulation ought to influence the informal sector in such a way that those

people can feed themselves. It should help them stay alive by taking care of

themselves.

"The purely bureaucratic red tape to which businessmen are sometimes subjected

simply ought to disappear. At present many businessmen complain that too many

papers have to be stamped before private initiative can go ahead," he said.

In other countries a so-called middleman is used to help businessmen in

obtaining permission for certain projects.

It is thus the job of that particular person to go around and obtain all those

"stamps" from the various state departments for the approval for a project.

He serves as a contact between the government and the prospective enterpriser.

In South Africa there is no such profession, of course, and the businessman

must do that job himself.

Ö7UU

CSO: iW\/2b

47
SOUTH AFRICA

DRAFT LABOR BILL PROPOSES NEW GRIEVANCE SYSTEM

MB191940 Johannesburg Television Service in Afrikaans 1800 GMT 19 Dec 86

[Text] A draft amendment bill aimed at simplifying and speeding up the

resolution of labor.-related disputes has been published in the GOVERNMENT

GAZETTE today. The bill forms part of a report delivered by the national

manpower commission.

The most important amendment contained in the bill is the establishment of

a special labor court to consider appeals against decisions of the industrial

court. These courts will have jurisdiction in all the provinces and will be

administered by judges of the supreme court. Another important amendment is

the simplification of procedure which will apply to the establishment of

conciliation boards, These procedures will speed conciliation of disputes,

Previously such a board had to be appointed by the minister of manpower.

This is now being obviated. It places more responsibility on the two

parties in the dispute,

A new concept called unfair dismissal, which refers to termination of an

employee's services without a valid and clear reason and dismissal without

reasonable notice, has been included in the legislation. The concept of

unfair labor practise has been redefined and applies to practices such as

racial, sexual, and religious discrimination, and activities which will promote or create labor unrest,

/9274

CS0> 3400/681
SOUTH AFRICA

SOLDIER'S DETENTION MAY INVOLVE ESPIONAGE

MB140742 Johannesburg SAPA in English 0056 GMT 14 Dec 86

[Text] Johannesburg, 14 Dec (SAPA—A top-level police investigation is under

way following the arrest of a senior South African Defence Force officer for

an alleged breach of security which appears to involve espionage. The investigation is being headed by security police and, according to informed

sources could lead to more arrests and be extended to other countries.

Police 'they say, are following leads in a "painstaking" operation to establish as quickly as possible the extent of the alleged subversion. They intend to act swiftly on any information the officer may have disclosed while

under interrogation. They believe they could lose the advantage if he is

identified at this point.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that while Lt Gen Ian Gleeson, acting chief of the

SADF, referred in a statement on Friday only to alleged subversive activity,

there may, according to some sources, have been espionage as well. However,

this could not be confirmed, and the nature of the charges likely to be

brought against the officer, if he is brought to trial is not known.

He was arrested at Voortrekkerhoogte and is being held in Pretoria.

It is believed that some information about the alleged security breach was

known to the SADF before the officer was apprehended and handed to the

police. This was a result of SADF's own security network, considerably

tightened in the wake of the Gerhardt espionage case which, initially, was

uncovered by foreign security agents. In this case, the SADF was clearly ^

±n position to act promptly and efficiently, and was able to "rapidly trace

the activities of the officer concerned.

The officer's arrest comes only three years after German-born Dieter

Gerhardt, former commandant of the Simonstown naval base, and his wife Ruth,

were convicted of spying for the KGB, Gerhardt was sentenced to live imprisonment for high treason and his wife for 10 years for the same offence.

/9274

CSO 3400/681

49
SOUTH AFRICA

NEW MILITARY BASE FOR VENDA DEFENSE FORCE

Pretoria PARATUS in English Nov 86 pp 18-19

[Article by L Cpl D. R, Kneen and Pte D. 0»Sullivan]

[Text]

Amilestone was

reached in the history

of the Venda Defence

Force (VDF) on 27 September 1986 when it received a

new battalion base from the

SADF.

And on the same day the VDF celebrated its fourth birthday with a spectacular parade which included a VDF Military Band display and skydivers which

coloured the scenic Mutale Base.

The newly constructed base was for?

malty handed over to Venda President

Patrick Mphephu, by Brig Heron on behalf of the SADF.

In terms of an agreement between the

Venda and South African governments

the SADF Quartermaster General, via its

Directorate Military Estates and Works,

was tasked with the design and construction of the Mutale Base under the codeword 'Project Attic'.

Although the Mutale base has been

home to the Menenu Battalion since the

VDF's inception in 1982, the base was'

previously little more than a wooden hut

for the commander's office and a number

of tents for housing battalion members.

The base was designed by the SADF

QMG and then physically constructed by

artisans provided by 5 Military Works

Unit. In this way, the potentially high costs

were halved and most of the available

money was spent on materials, which

alone amounted to R3-million.

Furthermore, the materials were chosen in such a way as to ensure maximum

cost efficiency and thus the Venda Government could afford the base much

sooner than expected.

For this contribution President Mphephu approved the award of the Venda Defence Force Medal to seven men "for exceptional devotion in the execution of

their duties with the building of the

Menenu Battalion base". They are: Maj

P.J. Redelinghuis, W01 A.S. Oosthuizen,

W02 J.H. Reynecke, S Sgt J.M. Beyleveldt, S Sgt C.J. Joubert, S Sgt G.L. Theart and Cpl D.S. Martin.

The Chief of the Venda Defence Force,

Brig Steenkamp, awarded special certificates of appreciation to the members of 5

Military Works Unit who made positive

contributions to the building of the Mutale Base.

Addressing the parade, President

Mphephu said that without the men from

5 Military Works Unit the base would not

have existed. "They were the artisans who

carried out the physical work, who had to

cope with the day to day problems. No

problem was too big for this team. Great

sacrifices were made by the men during

the construction of the base.

"Some of the men came to stay out

here in caravans with their families in order to be available on the job at all times;

some married members, Citizen Force

members and National Servicemen were

separated from their families for months

during the building of the base."

A project team appointed by the QMG

kept overall control over the construction. For them, it meant countless trips to

the base and taking many fast decisions

as the buildings of the base progressed.

A commemorative scroll was presented

to President Mphephu by Brig Heron, entrusting to the people of Venda the Mutale Military Base as a symbol of the trust

and co-operation that exists between the

peoples of the Republic of Venda and the

Republic of South Africa.

"It is with certainty that I can say that all

members of Manenu Battalion are

50
pleased and grateful to receive and to use

this beautiful base with its convenient facilities and buildings,'' said President

Mphephu. "It will ensure that this bat

talion will in future be more effective and

ready to combat the onslaught of ANC

subversive activities in the Republic of

Venda."

THE main aim of the Venda Defence Force Is to conduct rural

operations and support the Venda

Police Force, according to the Officer Commanding the VDFs Mahenu

Battalion, Lt Col G.J. Cloete.

"The troops in the VDF are also trained

to conduct urban operations and to perform ceremonial duties for Venda State

President Patrick Mphephu, who is also

the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence

Force and the Minister of Defence," he

said.

Lt Col Cloete is one of the senior officers at Mahenu who has been seconded

from the SADF to help upgrade the VDF

into an experienced fighting unit.

The Officer Commanding the Venda

Defence Force, Brig Steenkamp, said that

the Permanent Force officers working at

the VDF indicate the good co-operation

between the two countries' Defence

Forces.

» "The Venda Defence Force has been

built up from scratch. It will take time to

build up a Venda Leader Corps, and that's

where the SADF fits into the picture," he

said.

"With our wealth of experience and expertise, we can train an efficient batch of

leaders and gradually phase SADF personnel out of the VDF to make it a fully

functional, independent defence force."

This plan has been very successful to

date, with Venda troops now filling the

position of section leaders and platoon

sergeants. The platoon commanders are

all SADF National Servicemen, but Brig

Steenkamp said these posts will soon be

filled by Venda people.

THE next level of authority to be

phased out will be company sergeant-majors, followed by platoon commanders. At the end of 1987, the first

Venda company commander will be ready

to take up his post.

Already, Venda troops have received

their commission. The battalion's adjutant, Lt Elelwani Robson Mafheda, was recently promoted to the rank of junior officer. The lieutenants working in the QM,

Transport and Personnel divisions are all

Venda people.

The troops of the VDF gained tremendous experience from a stint on the Border. "The training of the VDF Infantry includes a 90 day visit to Ovambo in the Operational Area," said Lt Col Cloete. "Our

first company went up to the Border from

May to August and the experience gained

was on all levels and strenthened the infrastructure of the Defence Force."

Already the VDF is capable of running

various courses without the direct help of

the SADF. The officers' course, NCO's'

course, mortar crew course, driving and

maintenance courses are all done at

Mahenu and at the VDF HQ in Sibasa. For

the more advanced courses, the men are

sent to the RSA. Lt Col Cloete said all

courses will be run in Venda next year.

"We have just completed a military law

course, of which I am very proud," said Lt

Col Cloete. "AH 11 candidates who took

the course were successful and I would

say it was of a higher standard than the

advanced military law course on offer in

the RSA."

Further co-operation between the

SADF and the VDF takes place on a bimonthly basis, when senior officers of the

VDF meet with personnel from Far Northern Command and the Soutpansberg

Military Area at Messina.

SINCE its Inception in September 1982, the Venda Defence Force has adapted Itself to meet the needs of

• developing Venda nation which has resulted in Its rapid

growth and increased efficiency.

The first company of the Mahenu Battalion; under Maj Burger,

was recruited in May 1982 from 112 Battalion Madimbo in the

RSA. The Battalion HQ was formed under Lt Col Avis in January

1983 with the second company under Maj Wolff.

The Venda Defence Force obtained the ground for the base in

May 1982 from the Thenqwe Tribal Authority. In agreement with

the SADF it was decided that the SADF would supply the knowhow and Venda the finance for the erection of the Mahenu Base.

Mahenu is a short form for the name 'Mahenu Manena Misiph',

which means 'those who cut across the muscles'. Mahenu was a

brave battalion of the Tshihanane in the far north of the Soutpansberg in the days of Makhado Ramabulana and Mphephu Ramabulana, 1864-1924.

In 1983 the first group of 76 Venda recruits were trained by the

VDF. In 1984, when Mahenu Battalion was commissioned at Mutate, another 150 recruits were trained and the first Venda officers

started their training.

51
In 1985 all ceremonial duties were taken over from the VNF and

another 200 recruits were trained. At present there is a fully

fledged battalion with three companies, a training wing and all the

necessary supporting services. The battalion also has its own unit

emblem which consists of a shield on which a spear, battle axe,

bow and arrow appear.

Since the earliest times the shield Was used as a protection

against attacks, it symbolises the safeguarding of the government, the country and the people of Venda.

The spear, battle axe and bow and arrow are the traditional

weapons used by the Mahenu and symbolise that the enemies of

Venda can be engaged at various ranges, from close quarterfighting to long ranges.

The tautness of the bow symbolises the preparedness of the

battalion to act at any time — day or night.

/9274

CSO: 3400/647

52
SOUTH AFRICA

UNIT COLOR FOR COMBAT SCHOOL

Pretoria PARATUS in English Nov 86 p 10

[Article by L Cpl P. B. G, Delioar]

[Text] -H1 people of Kimberley

I paid the Danio Theron

Combat School a great honour when they presented the

School with its own Unit

Colour recently.

Speaking at a parade to mark the formal handing over of the Colour, the Chief

of the SADF, Gen J.J. Geldenhuys, said:

"The strong bond of friendship between

the community of Kimberley and the

Danie Theron Combat School has now

been formally forged." Gen Geldenhuys

thanked the city of Kimberley for enthusiastically taking the School into its midst

and helping it to expand and thrive.

The parade held on 20 September at

Oiskobolos, was attended by several hundred spectators, including the Deputy

Chief of the SA Army, maj Gen D.R. Marais; the Chief of the Bophuthatswana Defence Force, Maj Gen H.S. Turner; Supreme Court judges, Members of Parliament and the OC Danie Theron Combat

School, Col C.R. Bornman.

The Danie Theron Combat School was

.established at Diskobolos on 1 November

1967 as the Commando Combat School.

The following year a decision was taken

to rename it in honour of the commander

of the Boer reconnaissance forces during

the Anglo-Boer War, Danie Theron. Since

1969 the School has formally been known

as the Danie Theron Combat School.

In 1980 the SA Intelligence School was

established as a neighbour unit of the

Combat School and the two have enjoyed

a close relationship since. The City Council of Kimberley took a decision to donate

a unit colour to the school in 1983.

In his speech at the parade, Gen Geldenhuys sketched the history of unit

colours. In the heat of the battle, many

centuries ago, soldiers would often become separated from their own forces.

They would then look for their colour and

make towards it. Regrouped, they then

fought on with renewed courage and esprit de corps. It has since become the

custom for towns and cities to donate

colours to their own regiments. The receiving of a unit colour is an important

occasion in the history of any unit - and

the Danie Theron Combat School is no

exception.

On parade were a company of men

from the Combat School and three companies from their neighbours, the SA Intelligence School. Their fine performance

reflected the pride which they took in the

occasion.

/927A

CSO 3400/647

53
SOUTH AFRICA

TROOP MORALE IN NAMIBIA SEEN AS HIGH

MB191932 Johannesburg SAPA In English 1915 GMT 19 Dec 86

[TextJ Pretoria, 19 Dec (SAPA)w-The End Conscription Campaign's (ECC]

propaganda against the system of compulsory military conscription was not

influencing the "boys on the border," the new deputy minister of defence

Mr Wynand Breytenback, said tonight. Replying to questions at a press conference at the Waterkloof Air Force Base in Pretoria after a three-day

Christmas visit to the operational area in SWA/Namibia, he said he also had

this impression from national servicemen and citizen force soldiers he had

spoken to recently at "home" units in the republic.

Asked, with specific reference to the mention by name of the ECC in the new

press restrictions in terms of the state of emergency, whether the organization s campaign had had any effect on the SADF's morale, Mr Breytenbach said»

No, definitely not," He had made it his business to discuss this with the

men in the field" during his trip, and the impression he had was that "they

act very positively against that sort of propaganda. In fact I have been

requested by people doing their bit on the border not to allow the EEC to

take root in our country,"

Mr Breytenbach was accompanied on his trip, to most major bases in the

northern part of SWA/Namibia, as well as Walvis Bay, by the chief of the

army, Lt Gen "Kat" Liebenberg,

The deputy minister emphasized his trip had not been to speak to political

leaders in the territory, and that he had not done so. The moral of troops

xn the operational area had never been higher, and they were prepared for

the expected escalation in Swapo infiltration from Angola during the coming

rainy season,

/9274

CSO? 3400/681

54
SOUTH AFRICA

BRIEFS

MINISTRY SEEKS PROPAGANDA CLASSIFIER—Pretoria, 11 Dec (SAPA)--The Department

of Foreign Affairs is looking for personnel to "classify raw material with

regard to propaganda actions" and store this on computer. The department

today advertised for staff for the job, saying it would pay up to $26,730

per year for people with a BA degree and at least four years' "appropriate"

experience. In an advertisement published in a Pretoria newspaper, the department said officers would have to> —select, assimilate and classify raw

material relating to propaganda actions, and —store selected material on

computer. Candidates had to be South African citizens and could work on a

full or part-time basis. On enquiry, a spokesman for the department explained that the use of the word "propaganda" in the advertisement was unfortunate,

"The Department of Foreign Affairs is not engaged in propaganda as the phrase

is normally understood. The officials in question would be involved in normal

information and image-building projects overseas," he said. [Text] [Johannesburg SAPA in English 1631 11 Dec 86 MB] /9274

TERRORIST ATTACKS AGAINST POLICE—Durban, 11 Dec (SAPA)-»About 60 of the 200

incidents of terrorism in the first 10 months of 1986 were directed at the

police, Lt Gen J, H, Visagie, chief deputy commissioner of the police, said in

Durban today. Speaking at a passing-out parade of Indian members of the

force, Gen Visagie said the number of attacks on the police was about twice

the number directed at targets that could harm the economy and almost twice

as many as had been directed at political targets. He said that, since the

state of emergency was introduced on 12 June 1986, there had been a "remarkable suppressive effect" on unrest. However, terrorism, which was intensified by persons and organisations hostile to the government, still existed.

Gen Visagie said that of the 200 acts of terrorism, 24 had been on "so-called

hard targets" such as military or police installations. The remaining 176

incidents involved "soft targets"—unprotected women and children, farmers

and shoppers, [Excerpts] [Johannesburg SAPA in English 0106 GMT 12 Dec 86

MB] /9274

SAAF JET FIGHTER CRASH—Pretoria, 18 Dec (SAPA)—A South African Air Force

[SAAF] Impala jet fighter crashed near Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria,

yesterday but the pilot ejected safely, a SAAF spokesman confirmed here today. He added the aircraft had crashed during a "routine flying exercise"

and that a board of enquiry had already been convened to investigate the

accident. According to a Pretoria newspaper, the jet fighter, piloted by a

Captain Lubashagne, crashed on the farm Groenfontein, belonging to Mr Pieter

Wolfaadt in the Cullinan district, shortly after noon, [Excerpt] [Johannesburg SAPA in English 1010 GMT 18 Dec 86 MB] /9274

CSO» 3400/681

55
SOUTH AFRICA

PSCU ON PLANS FOR IMPLEMENTING EFFECTIVE URBANIZATION STRATEGY

Johannesburg CITY PRESS in English 7 Dec 86 p 23

[Article by Z.B. Molefe]

[Text]

F OR a year a number

of prominent black and

white South Africans

have been looking at a program of political and

economic reconstruction

that will enable South

Africa to move into a desirable future.

This is a program

that will enable South

Africa to effectively implement a new urbanisation strategy as a major

component of national and

political reform, the

group said in Johannesburg when its year-long

work was unveiled.

These personalities

have been working handin-hand with an alliance

of the Afrikaanse Handelsinstituut.the Association of Chambers of Comcrce (Assocom), the

National African Federated Chamber of Commerce (Nafcoc), the

Chamber of Mines, the

Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of

SA (Seifsa) and the Urban

Foundation (UF).

These community

and business leaders, who

Urc members of the pro- _

gram's Private Sector

Council on Urbanisation (PSCU), include

churchmen Bishop

Manas Buthelezi and Rev

Cecil Begbie; educationist and senior Wits

University tutor Thamsanqa W Khambulc; Black

Housewives' League

president Sally Motlana;

business people Sy Kutumela and Marina Maponya; UF executive

and former newspaper editor Obed Kuncne;

Soweto Funda Centre coordinator Lebamang

Sebidi; Educational Opportunities Council deputy director Buti Thlagale

and Anglo-Vaal manpower director Wells Ntuli

Immidiately after its

formation, the PSCU focusscd on eight key

areas, where its work

would would be concentrated. These were:

• Commitment by the

government to abolition of

influx control before

openine of Parliament

1986;

• A halt to all shack demolitions, forced removals

and freezes on urban

growth;

• Government should

develop an urgent process

for the acquisition and

servicing of land at affordable standards for expansion of existing urban

areas and establishment

of new urban areas;

• All relevant authorities should be instructed to

facilitate the development of informal housing

at affordable standards;

• Under-utilised facilities should be re-allocated

or opened to all races;

• An urgent program at

all levels of government to

lift barriers to informal

sector activity; and actively encourage growth

within the informal sector;

• An urgent reassessment of the 198'2 white paper on industrial development strategy; and

• Reassess the 1913

and 1936 Land Acts.

56
The PSCU, from the

Outset, argued that though

this year witnessed a j

most significant piece ot ;

reform - the abolition

of influx control - itssucess rested on three issues which had to be resolved simulieneously:

• The restoration of

citizenship to residents of

the TBVC (Transkei.

Bophuthatswana, Venda

and Ciskei) countries;

• An end to squatter removals; and

• Anend to the forced

removal of settled comunities. ,

he PSCU's powerhouse - its working groups

- met 1*8 times during

its year's work and the

groups involved 118

people.

Its research has involved 100 academics

countrywide and included international expertise '

from Britain and Amer- i

ica. :

This had yielded 100

researcn papers.

"At the beginning of

the year when the PSCU

executive outlined what

it wanted to do," said UF s

Urbanisation Unit head

Anne Bernstein,"! felt

very uncertain that we

could achieve so much

in such a short period.

I think it is now fair

to say that the PSCU is

up, it is moving and as

an operational entity, it is

a growing concern"

In a nutshell, the

PSCU sees its role thus:

"It would appear to be

an urgent necessity that a

process be established

through which private sector leaders and representatives can raise policy

issues in debate with

government at the most

senior level."

PSCU Spell Out Four Points

WHEN the PSCU unveiled its

work it spotlighted four critical

areas that colour the South African

landscape. .;' .

These were:

D Restoration of South African

citizenship: "From the outset, the

PSCU'warned that along with the

abolition of influx control, a number of other issues needed to be

resolved simultaneously in order to

make the influx control reform effective.

"The South African government

should, as a matter of urgency,

announce that all citizens of territories which were formerly part ot

the RSA will henceforth also be

citizens of the Republic unless they

formally renounce South African

citizenship.

"The government should in the;

interim grant appropriate exemptions in terms of the Aliens Act to

make the position of TBVC citizens equivalent to that of South

African citizens"

D Rural development: "The Land

Acts of 1913 and 1936 contain

racially discriminatory provisions

which inhibit rural development

and economic growth.

"Rural development is a

: national priority and it is not yet

i afforded that status in national

economic and developement priorities.

"An urgent enquiry should be

launched into the legislative

changes needed in order to free the

rural market for land, labour and

capital of all racially discriminatory constraints"

DThe present crisis: "In many

ways and in many areas, the present system of local government as

it affects black people is in crisis.

"As the World Bank has argued

'the best urban policies will come

to nought unless there are institutions capable of giving it effect.

57
"The present institutions of local

government affecting black people

lack comunity legitimacy and economic viability and will be unable

to deliver.

"What is required is a recognition of these realities and a determined effort to engage in local

level negotiations to devise constructive solutions and community'1

backed institutions of local government.

"The research evidence from regions all over the country, in particular the Eastern Cape and the

Pretoria-Witwatersrand-Vereeniging region, suggests that leaders of

all community-backed black organisations may be willing to negotiate on local issues.

"Frequently in defiance of the

uncompromising public stance of

the national organisations to which

they are affiliated.

"The continued detention of

some of this leadership remains a

significant inhibiting factor in developing a meaningful negotiation

process."

D Forced removals of comunities

and the demolition of shack settlements: "The government should reaffirm that no further forced removals of settled comunities will

take place and 'black spots', townships and communities which were

previously considered for removal

will no longer be subjected to

threatened removal in any way.

"The recent announcement of

the resettlement of over 1 400 families away from Brits to a township

25km further out of town is an

urgent example of the need for a

clear and consistent policy in this

regard."

CSO: 3400/663

/9317

58
SOUTH AFRICA

NATAL UNIVERSITY ON PLIGHT OF BLACK WORKERS ON WHITE FARMS

Grievances Aired at Meeting

Johannesburg THE STAR in English 9 Dec 86 p 9

[Article by Claire Robertson]

[Text]

Last year farmworkers

in the Western Cape

earned an average of R32

a week.

This was revealed at a

gathering of welfare,

community and trade

union organisations earlier this year, Natal University's Indicator SA

says in its latest edition.

Grievances aired at the

meeting include:

•Wages of between R15

and R50 a week.

"In 1985 farm workers

in the Western Cape

earned R32 a week on average. Sometimes wine is

regarded as part of the

wage, although payment

in the form of alcohol is

illegal. There is no law

against freely dispensing

liquor to workers."

• Housing is tied to employment and "is used to

control workers".

"The farmer pays

lower wages on the

grounds that he provides

housing. Yet members of

workers' families living

on the farm but working

elsewhere usually have to

pay rent. At harvest time

"they are usually expected:

to help on the farm, and

sometimes lose their

town jobs in the process."

•Worker organisation is

hampered by the farmer.

"The farmer's readiness to invoke trespass

laws makes it difficult

for unionists to get on to

farms to recruit members. Workers may face

dismissal or victimisation for attending meetings off the farm or for

seeking legal advice."

• No provision is available for the care of children.

"Yet employers expect

young women to work on

the farm if needed.

The male head of the

family contracts verbally

with the farmer for the

entire family. Females

are on 12-hour standby at

harvest time."

•Working conditions are

not controlled by law.

"Farm workers are

specifically excluded

from most labour legislations which means there

is no legislated minimum

wage, paid leave provision, hours of work, sick

leave, unemployment insurance fund, etc."

• Education is below

standard.

SCHOOLS FEW

"Schools are few and

children walk long distances to get to them.

Teachers are often not

properly qualified. Children are frequently expected to work on the

farm instead of going to

school."

• A vicious circle of

debts controls worker.

"Workers often have no

option but to buy at farm

shops where goods are

more expensive. They

run up substantial debts

and are unable to leave

the farm, or must have

their debts transferred to

the new farmer employ

er.

"Focusing on the specific problems of farm

labour, the grievances

aired at the meeting have

an authenticity born

from the experience of

working closely with

these people over a long

period," the Indicator

SA report says.

59
Alcohol Used as Payment

Johannesburg THE STAR in English 9 Dec 86 p 9

[Text]

Indications are that more than 70 percent of workers

on wine farms are compulsive or heavy drinkers —

and this cannot be separated from the use of alcoholism as a means of workforce control, says a Western

Cape Black Sash field worker.

Mr Philip van Ryneveld, writing in a Natal University publication, says paying workers with alcohol,

though banned in 1962, still exists in effect as a fringe

benefit.

He writes: "Euphemistically named the 'tot' system

or dopstelsel, it involves distribution of reject wine

(mos) to workers on a systematic basis — sometimes as much as two litres a day.

"In some instances, workers are given wine at the

end of the day only, perhaps one bottle. But dop is

sometimes given more frequently — invaldop, brekfisdop, teedop, lunchdop and tshaüa dop. Farm labourers in the region consume about 3 percent of the

wine crop in dop, though quantities are reducing

under pressure from the Agricultural Union."

EFFECTIVE FORM OF DISCIPLINE

Mr van Ryneveld says farmers are "reluctant to

abandon the system, as withholding dop is an effective form of discipline, while giving extra dop is a

cheap means of reward".

"The strongest weapon the farmer wields is arguably not termination of employment but the order

to vacate the house," Mr van Ryneveld says.

"On dismissal or retirement, the worker and family

may find themselves not only without a livelihood but

without accommodation, the community of fellow

workers and access to education for the children."

Farm Villages Proposed as Solution

Johannesburg THE STAR in English 9 Dec 86 p 9

[Text]

A researcher at the University of

Natal's Development Studies Unit has

proposed farm villages as a solution to

the almost total dependency of farmworkers on their employers.

"The repeal of the Group Areas legislation and the creation of farm villages throughout the countryside could

have the effect of enabling farm workers to join the mainstream of the nation's life," writes research fellow Ms

Libby Ardington in the Spring edition

of Natal University's Indicator SA publication.

CINDERELLAS

She says farm workers are excluded

from labour legislation in South Africa

and without worker rights their almost

total reliance on the goodwill of the

farmer often leaves them in poor housing, far from medical services and

trapped in poorly paid jobs.

"Black children on commercial

farms are 'educational Cinderellas',"'

Ms Ardington says. ' There is no system for educating

African youth on farms, she points out,

there is merely a method for the Gov60
eminent to subsidise education if the

farmer provides facilities.

This education is usually restricted

to primary education and until recently it was impossible to get permission

for a farm school to go beyond Standard 5. 1L,

High schools are often impossibly far

from the farms, and travelling and

boarding costs prove prohibitive.

"The creation of farm villages would

encourage and enable the State to provide schools, medical and recreational

facilities on the same basis it does for

other citizens," Ms Ardington suggests.

At present a catch-22 situation exists

in that there is little hope for these

children to be absorbed into their

farm's workforce - "there is widespread concern about employment

prospects for the 50 percent of the

farm population who are under the age

of 18" — yet their residence on the

farms often denies them the education

that would enable them to get employment elsewhere.

Farm villages might increase opportunities for generating income, "particularly from sources which are independent" of the farmer.

"Existing farm housing is undoubtedly inadequate and unsatisfactory," Ms

Ardington points out. On some farms

no housing at all is provided and workers are expected to erect their own

shelters.

The repeal of the Group Areas Act

would vpen up to black people land

previously restricted to white ownership. For the majority who are without

the means to operate landholdings of

more than 50 hectares, perhaps suitable tracts of land could be obtained,

subdivided and then made available,

she argues.

REDISTRIBUTION

"If such land were to be allocated in

areas adjacent to farm villages, these

new settlements could house and serve

farm workers from large commercial

farms in the area.

"The costs of redistribution would be

significantly reduced if housing, water,

electricity and basic amenities were

provided from one place rather than

distributed one by one to each plot of

agricultural land."

CSO: 3400/663

/9317

61
SOUTH AFRICA

ANC ACTIVIST DISCUSSES ROLE OF WOMEN IN LIBERATION STRUGGLE

Johannesburg WORK IN PROGRESS in English Nov/Dec 86 pp 10-14

[Interview with Frene Ginwala, activist in the ANC Women's Section in London;

date and place not given]

[Text]

What is the history of the ANC Women's

Section?

Before the ANC was banned, the ANC

Women's League was active in South

Africa. After its banning, a separate

Women's Section was set up in the 1960s

as part of the external mission. Like

the ANC after 1969, this includes women

of all races - every women member of the

ANC is also a member of the Women's

Section. Women operate within the

organisational structure on the same

basis as other members, but also work

within the Women's Section.

The Women's and Youth Sections are two

major ANC departments. The Women's

Section is responsible for organising

South African women in the liberation

struggle and organising international

support for this struggle especially

among women.

What do you regard as 'women's issues'?

We do not see these as isolated from

national and social liberation. Too

often they are taken to mean only the

liberation of women. Some of us would

argue it is equally necessary to

liberate men: men with chauvinistic

attitudes indicate political

backwardness.

The responsibility of the liberation

movement is to raise all members'

political consciousness, so it must deal

equally with men's and women's

attitudes. In the liberation struggle,

we see women's liberation as something

for the whole organisation to deal with.

The leadership explicitly recognises

that this is the task of men and women -

not something women alone can do.

In an official ANC publication it

was stated that; 'We must start now (if

we have not started) to free ourselves

from "male chauvinism" and its

counterpart, "feminism" ». Can you

explain what this means?

This acknowledges what I have just said.

It might be preferable to refer to

Western feminism, rather than feminism

In general. Unlike some Western

interpretations of feminism, the ANC

does not see women's liberation In

isolation from other forms of oppression

in society. If an entire society is

oppressed, then to talk of women's

liberation in isolation Is negative.

In South Africa, the prime issue is

apartheid and national liberation. So to

argue that African women should

concentrate on and form an isolated

feminist movement, focusing on issues of

women in their narrowest sense, implies

62
African women must fight so that they

can be equally oppressed with African

men.

National liberation addresses many

issues. What guarantees are there that

the liberation of women, the question of

male chauvinism as you put it, does not

get lost or postponed in the struggle

for national liberation?

There is no guarantee in the national

liberation struggle. The only guarantee

is for women to be involved and make

sure their demands are forcefully raised

and dealt with.

There will never be guarantees, even

if clauses are written into

constitutions. The danger exists that

the issues will not be taken up. This

happens in every society. But one must

look at organisations' stated policy and

objectives.

In the liberation movement there is

stated policy which encompasses the

liberation of women. This is not just in

the form of additions to other policies,

or throw-away statements. For example,

before the 1985 Nairobi Women's

Conference, the ANC and SWAPO presidents

pledged that they would not consider

their objectives achieved, the task

completed or the struggle at an end

until the women of South Africa and

Namibia are fully liberated.

Women's liberation is an integral part

of the liberation struggle. It is not

something that will be done after

liberation, and it is recognised that

the liberation process will not be

finished until women are liberated.

This is an excellent stated position,

but it is wrong to say all you need is

this sort of declaration. Many women all

over the world live in countries where

there are excellent stated positions,

yet they are still not represented in

positions of leadership.

I believe that liberation can only be

achieved by women themselves, by getting

involved. They must use the stated

positions of their organisations to move

and pressure. Women's participation In

the Btruggle will enable them to raise

issues, put these on future agendas and

bring about solutions. The strength of

women's organisation will determine how

and when women's emancipation takes

place.

Turning to the Women's Section» how does

it operate, and how is it linked to the

ANC?

Women are members of the ANC and the

Women's Section, and participate fully

and equally in the various branches of

the ANC. A full-time functionary in a

particular department is part of it, but

in addition gains strength from

belonging to an organised women's

section. The head of the Women's Section

is an elected member of the ANC National

Executive Committee (NEC), but there are

other women also elected to the NEC.

There are women representing the ANC

in a number of countries. The first

women in this capacity was the chief

representative in Lusaka, Gertrude

Shope, who is now head of the Women's

Section. At present there are other

women chief representatives in Sweden

and France. A previous United Kingdom

chief representative was a woman.

It would be false to say this reflects

in any way the full potential or talent

of women in the ANC. The point is this

indicates what is possible.

Are the women on the NEC voted in by the

Women's Section?

No, the national conference elects the

entire NEC. The Women's Section has its

own appointed secretariat which is

responsible for issues that affect

women, how women are to be organised and

ways to develop women's skills. Each

region has a women's section which

includes all women ANC members In that

region who elect the regional women's

committee.

Does the Women's Section formulate

policy?

