(C//NF) REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON SOUTH AFRICAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 005946

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/21/2035
TAGS: PINR SF
SUBJECT: (C//NF) REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON SOUTH AFRICAN
NONPROLIFERATION AND ENERGY OFFICIALS (C-AL9-02664)

REF: A. STATE 119646

B. PRETORIA 002404

Classified By: ELISSA G. PITTERLE, DIRECTOR, INR/OPS


1. (C//NF) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS ARE PREPARING TO SUPPORT
AMBASSADOR TO SOUTH AFRICA GIP'S IMPENDING MEETING WITH
ENERGY MINISTER DIPUO PETERS, AS WELL AS UPCOMING TRIPS OF
UNDER SECRETARY FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS WILLIAM BURNS, SPECIAL
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PRESIDENT SUSAN BURK TO SOUTH AFRICA,
AND OTHER USG OFFICIALS PARTICIPATING IN THE NUCLEAR SECURITY
SUMMIT TO BE HELD IN APRIL AND THE NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION
TREATY REVIEW CONFERENCE SCHEDULED FOR MAY (REF A). AS TIME
AND RESOURCES PERMIT, WE APPRECIATE POST'S VIEWS ON RECENT
CHANGES IN SOUTH AFRICA'S PERSONNEL IN THE NONPROLIFERATION
AND ENERGY FIELDS.


A. (C//NF) QUESTIONS CONCERNING ENERGY MINISTER ELIZABETH
DIPUO PETERS:

1) (C//NF) HOW DOES PETERS FIT INTO THE NONPROLIFERATION
DECISIONMAKING PROCESS?

2) (C//NF) IS PETERS IN CONTROL AT THE ENERGY DEPARTMENT?

3) (C//NF) WHAT IS PETERS' RELATIONSHIP WITH DIRCO MINISTER
NKOANA-MASHABANE?

4) (C//NF) IS PETERS CONSIDERED CLOSE TO PRESIDENT ZUMA?

5) (C//NF) WAS PETERS WELL RESPECTED AS PREMIER OF THE
NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE (2004-MAY 2009)?

6) (C//NF) DOES PETERS GO BY THE NAME ELIZABETH OR DIPUO?
HOW IS DIPUO PRONOUNCED?

7) (C//NF) WHAT IS PETERS LIKE TO DEAL WITH, AND WHAT ARE
HER VIEWS OF THE UNITED STATES?


B. (C//NF) QUESTIONS CONCERNING FORMER SOUTH AFRICAN
REPRESENTATIVE TO THE IAEA ABDUL MINTY, WHO WILL BE REPLACED
IN JANUARY BY XOLISA MABHONGO (REF B):

1) (C/NF) WHAT WILL MINTY'S NEW ROLE BE, AND WILL HE
CONTINUE TO PLAY A DECISIVE ROLE IN SOUTH AFRICA'S
NONPROLIFERATION STRATEGY? WHAT LEVEL OF INFLUENCE DOES POST
JUDGE HE WILL HAVE?

2) (C//NF) WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MINTY AND
MABHONGO, AND DOES MINTY RESENT BEING REPLACED BY SOMEONE SO
JUNIOR?

3) (C/NF) DOES MABHONGO SHARE MINTY'S NAM-CENTRIC VIEW OF
NONPROLIFERATION, AND DOES HE HAVE ANY HOT-BUTTON ISSUES THAT
HE'D LIKE TO SOLVE?

4) (C//NF) WHAT IS MABHONGO LIKE TO DEAL WITH? WHAT IS HIS
FAMILY SITUATION? DOES HE HAVE ANY HOBBIES?

5) (C//NF) WHAT ARE MABHONGO'S VIEWS OF THE UNITED STATES?


C. (C//NF) WE HAVE LEARNED THAT JOHANN KELLERMAN, DIRCO
DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT AND NONPROLIFERATION,
HAS BEEN A LONG-TIME CONTACT OF THE EMBASSY. IF AVAILABLE,
PLEASE PROVIDE PERSONAL INFORMATION ABOUT HIM. FOR EXAMPLE,
WHAT HE IS LIKE TO DEAL WITH, HIS VIEWS OF THE UNITED STATES,
HOW HE FITS INTO THE DECISIONMAKING PROCESS, AND ANY OTHER
INFORMATION YOU THINK POLICYMAKERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HIM.


D. (C//NF) PLEASE PROVIDE NAMES OF ANY OTHER
NONPROLIFERATION OFFICIALS THAT POST SUGGESTS WE SHOULD
FOLLOW, AS WELL AS THEIR POSITIONS AND ATTITUDES TOWARD
PROLIFERATION ISSUES AND THE UNITED STATES.


2. (U) PLEASE CITE C-AL9-02664 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF
REPORTING IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS.
CLINTON