SA maze has CIA on red alert
2003-12-01 14:48
Robertson - The CIA and other US intelligence organisations were on "red alert" earlier this year when a satellite spotted the Klaas Voogds Maze of Soekershof near Robertson in the Western Cape.
From a high altitude, the unusual shape of the maze and the objects in it showed just too many similarities with a defence complex.
Only last week the Pentagon became absolute sure that the maze was not a threat to the national security of the USA.
The webmaster of the website of Soekershof found out about the US military's interest in Soekershof via tracking-and-tracing software configured in the server.
It turned out that the website had 362 visits from certain US military organisations during the past 12 months.
Wondering why, the owners of Soekershof consulted American business- and other relations.
Michael Cashin, who also owns property in the Klaas Voogds area, provided an answer: "I talked to a good friend of mine who is a recently retired army intelligence officer and he said the unusual shape of the maze, when viewed from a high altitude, has prompted some security or mapping agency to make an 'open sources' search to find out what it is."
A Canadian army supplier, whose name cannot be published for security reasons, said: "It's a simple story. The satellite spots the maze with all those funny objects, some of which, on first sight, indeed look like pieces of heavy anti-aircraft artillery."
The existing documentation is then studied. As the maze was fairly recently created, the necessary information could probably not be found.
Nowadays, the next step is to search the internet for an explanation. If that fails, the intelligence agency will send a "cultural attaché" or other employee of the US embassy in South Africa to the location.
In this instance, the internet provided the CIA with the answer.
Explaining the number of hits the website is still attracting, he said "student recognition experts" have to improve their skills by practicing. "The Soekershof maze turns out to be one of those excellent study objects."
The Pentagon in Washington has categorically denied the existence of detailed satellite photos.
- News24