63
Yes. It has had a few women's

conferences and the policies formulated

there feed into the national movement.

But national conference and the NEC are

the ultimate policy making organs.

What kinds of issues have come up most

recently?

The Women's Section aims to get support

for women as well as the whole

liberation movement. For example we have

given evidence to the united Nations

Human Rights Commission on how apartheid

affects the lives of African women; the

condition of women political prisoners,

torture etc. In addition we participated

in the Nairobi Conference. In January

there will be a conference in support of

the ANC. It will be organised by the

National Assembly of Women in the UK and

supported by the Women's International

Democratic Federation. The Women's

Section liaises with women's groups,

women's sections of political parties,

and trade unions.

In the organisation Itself we

struggled to make sure there were always

creches at meetings. This is now the

case, and Is policy. This may seem

unimportant, but ANC women cadres In

Western Europe do not have supportive

family structures to help with

chlldcare.

Was this a battle?

Not really - It was a question of

pointing out its importance, then

dealing with practical aspects. We have

now established creches so that fulltime ANC functionaries can be fully

active. In Tanzania we have a creche

where women cadres of the ANC can go to

have children. They can stay there for

up to two years, then can leave the

child there while they go back to theii

duties. There are also creches in

Lusaka, because it is not ideal for

women to leave their children.

This has meant that as far as possible

the organisation has taken on some

responsibilities so that women can

operate fully in the ANC.

What about other projects or programmes

of concern to women?

The Women's Section pays particular

attention to training opportunities.

Whenever there are training

opportunities or scholarships we try to

ensure women are considered. The ANC

gets a lot of support for training

refugees, and we make sure women are

chosen. We have also taken up the issue

of birth control and family planning for

young women.

Would the Women's Section run workshops

on these issues?

Not workshops as such. We make sure

there is education and advice available,

but these issues are not dealt with

separately. Family planning concerns men

as well as women, and there are general

discussions about this.

At what level do these issues come up?

They would be discussed at the Solomon

Mahlangu ANC school at Morogoro for

example, and wherever there is a

concentration of ANC cadres.

Women need a more supportive structure

In the general society. In environments

where this Is not available, It is

provided. We have also looked at

questions of racism and sexism in the

learning process, and go through some

texts and rewrite others.

Has the question of sexism or chauvinism

ever been debated or brought up within

the ANC itself?

Yes, of course. Policy is clear and

everyone agrees these questions must be

considered. But how this gets worked out

in practice and what it means must

continually be impressed on members. It

must be stressed both to men and women,

because often women will say they are

not oppressed;

64
Both women and men must be politically

educated to realise that women's

emancipation is part of the liberation

process, that it cannot wait, and that

women's emancipation will not develop

automatically if apartheid is destroyed.

These debates are included in some of

the official documents and publications.

Some people say these issues should not

be discussed publicly, and are quite

critical. But we feel they must be

raised.

How does the political education process

take place?

These issues arise in political

education classes and in discussion

within the organisation. The ANC

declared 1984 the Year of Women. There

was a great deal published and the

classes focused on these issues.

At the last National Conference there

was a specific paper and discussion on

women. Statements called for more

attention to be focused on women's

issues, and emphasised that the end of

the United Nations Decade of Women,

marked by the Nairobi Conference, did

not mean the end of the struggle for

women's emancipation. The struggle for

the active and conscious involvement of

women must continue.

But how do you ensure conscious

involvement. Is it enough to just

mobilise women?

This varies, depending on the number of

members who are fully conscious and

raise these issues. We include women's

issues as part of any formalised

political education taking place in the

movement and in its schools. Outside

formal educational structures issues are

raised by members themselves. We

recognise you cannot effectively

mobilise women into the national

liberation struggle unless you address

women's demands.

In one ANC publication it was argued

that women have to be organised both

generally and specifically* What does

this mean?

While it is important that women are

ordinary ANC members, there is a very

specific women's element to oppression

which will not just naturally work

itself out through national liberation.

It is something which must be focused on

and this is recognised within the ANC.

The Women's Section has the crucial

responsibility of ensuring that women's

views feed into all*aspects of national

policy and drawing the world's attention

to South African women's issues.'

Would you say that the separate

organisation of the Women's Section

enables it to play this role?

If you are organised as women you can

work out issues and see them more

clearly. It is one thing to know

theoretically that women are oppressed,

but it is another to comprehend how this

oppression actually affects you In your

day-to day-life.

So it is necessary to formulate

strategies to overcome that oppression

and to relate this to national

liberation. This is something women in

organisations like the Women's Section

have to do. Men can comprehend this

oppression intellectually but because

women experience it, it is different.

Women's liberation in South Africa

cannot be achieved outside of the

context of the liberation struggle. And

the question of women's liberation will

only be taken up to the extent that

women are Involved in national

liberation. But a problem arises because

there is a tendency to see the two as

separate. We have struggled to make it

clear that these are not two separate

issues. They are different facets of the

same issue and therefore at all stages

have to be seen as a whole.

Now we do not kid ourselves and say

that because we understand this, the

problem is solved. It is an ongoing

process to be dealt with at all times.

If, for example, you talk about forced

65
removals, you must ask what this means

for women?

Have a younger generation of women in

the ANC raised new issues?

To some extent their involvement has

made the task easier. The issues were

always somewhere on the agenda but the

activity and participation of younger

women has raised the debates very

clearly.

If older women did not have an

awareness and consciousness of women's

issues a conflict situation between the

generations may have emerged, but this

has not happened. Women active in the

1950s worked out a highly articulate and

relevant programme in the Women's

Charter. These demands were integrated

in the Freedom Charter.

What do you think is specific to women

in South African society?

People often ask why pick on South

Africa when there are so many other

oppressive systems? But apartheid is

unique in its oppression of women. It is

one of the most institutionallyorganised systems of oppression which

has horrific consequences in terms of

women's rights, health and social

conditions.

South African women have a rich

history of struggle. But this strength

needs to be channeled. Women are not as

much in the leadership as they need to

be and this must change. And the

liberation movement must stop pretending

that women have the same opportunities

as men. The organisation is confident

enough of its policy to be able to say

this publicly and address itself

practically to the issue.

Women must also stop behaving as if

there is no place for them above certain

types of work in the organisation.

But women are also oppressed by their

own men, not just apartheid.

Yes, it is not only apartheid but

questions usually focus on the

oppression of women in black society.

One must also ask how liberated white

South African women are within their own

social and cultural environment? Where

is the writing on the oppression of

white women in South Africa? We have not

seen it.

People tend to focus on black society.

White women should realise their

liberation lies with the national

liberation movement. For it is the only

organisation in South Africa, black or

white, which deals with the issue of

women's liberation in its proper

context.

What sort of South Africa do you

envisage for women after liberation?

A lot depends on how we get there. When

apartheid is destroyed and there is a

government based on one-person-one-vote

in a unitary state, this will not

automatically mean that women are

adequately represented at decision

making levels, or that women's rights

are fully achieved.

We have a long task ahead of us, but

hopefully we can lay the foundations for

women's emancipation and remove the

institutional problems. After liberation

we will still have the problems of

education and attitudes among men of all

races. That is part of the political

education process which we have to

continue.

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SOUTH AFRICA

GIRL ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL AFTER ALLEGED POLICE ASSAULT

Johannesburg THE STAR in English 11 Dec 86 p 6

[Article by Jon Qwelane and Belede Mazwai]

[Text]

Yesterday, exactly three months after she was

detained on September 10, Thelma Lindi Nzondo

was supposed to undergo an operation to her rib

cage at Leratong Hospital in Krugersdorp.

Her mother, Mrs Priscilla Nzondo, last night

said she knew her 15-year-old daughter was to

have the operation — but nobody from the South

African Police or the Prisons Department had

contacted her to inform her about the proposed

surgery or to ask her permission that it should be

carried out.

"In fact, nobody even came to inform me that

my daughter was seriously ill. She was detained

at her grandmother's home at 3 am.

NOT AT HOME

"I was not home at the time and the detention

order the police came with was handed to my son

Charles, himself a policeman now stationed in

Soweto, and he signed it. Then they took Thelma

away," said Mrs Nzondo.

The detention order, which reporters read last

night, was issued in terms of the emergency proclaimed on June 12 and stated that Thelma was

being held in Krugersdorp. „..,,.

Yet her mother had traced her to the Diepkloof

Prison in Johannesburg.

"On November 91 went to Leratong Hospital to

visit a friend who had been admitted there.

"By a strange coincidence I saw my daughter

in Ward 14, and she told me she had been beaten

outside Jhe cells, and the beating had resulted in

her being*"taken to hospital. She had been admitted the day before and was under police guard.

"She complained of a pain in the area of her rib

cage. She was then returned to Diepkloof Prison

where I saw her on December 1," Mrs Nzondo

said

It was then her daughter informed her she was

to be returned to the hospital yesterday for the

operation, but by last night she did not know if the

operation had been performed.

Mrs Nzondo said she would not have agreed to

sign permission for her daughter's operation until

she knew fully why it was necessary and what

had caused Thelma's injuries.

A letter written about Thelma on Tuesday by

the National Institute for Crime Prevention and

the Rehabilitation of Offenders and sent to the

Detainees Parents Support Committee, was seen

by reporters yesterday.

It said in part: "Thelma has apparently been

assaulted and needs an operation to repair broken

ribs. It would be appreciated if you could refer

her (Mrs Nzondo) to legal assistance."

Yesterday the matter was referred to the Bureau for Information for comment. The bureau

referred The Star to the police. A telex was sent

to the SAP Directorate for Public Relations for

comment on the case. No reply has been received.

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67
SOUTH AFRICA

BOY ALLEGES ASSAULT, TORTURE IN POLICE CELLS

Johannesburg THE STAR in English 11 Dec 86 p 6

[Article by Belede Mazwai and Jon Qwelane]

[Text]

What is life like for a boy of 11

years old, held without trial by

the police?

William Modibedi (11) is a Kagiso, Krugersdorp, schoolboy

who has just been released from

detention. He has few words to

describe what it is like inside

the cells: when asked to recount

his experiences over the last

two months when he was away

from home, he indifferently relates what happened to him.

'Forced to stand'

But, pressed to be specific, he

cries. —

William alleges that he was

foreed to stand for lengthy

periods during interrogation at

Roodepoort Police Station, and

that the same happened at Krugersdorp Police Station where

he was interrogated again.

He says that in Roodepoort

four of his teeth were knocked

out by a black policeman during

interrogation.

"I was later led to a darkened

room where a light bulb was

switched on and I was forced to

stare at its glare. I stared at it

until I felt dizzy. Even with the

light on, the room somehow remained dim.

"On October 27 I was transferred to Krugersdorp Prison,

called 'Berg', and two days later

I was taken to Krugersdorp Police Station for further interrogation. When I arrived there I

was handcuffed and put in legirons, and then subjected to

electriashocks.

"The"y put a dummy into my

mouth, and the dummy had

wires connected to it. The wires

were connected to a socket in

the wall, and when a policeman

turned on the switch I experienced a jarring effect. I also felt

excruciating pains in my head,"

said the Std 2 schoolboy who

was detained on October 3.

He said the reason he was

being tortured was to force him

to sign statements admitting he

had attacked three delivery

trucks with petrol bombs. He

was also forced to incriminate

himself concerning an incident

of "necklacing".

"Because of the pain, I signed

the statement," he said.

Some days later he was taken

by the police to a mortuary

where he was forced to look at

dead bodies. This happened on

two occasions, once in the morning and the other at night.

William says that a policeman also pushed him down a

flight of stairs.

His two sisters Elsie (18) and

Sophie (15) and brother John (16)

are still in detention.

Elsie was the first to be detained in July, John was picked

68
up some weeks later and William and Sophie were detained

together in a dawn raid on their

home in October.

Elsie and John are being held

in the Diepkloof Prison, Johannesburg, and Sophie is in Roodepoort.

Last night The Star took the

boy to a psychiatrist, and the

two spent over an hour together.

Time to readjust

Later the doctor, who cannot

be named for professional reasons, said he would not say yet

that William's condition was

post-traumatic stress syndrome.

The doctor agreed, however,

that the kind of experiences William had allegedly undergone in

prison could have a lasting effect on him. The boy would

probably readjust to home life

at a faster pace if his detained

brother and sisters were released to be with him.

But there was a possibility

William's condition could be adversely affected by the stories

he and his siblings exchanged of

their experiences in the cells.

Last night the SAP Directorate for Public Relations was

asked to comment on the allegations made by William.

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69
SOUTH AFRICA

FIRST BLACK MINING ENGINEER GRADUATES

Johannesburg BUSINESS DAY in English 9 Dec 86 p 9

[Article by Cherilyn Ireton]

[Text]

THE first black mining engineer graduates from Wits University tonight, but

governmentlegislation will prohibit him

from working as a miner in SA.

The Scheduled Person definition in the

Mines and Works Act will block graduate Patrick Rangwetsi from obtaining

a blasting certificate — a pre-requisite

for entry to mine management.

The discriminatory clause, which prevents advancement to skilled jobs, is

expected to be removed early next year.

However, until the definition is

scrapped, Rangwetsi will have to undergo training at one of the homeland mines

of his employer, Johannesburg Consolidated Investments (JCI).

JCI director Jeremy Nel said: "The

scheduled person's clause was not a

problem in terms of Rangwetsi getting

his degree. But we were constantly

aware that it would raise its head once

he had graduated."

JCI sponsored Rangwetsi's education

after spotting his "obvious potential"

during training courses at Rustenburg|

Platinum mines, where he was employed for a number of years. I

His practical postgraduate training

will take place at either JCI's Atok mine

or one of its Bophutatswana mines.

Graduating along with Rangwetsi are

the first four black candidates for BSc

(Engineering) degrees in metallurgy,

materials and surveying.

Another pioneer is Gavin Foley, who

will become the first Wits graduate to

obtain a BSc (Eng) degree in mine surveying.

At the ceremony, Professor Desmond

Midgley, SA's leading authority on hydrology and water resources, will receive the honorary degree of Doctor of

Science in Engineering.

In all, the engineering faculty will

confer 148 degrees, 42 higher degrees

and 54 postgraduate diplomas.

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70
SOUTH AFRICA

SARHWU GENERAL SECRETARY ON UNION ORGANIZATION

Cape Town GRASSROOTS in English Dec 86 p 7

[Interview with Ntai Sello, general secretary of SARHWU; date and place not

given]

[Text]

NTAI SELLO was recently

elected the General Secretary of-i

SARHWU. GRASSROOTS spoke

to him about the union and his

experiences in organising the

SATS workers.

GRASSROOTS: WHEN WAS

SARHWU FORMED?

NS: SARHWU has a very long

and proud history. It was first

started in 1936. Many brave leaders such as Moses Mabhida, Archie

. Sibeko, Curnick Ndlovu struggled

to organise the railway workers. It

was a strong union — but in the

sixties the government managed

to crush the union by imprisoning

many of its leaders.

In 1976, the workers again

struggled to form the union. They

were led by Lawrence Ndzanga,

who had also been involved before.

He was detained, and died while

in detention in 1977.

For a time, the union was set

back. Then, in 1983, GAWU and

MGWUSA helped to start the

union again. Now, we have

launched the national union. We

have branches all over South

Africa. We are a member of

COSATU. SARHWU is strong

again and this time we will not be

defeated.

GRASSROOTS: HOW DID YOU

GET INVOLVED IN THE

UNION?

NS: I was working on the railways,

for four years. I could see the suffering of my fellow workcrs,_and

I wanted to find ways to fight this

thing.

I was detained 3 months in

1983. When I was released, SATS

did not want to take me back. But

I fought my case and I was reinstated. But then, they wanted to

transfer me to some small town.

Also, I was having trouble with

the foreman, they were threatening me.

So I left SATS. But I did not

leave the railway workers. I am

determined to fight for the rights

of the workers. Because I have

been a worker and I know how

they suffer.

GRASSROOTS: WHAT ISSUES

IS THE UNION FIGHTING FOR?

NS: The workers experience many

hardships - their wages are very

low, conditions are dangerous.

The foremen are racist and treat

the workers very badly. There are

many unfair dismissals, and so on.

We are planning to fight all

these things for the workers. And

we have taken up some cases of

victimisation and unfair dismissals.

At the moment, we are busy

with a national campaign against

the Staff Association. Many workers are resigning from the Staff

Association - now we want them

all to resign together. This means

that workers will not be victimised for resigning.

GRASSROOTS: SARHWU IS A

MEMBER OF THE UDF. WHY

DID THE UNION JOIN UDF?

NS: You see, its like this. We fight

for the workers to get higher

wages, on the factory floor, right?

But then we see they are robbed

of that money. They are robbed

by high busfares, by high rents.

Their children are robbed with

this cheap education they get. The

boss gives them more wages, but

finds ways of taking it back from

the workers outside the factory.

