BIO INFO ON MBEKI'S NEW INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ADVISOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRETORIA 003354 //CORRECTED COPY// ADDING "CLASSIFIED BY" LINE E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/19/08 TAGS: PINR PGOV PREL SF SUBJECT: BIO INFO ON MBEKI'S NEW INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ADVISOR REF: A) 97 PRETORIA 12542 B) 97 PRETORIA 12543 CLASSIFIED BY: POLOFF JOHN UNDERRINER PER 1.5 (B/D). ¶1. (C) POLMILOFF AND POLOFF PAID A COURTESY CALL ON DEPUTY PRESIDENT MBEKI'S DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS IN THE NEW POLICY COORDINATION AND IMPLEMENTATION UNIT (CIU) MARCH 18. THE CIU, WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THE DEPUTY PRESIDENT'S OFFICE, PROVIDES POLICY COORDINATION AND OVERSIGHT, AND ENSURES THAT AGREED UPON POLICIES ARE FOLLOWED THROUGH TO IMPLEMENTATION (REFTELS). THE CIU ALSO ACTS AS AN INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSE TO ENSURE THAT THE DEPUTY PRESIDENT IS FULLY INFORMED ON THE WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES THAT FALL UNDER HIS RESPONSIBILITIES. (NOTE: AFTER RESEARCHING SIMILAR BODIES IN BOTSWANA, MALAYSIA AND THE U.K., MBEKI SPECIFICALLY REJECTED THE ROBUST POLICY-MAKING MODEL FOR THE BROADER COORDINATION FUNCTION OF THE CIU). THE CIU IS DIVIDED INTO THREE SECTIONS: INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, POLITICAL AFFAIRS, AND ECONOMIC AFFAIRS. THE LATTER TWO OFFICES ARE HEADED BY VUSI MAVIMBELA AND MOSS NGOASHENG, RESPECTIVELY. MAJOLA IS PRESENTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR DEFENSE AND SECURITY ISSUES IN THE CIU, BUT SHE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE CIU IS STILL IN ITS INITIAL STAGES AND THAT A SEPARATE POTITION MAY BE ESTABLISHED TO HANDLE DEFENSE AND SECURITY. SHE ALSO SAID IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE CIU WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO THE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE AFTER 1999. ¶2. (C) THEMBI MAJOLA IS THE HEAD OF THE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS OFFICE. AGE 34, SHE COMES FROM WHAT SHE TERMED A "HIGHLY POLITICAL" FAMILY. AT AGE 7, SHE ACCOMPANIED HER FAMILY INTO SUDDEN EXILE UNDER CLOAK OF DARKNESS ON ORDERS FROM THE ANC; THEY CARRIED ONLY A PLASTIC BAG OF POSSESSIONS AND A RUG TIED AROUND HER MOTHER'S WAIST. THE FAMILY MOVED TO CUBA, WHERE THEMBI MAJOLA ENTERED SCHOOL AND LIVED FROM 1970-1990. FROM 1992-97 SHE LIVED IN GENEVA, WHERE SHE WORKED FOR THE WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES. SHE RETURNED TO SOUTH AFRICA LAST YEAR TO TAKE UP A POSITION IN THE DEPUTY MINISTER'S OFFICE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY. AFTER A FEW WEEKS, SHE WAS "REDEPLOYED" TO HER CURRENT POSITION. A XHOSA, MAJOLA IS FLUENT IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH. SHE IS MARRIED AND HAS YOUNG CHILDREN. ¶3. (C) COMMENT: DESPITE THE EXTENDED STAY IN CUBA, MAJOLA EVINCED NO IDEOLOGICAL BENT, NOR DOES SHE SEEM TO HARBOR ANY HOSTILITY TOWARD AMERICA OR U.S. DIPLOMATS. INDEED, SHE WELCOMED THE OPPORTUNITY TO ESTABLISH A DIALOGUE WITH THE U.S. EMBASSY AND INTERACT WITH US ON MATTERS OF MUTUAL INTEREST. JOSEPH