DATE=6/3/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233274
TITLE=SAF / WEAPONS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  AUTHORITIES IN SOUTH AFRICA ARE REPORTING A BREAKTHROUGH 
IN THEIR INVESTIGATION INTO TWO RECENT THEFTS OF MILITARY 
WEAPONS.  V-O-A JOHANNESBURG CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA REPORTS 
THE THEFTS HAVE BEEN LINKED TO A GROUP THAT INCLUDES MEMBERS OF 
SOUTH AFRICA'S NATIONAL DEFENSE FORCE, WHICH HAS SUSPECTED 
RIGHT-WING CONNECTIONS.

TEXT:  SOUTH AFRICAN AUTHORITIES SAY MOST OF THE AUTOMATIC 
WEAPONS AND AMMUNITION STOLEN FROM ARMY STOCKPILES IN TWO 
SEPARATE INCIDENTS OVER THE PAST THREE WEEKS HAVE NOW BEEN 
RECOVERED.  

DEPUTY DEFENSE MINISTER RONNIE KASRILS TELLS A PARLIAMENTARY 
COMMITTEE THE BREAKTHROUGH FOLLOWS MONDAY'S HIJACKING OF AN ARMY 
VEHICLE NEAR THE CITY OF BLOEMFONTEIN, WHICH WAS CARRYING SOME 
200 THOUSAND ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION.  

MR. KASRILS SAYS THE MILITARY SUSPECTS WHO HAVE BEEN DETAINED IN 
THE HEIST ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE RIGHT-WING CONNECTIONS.

                    //OPT// // KASRILS ACT //

         MILITARY PERSONS FROM THE "SANDF" (SOUTH AFRICAN 
         NATIONAL DEFENSE FORCE) -- THEY HAPPEN TO BE WHITE 
         MEMBERS OF THE SANDF -- THERE IS SUSPECTED TO BE 
         RIGHT-WING CONNECTIONS.  THE BREAKTHROUGH CAME FOLLOWING
         THE HIJACKING OF A MILITARY TRUCK ON MONDAY.

                    // END ACT // //END OPT//


// OPT //  AUTHORITIES HAVE MEANWHILE DISCLOSED THAT THE BODY OF 
ONE OF TWO DRIVERS OF THE HIJACKED ARMY TRUCK HAS BEEN RECOVERED.
THE OTHER SOLDIER REMAINS MISSING.  // END OPT //

WITH NATIONAL ELECTIONS SCHEDULED FOR NEXT YEAR, THIS RECENT 
HIJACKING AND ONE EARLIER RAISED CONCERN AMONG SOME OFFICIALS THE
THEFTS MIGHT BE LINKED TO POSSIBLE PLANS BY EXTREMISTS TO 
DESTABILIZE THE COUNTRY.  (SIGNED)

NEB/BEL/PCF

03-Jun-98 11:12 AM EDT (1512 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.