Govt confirms SA men on board

2004-03-09 21:52

Pretoria - The foreign affairs department confirmed on Tuesday that there were 20 South Africans in the group of people detained in Zimbabwe as suspected mercenaries.

Ambassador Jerry Ndou met Zimbabwean authorities on Tuesday, to find out details on the detention and impounding of a Boeing 707-100 that landed at Harare International Airport on Sunday evening, said foreign affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa.

"All detainees are being held in a local prison. Apart from the South Africans there are 18 Namibians, 23 Angolans, three Congolese and one Zimbabwean national."

If the South Africans were indeed implicated in mercenary activities, this would be in breach of the Foreign Military Assistance Act, Mamoepa reiterated.

On Monday Zimbabwe's home affairs minister Kembo Mohadi announced the impounding of a US-registered aeroplane which he said contained military equipment and 64 suspected mercenaries.

Rumours have since abounded about the occupants, destination, and ownership of the aircraft. Latest reports state it was indeed carrying mercenaries, employed to assassinate the president of Equatorial Guinea.

Agustin Nse Nfumu, information minister of Equatorial Guinea, said his government had detained 15 suspected mercenaries, and declared they were an "advance party" for the group of 64 on board the impounded aircraft, SABC radio news said on Tuesday.

He said the leader of the group, a white South African called "Mick", had confessed to a plot to kill the president.

However, the firm Logo Logistics Ltd claimed to have contracted the mysterious aircraft to carry mining contractors to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Mining contractors

In a statement sent to Sapa, Logo Logistics said that "contrary to some reports they (the people on board the aeroplane) are contracted to provide a range of services to mining clients, including logistics, support services, asset and human security, and communications".

What had been described as "military" items on board were in fact equipment such as boots, pipe-bending and wire-cutting tools, the firm declared.

It confirmed that some of the contractors on board were South African citizens and denied they had broken any South African laws.

"We appreciate that the South African government may wish to debrief its citizens on their return from their ordeal, but that is a different matter."

The statement was not sourced to an individual, giving merely an e-mail address and a telephone contact number in the United Kingdom. This is answered by an electronic message.

On Tuesday South Africa's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said the cargo plane was not registered in South Africa.

"Our investigation shows that this aircraft is not registered or even provisionally registered in South Africa. The "N" indicates that this is a US-registered aircraft," said CAA spokesperson Moses Seate.

Newly purchased

Logo Logistics said the aircraft was leased from an asset management company Systems Design.

"It is newly purchased, so it's still on the US register. There is no other link with the US."

The CAA also confirmed that the Boeing 727-100 departed from Polokwane International Airport on Sunday. Whether it flew directly to Zimbabwe was not known, the agency said.

Logo Logistics said its equipment was normally acquired in South Africa. It did not give details on the flight path of the aircraft before it entered Zimbabwean air space.

"We can make it clear that we have no current or intended business in Zimbabwe and certainly no illegal intentions against its government and people."

The company said it was aware of the political sensitivities of the Zimbabwean government.

"However, we assume that, once the Zimbabwean authorities have completed their work, it (our aircraft) can swiftly return to use."

Logo Logistics said their first concern was the welfare of the contractors.

"They and their families have had an extremely distressing time. It is our intention that they return to their homes for a few days to recuperate before recommencing work."

The company's website states that it has so far operated in African countries such as Sierra Leone, Liberia, Congo, Angola, Zambia and Mozambique.

"Common key attributes" found in staff in its service include "discretion, political sensitivity, (and) military experience".

Services offered by Logo Logistics include "risk intelligence and assessment, support helicopter operations, service support in harsh environments, (and) rough field and parachute air re-supply".

Mamoepa said the South African Embassy would continue to liaise with the Zimbabwean authorities as they investigate the incident.

"As soon as the names of the South Africans are made available to the South African embassy in Harare, the next of kin will be duly informed of developments."

- SAPA