MONTHLY REPORT--SWAZILAND BUREAU--FEBRUARY 1987

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP94-00798R000200220029-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 19, 2012
• Sequence Number: 29
• Publication Date: March 5, 1987
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/19: CIA-RDP94-00798R000200220029-0
Embassy of th ' %nited States o/' America
P. 0. Bo 199
Mbabane, Swaziland
5 March, 1987
MMB - 7004
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, Foreign Broadcast Information Servi
ce
THROUGH
SUBJECT
: Chief, Operations Group
: Monthly Report -- Swaziland Bureau -- Februar
y 1987
I. GENERAL
A. Embassy GSO is proceeding with planned improvements and
repairs to Bureau housing, but is still having difficulty with FBO
over fundin of upgrades to the new house occupied by editor C
In view of this problem, Bureau has requested and re-
ceived approval from OL to proceed with planned security upgrades.
Improvements planned for other Bureau houses, for which GSO has
received and allotted approximately $25K, include replacing the
electrical panel in the engineer's house, remodeling the kitchen
and replacing the security fence at deputy chief's house, and re-
pairing termite damage to the dining room and installing shelving
in the bureau chief's house.
B. Much progress has been made during the month in utilizing
the Bureau's computer a abilities. Thanks largely to the efforts
of editor who has taken on the additional duty of
overseeing the Bureau s automation efforts, the RSA Press Review
is now being prepared in soft copy. It is created on the IBM PC
and then loaded into the were a header is added, thus elimi-
nating the need for retyping by the communicators. In addition,
the Afrikaans and Portuguese section chiefs have begun experiment-
ing with other PC applications, such as creating reference files
and preparing the bi-weekly work schedules.
A. Monitorial/Editorial
1. The RSA Bureau for Information announced that "cases
of unrest" had decreased by 70 percent in the second half of 1986,
which it attributed to the introduction of the state of emergency.
Press restrictions under the state of emergency have also had a
dramatic impact on the Bureau file, which decreased by 45 percent
during the same period.
2. In a meeting with foreign correspondents on 3 February,
RSA Foreign Minister Pik Botha announced the adoption of a "tougher
line" toward the United States, saying that it was time to show the
U.S. Congress "that it could not determine the future of South
Africa." A few days later he reacted sharply to a report to
President Reagan from a special advisory group, which called for
STAT
STAT
STAT
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/19: CIA-RDP94-00798R000200220029-0
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/19: CIA-RDP94-00798R000200220029-0
greater international pressure on South Africa to end apartheid.
He added that Secretary of State George Shultz would not be welcome
in South Africa if he vaant:.d to discuss the report.
' 3. RSA domestic politics were highlighted by the adjourn-
ment of parliament.tt allow, campaigning for the 6 May general election
to the white House of Assembly. Several prominent National Party
members, dissatisfied with the party's policy on reform, have resigned;
and at least^two, including the former ambassador to Great Britain,
Dennis Worrall, have declared their intention to run as independents.
4. South Africa officially denied published reports that
South African Air was involved in the illegal shipment of arms
supplies to the Nicaraguan Contra rebels.
5. In the early hours of 19-February, the palace of Chief
Sebe, president of the nominally independent homeland of Ciskei, was
attacked by several truckloads of armed men. The attackers were
quickly driven off and Chief Sebe was not injured. Ciskei accused
the neighboring homeland of Transkei of engineering a coup attempt.
Although Transkei denied the charge, South Africa warned Transkei
not to allow its territory to be used for violence against Ciskei.
6. The U.S. and UK vetoes of the UN Security Council
resolution calling for mandatory sanctions against South Africa
drew the expected reactions. RSA Foreign Minister Pik Botha called
the vote "predictable" and said it merely postponed the international
"vendetta" against South Africa. The ANC "vehemently condemned"
the vetoes, and the Zambabwe foreign minister accused the United
States of hypocrisy.
B. Lateral Services/Cruising
1. On 14 February, Lusaka Domestic Service disclosed that
its medium wave transmitter had been off the air for about 2 weeks
after being hit by lightning. The Bureau covers Lusaka almost
exclusively from short wave frequencies, and coverage was not Affected.
2. Reception of.the 07OO GMT and1200 GMT Luanda Domestic "
Service casts has improved with the i dur_tion of a new requency,
III. ADMINISTRATION
Personnel
Editor received her promotion to GS-11 step STAT
2 as of 1 February .
Engineer was medically evacuated back to the Washington STAT
area on 16 February.
IV. COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
With the help of the head of the local contract guard service,
the deputy chief managed to kill a 5-foot Green Mamba snake which
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/19: CIA-RDP94-00798R000200220029-0
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/19: CIA-RDP94-00798R000200220029-0
had taken up residence in a large shrub in his back yard. The
shrub was nearly burned down in the process, but the gardener
believes it will survive;
? r
Chief, Swaziland Bureau
STAT
STAT
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/19: CIA-RDP94-00798R000200220029-0