That is why we say, the worker's struggle does not end in the

factory. It goes on in the communities, and in the schools. Our task

as a union is to organise workers

at the workplace. But we must

join with other organisations

which are fighting worker problems in the communities

Also, we know tnat tne

struggle must be led by workers.

Workers are the majority, and

they must show the way to democracy and freedom. So, it is very

important that workers are

involved in UDF so that they can

lead the UDF.

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SOUTH AFRICA

POLL INDICATES WHITE HOPES FOR POLITICAL FUTURE

Johannesburg THE CITIZEN in English 15 Dec 86 p 13

[Article by Poen de Villiers]

[Text]

SEVENTY percent of

the White voters in

South Africa feel that

the government should

continue with its reforms, according to the

findings of an opinion

poll published in Rapport yesterday.

Other significant findings of the poU\ conducted for Rapport

nationwide among about

2 000 Whites by Mark en

Meningsopnames were:

• Most White voters

were in favour of a federal or confederal constitutional dispensation at a

regional level instead of it

being pn an ethnical

group basis (Whites,

Blacks, Indians and

Cqloureds);

P They favoured retaliation against neighbouring states who support

sanctions against South

Africa;

• Support for the National Party has dropped

since June this, year, while

all the other political parties gained support;

•Just fewer than 50

percent were in favour of

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the government taking action against Bishop Desmond Tutu because of his

campaign suporting sanctions against South Africa;

• The majority supported the release of Nelson Mandela if he rejected violence and that

the government negotiate

with the ANC on the

same condition.

Regarding the future

constitutional dispensation, people whq participated in the poll had four

alternatives to choose

from:

• Homeland or heartland for every ethnic

group (including Whites)

where they had separate

freedoms with selfndeteriqinatipn;

• A unitary state with

one parliament where the

government is elected on

a basis of one man one

vpte;

9 A state which is organised on ethnic groups

basis with power sharing

in some instances and

group autonomy in others

with formal structures for

negotiation by all groups

regarding future constitutional changes;

# A new constitution

that is drafted on a nonethnical regional basis

through negotiation between representatives of

all citizens. A federal or

confederal government

made up of regional representatives will guarantee the rights and privileges of the individual

through a Bill of Rights.

The non-ethnic model

with its regional basis

drew 37 percent of the

support, compared to 27

percent for power sharing

on a ethnic group basis,

20 percent for the separate freedoms idea and

five percent for one parliament elected on an one

man one vote basis.

Economic retaliatory

action against neighbouring states who supported

sanctions against South

Africa are favoured' by 49

percent. Twenty-nine

percent rejected such action.

Since a similar survey

in June the NP's support

has dropped from 51,9

percent to 49,6 percent,

while all the other parties

gained support. The Progressive Federal Party's

support increased from

164 percent to 18,6 percent, the Conservative

Party from 13,4 percent

to 14,1 percent, the New

Republic Party from 2,7

percent to 3,1 percent and

the Herstigte Nasionale

Party from 2,2 percent to

three percent.

Archbishop Tutu's support for sanctions angered

many White voters and 47

percent said the Government should take action

against him. Many (37

percent) felt, however,

that no action should be

taken because it would

only promote his image as

a martyr.

Fifty-two percent of the

Whites are in favour of

Mandela's conditional release with 33 percent

against the idea and the

rest uncertain, while 57

percent are in favour of

negotiations with the

ANC should they reject

violence. Twenty-seven

percent were not in

favour of negotiations

with the ANC.

72
SOUTH AFRICA

COMMENTARY ON U.S. 'REVERSAL' ON POLICY TOWARD ANC

MB220814 Johannesburg International Service in English 0630 GMT 22 Dec 86

[Station commentary? "The United States and the ANC"]

[Text] A little more than 2 months ago, when U.S. legislators Insisted on

Imposing sanctions against South Africa, they decided that a report be submitted to Congress within 90 days on the communist influence in the ANC and

its use of violence. There has been no word since then on what progress, if

any, has been made with such an investigation.

On the contrary, far from any evidence of such an investigation being carried

out, there has clearly been a reversal in the American Government's attitude

towards both the South African Government and the ANC, Until fairly recently, American Secretary of State Mr George Shultz had praised the unprecedented reforms taking place in South Africa, Earlier this month he spoke

of the need for South Africa to do something urgently about reform. [Words

indistinct] , and his government had refused to speak to the ANC, he announced

that talks were being held with the ANC in order, as he put it, to advance the

cause of equal rights, democracy and constitutional government in South

Africa,

The South African Government has made it clear that it is prepared to talk

to any individual or organization, including the ANC leadership provided they

renounced violence as a means of achieving political ends. The ANC has shown

no interest in doing so. Its continued commitment to violence is plain for

all to see, and any serious investigation will establish beyond doubt that it

has no interest in equal rights, democracy, and constitutional government.

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SOUTH AFRICA

COMMENTARY PRAISES COOPERATION WITH LESOTHO

MB121042 Johannesburg International Service in English 0630 GMT 12 Dec 86

[Station commentaryi "Cooperation in Southern Africa"]

[Text] There is one thing that stands out above the conflict, rhetoric,

hunger, and outside interference in southern Africa today, and that is the

tiny flicker of interstate cooperation symbolized by the joint Highlands

water project between South Africa and Lesotho, Both South Africa's foreign

minister, Mr Pik Botha, and the Lesotho leader, General Metsing Lekhanya,

spoke of the example that the joint project was to the rest of Africa. Mr

Botha was on a visit to Lesotho, which included a trip to the site of the

massive water scheme's first dam. The project, Mr Botha said, will be a

symbol of the production of bread instead of the spilling of blood and of

conflict,

At an impromptu news conference, Mr Botha explained that the government of

South Africa and Lesotho had been negotiating for some time on the 4 billion

rand project which would benefit both countries. What has happened is that

(word indistinct] governments of Africa met, saw, planned, and hope together

not for us but for our children, he said, for a better life. If this example

of working together could be expanded, Mr Botha said, we could through cooperation, understanding, and dialogue create something to be proud of in

Africa.

Speaking in similar vein, Gen Lekhanya said that the rest of Africa could

indeed learn something from the symbolism of the project« Together we can

build something that we can all be proud of; separated we will never achieve

anything.

The Highlands water project is one of the largest of its kind in the world

and the biggest hydroelectric scheme in southern Africa. The project will be

a monument to regional cooperation in southern Africa, something which is

vital and necessary if there is to be political stability and economic progress

in the subcontinent,

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SOUTH AFRICA

COMMENTARY VIEWS TOUGH AFRICAN ECONOMIC LESSONS

MB131010 Johannesburg International Service in English 0630 Grt 13 Dec 86

[Station commentary]

[Text] The Zambian food riots of the past week should bring home a few hard

lessons for the whole of Sub-Saharan Africa. Chief among them is the responsibility that comes with independence. Failure to realize responsibilities

and to act on them is the main reason why Africa is suffering today from

political and economic ills that few could have imagined in the heady days

at the dawn of independence 25 years ago,

A few years ago the former secretary general of the Organization of African

Unity [OAU] Mr Edem Kodjo made this sad comment: Our ancient continent is

now on the brink of disaster, paddling towards the abyss of confrontation,

caught in the grip of violence. Gone are the smiles, the joys of life.

Numerous reports by experts in international institutions have confirmed this

bleak view. Reports point out that all too frequently African states have become hostage to leaders Intent solely on gaining and holding power. In nation

after nation independence is then followed by a steady decrease in food production, and such essential government services as education, health care,

and transportation are in disarray.

These are the very things that support the smiles and joys of life. People

with empty bellies cannot smile and can have no experience of the joys of

life.

In terms of per capita income and the availability of food, the people of

many Sub-Saharan countries are worse off now than they were at independence.

As the situation has worsened the World Bank and International Monetary Fund

have had to impose stricter conditions on countries receiving aid. These

include devaluation of inflated currencies, realistic exchange control, scaleddown development projects, and, more recently, the curbing of nonessential

imports, ending policies tailored to deliver cheap food to the cities and

give greater incentives to farmers.

The more than doubling of the maize price in Zambia which sparked off last

week's riots resulted from the government's decision to cut subsidies as

part of an austerity program devised by the International Monetary Fund to

75
bring about economic reform. It was a touch decision demanded by tough circumstances. Now the government has reversed its decision and reintroduced

the subsidies on the maize price. In doing so it has bowed to the will of

the people, a rare occurrence in a none-party state. But it has undermined

its efforts at economic reform. This is perhaps the toughest lesson of

all—there are no easy options in doing what has to be done.

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SOUTH AFRICA

PFP LABELS MEDIA RESTRICTIONS DESPOTIC

MB211353 Johannesburg SAPA in English 1224 GMT 21 Dec 86

{Text] Cape Town, 21 Dec (SAPA[—Keeping the public in ignorance with the

new press curbs was the creed of despots, PFP MP and spokesman on information, Mr Peter Soal, said today. He was responding to a half-page Bureau

for Information advertisement in the SUNDAY TIMES "to set the record straight"

about the emergency regulations inflicted on the media on 11 December.

"It is important to note that the current situation was brought about by an

obstinate government who in spite of many warnings imposed the tri-cameral

system on the country, thereby excluding the black people and entrenching

apartheid," Mr Soal said.

The advertisement claimed the state of emergency was a success, but "if all

is going so well why are things so bad? If the emergency is succeeding why

is the clamp on the press necessary?" asked Mr Soal,

"With regard to the third point (the role of the media in the revolutionary

struggle; one must ask why is it necessary to create a situation where citizens are kept in ignorance? This is the creed of despots. We all need to be

fully informed of what is going on and what action has been taken both by

the activists and by the government,"

The reasons for the government's imposition of the new emergency regulations

were "misleading and does not reflect the true picture. But this is typical

of the National Party who frequently distort the situation to their own political purposes," Mr Soal said, "One must not underestimate the seriousness

of the situation but the blame for the mess South Africa is in must be laid

at the door of the Nats, This will not improve until we abandon apartheid."

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SOUTH AFRICA

POLL REVEALS TELEVISION PRIMARY SOURCE OF NEWS

MB170757 Johannesburg SAPA in English 0740 GMT 17 Dec 86

[Text] Johannesburg, 17 Dec (SAPA)^-Television is still the major source of

news for urban whites but the percentage of viewers is on the decline,

according to an Omnichek poll.

It showed that two out of three white urban South Africans say television

is their main source of news. Out of a sample of 500 urban men and 800

womenr 64 percent put television as their main source of news, 34 percent

said they turned first to their daily newspaper and 30 percent relied on

the radio.

In August 1985, responses from an identical sample indicated that 72 percent

used television as their main source of news, 43 percent relied on newspapers

and 33 percent on radio news items.

Research survey's joint managing director, Mr Butch Rice, said people's

indication of television as their main news source did not necessarily mean

that this was their only news source. "That white South Africans rely so

heavily on television and radio as primary sources of news nevertheless is

disquieting and places enormous responsibility on the authorities using the

broadcast media to make sure that white South Africans are kept fully and

accurately informed of events."

Mr Rice said» "The poll was not designed to explain any pattern shifts so

it is not possible to determine precisely why the two polls show such a

marked difference. If there is a decline in people relying on television as

their primary source of news, it would be logical in present circumstances to

see a counter-balancing increase in newspaper readership, but this has not

happened,

"It is too far-fetched to conclude that in the last year, white South

Africans are losing interest, if not trust, in all sources of news. If so,

this has extremely grave consequences for the government in maintaining

credibility as the primary front of unrest news. Newspapers operating independently of the government conceivably could be placed at a considerable

disadvantage if white readers begin to turn away because the print media is

no longer capable of doing its job properly," Mr Rice said.

78
The latest poll, conducted as early morning television was getting into its

stride, indicates that women rely much more than men on television as their

main source of news; 67 percent of responses compared with 60 percent of

responses from men. On the other hand, 41 percent of men give newspapers

as the main source against 32 percent by women, Only 23 percent of men

said they used radio as a main source of news, compared with 31 percent of

women,

Afrikaans-speaking whites placed the greatest dependence on television as the

primary source of news, at 71 percent of respondents, compared with 58 percent

of English-speaking people. Only 28 percent of the Afrikaans community gave

first choice to newspapers, compared with 42 percent of the English-speaking

community,

Among young people, 49 percent of respondents aged 18 to 24 gave television

as the main source of news, compared with 23 percent who rely on newspapers

and 29 percent who listen to the radio. People in the age groups 25 to 34

and 35 to 49 placed greatest reliance on television (65 percent and 61 percent respectively) while only 42 percent aged 50 or older relied on television and 24 percent on newspapers.

The poll showed that 58 percent of whites said the medium of their main

source of news was bilingual, compared with 34 percent who said it was exclusively English and 16 percent who said it was exclusively Afrikaans,

The poll also showed that eight out of every 100 whites never read newspapers.

Of multiple responses, 63 percent said they read daily newspapers, 64 percent

said they read Sunday newspapers and 73 percent said they read the local free

sheet,

Eighteen percent of urban whites claimed to read newspapers from cover to

cover, 35 percent said they read them "fairly thoroughly," 38 percent said

they did so "casually," and nine percent said "not at all,"

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79
SOUTH AFRICA

BLACK SASH CONDEMNS RESTRICTION ORDERS ON NEWSPAPERS

MB161057 Johannesburg SAPA in English 1022 GMT 17 Dec 86

[Text] Johannesburg, 16 Dec (SAPA)—The Black Sash has condemned the restriction orders on THE WEEKLY MAIL and the SOWETAN prohibiting them from

publishing statements which "advocate" or "support" the Christmas against

the emergency campaign,

"If any member of the public still has any doubts as to whether freedom of

the press has been destroyed in South Africa, these latest orders should

remove all doubt from their minds," the women's organisation said. "There

is no press freedom any more. The press can only publish what the government chooses to allow it to publish. The people no longer know what is

going on in their own country, every day momentous events occur but all the

public knows is what the authorities choose to disclose.

"Already rumours abound and rumour is exceedingly dangerous. The government has already driven resistance underground. One day the white people

of this country will find out with shock and horror what has happened as

did the white Rhodesian community when that war finally ended," it said.

The Black Sash said the bans were "a tribute to the courage and determination of the editors and journalists of THE WEEKLY MAIL and the SOWETAN.

They are under threat-^-but so is every single person who lives in South

Africa as we enter into this long silence."

/9274

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80
RACIAL APARTHEID CRUMBLING ON JOHANNESBURG'S BUSES

Johannesburg SUNDAY TINES in English 7 Dec 86 p 3

SOUTH AFRICA

[Article by Gwen Gill and Samkelo Kumalo]

[Text] APARTHEID began to crumble

on Johannesburg buses this week

... and nobody, neither black nor

white, turned a hair.

In fact no one really seemed to care

— or even care about it.

During rush-hour trips out of town

on the black Parkhurst and back into

town on the white Craighall buses we

were the only whites to be seen.

• But though racial apartheid may be

out of the window on a few selected

routes from the liberal northern suburbs, in conservatively-run Johannesburg, economic apartheid still thrives.

• For a similar-length trip on a white

bus the fare is Rl (or R7,40 for a 10-

coupon ride). On a black bus it's 70c

(or R5.10).

And economic apartheid also

comes colour-coded!

Black and white may be out, but .

blue and yellow are in!

Blacks can only ride on a white bus

with a blue board on the front Whites

can only get on a black bus with a

yellow indicator board.

' What's more, "blue" buses only stop

at white bus stops. "Yellow" buses

only draw up at black stops.

" But this tiny step for bus-travelling

citizens appears to be welcome, if a

little late in getting the official stamp

of approval.

White passengers say that blacks

have been travelling on the Craighall

bus (coded blue) for a while.

Students

"Our usual bus driver, a coloured

man, lets anyone on," said secretary

Jane Law of Craighall.

Passengers on the bus, which is usually full of students and schooi pupils,

said that it's only right that buses

should be integrated.

Why hasn't it happened before?"

äsked Miss Simone Catton of Randburg. "But I wouldn't go out of my

way to ride on the cheaper, black

buses.

; "They should make all the buses the

•same."

On the crowded black bus (coded

yellow) none of the commuters even

noticed us.

Everyone went on with their conversations, reading newspapers and

the racing form books.

Genial driver Reuben Jubase, a

Transkeian who's been driving for the

municipality for 17 years, gave us our

tickets seemingly without noticing the

colour of our skin.

Sermon

"Whites, particularly young ones,

have been coming on my bus for ages,

without any problems, he said.

It didn't take long to find out that a

ride on a black bus is much more fun

that the staid trip that white buses

offer.

By the time we'd got to Braamfontein, Mrs Thandi Kumalo had started

preaching a sermon. By Rosebank

most of the passengers were singing a

hymn.

"Singing makes the distance seem

much shorter," laughed one commuter, who said she'd left her home in

Dobsonville, Soweto, at six o'clock

that morning. It was then 7.45am.

The "open bus" experiment is due to

last for at least six months.

