Cops warn of 'Uhuru' e-mails
2007-02-20 15:57
Pretoria - Police have lashed out at a message campaign warning whites that blacks will attack them when former president Nelson Mandela dies, saying they are without substance.
National commissioner of police spokesperson Sally de Beer said the messages also incited whites to prepare to congregate at pre-identified "safe areas" and to defend themselves accordingly.
"The South African Police Service states emphatically that the contents of the said messages are malicious, scurrilous and without any foundation or substance whatsoever."
They had been doing the rounds on e-mail, SMS text messages and DVDs.
De Beer said: "The messages form part of a disinformation campaign and publicity stunt by a group known as the Suidlanders, under the leadership of one Gustav Muller."
'Repulsive campaign'
"The contents of the messages refers to alleged planning and intended actions under the code names of, among others, Uhuru, Night of the Long Knives, Red October, Operation White Cleanup and Iron Eagle."
De Beer said the police had asked the public not pay any heed to "this nonsense", nor let it influence their daily lives.
"Those behind this insensitive and repulsive campaign are clearly not acting in the best interests of the country and their actions are apparently intended to incite racial intolerance and hysteria amongst the inhabitants of South Africa."
Meanwhile, hoax e-mails reportedly have been doing their rounds claiming that Mandela had had a stroke.
His spokesperson Zelda la Grange said it was all hogwash.
She said he was doing well. He was resting with his wife in Mozambique.
"He is enjoying some peaceful quality time by the side of his wife, away from the pressures in Johannesburg.
"We communicate with him almost daily and he is in good spirits," she said.
Was aware of the e-mails
"We reassure the public that we will not be irresponsible if ever it becomes necessary for us to alert them to any matters relating to Mr Mandela.
"But, at the same time, we urge the public not to pay attention to rumours or pursue them."
She said Mandela's office had been aware of these e-mails for a number of months.
"Despite our attempts to dismiss these, they continue to surface and circulate.