DATE=4/6/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-229278
TITLE=SAF DEFENSE CHIEF (L ONLY)
BYLINE=DELIA ROBERTSON
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA HAS ACCEPTED THE 
RESIGNATION OF THE COUNTRY'S NATIONAL DEFENSE FORCE CHIEF, GEORGE
MEIRING.  V-O-A'S DELIA ROBERTSON IN JOHANNESBURG REPORTS THE 
RESIGNATION FOLLOWS A REPORT GENERAL MEIRING MADE OF A PLOT TO 
OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT.

TEXT:  GENERAL GEORGE MEIRING SAYS HE HAS ASKED PRESIDENT NELSON 
MANDELA TO SUSPEND HIS CONTRACT AND ALLOW HIM TO LEAVE HIS 
POSITION BY THE END OF MAY.  HE SAID HE TOOK THE STEP TO RESTORE 
THE CREDIBILITY OF THE NATIONAL DEFENSE FORCE.

LAST MONTH, GENERAL MEIRING TOLD MR. MANDELA ABOUT AN ALLEGED 
PLOT BY SENIOR MILITARY OFFICERS AND AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS 
OFFICIALS TO OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT.  HIS REPORT WAS BASED ON 
INFORMATION PROVIDED BY A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL.

A COMMISSION OF SENIOR JUDGES APPOINTED BY MR. MANDELA TO 
INVESTIGATE THE ALLEGATIONS SAID IT FOUND THE SINGLE SOURCE WAS  
NOT  RELIABLE AND THAT THERE WAS  NO  SUBSTANCE TO HIS 
ALLEGATIONS OF A COUP PLOT.  THE COMMISSION ALSO SEVERELY 
CRITICIZED GENERAL MEIRING, SAYING HE FAILED TO PROPERLY 
INVESTIGATE THE INFORMATION BEFORE REPORTING IT TO THE PRESIDENT.

MR. MANDELA WAS FURIOUS THAT GENERAL MEIRING USED HIS ACCESS TO 
HIM TO BYPASS DEFENSE MINISTER JOE MODISE.  HE ALSO WAS ANGRY 
THAT GENERAL MEIRING PRESENTED HIM WITH UNTESTED AND UNVERIFIED 
INFORMATION.

GENERAL MEIRING, WAS CHIEF OF THE DEFENSE FORCE IN THE WANING 
DAYS OF APARTHEID.  HE WAS REAPPOINTED TO THE POST BY MR MANDELA 
AS PART OF AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE THEN NATIONAL PARTY 
GOVERNMENT AND THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS THAT LED TO THE 1994
ELECTION.  HIS APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED TO LAST UNTIL THE 
OFFICIAL PERIOD OF TRANSITION ENDS IN APRIL 1999.  

PRESIDENT MANDELA SAYS HE WILL CONSULT HIS CABINET ABOUT A 
REPLACEMENT.  HOWEVER, IT IS WIDELY EXPECTED THAT GENERAL MEIRING
WILL BE SUCCEEDED BY HIS DEPUTY, GENERAL SIPHIWE NYANDA, WHO WAS 
A COMMANDER IN THE A-N-C MILITARY WING, UMKHONTO WE SIZWE  (SPEAR
OF THE NATION).  (SIGNED)

NEB/DAR/JWH

06-Apr-98 11:57 AM EDT (1557 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.