After that — and presuming it

works — the council will "motivate

for open buses to become permanent",

according to the vice-chairman of the

transport committee of Johannesburg

City Council, Mr Jan van Blerk.

81
GWEtTS VERDICT ...

A GREAT trip. Passengers on black

bases are much more friendly than those

on the white bases I've been used to.

There yoa can see the same folks for

years and never get a "good morning" oat

of them.

. On the black bases everyone chats —

if s a lot noisier than I'm used to, and a lot

faller. And white passengers can forget

about fears they might have about dirty

vehicles.

But there's a big education programme

to be done before full integration will

come about. Not necessarily in telling

people to integrate, but telling them that

integration is happening.

Of coarse, the farce of opening mates

going to the liberal north is preaching to

the converted. The real crunch will come

when open bases start on routes to the

rather more conservative east, west and

south of Johannesbarg.

It's also daft that bus stops are still

separated by race.

Frankly, I can't wait until open buses

are used on the'routes I use daily —

specially when three black buses come

along to every white one.

But I just hope theyll do something to

make the seats a bit softer!

SAMKELO*S VERDICT ...

I DOUBT whether any black will go out

of bis or her way to pay an extra 30 cents

for the comfort of cushioned seats in

white buses.

I feel the present black buses will still

cater for the black majority, with only a

few commuters on both sides of the

colour line catching buses going their

way.

But whites on black buses are in for

religious sermons. This idea came to me

when I noticed a paternal aunt preaching

a sermnn on the lower deck of a black

bus.

My aunt's preaching was at times

drowned by the singing on the lower deck,

with the upper deck joining in, somewhat

hesitantly at first. But soon the whole bus

was a mobile church service.

Perhaps this will drive many whites

from the traditional black buses. So don't

be surprised if black Christian zealots

spread the Word of God to their white

compatriots in the blue-coded buses.

An encouraging note came from an

elederly white lady on a white bus. She

welcomed the desegregation, adding that

it should have-come a long time ago.

"We should not only ride and work

together in industry, but learn to live with

one another as well."

/9274

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82
SOUTH AFRICA

REPORTERS EXAMINE VARIOUS FACTORS IN KWANATAL INDABA DISPUTE

Two 'Cardinal' Defects Seen

Johannesburg THE WEEKLY MAIL In English 5-11 Dec 86 pp 12, 17

[Article by Patrick Laurence]

[Text]

THE formula for joint multi-racial, regional

government for Natal and KwaZulu, hammered

out after eight weeks of hard bargaining,

illustrates once again the difficulty of reaching a

wide political consensus in South Africa.

Impressive as the KwaNatal Indaba is as an

innovative response to the political challenges

facing the country, it suffers from two cardinal —

perhaps even fatal — defects.

The two major forces in the struggle for South

Africa, black radicalism and Afrikaner

nationalism, were not party to the agreement . reached with apparent suddenness by 24 of the 37

delegations to the Indaba last Friday.

The whole constellation of radical black

organisations — the African National Congress,

the United Democratic Front, the Pan Africanist

Congress and the black consciousness movement

— spurned the invitation to participate from the

outset. They did not see the Indaba as a genuine bid

to resolve South Africa's problems, but, rather, as

a manoeuvre to prolong white paramountcy by

bringing in the Zulu-based Inkatha movement and

"collaborating" Indians as additional buttresses to

white rule.

The National Party opted for observer status, a.

sign that it was not fired with enthusiasm.

But Afrikaner interests were represented more

directly by the cultural organisation, the Federale

Afrikaanse Kunsbeleging (FAK), the Afrikaanse

Handelsinstituut, the Afrikaanse Sakerkamer and

by the Rapportryers, which have been described as

the junior Broederbond.

Significantly, the FAK and the Handelsinstituut

delegations were the only two which refused to

sign the agreement last Friday. The Sakekamer

abstained on the grounds that it wished to consult

its constituency. The Rapportryers were not

present. Their representative, Thinus Havenga,

however, was critical of the decision to force a

vote on the contested proposals rather than plod on

in search of consensus.

The core of the agreement provided for:

•A bi-cameral legislature, consisting of a 100-

member lower chamber, elected by universal

franchise on the basis of proportional

representation, and a 50-member upper chamber,

with 10 members each for people of African,

Indian, Afrikaner and English background and 10

for people who did not wish to be classified

racially or culturally.

•An executive, consisting of a prime minister

and 10 ministers, half chosen from the majority

party, and half from the minority parties.

•The allocation of specific powers to the

KwaNatal government, including revenue

collection, education, health. services, local .

government and some judicial and police functions

(plus authority over a "Natal regional force").

•Key powers such as defence and foreign

affairs would, however, remain in the hands of the

central government.

The ink was hardly dry on the agreement when

it was rejected by the Natal leader of the NP and

Minister of Home Affairs, Stoffel Botha. It did

not, Botha said, provide for "effective and equal

powersharing". Instead, he declared, the majority

party, "as in the typical Westminster system,

would effectively exercise all power".

KwaNatal leaders in favour of the Indaba

proposals refused to be disheartened. They hoped

that Botha's would not be the last word.

They believed, or professed to believe, that

Chris Heunis, Minister of Constitutional

Development, might be less implacably opposed

than Botha. But Heunis was cautious, merely

remarking, that he would have to study the

proposals in detail and that they would have to

83
fulfil government demands for guarantees against:

"group domination" and, conversely, for

protection of minority rights.

Although no Afrikaner leader spelt it out

specifically, the Indaba proposals touched on an

age-old Afrikaner fear: that English-speaking

South Africans want to enfranchise the blacks and

forge an alliance with black voters to augment

their own voting power to end Afrikaner

domination at the hitherto whites-only polls.

The Afrikaner fear has been strongly voiced in

the past. It is expressed concretely in the 1984 tricameral constitution.

Unlike the Indaba plan for Natal, the 1984

constitution is structured to prevent a palace

revolution against Afrikaner hegemony by an

alliance between English-speaking and coloured

or Indian MPs.

As long as the NP controls the majority of seats

in the "white" chamber in parliament, its

dominence in the electoral college which chooses

the president is ensured. So, top, is its control of

the President's Council guaranteed, even if

indirectly through the president.

Refusal by the NP to endorse the Indaba

proposals will jeopardise the NP's own plans for a

constitutional settlement. It may also undermine

the position of the Inkatha leader, Chief

Mangosothu Buthelezi.

In 1982 the then Natal MP, Owen Horwood,

rejected recommendations by the Buthelezi

Commission for a form of joint government for

KwaZulu and Natal. Later senior NP politicians

conceded that it was a mistake to have done so.

Now, however, four years later, the NP seems

set to repeat its earlier mistakes. The difference

now is that the NP is known to be keen to persuade

Buthelezi to join its national council to help plan a

new national constitution. Its present difficulties in

persuading Buthelezi to join will multiply'tenfold

if the Indaba — which is largely a Buthelezi

initiative — is rejected.

The NP may even risk bringing about the very

alliance which it dreads: an anti-Afrikaner Angloblack alliance. As Bill Sutton ofthe New Republic

Party remarked after Stoffel Botha's rejection of

the uidaba proposals: "The government is creating.

a danger of placing the Afrikaners in opposition to:

the rest of the people in Natal."

For Buthelezi, too, the cost of an NP rejection

could be high. Instead of carving a role for

himself as the man leading "moderate" centrist

forces against "extremists", the NP may well cause

him to be seen as a loser presiding over the

collapsing centre.

Inkatha general secretary and co-convenor of

the Indaba, Oscar Dhlomo, is certainly aware that

the stakes are high.

Describing Botha's rejection of the Indaba

proposals as "ill-advised and inappropriate", he

said: "If the National Party continues to adopt such

an attitude, it is quite possible that this is the last

Indaba, not only for Natal but for the whole

country."

Supporters Hope To Persuade People

Johannesburg THE WEEKLY MAIL in English 5-11 Dec 86 p 12

[Article by Carmel Rickard]

[Text]

WHILE the government delays any official

response to the KwaZulu/Natal Indaba — possibly

hoping to stall until after the next election

— Indaba supporters are determined to take their

proposals to the people ofthe region.

Local business people and senior politicians are

already drafting plans for private funding to

finance a referendum if official state sponsorship

is refused.

The Indaba and its proposals have come in for

sharp criticism from both the Left and Right, but

its supporters feel the consultation could be the last

hope for a liberal solution to the problems of the

region — and, ultimately, the country.

Time is running out for such negotiations, said

Dr Oscar Dhlomo, KwaZulu's representative at

the Indaba.

If the government turned down the proposals,

"God help South Africa, because the forces that

believe in negotiation politics and peaceful change

will have nothing to show for this belief."

Responding to the comment of Home Affairs

Minister Stoffel Botha — that the Indaba was a

"useful exercise" from which lessons could be

learned for future gatherings — Dhlomo warned

that, on the contrary, this Indaba could well be the

last

Some observers believe the man whose opinion

really counts is Constitutional Development and

Planning Minister Chris Heunis — who has said

he won't comment until he has studied the official

proposals.

But however the goverment responds officially

— when it does respond —Dhlomo said

KwaZulu could not lose.

Ifthe government rejected the Indaba, KwaZulu

would emerge as the moral victors, prepared to

practice negotiation, notjust preach it.

84
If, on the other hand, the proposals were

accepted, KwaZulu would be proved correct to

have engaged in consensus politics.

Not all supporters of the KwaZulu government

agree with Dhlomo. Some feel the results of a

government rejection could have negative

implications for Chief Minister Mangosuthu

Buthelezi. •

Itis the" second time Buthelezi has tried, and the

response by the government to the Buthelezi

Commission report was similar to that of Stoffel

Botha. The KwaZulu leader and his opponents

could now begin to read the message that neither

Buthelezi nor KwaZulu is essential to Pretoria

after all.

Dhlomo said he strongly hoped the government

would hold a referendum to test public opinion on

the Indaba's proposals. However, if such an

opinion-testing poll were turned down, alternative

ways would have to be found to take the matter to

the people. The KwaZulu government would

"unfortunately" have to consider holding its own

referendum.

Three options are available for a non-state-run

test of opinion in the Indaba region: a poll to be

carried out by local authorities; as a last resort,

funds could be raised to hold an independent

referendum; or — not as favoured as the others

— an extensive opinion poll to be conducted .by a

reputable research group.

Natal leader of the PFP, Ray Swart, and former

Natal MEC Frank Martin have confirmed that a

number of business people have offered to foot the

bill, should a privately funded referendum be the

only way to test opinion.

One of the questions asked in Natal is why Botha

responded so hastily — his rejection came within

48 hours of the proposals being released.

A possible explanation, given by several

participants, pinpoints a significant weakness in

the Indaba's operations so far.

All its discussions have been in camera, with

participants obliged to honour this confidentiality.

Occasionally statements have been made to the

media aboutthe progress being made in the debate.

The secrecy was designed to free participants to

change position as negotiation progressed, but a

side effect has been public boredom, allied with

ignorance. Consequently, there has not yet been a

groundswell of public opinion so strongly m

fevour of the scheme that the govenment cannot,

"KSÄK^m trying to make up for lost

time with an extensive information campaign, ___..

Ifthe government is opposed to the scheme, it is

obviousl? in its interests to nip the plan in the bud

before the support campaign takes off. And

Botha's comments certainly put a damper on tiie

euphoria present at the official unveiling of the

proposals to the media.

The issue of an official government response

ialso pu^both the National People's Party and

the Labour Party in an embarrassing postion

Representatives of the two part» W^e

standard acceptance form of the Indaba s

„«fposals. It ran, in part: "We commend the

proposals to the people ofNatal.

Should the government throw outthe scheme -

particularly if it does so without referring the S«tothepubüc-itraises me quesuonofhow

Sand Labour ministers can continue m the

cabinet after their parties have specifically

endorsed the Indaba plan.

What if a referendum goes ahead.'

Indaba officials feel they have a fairidea of the

streneth of the opposition on either side, and add

opposed to the proposals to say so ma poll.

Butitis doubtful if anyone knows the true size of

leftwing opposition to the Indaba, particularly

sffcTso n2ny representatives and organisations of

EKft hTve been severely muzzled by state acüon

under the Emergency Thus it seems certain Oft

anv campaign preceding an Indaba-referendum

will tS place with the leftwing unable to

participate fully in the debate.

The Indaba was scheduled to meet again last

night, still behind closed doors.

Delegates must decide whether die Indaba should

end nlw, or, as chairman Professor Desmond

Clare" ce put it, "leave it to the political parties

frSmTagenda is a report ofthe Indaba education

co^nTtteegwhich promises to raise M the same

emotional issues about minority_ rights and group

identity which proved so difficult to resolve when

the constitutional proposals were debated.

Sideline Views

Johannesburg THE WEEKLY MAIL in English 5-11 Dec 86 p 17

[Article by Shaun Johnson]

[Text]

THE Indaba is phelik. , .

The question now is whether it is phelile

(complete) or phelile (finished)

Months of somewhat cabalistic negotiations have

given birth to firm proposals in black and white,

85
and all attention is focused on how People-InPower will react to them. The answer from the

National Party has been a swift and irascible nooit.

In the breathless rush to ascertain what

prominent Indabans are going to do to keep their

political ball rolling despite the apparent

reactionary rebuke, no-one seems to be bothering

about those major groups which refused to have

anything to do with the Indaba in the first place.

The Weekly Mail sought the opinions of four

prominent extra-parliamentary organisations, and

their^ answers ranged from ringing "I told you

so's" to predictions that the government will

actually embrace the KwaNatal proposals once the

next election is out of the way. All agreed they'd

have nothing to with it, whatever the vagaries of

government response, present or future. Here's

what they said.

TOM SEBINA, Lusaka press officer,

African National Congress

'The proposals of the Indaba are unacceptable

— they are the offspring of regionally and

ethnically based interests and are also intended to

enhance Buthelezi's ego and personal ambitions.

They are contradictory to the whole concept of a

united and democratic South Africa. Our people,

all South Africans, are calling for an end to all

forms of racism and regionalism.

"The crisis created by apartheid in South Africa

can only be solved by and through a democratic

process in which all our people, organisations and

communities are participants. The ruling party

and government act for reasons altogether

different from those of the ANC.

"The ANC rejects the idea of piecemeal solutions

which only continue the agony suffered by our

people. Regional or local negotiations will never

brlI

]?.f?^Ioser t0 anational democratic solution."

MUNTU MYEZA, national publicity

secretary, Azanian People's Organisation a

"Azapo has always refused to be party to divisive

manoeuvres like the KwaNatal initiative. Simply

put, the whole exercise is a sophisticated caricature

of the bantustan 'national states' gimmick. Not

surprisingly, the South African government did

not take kindly to being beaten at its own game

"We view the KwaNatal issue as an Irredentist

attempt to avoid the obvious admission that the

system of government employed by the South

African government is a failure.

"It is noteworthy that the people involved in this

exercise are a coterie that has failed dismally in

influencing the fundamental aspects of

government. The KwaNatal Indaba demonstrates

that the system cannot be influenced from within.

"In the final analysis, "the KwaNatal matter is a

misdirection, where national problems are

relegated to regional solutions. We have always

maintained that Azania is a single, indivisible unit

and solutions have to be worked around that

precondition."

MEWA RAMGOBIN, executive

member of the Natal Indian Congress

"It is unfortunate that the Indaba has created a

measure of hope in the minds ofsome people.

"The proponents of the Indaba have in many

ways ignored the broad democratic demands

which we are compelled to heed. Solutions must be

based on the will ofthe majority ofthe people. The

Freedom Charter is the nearest thing to any

expression ofsuch a will

"We believe there can be no piecemeal

resolution to a national problem. Natal/KwaZulu

is an integral part of South Africa, just as the

homelands are. Notwithstanding the processes

through which the Indaba protagonists are going,

the full consequence would be the creation ofjust

another administrative unit.

"The government will only respond to the

unified pressure of all anti-apartheid forces.

Perhaps the proponents of the Indaba should use

the opportunity to close ranks with all extraparliamentary powers in isolating the Nats.

"Without wanting to be derogatory and without

any rancour, the members of the Natal Provincial

Administration and even KwaZulu are, after all,

paid functionaries ofthe state.

"While the Nats have now rejected the proposals,

they are, in fact, to my way of thinking, biding

their time. They will, I believe, sooner or later

accept the Indaba as part of their overall plan in

implementing the Regional Services Councils."

MURPHY MOROBE, acting national

publicity secretary, United Democratic

Front

"We refused at the outset to go into the Indaba,

and this stand has been vindicated by the proposals

they have put forward. ,

. "The whole Indaba initiative was completely

undemocratic, and even the initiators themselves

were forces steeped in tribalistic and racial forms -

of activity. Therefore when we see proposals such

as proportional representation according to race,

that is completely against the grain of what the

UDF stands for — a nonracial, democratic, united

South Africa.

