Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
In response to news media enquiries regarding the allegations of a disinformation campaign contained in the above mentioned press release, the Department of Foreign Affairs wishes to state that it is not involved in any so-called smear campaign against any South African company.
The Department wishes to point out that it is one of the stated foreign policy objectives of the South African Government to encourage and facilitate the peaceful resolution of conflicts between, and in, other countries. On our continent, this objective has been given particular importance and priority, in view of the fact that, as fellow Africans, we in South Africa are directly affected by conflicts elsewhere on the continent.
South Africans have been experiencing the anguish of having the observe the continued suffering of our brothers and sisters in other African countries, as a result of lengthy civil wars, ethnic strife and cross-border confrontations. In addition, our nation has also had to contend with the reality that large-scale foreign investment, which must be regarded as essential for the economic development of especially Sub-Saharan Africa, both as regards receiving sufficient foreign investment ourselves and in terms of the sustained influx of large numbers of illegal immigrants from elsewhere in the region to our country.
In this context, the Department of Foreign Affairs has, on a number of occasions, expressed its concern at the activities of South African-based companies involved in activities of a para-military nature elsewhere on our continent. The Department maintains the view that these activities are not conducive to achieving peaceful solutions to the abovementioned conflicts. In addition, other countries have frequently conveyed their own concern regarding these activities to our Government. Given also our country's recent history, the South African Government is understandably sensitive about any perception or allegations of official sanction or support for what is seen as South African mercenary activity in other African countries.
For this reason, it was recently announced that steps had been taken by the South African Government to introduce legislation to further impede such activity.
Issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs PRETORIA 9 January 1997