Tag: Clayson Monyela

South Africa to address ‘outdated ANC terror lists’

Scene of the Amanzimtoti bomb
Scene of the Amanzimtoti bomb planted by the ANC and SACP

The department of international relations would continue in its attempts to rectify the travel restrictions of former ANC urban terrorists in some international countries, it said on Monday.

“The SA government has repeatedly raised this matter with the US and will continue until this matter is sorted,” said international relations spokesman Clayson Monyela.

The New Age reported earlier that ANC stalwart Tokyo Sexwale had been briefly detained by immigration control at the John F Kennedy International Airport in New York.

His lawyer Leslie Makhabela said: “They alleged he posed a threat to international security.”

Sexwale and many other anti-apartheid terrorists had been on a list of people banned from entering several countries since the apartheid era.

They were not removed after the country gained democracy in 1994.

Sexwale had since returned to the country. – Sapa and PRAAG

Dept. of International Relations wants British spying on South Africa probed

international_relationsReports that Britain spied on G20 delegates, including South Africa, during meetings in London in 2009, should be investigated, the international relations and co-operation department said on Monday.

Spokesman Clayson Monyela said the government had noted with concern the reports published by the UK’s Guardian newspaper.

“We do not yet have the full benefit of details reported on, but in principle we would condemn the abuse of privacy and basic human rights particularly if it emanates from those who claim to be democrats,” he said.

“We have solid, strong and cordial relations with the United Kingdom and would call on their government to investigate this matter fully with a view to take strong and visible action against any perpetrators.”

The newspaper reported that Britain had used “ground-breaking intelligence capabilities” to monitor communications between officials at two meetings in April and September of 2009.

According to the report, British agents repeatedly hacked into foreign diplomats’ phones and e-mails.

Speaking at the G8 summit on Monday, British Prime Minister David Cameron declined to address the issue, the French news agency Agence France-Presse reported.

“We never comment on security or intelligence issues and I am not about to start now,” he said.

“I don’t make comments on security or intelligence issues. That would be breaking something that no government has previously done.” – Sapa