SOUTH AFRICA POLITICAL NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 9-NOVEMBER 13

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 PRETORIA 002314 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KDEM PGOV ASEC SF POL PAS ECON SUBJECT: SOUTH AFRICA POLITICAL NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 9-NOVEMBER 13 REF: PRETORIA 02251, PRETORIA 02254, PRETORIA 02263, PRETORIA 02266, PRETORIA 02267 PRETORIA 00002314 001.2 OF 003 ¶1. (SBU) This was written in partnership with the Open Source Center's Pretoria Bureau. The newsletter is open to contributions from officers i6Q*Q}th Africa," found on intelink.gov. -------------- Domestic News -------------- Weekly Says President Zuma Faces Real Challenge Over Feuding Police Chiefs ¶2. (U) Sunday Times reports that the political fallout between police minister Nathi Mthethwa and his deputy, Fikile Mbalula, has exposed a "dangerous zone" which President Jacob Zuma created when he picked the members of his cabinet after the elections. Mbalula - by virtue of his position as ANC head of campaigns and power base - felt that he was senior to Mthethwa, while it was inevitable that Mthethwa would assume seniority over Mbalula by his appointment to a full cabinet position. The report further states that the danger of this conflict is that it has the potential to seriously weaken the war on crime and is "surely" going to pose a serious test of Zuma's leadership. Both Mthethwa and Mbalula are known to be fierce Zuma loyalists and were instrumental in weakening former President Thabo Mbeki's grip. Mbalula has discounted this report, but speculation continues that there is a rift between the two ministers. [Website of privately owned Sunday newspaper; URL: http://www.thetimes.co.za/] ANC Warns Youth Leader Malema Against Push for Nationalization of Mines ¶3. (U) Sunday Times rep/q"g&vtreportedly told Malema to follow proper party processes and said that ANC policy could only be changed at the party's national general council or its policy conference. South African Communist Party leader Jeremy Cronincautioned against te nationalizatio of mines, saying that the move could deplete the national budget, but reiterated that state ownership of mines - favored by communists - was "not necessarily" a progressive socialist measure. The report further notes that Cronin asserted that there was a need for a comprehensive discussion of how mining assets could be used to drive development, ensuring it is "nationalization with compensation, not with expropriation". [Website of privately owned Sunday newspaper; URL: http://www.thetimes.co.za/] State to Drop Willing Buyer, Willing Seller Concept, Speed Up Land Reform ¶4. (U) Business Report reports that the government indicated yesterday that the "willing-buyer, willing-seller" concept for land redistribution would be "ditched" in favor of a system of average hectare price offers and expropriation due to the delay in the process. During a 10 November briefing, Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Gugile Nkwinti said that the deadline for transferring agricultural land to the previously disadvantaged - set for 20Qj8 discussions with farmers' unions were fruitful in establishing average prices of farmland per hectare, which would assist in speeding up land reform in the future. The report highlighted that only about 5 percent of land had been transferred, with 87 percent of land still in the hands of the minority; however, the minister reiterated his commitment to avoid a repeat of the experience of Zimbabwe - where the land issue had led to significant "polarisation". [Website of business and financial publication, privately owned by Independent Newspaper Company; URL: http://www.businessreport.co.za/] ANC Youth League Leader Malema Receives Police Protection ¶5. (U) Beeld reports that Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa approved police protection for ANC Youth League President Julius Malema at a cost of 300,000 [roughly $ 43,000] rand per month despite Malema not being a government official. Zweli Mnisi, spokesman for the Police Minister, said Malema informed the ministry that he "believes his life is in danger."Mnisi went on to explain that "any South African PRETORIA 00002314 002.2 OF 003 who believes that his life was in danger can request for VIP protection." When asked to comment Malema told Beeld that "No, no, no, I don't discuss security issues." The Democratic Alliance's spokesperson for security, Dianne Kohler Barnard, said it is "ridiculous" that Malema is receiving police protection while he is "not a MP or even of a provincial legislature. He is not even a member of the executive authority." [Description of Source: Pretoria Beeld in Afrikaans -- Privately-owned national daily newspaper, targeting liberal-minded Afrikaners] COSATU Unhappy with African National Congress (ANC) Decision ¶6. (U) Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) spokesperson Patrick Craven said on November 11 the labor federation felt the African National Congress (ANC) National Executive Committee (NEC) took the "wrong decision" to endorse Trevor Manuel as the chairperson of the National Planning Commission (NPC). COSATU has vowed to continue opposing the ANC's decision to