'This kind of 'solution' means that the Free State

could go on its own search for a boerestaat in its

region, justifying what Eugene Terre'Blanche and

the Conservative Party stand for.

"At this point in time we do not see our way

clear to negotiating with the NP. There has been

no clear intent on the part of this government to

negotiate freely and to allow everyone else to

negotiate as free men and women in this country

for the future.

"Our main task relies much more on the

organisation of a mass base, rather than looking

for top-heavy and elitist solutions.

"One cannot underestimate the possibility of

types like Buthelezi, with their self-centred

approach to politics, trying to continue with such

futile initiatives. History is laden with such

attempts — from Vietnam to Korea — that sought

to divide countries as and when imperialism has

been under pressure.

"The NP may perhaps have been over-hasty in

rejecting the proposals of the Indaba, because for

86
1921h

CSO; 3400/645

all intents and purposes, if carried to their

conclusion, they would actually serve the interests

oftheNP. . , . i

The only obvious thing for Buthelea, the Natal

Provincial Administration and the Indian

participants to do is to see the light. They must

begin to realise that there is nothing they can

obtain at this point by actually trying to seek

solutions under the protection ofthe NP.

"They have been trying to present the Nats as

being amenable to free debate and free speech

when the UDF is being suppressed, when the ANC

is banned, when democrats who have been

challenging apartheid are under restriction orders.

They are still continuing to try to work out

solutions without the major democratic forces in

this country.

"They have to realise that history will have, at

some time, to contend with the folly of their

present actions."

87
SOUTH AFRICA

INDIAN EDUCATION FACES CRISIS AS TEACHERS ARE FIRED

Durban POST NATAL in English. 10-13 Dec 86 p 1

[Article by Khali1 Aniff]

[Text]

INDIAN education plunged

deeper into crisis yesterday when

scores of teachers, many of them

qualified, were fired.

The sudden dismissals fly in the face

of earlier assurances by the Minister of

Education and Culture, Mr Kassie

Ramduth, that qualified teachers would

not lose their jobs.

Mr Ramduth stressed that only unqualified teachers would be phased out

when challenged by the media and the

Teachers' Association of South Africa.

The dismissals also come at a time

when the teachers are due to go on holidays planned several months ago.

Teachers broke for the summer recess yesterday and instead of collecting

only their paypackets and bonuses,

some were also given an additional envelope — which contained their dismisal notices.

At the time of going to press the

exact number of teachers affected "was

not known, but some sources say *hey

could number between

200 and 300 in Natal

alone. In the Transvaal

about 100 teachers were

believed to be affected.

Mr Ramduth could not

be reached for comment

as he was on holiday.

Education directors —

AK Singh (chief director),

Brij Panday (director —

control) and Dr Ganesh

Nair (director — plait ^

ning) — could not be."

reached for comment.

Teachers first heard of

the dismissals on Monday

when when a group of

Isipingo and Chatsworth

teachers received dismissal notices.

A random inquiry was

then conducted, and by

Monday night news

spread that many of the

teachers axed were qualified, some with 26 years'

service.

House of Delegates

MP, Mr Nizzie Khan, was

unable to get clarity

from the education department.

He called on Mr Ramduth to "honour his word"

and retain the services of

qualified teachers.

Teachers who spoke to

Post asked not to be identified.

A teacher who has a

professional teaching

certificate said she was

improving her qualification at the Orion Collge

for in-service teachers.

"I have given many

years of faithful sei ,ice j

and now I am being ;

treated like this.

"I am a qualified

teacher and I don't see

why I should be sacked,"

she said.

Another teacher, who

is awaiting his results

after writing a supplementary examination in

November, said: "I am

also a qualified teacher.

"I only had one subject

to complete which I

wrote last month.

"I am still awaiting my

result and have now been

served with a dismissal

notice."

TASA president Mr

Pat Samuels confirmed

that among the teachers

axed were many qualified teachers.

"Mr Ramduth and his

department have gone

back on their word.

"They assured us that

qualified teachers would

not be axed but have now

betrayed us."

He said it was a bit too

early to assess the extent

of the problem as many

teachers were still contacting their offices.

CSO: 3400/662

/9317

88
SOUTH AFRICA

COST OF UNIVERSITY EDUCATION IN WESTERN CAPE TO RISE

Cape Town THE ARGUS in English 2 Dec 86 p 1

[Text] The cost of university education in the Western Cape will rise next

year.

The rector of Stellenbosch University announced today that tuition fees would

be increased by 15 percent and accommodation would go up by 12.8 percent.

The University of Cape

Town announced last month

that residence fees would be

increased by 15 percent and

a decision about tuition is to

be taken.

A University of the Western

Cape spokesman said today an

announcement about increased1

fees, probably about 15 per-'

cent, could be expected soon.

At Stellenbosch a BA course

which costs Rl 435 a year will

rise to Rl 645, a B Comm will

cost Rl 714, an increase of

R224, and a BSc Rl 806, R236

more.

Tuition fees for an MBChB in

the faculty of medicine and for

a BChD in the faculty of dentistry will be Rl 806 for the

first year and R2 365 for the remaining years of the course.

Single room

Annual single room accommodation in Dagbreek, the

largest men's residence, will

cost R2 595 compared with

R2 290 this year. A double

room will cost each person

R2 295.

In Hippocrates men's residence for the faculty of medi- -,

oiiie at Tygerberg Hospital, a

double room will cost R2 250,

R250 more. Single rooms in

Hippocrates will rise trom

R2 250 to R2°550.

In the women's residence

complex of Erica, Nemesia and

Serruria, a student will pay

R2 310 for a single room instead of R2 040. A double room

will cost R2 010 a person.

Irene, Lydia, Minerva and

Heemstede residences will cost

Rl 920 a year double and

R2 220 single.

A double room in Huis Francie van Zijl, .the women's residence at the faculty of medicine, will cost R2 045 compared

with Rl 820. Single room accommodation will rise from

R2 070 to R2 345.

Doctors

From the beginning of next

year the tuition fees for a doctor's degree will be Rl 030 for

the first year, R515 for the second year and R200 a year

thereafter.

Students who enrolled for

doctor's degrees before 1986

will pay only R155 a year after

the first two years until the degree is completed within the

required period of eight years.

• Tuition and residence fees

at Rhodes University in Grahamstown will rise by about

18,5 percent neat year.

/9274

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89
RIGHT-WING GROUPS THREATENING UNITY OF NGK

Johannesburg SUNDAY TIMES in English 7 Dec 86 p 2

SOUTH AFRICA

[Text]

RIGHTWING rebel groups within the

1,5-million-strong Dutch Reformed

Church are seriously threatening the

unity of the spiritually and politically

influental white church.

Last week, less than two months after

the church's landmark decision to open

its doors to all, dissatisfied objectors,

calling themselves "beswaardes", met in

Pretoria to discuss "the formation of a

church among Afrikaners".

The move has brought to a head the

groundswell of increasing factional differences among Afrikaners.

Up to now the NGK has remained one

of the last untouched bastions of Afrikanderdom.

The Conservative Party broke away

from the National Party; cultural organisations followed, and even the Broederbond is plagued by division.

■■■By implication, the proposed exclusive Afrikaner church will be for whites

only — a sentiment, say critics of the

move, unworthy of the historic decision

taken on apartheid at the recent general

synod in Cape Town where the NGK's

new policy on church and race was

adopted.

The basis of their complaints is simple: the new church policy of open membership, open church doors and no apartheid, as laid down in the newly-adopted

and higly controversial "Kerk en Samelewing" document, has destroyed the

comfortable racial barriers previously

upheld by formal church policy.

While a conservative backlash was expected, the swift organisation of the

mass meeting at Pretoria's Skilpadsaal

— where the Conservative Party was

formed — apparently caught the

church's executive off guard.

The sudden turmoil was followed by

impassioned pleas for unity by moderates and the official church mouthpiece,

Die Kerkbode, this week devoted both its

front and leader pages to the "skeuring"

(split).

"The possibility of a split is again

hanging like a dark cloud over the

church," Kerkbode commented. y

The newspaper also carried a statement from the NGK executive deploring

dissension and pleading for dissidents to

reconsider their extreme actions, with

specific reference to the "non-Christian"!

request made by objectors to witnold

contributions to the church.

Dissatisfaction among heavy-hearted

dissidents has emerged through two primary groups: those considering a rebel

Afrikaans church and those hoping to

hijack and redirect church ideology

from within. <

While strong pleas for unity came

from within the church hierarchy, observers were of the opinion that a major

split was unlikely.

Too much is at stake, but

the formation of rightwing

splinter groups is expected.

Prominent academics

have sided with the movement.

But the interpretations

and the plans of conservative action contemplated

are predictably as varied

as rightwing Afrikaner

politics.

a . Geographically the

struggle is also divided between the more conservative north and the traditionally "verligte" south.

Arch-conservative and

Unisa academic Professor

Willie Lubbe, a well-known

shadow figure in rightwing

politics, has become the

leading voice for those conscientious objectors contemplating secession.

On the other hand the

Afrikaner Volkswag chief,

Professor Carel Boshoff,

has committed himself to

lead an ideological power

struggle from within the

mother church.

The proposed formation"

of a new church is also seen

merely as a threat.

The capturing of church

wealth, including properties and investments, is in

the balance and the reality

is that those who leave the

church will depart emptyhanded.

B

The manipulation of

church policy on congregational level, where grassroots socio-political sentiments'will dictate, is

therefore expected to be

engineered from within.

A preview of the escalating "broedertwis" was

played out in the synod debate preceding the accep-

. tance of the contentious

"Kerk en Samelewing"

which condemned apartheid as un-Christian and "a

contravention of neighbourly love".

But the flexible nature of

the document has left it

open to varied and conflicting interpretations — an issue pointed out by critics

soon after its publication.

However, in an attempt

to placate the vociferous

objectors, newly-elected

General Moderator and

Pretoria Univeristy theologian Professor Johan

Heyns has personally

pleaded for dissidents to reconsider their actions.

In a recent Sunday night

church service broadcast

on the Afrikaans service he

made an impassioned plea

for church unity.

/9274

CSO: 3400/646 90
SOUTH AFRICA

INDIAN TOWNSHIP PLANNED FOR ORANGE FREE STATE

Durban POST NATAL in English. 10-13 Dec 86 p 3

[Article by Logan Govender]

[Text]

AN Indian township

is planned for the

Free State, but those

who want to stay

there will have to

build their own

homes.

Town planning consultant and land surveyor,

Mr Neels Brink, said a

private township was

planned for Odendaalsrus. He said between 300 and 400 plots

had been set aside for development in a proposed

42 hectare site.

"A private concern,

Kirvon Limited, has been

awarded the R5 million

contract to construct the

roads, and lay waterworks and a sewer system in the area. It is expected to be completed

by the middle of next

year," said Mr Brink.

He said those interested in moving into the

area could buy plots and

develop their own houses.

"Those who want to

stay here should contact

us so that the necessary

arrangements for plots

can be made.

"Thereafter, they can

consult their architects

and plan their homes to

suit their tastes," he said.

Mr Brink said there

were also plans for a

business centre, schools

and places of worship.

"Like the houses, plots

will be available for the

development of a business.centre. We are playing by it ear and hope to

discuss the issue with

members from the House

of Delegates in January,"

he said.

Mr Brink said the development of primary

and secondary schools

would depend on the

number of Indian children in the area.

_ "If there are not

enough pupils to warrant

the development of a primary and secondary

school, then there might

be a combined school."

He added that the development of the township was in its infancy

and no name had been

decided yet. "We would

like suggestions from the

Indian community on

naming the township."

He said that he knew

of about 60 Indian families who were living in

the Free State.

CSO: 3400/662

/9317

91
SOUTH AFRICA

UNION CLAIMS RIOT POLICE DEPLOYED FOR OK STRIKE

MB201555 Johannesburg SAPA in English 1551 GMT 20 Dec 86

{Text] Johannesburg, 20 Dec (SAPA)-*.The strike at the giant chain OK

Bazaars has spread to 110 stores, warehouses and hyperamas nationwide, and

the Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union [CCAWUSA] today claimed

OK was adopting "high-handed" measures to break-up the strike.

The union revealed at a press conference in Johannesburg today that riot

police had been deployed at most outlets and at least 425 striking workers

had been detained in Natal, Three hundred and twenty workers had been fired,

it added,

CCAWUSA also claimed that, as part of measures to stifle the action, OK had

contracted a number of private security firms whose forces had already been

stationed in "many branches,"

The legal strike, which began two days ago, was sparked by failure by a

government appointed conciliation board to resolve a wage dispute between

the 10,000~strong union and the supermarket chain. The union claimed again

today that all its members had "voted for strike action." In terms of SA

labour law, workers must complete conciliation board proceedings and a strike

ballot before going on strike, The union is demanding an immediate R160

across-the-board pay increase and new benefits for its 20,000-odd employees

in 202 stores country-wide.

According to an analysis of the company's accounts OK Bazaars' profits would

be wiped out and heavy losses incurred if it surrendered to the union's demands.

CCAWUSA also claimed today that a store in KwaMashu in Natal had been closed

down and that the manager of the branch had joined the strike.

Other allegations of "high-handed" approach by OK the union said:

—Striking workers at Parow in Cape Town were questioned by police;

—Workers at Sasolburg in Orange/Vaal were threatened by police who maintained

a cordon around OK premises, preventing workers from leaving or entering

premises;

92
—Workers and customers at OK Eloff Street branch teargassed;

"-•Striking workers at Rooderport branch locked out;

—A manageress at Village Court branch, Kempton Park tried to bribe workers

by offering R2.50 extra pay per day}

—Workers photographed at the Village Court, Kempton Park;

--Names of striking workers at Faraday branch taken down by management;

—Workers refused access to toilets, food, water and telephones.

Reacting to the measures the union said it "condemns in the strongest terms,

OK's abuse of power and its resorting to call in the police,"

"OK's mysterious contingency plans are beginning to unfold. It is nothing

but the resorting to brute and naked force to put down a peaceful, legal,

just and disciplined strike by the underpaid and discriminated workers,"

it said, CCAWUSA added that as the strike continued strike ballots were

being held in other branches aimed at bringing more workers out on strike,

/9274

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93
SOUTH AFRICA

ARMED SHOPPERS NEW THREAT TO SAFETY IN STORES

Johannesburg SUNDAY TIMES (Metro) in English 30 Nov 86 p 1

[Article by Janine Lazarus]

[Text]

GUN-TOTING shoppers in crowded supermarkets are

becoming a nightmare for store managers because of

the threat they pose to public safety.

The dramatic increase in pistol-packing shoppers has

come to light because of the strict security searches

conducted at all major

stores and centres.

The managing director of

Checkers, Mr Clive Weil, confirmed that armed shoppers

were on the increase and said

he was not in favour of "guncarrying" customers.

"There must be many people who have been exposed to

car thefts, break-ins and personal assaults, but very few

of them are trained to use

their weapons properly."

Mr Weil added that "certain macho types" liked to

believe they would be able to

stop a crime if they came

across one.

"I'm not saying people

shouldn't carry guns, but they

should ensure they have the

correct training and can

handle the weapon."

Mr Weil also said he didn[t

think shop-owners were entitled to ask shoppers to hand

their weapons in for safekeeping.

"We don't have gun safes

for shoppers and unless you

have that kind of facility, it's

just not in safekeeping," he

said.

Women

Mr Aubrey Zelinsky, general manager of the Norwood

Hypermarket, said he had noticed a definite increase in

the number of armed women.

"People are obviously a lot

more aware of what is going

on nowadays, but I personally don't believe in guns."

Mr Zelinsky also said his

policy was to ask people to

keep their guns out of sight.

Mr Dawie Brummer, a Johannesburg gunsmith, said 80

percent of those who owned

guns were carrying them

rather than leaving them at

home.

"We were selling up to 10

guns a day during the riots in

June, but our figures have

normalised since then," Mr

Brummer said.

Another gunsmith, Mr David Winter, said: "We seem to

be doing a lot of minor reEairs on small guns that can

e carried around."

Ridiculous

Sunday Times Metro approached several shoppers

who said they were not in

favour of others carrying

guns.

A Johannesburg radiographer said carrying a gun

was "totally ridiculous because instead of a person just

defending oneself, he can

kill," she said.

Estate agent Mrs Lynne

Colyer said being armed was

up to the individual, "but I

don't think it's really necessary in this area".

Insurance salesman Mr

Zak Bruce said he didn't carry a gun because he felt "secure enough" without one.

Traffic officer Mr Kobus

van der Merwe said although

he was always armed, it was

"not advisable" to tote guns

in supermarket aisles.

