Issued by: Office of the Executive Deputy President Mbeki
The arrest of three United States citizens by the F.B.I on charges of espionage has resulted in speculation on the involvement of a senior South African government official in the matter. It is important that the facts around this issue are clarified so as to prevent any misconceptions that may arise as a result of this speculation.
Some time after the publication of his book "Armed and Dangerous" Deputy Minister of Defence Ronnie Kasrils received a letter from one of the people who has now been arrested in the United States on charges of spying, Ms Squillacote.
She signed this letter as "Lisa Martin".
Ms Squillacote wrote to Mr Kasrils to express her appreciation of the book, which she had found exciting. She also wrote for her satisfaction at the birth of a democratic South Africa.
Subsequently, Mr Kasrils, who had no prior knowledge of Ms Squillacote or Lisa Martin, sent her a Christmas card in which he thanked her for her letter.
This exchange is the only contact that has ever taken place between Mr Kasrils and Ms Squillacote.
Because she was under surveillance, the FBI knew of this exchange.
As a result of this knowledge, the FBI then mounted a "false flag" operation in which their agent posed as a South African official who had been sent by Mr Kasrils.
Among other things, this agent asked Ms Squillacote to steal documents from the US Department of Defence, ostensibly for the South African Government.
Mr Kasrils has never been in contact with the US Government about the open communication which took place between himself and Ms Squillacote.
In her own letter to Mr Kasrils, Ms Squillacote made no offer of any kind to supply the South African Government or Mr Kasrils with any information or documents.
We would like to reiterate the point we made yesterday that neither the South African Government nor any of its agencies has been involved with any of the people who have been charged with espionage in the United States.
Further, neither the government nor any of its agencies have been in contact with the US Government or any of its agencies in connection with the operations which led to the arrest of these people.
Issued by: Thami Ntenteni Date: 7 October 1997 Cell No. 083 555 5118