DATE=6/25/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-234518
TITLE=SAF OFFICIAL (L ONLY)
BYLINE=DELIA ROBERTSON
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  A SENIOR SOUTH AFRICAN OFFICIAL BEING HELD IN MOZAMBIQUE 
HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH ESPIONAGE, GUN-RUNNING, AND CRIMINAL 
CONSPIRACY.  V-O-A'S DELIA ROBERTSON REPORTS FROM OUR SOUTHERN 
AFRICA BUREAU THE DEVELOPMENT WAS EXPECTED.

TEXT:  THE SUSPENDED SOUTH AFRICAN FOREIGN AFFAIRS OFFICIAL, 
ROBERT MCBRIDE, HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH ESPIONAGE AS WELL AS 
CONSPIRING WITH CRIMINALS.  IF CONVICTED, MR, MCBRIDE FACES A 
POSSIBLE 20-YEAR JAIL SENTENCE.  MR MCBRIDE WAS ARRESTED MARCH 
SEVENTH.   HE HAS SINCE BEEN HELD IN MACHAVA MAXIMUM SECURITY 
PRISON IN THE CAPITAL, MAPUTO.

MR. MCBRIDE'S WIFE, PAULA MCBRIDE, HAS DESCRIBED THE CHARGES AS 
OUTRAGEOUS, SAYING THAT THEY ARE CONTRADICTORY.  EARLIER, MRS. 
MCBRIDE, A LAWYER, SAID MR. MCBRIDE WAS INVESTIGATING GUN-RUNNING
TO SOUTH AFRICA ON BEHALF OF AN UNIDENTIFIED SOUTH AFRICAN 
INTELLIGENCE AGENCY.

THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT SAYS THAT MR. MCBRIDE IS  NOT  A 
MEMBER OF -- NOR WAS HE ACTING ON BEHALF OF -- ANY OF ITS 
INTELLIGENCE SERVICES.  BOTH THE SOUTH AFRICAN AND MOZAMBIQUE 
GOVERNMENTS SAY MR. MCBRIDE DID  NOT  INFORM THEM OF HIS PRESENCE
IN MOZAMBIQUE.

EARLIER, THE RULING AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS SAID THAT IT IS 
POSSIBLE THAT MR MCBRIDE WAS TRAPPED -- PROBABLY BY SECURITY 
AGENTS OF THE FORMER SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT.  LOCAL NEWS MEDIA 
HAVE ALSO SPECULATED THAT MR. MCBRIDE WAS TRAPPED PROBABLY 
BECAUSE OF HIS ROLE IN AN APARTHEID-ERA BOMBING OF A BAR IN WHICH
THREE WOMEN DIED.

MR. MCBRIDE WAS A MEMBER OF THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS 
MILITARY WING AND WAS IN 1986 SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR THE MURDERS.
HIS SENTENCE WAS LATER COMMUTED AND HE WAS RELEASED IN 1993 AS 
PART OF AN AGREEMENT THAT LED TO SOUTH AFRICA'S FIRST DEMOCRATIC 
ELECTION.  (SIGNED)

NEB/DAR/JWH

25-Jun-98 9:31 AM EDT (1331 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.