endorse Manuel as chair of the new commission and COSATU General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said promised to raise their concerns during the alliance summit beginning on November 13. (Sowetan, November 12, 2009) Inkatha Freedom Party Youth Leader Suspended ¶7. (U) Inkatha Freedom Party Youth Brigade (IFPYB) Chairperson Muzi Simelane has been suspended after he was accused of allegedly instigating the youth brigade to support Zanele Magwaza-Msibi for presidency when Mangosuthu Buthelezi retires. IFP Provincial Secretary Bonginkosi Buthelezi told local newspapers that Simelane has been suspended with immediate effect after he was found guilty by the party's disciplinary committee. Simelane said he will be suspended for three years and his membership was withdrawn. The IFP Youth Brigade is divided between supporters of party secretary Musa Zondi and Magwaza-Msibi. (Sowetan, November 11, 2009) Development Bank of Southern Africa Uses State Funds to Fund Hotels ¶8. (U) The Development Bank of Southern Africa is dishing out millions of dollars in loans to private companies in which its directors own shares. The Bank's annual reports show that it gave loans to hotel groups and Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment investment funds. The state-owned bank is meant to provide loans to municipalities for service delivery, so giving loans to six-star hotels under the guise of tourism has raised questions among opposition parliamentarians and the media. (Sowetan, November 12, 2009) -------------- International News -------------- Zuma Named African President of the Year ¶9. (U) President Jacob Zuma has been named the "2009 African President of the Year" and received the award on November 10. The award was founded by the African Consciousness Media and the Kenneth Kaunda Foundation in recognition of African leaders. (Eyewitness News, November 11) COSATU Shows Solidarity with Zimbabwe Trade Union ¶10. (U) COSATU on November 10 called on the Zimbabwean Government to release Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) President Lovemore Matombo. The ZCTU leader and two of his colleagues were arrested in Victoria Falls on November 8. (Eyewitness News, November 10) Ebrahim Ebrahim Learns More About the International Criminal Court ¶11. (U) Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) Deputy Minister Ebrahim Ebrahim received International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo on November QCriminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo on November 10 in Cape Town. The meeting between Ebrahim and Moreno-Ocampo covered a number of issues including the work of the ICC and current investigations, particularly ones in Africa. The meeting also touched on the upcoming Review Conference of the Rome Statute in ¶2010. Moreno-Ocampo expressed his hope that "Africa will play a key role during this process." Ebrahim confirmed that preparations for Africa's participation at this Review are already underway and re-iterated the South Africa's commitment to honor its international obligations including the Rome Statutes of the ICC. (DIRCO Briefing, November 10) IFP Leader Plans to Discuss Tibet ¶12. (U) The Chinese Government is attempting to persuade IFP leader PRETORIA 00002314 003.2 OF 003 Mangosuthu Buthelezi not to attend a summit of world leaders in Rome to discuss China's rule of Tibet. China's Consul General, Liu Yantao, allegedly wrote a letter to Buthelezi asking him not to take part in the summit scheduled to take place in late November. Buthelezi, who is a friend of the Dalai Lama, has refused to turn down the invitation. There also are rumors that the Chinese Government has attempted to persuade the South African government to block Buthelezi from attending the conference. (SAPA, November 12) DIRCO Minister Visits Sri Lanka . . . ¶13. (U) DIRCO Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, supported by senior government officials, undertook an official visit to Sri Lanka November 11-12. The visit was undertaken within the context of deepening South-South cooperation and strengthening bilateral relations between South Africa and Sri Lanka. In addition, the visit afforded Nkoana-Mashabane an opportunity for greater understanding of the political, social and economic dynamics in Sri Lanka following the end of the civil war there in May 2009. During the visit, discussions focused on bilateral relations, dates for a South Africa-Sri Lanka Partnership Forum in 2010, regional issues, and multilateral cooperation. (DIRCO Briefing, November 9) . . . Then Off to India ¶14. (U) Nkoana-Mashabane intends to visit India following her visit to Sri Lanka. Nkoana-Mashabane is expected to participate in the Regional Heads of Mission Conference scheduled for November 13-14 during her time in India. The visit is aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between South Africa and India and to signal South Africa's commitment to the continuation of the strategic partnership with India within the context of South-South cooperation. During the visit, discussions between Nkoana-Mashabane and her Indian counterpart will focus in part on preparations for the State Visit of President Zuma to India in 2010. (DIRCO Briefing, November 11)