Probe into mercenary reports

2003-02-17 12:19

Cape Town - Government is investigating the involvement of South African mercenaries in military conflicts in other African countries, Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Penuell Maduna said on Monday.

Replying to questions during a special briefing for the media and diplomats, Maduna said government was concerned by the alleged involvement of South Africans and companies in Africa.

"Certain cases" had been reported, and checks were being made to determine whether the people involved were violating South African law, he said.

The matter went beyond the issue of conflict diamonds, and if the allegations were found to be true, people involved would be summarily charged and brought to court, Maduna said.

He declined to give further details because of intelligence concerns.

In terms of the Foreign Military Assistance Act, it is illegal for South Africans or people with permanent residence in South Africa to assist parties to conflicts in other countries.

According to recent media reports, former senior South African Defence Force members are helping, among others, Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo to stay in power.

The reports allege former South African military commanders have been recruited locally and are assisting with training in the Ivory Coast.

They say there are between 10 and 20 South Africans acting as "technical advisers", and "not gunslingers", in that country.

- SAPA