DATE=6/15/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-233949 TITLE=SAF / CHEMICAL WEAPONS (L ONLY) BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT SAYS THE CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS PROGRAM LAUNCHED BY THE FORMER APARTHEID GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN SHUT DOWN AND ALL THE WEAPONS DESTROYED. V-O-A JOHANNESBURG CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA SAYS THE ANNOUNCEMENT FOLLOWS STARTLING TESTIMONY BEFORE THE "TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION" COMMISSION ABOUT THE FORMER WHITE MINORITY GOVERNMENT'S PROGRAM. TEXT: CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN JOEL NETSHITENZE DOES NOT SAY WHEN IT HAPPENED. BUT IN A STATEMENT, HE SAYS THE SECRET CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS PROGRAM INITIATED BY THE FORMER WHITE MINORITY GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN TERMINATED. HE ALSO SAYS ALL MATERIALS IN GOVERNMENT STORAGE THAT COULD BE USED FOR OFFENSIVE PURPOSES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED. THE SOUTH AFRICAN SPOKESMAN SAYS THE DESTRUCTION OF THE CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL AGENTS WAS CARRIED OUT WITH THE COOPERATION OF COUNTRIES WITH EXPERTISE IN THIS AREA. HE DOES NOT IDENTIFY THE COUNTRIES. BUT IT IS WIDELY BELIEVED THAT BRITAIN AND THE UNITED STATES PROVIDED ASSISTANCE. MR. NETSHITENZE SAYS THE GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS TECHNOLOGY SHOULD NEVER BE MADE AVAILABLE TO ANY COUNTRY, INDIVIDUAL OR COMPANY. HE SAYS THE GOVERNMENT HAS RETAINED CERTAIN INFORMATION FOR DEFENSIVE PURPOSES. HOWEVER HE SAYS THIS INFORMATION IS KEPT UNDER LOCK AND KEY. HE CONFIRMS THE APARTHEID GOVERNMENT TRANSFERRED ITS KEYS TO THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT. THE GOVERNMENT'S DISCLOSURES FOLLOW TRUTH COMMISSION HEARINGS LAST WEEK INTO THE COVERT CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS PROGRAM CARRIED OUT BY THE COUNTRY'S FORMER WHITE MINORITY LEADERS. THE HEARING HEARD OFTEN STARTLING TESTIMONY ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF POISONS, GASES, BACTERIA, AND OTHER MATERIALS FOR USE AGAINST SUPPORTERS OF THE BLACK LIBERATION MOVEMENT. (SIGNED) NEB/BEL/JWH 15-Jun-98 12:24 PM EDT (1624 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .