(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