SOUTH AFRICA-POLITICS: GUERRILLAS ORDERED TO HAND IN WEAPONS

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

JOHANITA LOUW

PRETORIA, Dec 14 1994 (IPS) - A TOP SOUTH AFRICAN ARMY OFFICER WEDNESDAY ORDERED MEMBERS OF UMKHONTO WESIZWE (MK) — MILITARY WING OF THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS (ANC) — TO HAND IN THEIR WEAPONS BEFORE THE END OF JANUARY.

LT.-GEN. SIPHIWE NYANDA SAID IN A STATEMENT ALL MK MEMBERS WITH ARMS AND AMMUNITION AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE MK WEAPONS IN SAFEKEEPING, MUST SURRENDER THEM TO MK REGIONAL COMMANDERS BEFORE JAN. 31.

GEN. NYANDA IS THE ACTING CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL DEFENCE FORCE (SANDF) AND A FORMER SENIOR COMMANDER OF MK DURING THE LIBERATION STRUGGLE AGAINST APARTHEID.

DEFENDING HIS DECISION, GEN. NYANDA SAID THE COUNTRY’S INTERIM CONSTITUTION STIPULATED THAT ALL ARMS OF MK AND OTHER FORCES AUTOMATICALLY BECAME THE PROPERTY OF THE SANDF WITH EFFECT FROM APR. 27 WHEN DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS, WON BY THE ANC, BEGAN.

“WE THEREFORE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTROL AND AUDITING OF ALL THESE ARMS. UP UNTIL NOW WE HAVE CONCENTRATED ON ARMS CACHES AND WEAPONS OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTRY. THE NEXT STEP IS TO GET BACK WEAPONS WHICH ARE IN THE HANDS OF INDIVIDUALS.”

REGIONS HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO INFORM ALL MK MEMBERS OF THE ORDER AND TO SEE THAT IT IS ADHERED TO, HE SAID.

POLITICAL OBSERVERS INTERPRETED THE ORDER AS A FIRST SIGNAL THAT THE ANC-DOMINATED GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY INTENDS TO APPLY STRONG-ARM TACTICS TO DISCIPLINE MK CADRES REFUSING TO ABIDE BY AGREEMENTS REACHED BETWEEN MILITARY LEADERS.

THOUSANDS OF MK MEMBERS RECENTLY WENT ON STRIKE IN PROTEST AGAINST TREATMENT THEY RECEIVED AT ARMY BASES WHERE MEMBERS OF THE FORMER DEFENCE FORCE ARE STILL IN CHARGE.

MORE THAN 2,000 MK DESERTERS LAST MONTH IGNORED INSTRUCTIONS BY DEFENCE MINISTER JOE MODISE TO RETURN TO THEIR MILITARY BASE AT WALLMANNSTAL NEAR PRETORIA. THEY HAVE ALL BEEN DISMISSED.

POLICE HAVE CLAIMED IN THE PAST THAT DISGRUNTLED, UNEMPLOYED FORMER MK GUERRILLAS WERE INVOLVED IN ROBBERIES AND VIOLENT CRIMES WITHIN THE COUNTRY.

GEN. NYANDA CALLED ON MK MEMBERS TO COOPERATE, ADDING THAT THE SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE (SAPS) WAS NOTIFIED AND SUPPORTED THE PROJECT.