CSO: 3400/662

/9317

94
SOUTH AFRICA

GROUP FINDS »DRAMATIC DECLINE IN UNREST DEATHS SINCE JUNE

MB111110 Johannesburg SAPA in English 1108 GMT 11 Dec 86

[Text] Johannesburg, 11 Dec (SAPA).»-Some 2,291 people had died in political

violence since the beginning of September 1984 but there had been a dramatic

decline in fatalities since June, the South African Institute of Race Relations said today*

The average daily fatality rate between 1 January 1986 and the end of the

first state of emergency was 3,75, while the rate had come up to 6.31 during

the period when there was no emergency in force.

Since the second emergency was imposed in June, the rate had dropped to 2,27,

the institute said.

The institute said that conflict within black communities accounted for 45

percent of all fatalities this year, while deaths at the hands of security

forces accounted for 33 percent.

Some 12 percent of the deaths were in circumstances that were not clear,

while tbe remainder were insurgency-related or accounted for by casualties

among the security forces.

The institute stressed that it did not claim that its figures were defin<-

itive.

Since the imposition of the second state of emergency, the gathering of data

had become more difficult and it was possible that there had been fatalities

which had escaped its attention.

The actual figures could therefore be higher than its statistics showed, the

institute said,

/9274

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95
SOUTH AFRICA

EEC CONFERENCE, ARTS FESTIVAL BANNED

MB111430 Johannesburg SAPA in English 1421 GMT 11 Dec 86

[Text] Cape Town, 11 Dec (SAPA)«--The Arts Festival Towards a People's Culture

and the End Conscription Campaign national conference were banned today by

the divisional commissioner of police for the Western Cape Major General

Corr Crhistoffel Swart, The orders banning the events were issued in terms

of state of emergency regulations and are valid from today until 22 December

in the Western Cape Police Division.

The Arts Festival Committee's Towards a People's Culture programme was to

start in the city tomorrow and continue until 21 December with a variety of

music events, community theatre, dance and art exhibitions and cultural

rallies. Participating in the festival were groups such as the Community

Arts Project Gape Town's Jazzart group and bands such as Ntsokolo,

Amajiqi, Bright Blue and Smoking Brass. For the past week artists from

all over the country have been converging on Cape Town for the festival

which has been widely advertised.

The EEC national conference or any other gathering for the same purpose

anywhere within the Western Cape Police Division is banned at any time from

12 December to 22 December, General Swart said,

/9274

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96
SOUTH AFRICA

BRIEFS

APARTHEID SIGNS ON BEACHES--Cape Town, 16 Dec (SAPA)—Apartheid signs will

remain on the peninsula's "open" multiracial beaches until another Divisional

Council [DIVCO] meeting decides to remove them. This was revealed yesterday

by the DIVCO secretary, Mr F, H, Mocke. He explained that "non-nwhites only"

signs at Soetwater, near Knommetjie, and other beaches would not be removed.

Last week DIVCO defied the administrator, Mr Gene Louw, and declared all

beaches open to people of all races—"except Bloubergstrand and Melkbosstrand.

The decision did not imply removal of "apartheid" signs, Mr Mocke said.

"Council has not taken a decision on signboards yet. Reservation, as such,

is still there," Commenting on this explanation Mr Frank van der Velde, city

councillor for Ward 16, said officials "have no right to go against a DIVCO

decision." "I think DIVCO wants to be Verlig [enlightened], but in reality

is applying apartheid," he said, [Text] [Johannesburg SAPA in English 0901

GMT 16 Dec 86 MB] /9274

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97
SOUTH AFRICA

SCARCITY OF JOBS REFUTED, UNEMPLOYMENT DISPUTED

Johannesburg BUSINESS DAY in English. 11 Dec 86 p 3

[Article by Mick Collins]

[Text]

LEADING personnel recruitment

consultants have questioned the accuracy of reports of high unemployment

among middle management and bluecollar whites.

They say if the massive stockpile of

vacantjobs on personnel agency files

is any indication, all the signs point to

an over-supply of positions right

across the spectrum, from the factory

floor to middle and senior executive

ranks.

Key People Management's John

Lupton says biggest labour shortages

are in the skilled ranks of management and technology.

"But even lower-grade jobs are going begging. Offers of high-paying

jobs in commerce and industry are

going unanswered. One personnel

consultancy specialising in the computer industry has 900 jobs on its

books and few takers."

Drake Personnel area manager

Renette Marsh says there are shortages of people to fill jobs in specific

areas of industry.

"The situation is paradoxical. Employers are expecting too much. They

expect the cream of the crop but are

unable to fill positions in insurance,

computers, some sectors of shipping

and word-processing.

P-E*" Corporate Service appointment division manager Michael Lane

says there is evidence of firms unable

to fill jobs even from within.

"Immigration figures are starting

to bite. While we only deal with senior

executive placement we find companies constantly looking for the

right people with the right skills."

Drake Executive CE Francois

Marais does not see immigration as

the root cause*

"But there are shortages of dataprocessing managers, accountants

and engineers. In engineering the

main sectors where gaps are seen are

electronic, mechanical and electrical

engineering."

Key's Lupton adds: "Where has all

the labour gone? There's something

very wrong in the employment market. In a high-inflation environment

where companies are failing and retrenching every day, you would expect to see mile-long queues for jobs.

There ought to be — butthere aren't."

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98
SHORT-TERM RELIEF FOR UNEMPLOYMENT NOT ENOUGH

Cape Town GRASSROOTS in English. Dec 86 p 4

SOUTH AFRICA

[Text]

FOOD parcels and handouts will not solve the

unemployment crisis,

the Advice Office Forum has said.

The AOF said food

parcels may provide

short-term relief, but

much more needed to

be done to solve the

crisis.

They were responding to the way big business and individuals

have tried to deal with

the crisis by collecting

money and food for the

unemployed.

"The newspapers

have been flooded with

promises of food parcels, but only a few will

get parcels. What good

is this if thousands of

people remain hungry

and starving?

"Suddenly the 'concerned rich' are telling

us that they are worried

about the suffering and

poverty unemployment

brings. But this is

strange because they

are the same people

who are responsible for

causing unemployment.

"Bosses will always

think first of their profits and then of the

workers' problems.

"They let people

work overtime rather

than employ more people.

"They bring in computers and new mach-j

ines and then they

retrench workers.

"They apply job discrimination policies

that give jobs to whites

while many blacks are

out of work.

"Bosses refuse to

pay workers a living

wage so that they can

pay their rent, electricity accounts and buy

food. Workers are afraid

of asking for more

money for fear of being

fired.

"We say to big business like Ackerman,

you do not fool us with

your handouts. Food

parcels can only help a

few families for a few

days.

"Handouts are not

jobs. If you are really

worried about unemployment you need to

look at the causes of

unemployment."

The AOF said unemployed people who

were desperate for food

parcels often had to

suffer humiliation and

loss of dignity.

"Often people go to

relief points, only to be

turned back because

there are not enough

parcels.

"At some points

people have to queue

up after they were

given numbers. Often

they get told to keep

quiet by young relief

workers who threaten

to withdraw their food

' parcels."

"There are certain

things which can be

done to start addressing

the unemployment

crisis.

"Employers must

ban overtime and provide more jobs at a

living wage.

"Companies must

make a concerted effort

to create more jobs and

not retrench people,

even if it means a slight

drop in profits.

"The totally inadequate Unemployment

Insurance Fund should

be revised to allow

better benefits for

people who lose their

jobs," the AOF said.

99
Mayor Must Keep His Word

THREE Manenberg

women catecrashed a

pensioner's lunch party

to confront Cape

Town's mayor, Leon

Markowitz, on rent

arrears and evictions.

The women said

they took this step

after the mayor refused

to attend a mass meeting of unemployed people recently.

They also confronted

him on an unkept promise that unemployed

people would not be

evicted and lights would

not be cut off.

The Advice Office

Forum, an umbrella

body of advice offices

and crisis centres

throughout the Western

Cape, have been running

a campaign around unemployment in the

Western Cape.

They have demanded

that unemployed people

should not have to pay

rent, rent arrears should

be scrapped and electricity should not be disconnected. They have

also campaigned for

more UIF benefits and

for the creation of

more jobs.

Surveys by theForum have found a

"silent rent boycott" in

the Western Cape.

They have found

more than 85 percent

of Manenberg's residents are in arrears with

their rent and electricity. They have found

some people owe up to

R600 in rent.

The AOF has put

pressure on the Cape

Town City Council and

the Cape Divisional

Council to make special

arrangements for unerri-*

ployed people who

cannot pay their rents.

In response to their

demands, Mayor Markowitz has said no unemployed people would

be evicted or have their

electricity disconnected.

But, AOF workers

say the evictions and

disconnections continue

'The mayor must

keep his word and not

make empty promises.

Every day we still receive

calls from people who

have been evicted. This

is why we invited him to

attend the meeting of

unemployed so he could

explain to them personally,'said an AOF worker.

He said at least 30

families were living on a

rubbish dump in Atlantis after they lost their

houses.

The Divisional Council

was especially strict

when it came to the

payment of rent, the

AOF worker said.

'They really put pressure on people to pay

their rents even if people

have no money left for

food.

Jobless Want Rights

ABOUT 300 people attended a meeting in Hanover Park recently to discuss the problems of the

unemployed.

The meeting was called by the Advice Office

Forum after a two-week focus on unemployment.

The Mayor of Cape Town, Leon Markowitz,

was invited but did not attend. Representatives of

the Cape Divisional Council, led by Dennis Lambert (head of Divco's housing department), was

challenged on his council's policies on rent and

electricity arrears.

The meeting called on the Mayor to meet soon

with representatives of unemployed people.

Speakers at the meeting said the unemployed

were not asking for handouts. They were demanding their rights in the country of their birth and

the right to vote for a government of their choice.

The solution to the unemployment crisis was a

political one and the government should look at

the causes of unemployment, speakers said.

One speaker said South Africa was in a big mess

because of the government's policies.

"We are going to tell them we have taken the

suffering so far, and we will not take it any longer,"

she said.

A number of unemployed people spoke from

the floor about their problems and hardships.

People raised problems with UIF grants, insensitive government officials and high rents.

An AOF spokesperson said it was hoped to call

similar meetings in other areas in future to discuss

further the problems of unemployed people.

CSO: 3400/664

/9317

100
SOUTH AFRICA

U.S. COMPANY ANNOUNCES EXPANSION, NOT PULLOUT

Johannesburg THE SUNDAY STAR (Finance) in English 7 Dec 86 p 6

[Article by Chris Moerdyk]

[Text] SWIMMING against the increasing

tide of US disinvestment, one

American company operating in

South Africa, Harnischfeger SA, is

determined that it will continue to

stand up to pressure by increasing

its spares inventory and boosting its

manufacturing capacity.

A wholly owned subsidiary of its

Milwaukee-based parent, Harnischfeger has publicly committed itself

to protecting its South African customers from sanctions and disinvestment

Commenting in the company's

local newsletter, managing director Dick Drollinger says South African customers are concerned about

how sanctions might impact on

their ability to keep vital machinery operational.

"Harnischfeger SA has taken

steps to keep mining shovels running at peak efficiency.

"The company has significantly

increased its inventory of mining

spares to about R18 million. South

African companies with the capability to manufacture locally have

been researched and identified as

sources of parts previously imported from the US."

He adds that Harnischfeger will

continue to expand its own manufacturing facilities. In addition to

the acquisition of the Preston Anderson electrical repair facUity, the

company has also purchased a 5 500

sq m factory at Tulisa Park for the

manufacturing of shovel parts.

Among other equipment installed

at Tulisa Park is a specially designed, semi-automatic, submerged-arc welding machine with

twin heads which provide two continuous welds.

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101
SOUTH AFRICA

ECONOMETRIX REVIEW SAYS LOSS FROM SANCTIONS WILL BE MINIMAL

Johannesburg THE SUNDAY STAR (Finance) in English 7 Dec 86 p 1

[Article by David Cumming]

[Text] THE maximum South Africa stands to lose

from existing forms of sanctions, even if they

were extended to include European and Japanese trade embargoes, is a measly R4 million.

And, says the latest Econometrix review of the

South African scene, the loss to the country in terms

, of foreign exchange would be wiped out by a goldprice rise of $80 an ounce — a rise which has already

been seen in the course of 1986. Current.sanctions

apply only to South African exports, since few countries appear willing to jeopardise their trade balances in the name of killing apartheid.

This means the fear that sanctions would include a

ban on imports by South Africa are no longer relevant and the big impetus for import substitution,

such as took place in Rhodesia, is not likely to materialise. However, embargoes on coal, iron and

steel, certain agricultural products and textiles

might cause unemployment in the industries concerned.

"It is also abundantly clear that the international community is picking on those goods which

are in surplus in the international trading market It

is certainly not picking on essential minerals such as

platinum and chromium and it is too scared to tamper with gold, because this would be tantamount to

playing with fire in respect of the health of the international financial system," the review says.

While gold, platinum and diamonds are left out of

any embargo package, they will continue to earn

70 percent of South Africa's foreign exchange. This

means the country will be able to continue to import

goods and services equivalent to that amount

The report concludes that the impact of boycotts

will not be as detrimental to South Africa's longterm future as moves to disinvest or, more importantly, reluctance to invest

The most important disinvestment threat is in

technology, where South Africa may well suffer because of licencees' inability to afford the capital investment required for technological development.

Lack of foreign loan capital will mean that South

Africa, in paying for imports necessary to accomodate growth, will be more reliant than ever on its

export earnings.

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SOUTH AFRICA

OPEN CBD TRADING BRINGS LITTLE CHANGE

Johannesburg BUSINESS DAY in English 5 Dec 86 p 3

[Article by Dianna Games]

[Text]

NINE months of all-race trading in

Johannesburg's CBD has caused no

significant change to property

prices or occupancy rates.

But one soin-off has been the

renting of office space for use as

living space, in an attempt to circumvent the Group Areas Act.

Institute of Estate Agents executive director Stefan Swanepoel

says while the institute supports

legitimisation and creation of grey

areas, it cannot support sucn practice wniie the Act remains on the

statute books.

He says the recession has prevented the CBD's opening affecting

CBD property prices significantly,

but the dropping of the Act should

have a significant effect.

CBD Association chairman Nigei

Mandy says: "We never expected

great movement, as the opening

just legitimised an existing situation."

It has meant traders who were

previously hiding behind nominees

have now come into the open.

But the recession and lack of

capital have meant there has not

been any major move by black

businessmen into the CBD, he says.

There has been noticeable

growth of the services industry in

Johannesburg.

People with ability to sell —

especially in the areas of public

relations, advertising and industrial relations — have been the prime

movers into the city.

Next year will bring an increasing numoer of blacK/white business partnerships, Manay predicts.

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SOUTH AFRICA

INTEREST CHARGES FALL AS RESERVE BANK REDUCES BANK RATE

Johannesburg THE STAR in English 10 Dec 86 p 1

[Article by Michael Chester]

[Text]

The Christmas spending spree was given a series

of new boosters today when the cost of credit and

loans was slashed across the board — from home

bonds to hire-purchase deals. "_-

Earlier forecasts by the Association of Chambers of

Commerce (Assocom) that Christmas retail sales may

reach R7 200 million now looked securely on target,

says Mr Ed Verbürg, the association's chief statistician.

"We also expect a favourable impact on our business confidence index with these clear signals that consumer spending

will be used as the main vehicle for economic recovery," he

said.

Mr Chris Ball, managing director of Barclays

National Bank, urged the

private and public sectors to make a simultaneous assault on inflation

and concentrate on finding ways to reduce

prices.

The new wave of interest rates cuts was triggered last night when the

Reserve Bank announced

a reduction in the bank

rate — the benchmark

that influences all rates

— from 10 percent to

9,5 percent.

Barclays immediately

said it was slashing its

home bond rate from

15 percent to 12,5 percent

— in line with the rate

set by Standard Bank —

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with immediate effect for

new loans, and from

March 24 for existing

bondholders.

The move chops

monthly repayments

from Rl 283 to Rl 091 on

25-year bonds of'

R100000, and from R641;

to R546 on R50 000 bonds.,

Barclays also slashed

its prime rate — the interest rate on the overdrafts of blue-chip customers — from 13,5 percent to 12 percent — the

lowest since 1980 and half

the 1984 level.

Prime rates

Standard and the

French Bank followed by

cutting their prime rates

to 12,5 percent from the

end of the month.

The overdraft rate

cuts, in turn, will be the

key to lowering a whole

series of interest rates,

from bank loans to HP

and leasing deals.

Most, if not all, of the

major building societies

are expected to confirm

cuts in their home bond

rates.

But with cuts in interest rates on credit and

loans there will be cuts in

deposit rates.

Mr Gerhard de Kock,

Governor of the Reserve

Bank, announced that

building societies would

reduce the rate on their

tax-free shares from

9 percent to 7,5 percent.

Post Office savings

rates will also come

down.

Mr Ball sympathised

with depositors who

would be carrying the

penalty of negative returns because of an inflation rate at almost

20 percent — "but the

surplus money in the

market makes it inevitable that the negative savings rate prevails".

