SOUTH AFRICA POLITICAL NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 26-OCTOBER 30

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PRETORIA 002210 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KDEM PGOV ASEC SF POL PAS ECON SUBJECT: SOUTH AFRICA POLITICAL NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 26-OCTOBER 30 PRETORIA 00002210 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) This was written in partnership with the Open Source Center's Pretoria Bureau. The newsletter is open to contributions from officers in the Embassy or in the Consulates who wish to highlight political trends. Contact Madeline Seidenstricker or Jonathan Smallridge for more information, or to make contributions. The newsletter also is available on the Political Section's blog, "A View from South Africa," found on intelink.gov. -------------- Domestic News -------------- Pakistani Syndicate Illegally Enter RSA Using Fraudulent Documents ¶2. (U) "Rapport" South African Afrikaans weekly reported on 25 October that Pakistani crime syndicates are operating in South Africa. The ease with which illegal immigrants can enter the country and the cooperation of corrupt public servants and police officers reportedly make South Africa particularly attractive for the syndicates. Many Pakistanis do not qualify for a South African visa. They allegedly pay agents in Pakistan between $4,000 and $6,000 (30,000 rand and 45,000 rand) for safe passage. This amount includes a bribe, false documents and accommodation in a "safe house." The report further stated that Pakistani criminal gangs are also lured to South Africa by the growing market in illegal drugs. [Description of Source: Johannesburg Rapport in Afrikaans -- Privately-owned national Sunday newspaper critical of government policies] Challenges to Mpumalanga Name Changes ¶3. (U) More than 600 businesses in Mpumalanga are seeking legal advice on how to challenge what they claim is "a flawed name change process." The South African Government earlier this month announced plans to rename cities and towns in Mpumalanga, including changing Nelspruit to Mbombela. The Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism argue that the consultation process conducted by Minister of Arts and Culture Lulu Xingwana was unfair as businesses were not fully consulted and the deadline for public comments or objections relating to the proposed name change was not widely publicized. An additional objection from business is that Nelspruit is not a politically offensive name in South African history. The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Mpumalanga also has questioned the name change as the party's provincial leader said while the DA is not opposed to the changing of offensive or derogatory names, the motive behind the changes in Mpumalanga "must be questioned." (News24, October 27, 2009) Service Delivery Protests in Diepsloot "Motivated by Anti-ANC Campaign" ¶4. (U) The African National Congress (ANC) in Diepsloot, north of Johannesburg, says service delivery protests on October 24-25 were spurred by anti-ANC activists. Residents barricaded roads and looted small businesses and demanded the local councilor step down. (Note: The South African Communist Party SACP leaders in the area came out in support of the protests. End Note.) The ANC chairperson in Diepsloot, Rogers Makhubele, says the protest action was organized by criminals and those opposed to the ruling party. (SABCNEWS, October 27, 2009) Tshwane Mayor Keeps Her Job in Reshuffled Cabinet ¶5. (U) Tshwane Mayor Gwen Ramokgopa reshuffled her mayoral committee, which might help save her own political future. Ramokgopa announced her new council on October 26 as seven members of the Mayoral Executive Committee were recalled under pressure from the ANC's Tshwane branches. Ramokgopa said the moves would help strengthen service delivery in the city, which is dealing with Qstrengthen service delivery in the city, which is dealing with several problems including poor debt collection and financial management. The mayor said, "These changes that we are making, it is improving our capacity to move faster and to ensure that we deal with complex challenges we acknowledge still remain." Ramokgopa added that her administration remained committed to good governance and would build on the successes of the past. (Eyewitness, October 26, 2009) Inkatha Freedom Party Keeps Mangosuthu Buthelezi as Leader ¶6. (U) The national council of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) has taken a resolution that party president Mangosuthu Buthelezi will continue as leader. Political analyst Zakhele Ndlovu has warned that this is likely to cause more harm than good for the divided party because younger members want a greater say in the party's future. Ndlovu's comments come after the national council of the IFP decided that Buthelezi was the only unifying member in the party and that neither IFP National Chairperson Zanele Magwaza-Msibi nor IFP General Secretary Musa Zondi should avail themselves for nominations to take over from Buthelezi when he retires. Ndlovu said the resolution was a clear indication that the party has failed to produce new leaders or deal with the succession issue. (Soweto, October 26, 2009) -------------- International News PRETORIA 00002210 002.2 OF 002 -------------- Zimbabwe Leaders Robert Mugabe, Morgan Tsvangirai Hold Direct Talks 26 Oct ¶7. (U) On 26 October French news agency AFP reported that Zimbabwe's leaders met in their first direct talks since Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai suspended his party's participation in meetings with government partner President Robert Mugabe. "This is a regular Monday meeting and they will discuss the issues of the GPA (Global Political Agreement)," which underpins the unity government, Mugabe's spokesman George Charamba said, confirming the meeting was under way. "However (Deputy Prime Minister Arthur) Mutambara is going to leave the two to discuss further," Charamba told AFP. (Note: There also were press reports this week that South African allies of former President Thabo Mbeki, Frank Chikane and Manjaku Gumbi, were in Harare for talks on the progress of the GPA. End Note.) [Description of Source: Paris AFP (World Service) in English -- world news service of the independent French news agency Agence France Presse] MDC's Tsvangirai, Other Ministers Boycott Zimbabwe Cabinet Meeting Led by Mugabe ¶8. (U) Zimbabwe's Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and ministers drawn from his MDC (Movement for Democratic Change) party Tuesday boycotted a cabinet meeting led by President Robert Mugabe for the second time in as many weeks, reported AFP 27 October. "We did not attend a cabinet meeting again today (and will not) until the outstanding issues have been addressed," Nelson Chamisa, spokesman for the MDC, who is also a cabinet minister, told AFP. The second boycott by Tsvangirai came after his talks with Mugabe on 26 October failed to break a deadlock after the MDC withdrew from participation in the unity government on October 16, sparking a crisis in the eight month partnership. "It is not possible to continue with this inclusive government without addressing outstanding issues, "Chamisa later told a press conference. [Description of Source: Paris AFP (World Service) in English -- world news service of the independent French news agency Agence France Presse] South Africa, DRC Bilateral Talks Move Forward Under Zuma ¶9. (U) Zuma co-chaired the SA-DRC Binational Commission Summit with Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Joseph Kabila on October 30 in Pretoria. Zuma was supported by a full team of ministers, underscoring the importance of the relationship to the South African Government. Nearly every minister in the Zuma Cabinet played a role in the visit, especially International Relations and Corporation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Minister of Home Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Minister of Defense and Military Veterans Lindiwe Sisulu, and Minister of Trade and Industry Rob Davies. The Commission focused on South Africa's continued support for the Post Conflict Reconstruction and Development program in the DRC. (DIRCO Briefing, October 27) South Africa, Nigeria Mark Anniversary of Bilateral Talks ¶10. (U) Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe on October 29 hosted a series of activities in South Africa with his Nigerian counterpart, Goodluck Jonathan, as part of the 10-year anniversary celebrations of the South Africa-Nigeria Binational Commission. During the South African meetings, Motlanthe and Jonathan promised to promote trade and investment on the African continent as well to push for stronger cooperation in building institutions in South Africa and Nigeria. Motlanthe is expected to visit Nigeria next month to reciprocate the QMotlanthe is expected to visit Nigeria next month to reciprocate the exchange. (DIRCO Briefing, October 22)