The reductions in interest rate patterns was

heralded by the business

world as a crucial economic stimulant.

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SOUTH AFRICA

RESERVE BANK FIGURES ON CAPITAL INFLOW

Johannesburg BUSINESS DAY in English 8 Dec 86 pp 1, 2

[Article by Gerald Prosalendis]

[Text] SA EXPERIENCED a net inflow of capital, not related to reserves, of R43m in

the third quarter of this year, after an

ouflow of Rl,614bn in the first quarter

and R972m in the second, says the latest

Reserve Bank Bulletin.

The bulletin says this was the result

mainly of a reversal of the unfavourable

leads and lags in foreign payments and

receipts, and also a net inflow of R21m

of long-term capital into public corporations.

The bulletin confirms SA's gross domestic product (GDP) grew at a seasonally-adjusted annual real rate of 4% in the

third quarter and gross domestic expenditure at 26%.

"This unusually strong recovery,

which calls to mind the broadly similar

rates of increase in total real domestic

spending in the cyclical upswing in the

second half of 1983, was explained prk

marily by a subtantial reversal of the

drawing down of inventories that had

been in evidence uninterruptedly from

the first quarter of 1985."

It says the renewed build-up of inventories consisted partly of an accumulation of commercial and industrial stocks

which may have been caused by a fear of

international trade sanctions.

Positive inventory investment as a

component of the aggregate increase in

total domestic demand was supported

by significant further improvement in

real private consumption expenditure,

notably on durable and semi-durable

goods.

Since total real personal disposable

income declined in the third quarter, the

continued revival in real consumer demand-also caused the personal-savings

ratio to decline further to about 1,5%,

from its recent high of 9% in the recessionary conditions of the fourth quarter

of 1984.

Personal savings at a seasonally-adjusted annual rate amounted to Rl 159 in

the third quarter, down from R2 280 in

the second and R3 043 in the first.

Other salientstatistics released by the

Reserve Bank include:

D The third-quarter, current-account

surplus stood at an annual level of

R5,4bn. A surplus for the year of more

than R5bn can be expected;

D Measured over 12 months, the rate of

increase in bank credit to the private

sector slowed to 6,6% in September

from 16% in December last year;

DThe rate of increase in total bank

credit contracted to 6,5% in September

from 18% in December last year;

DA private consumption expenditure

increase, at a an annual seasonally-adjusted rate, of 4,5% in the third quarter,

D The level of real fixed capital spending by public corporations in the third

quarter was almost 40% lower than in

the fourth quarter last year, and,

D The renewed inventory build-up

caused the ratio of total real inventories

to real GDP to rise by about 0,5% to 34%

at the end of September.

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SOUTH AFRICA

BANK WARNS AGAINST GOVERNMENT GROWTH STIMULUS

Johannesburg BUSINESS DAY in English. 11 Dec 86 p 3

[Article by Stephen Rogers]

[Text]

THE recovery is being constrained by the financial position of consumers. However,

government should resist the

temptation to stimulate demand growth as this would only

fuel inflation, says the latest

Standard Bank Review.

Itsays growth phases are usually

initiated by improved export volumes and prices and then sustained

by higher consumer spending, financed by rising incomes and bank

credit. The initial growth phase has

already taken place with two years

of large current-account surpluses.

But consumer ability to sustain this

growth is in question.

Consumer indebtedness has fallen 18,5% in real terms since the

first quarter of 1985. However, the

level of debt has come off a high

base and, after an inflationary adjustment, outstanding debt is still

higher than in 1983.

Furthermore, real wages have

fallen-since then, curtailing consumer ability to repay.

Another factor has been the increase in the personal tax burden,

resulting in a decline in the trend of

personal savings since mid-1983.

The increase in direct personal taxes as a percentage of current income has almost doubled since

1980.

With low capacity utilisation,

companies are unlikely to increase

their levels of investment to stimulate the economy.

In the absense of stimulus from

these sectors, the review warns

against government taking up the

mantle and creating demand

through increased expenditure.

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SOUTH AFRICA

GOVERNMENT BLAMED FOR SLUMP IN ENGINEERING

Johannesburg BUSINESS DAY in English 4 Dec 86 pp 1, 2

[Article by Mick Collins]

[Text] FIXED investment in civil engineering has shrunk from a high of R4,4bn

in 1976 to a meagre R2,7bn in 1985 —

and much of the blame is being laid

at government's door.

Speaking in Johannesburg yesterday,

SA Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors (Safcec) vice-president Brian

Hackney said government continued

4,4bn

CIVILS FIXED

INVESTMENT

4 obn at 1980 P

rices

2,7bn

1976 1980 1985

building up construction units to the detriment of the industry.

"Even when the industry shrank, government departments kept their units

intact, leaving us an ever-diminishing

portion of the construction cake. This is

borne out by the fact that in 1976 the civil

engineering contracting industry employed 135 000 people. This was eroded to

120 000 by 1981, and by the end of 1985 the

figure stood at about 90 000."

Desperate contractors, he said, were

tendering for work merely to keep cash

flow going in the hope of picking up more

profitable work in the near future.

"Add to this the problems of possible

further political unrest, the implications

of sanctions and the possible increased

industrial unrest. We certainly have a

precarious platform on which to build

the future of the contracting industry"

With figures being expressed in .constant 1980 prices, the average real

growth rate for the sector from 1981 to

1985 was minus 8.7%.

But he said all was not gloom. Meaningful steps towards implementing the

President's poiiticai reform policies

would give the lagging industry a boost

by encouraging private-sector investment.

Safcec's oast president Con Roux said

it was hign time private enterprise

played a greater part in SA's economy.

Calling for a sneed-up in privatisation.

Roux said SÄ had reached the stage of its

develocment that demanded changes —

and an accompanying decrease in publicsector participation in the economy.

"Work undertaken by public-sector bodies represents the ultimate in monopolies, since the elements of profit and fair

comnetition are entirely absent.

"It is aiso evident thatthe accountability of individuals in the public sector

should be increasea."

Saicec president Ron McLennan said

research had shown future housing needs

would be equivalentto six or seven Sowetos before the turn of the century.

"We must, therefore, construct'water

supply systems, sewerage systems, roaa

access, electrification and mass transport systems. This in itself is a major

undertaking."

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SOUTH AFRICA

DEMAND FOR NATION'S COAL CONTINUES DESPITE SANCTIONS

Johannesburg THE STAR eBusiness) in English. 10 Dec 86 p 12

[Article by Neil Behrmann]

[Text]

LONDON — Aggressive sales by

South African mining companies

have kept international steam

coal prices depressed.

But analysts such as Phil

Rogers, head of research at

Simpson Spence and Young

shipbrokers contend that the

volume of world coal trade is

surging and it is only a matter

of time before the depression in

the market ends.

The total volume of international coal trade is higher, says

Mr Rogers.

"In their pessimism about

prices, the industry tends to forget about the level of trade," he

says.

Even though the Common

Market has decided against

sanctions, the South African

coal mining industry continues

to undercut Australian, United

States and Canadian producers,

says Bill Fischer a coal consultant to Robertson International.

They are wary of a change in

future political policies and are

worried that they could lose future market share.

Two South African coal suppliers, British Petroleum and

Gencor sold coal to Enel, the

Italian power company at prices

below $27 — inclusive of freight

and insurance charges — says

the Financial Times international coal report, a newsletter.

South African prices "Free on

board" — exclusive of freight

and insurance — have traded

near $20 a ton estimates the report.

The slump pulled down free

oiwboard (fob) Australian prices

Uraround $23 a ton.

Greater impact

The South African factor has

had a greater impact on the

market than the decline in alternative energy costs.

So much so that the overhang

from South Africa caused prices

in Rotterdam to fall by around a

quarter over the past year.

Before the EEC decided

against coal sanctions the market thought that a short slump

would be followed by a recovery. South African mines would

be forced to dump stocks, but

would then have to withdraw

from the market leaving producers such as Australia, Canada and the United States a window to gain market share.

But so far this year only Denmark, France and the United

States joined Scandanavian nations in banning South African

coal.

Even though statistics showed

that South African coal exports

fell 18 percent in September,

anti-South African purchasing

policies have so far hardly affected annual sales. Mr Rogers

estimates that total South African exports in 1986 fell to only

42,5 million tons from 44 million

tons last year.

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"South Africa's best defence is

reliability of supplies, consistent

quality and aggressive marketing, says the Financial Times

international coal report.

The buyers market has been

abetted by growing supplies

from Colombia and China.

Mr Fischer of Robertson Research contends that the coal

market will revive in the

1990sbecause supply and demand will come into balance.

Daniel Roling, an analyst of

Merrill Lynch believes that a

price recovery could be earlier.

World coal production slowed

by 7,3 percent in the 12 months

to July this year, he says. The

sharpest fall was experienced in

Canada.

Mr Roling believes that demand will pick up next year as

industry raises inventories

ahead of 1988 United States coal

industry labour negotiations.

A study by Professor Don

Barnett of Macquarie University in Australia and ocean shipping consultants in the UK estimates that South African costs

on a free on board basis range

from $14 for open mine output

to $21 on an fob basis. South

African mines have been helped

by the collapse of the rand.

Freight charges to Europe

are much lower for South Africa. The mines' total costs including shipping to Amsterdam,

Rotterdam and Antwerp range

between $21 to $28,5 a ton.

The fob costs of Colombian

coal, however are a high $50 and

are $41 for United States mines.

Australian costs, free on

board (fob) range between $22

for Queensland opencast mines

to around $31 for New South

Wales mines. Including delivery

overheads to Rotterdam the

total cost ranges between $34 to

$43. Sales prices of this coal are

well below cost of production.

"Only South African and

Queensland producers are

operating profitably on a fob

basis, " says International Coal

report.

"But even Queensland coal —

.lor the combined mining and

shipping operation — is arriving

in Europe at a loss.

"Results throw into doubt the

future operating feasibility of

both underground and open cast

mines in New South Wales.

"There is even a greater question mark overhanging the El

Cerrejon coal mine in Colombia," the report says.

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VAAL DAM UPGRADING RAISES CAPACITY

SOUTH AFRICA

Johannesburg THE STAR in English. 11 Dec 86 p 5

[Article by Shirley Woodgate]

[Text]

A R61-million facelift to the retaining

wall of the Vaal Dam has increased its

capacity by 400-million cubic metres

from the beginning of this month.

According to Dr Paul Roberts, managing engineer of scientific services in

the Water Affairs Department, structural improvements have been made to

the wall itself, the height of the 60

gates above the wall has been increased, the hoisting mechanism has

been replaced and new anchoring

cables have been installed.

ABSORPTION

The upgrading had pushed the dam's

2191-million cubic metre capacity up

to 2 523-million cubic metres and had

ensured greater flood absorption when

the present eight-year drought was

eventually broken, he said.

The increased capacity of the major

dam serving the PWV area would not

immediately improve the water situation in the area, but was designed as a

long-term project to increase storage.

He said under normal conditions it

was reasonable to expect the dam to be

full every five years, but with the present drought the last time the Vaal Dam

filled up was in the early eighties.

The "present rains had made little

difference to the level of the dams because the Vaal System had not yet re-

-covered from effects of the prolonged

drought.

"The amount of water in storage is

about the same as this time last year

and there is no chance of water restrictions being lifted," said Dr Roberts.

What was needed to get a lot of

run-off into the dams were more intense rains over a period of at least a

week in the catchment area.

The Vaal Dam's 38 000 sq km catchment area extends east to Ermelo and

includes Bethal, Harrismith and

Frankfort on the junction of the Vaal

and Wilge rivers, and the Liebenbergs

Vlei River which starts near Bethleliem.

Dr Roberts said the rate of pumping

water from the Woodstock Dam into

the Sterkfontein Dam had been almost

doubled from 11 cu m to 20 cu m a second.

Despite this the level of the Sterkfontein remained fairly low. The purpose of the exercise was to try to balance out the water stored in the Tugela/Vaal System, he said.

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SOUTH AFRICA

SHIP OWNERS DECREASE SERVICE TO SOUTH AFRICAN MARKET

London AFRICA ECONOMIC DIGEST in English 8-14 Nov 86 p 23

, , AT LEAST six large container and roll-on,

[ 1 ext J roll-off (ro-ro) ships have been withdrawn

from the Europe/South Africa trade in the

past year, but none of the redundant

tonnage has found its way into other

African markets. A major shake-up of the

US/South African market late last year

also resulted in a loss of ships from the

trade.

The major South Africa Europe Container Service (SAECS) pulled out three big

container ships and two support ro-ros.

Othertonnage is said to be slow-steaming

or entered for early repair surveys.

Another box-carrying ship is expected to

go into lay-up.

In all, according to reports, the SAECS

service will have been cut from nine ships

of 2,450 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs),

three smaller containerships, and four

ro-ros in 1977 to just six large container

vessels — five owned by South Africa's

Safmarine — three Mediterranean ships

and two ro-ros.

Service levels have sunk because of the

decline and change in the pattern of trade

to South Africa. The drop in the value of

the rand prompted a sharp cutback of

imports — traditionally the more expensive cargoes on the route, which thus

generated the highest earnings in terms

of freight. Although there was something

of an export boom from South Africa this

tended to consist of fruit and vegetables

and other raw materials which, if not

lowly rated cargoes, were controlled by

marketing boards.

Owners in the SAECS service — which

has for years complained of a totally inadequate return on capital — now say

they have no further plans to cut services.

Independent operators also say they will

maintain current sailing schedules.

There is no doubt, however, that owners have turned their attention more to

non-South African cargoes, even if this

has notinvolved stepping up direct vessel

calls at other ports. A number of SAECS

operators have said, for example, that

they are looking for cargoes for countries

like Zimbabwe which can be transported

to and from their normal South African

ports of call.

It is noticeable that none of the ships

made redundant by the decline in trade to

South Africa have been redeployed in the

east African market, although one company, Mediterranean Shipping Company,

expanded its South African operation

some time ago to embrace east Africa to

improve cargo flows.

There are a number of reasons for not

transferring ships from South Africa into

the east African market.

D South Africa exports a high level of

perishables. These need refrigerated container slots, making vessels more expensive. Having designed and builtshipsfor a

specific market, owners are reluctant to

adapt except as a last resort.

D Because South Africa's ports were

adapted to containerisation earlier, the

ships supplying the market are bigger and

more dependent on sophisticated handling equipment than is available at most

east African gateways.

D Liner shipping requires an expensive

and highly developed land-side support.

Having invested to build up such a system

in South Africa most owners would hope

to recoup their investment — even if this

means trading through a very rough patch

— rather than lessen their involvement in

a market and wave goodbye to thousands

of pounds of development.

One of the hallmarks of the South African market is that the ships in the trade

are largely owned by the companies operating them, whereas in east Africa there is

a far higher proportion of chartered tonnage which allows shipping lines to trade

up the size and sophistication of ship as

the port, infrastructure and traffic improve.

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SOUTH AFRICA

BRIEFS

VOLKSKAS: GOLD *CENTRAL TO GROWTH'—Any hope of real economic recovery in

the new year will depend largely on gold averaging about $450 for the next

12 months. Volkskas—in its Economic Spotlight—has drawn up two scenarios,

one at an average gold price at $400 and the other at $450. The bank

believes gold will be closer to the $450 mark and thus predicts growth rate

of almost 3 percent. A predicted balance-of-payments surplus on the current

account of R6,3bn should drop to R5,4bn while the estimated exchange rate

should be 38c. A lower gold price should increase inflationary pressure,

with the CPI rising by an estimated 17,5 percent at the $400-gold-price

level. [Text] [Johannesburg BUSINESS DAY in English 11 Dec 86 p 3] /9317

OPERATION HUNGER FIGURES—Operation Hunger is feeding just over a million

people and calls for aid are still flooding its offices, says executive

director Mrs Ina Perlman. This figure fulfils the organisation's September

prediction that it would be feeding one million within six months. Mrs

Perlman said that feeding figures for 1987 were an "imponderable." Operation

Hunger's budget for the 1987 financial year was a conservative R12 million.

By May, the organisation hoped to be able to phase out feeding schemes in

rural areas where rain had fallen and crops had been reaped. But there were

still enormous demands from rural areas where the drought prevailed and from

urban areas hit by increasing unemployment. "We are trying to introduce

self-help schemes in urban areas but reducing the demand there depends

entirely on an upturn in the economy. "For example, in Port Elizabeth,

where Operation Hunger feeds 160 000 people, we hope to introduce 30 selfhelp schemes in January," she said. Operation Hunger spokesman Miss Anne

Scott said the organisation had raised RIO million of its R12 million

budget. Twenty percent of the budget was raised by the "Gold Rush." It

was estimated that R850 000 would be spent on feeding schemes each month

and six percent of the budget was allocated for administration. The

remainder would be used to finance self-help schemes and water reclamation

projects. [Text] [Johannesburg THE STAR in English 9 Dec 86 p 3] /9317

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