In S. Africa, Allegation of a Plot Called ‘Paranoia’

Allegations that three senior members of the ruling party were plotting to oust or harm South African President Thabo Mbeki were dismissed Thursday as “paranoia” and “crazy rubbish” by government opponents, analysts and prominent political figures.

The accusations made this week by Safety and Security Minister Steve Tshwete, who has launched an investigation into the alleged conspiracy, were aimed at businessmen Cyril Ramaphosa, Tokyo Sexwale and Mathews Phosa. All three men are prominent members of the African National Congress, or ANC, and former activists who helped bring down the apartheid-era white minority government.

Tshwete identified the men as suspects in a national television broadcast Tuesday but provided no details about their alleged wrongdoing. Critics charged that the announcement was an abuse of state power to settle personal scores within the ruling party.

“It is highly irresponsible to announce names of people subject to investigations long before any final conclusions have been reached,” said Siphiwe Mgcina, a spokesman for the Congress of South African Trade Unions. “This violates the due process of law and can harm the security of the individuals involved.”

Former President Nelson Mandela cautioned against condemning the accused before there is proof of misconduct.

“Until there is evidence to substantiate the allegations, I will always regard them in high esteem,” the Nobel Peace Prize laureate told the South African Broadcasting Corp.

Analysts said the allegations were a smoke screen for efforts to ward off potential rivals to Mbeki and probably will sow deeper divisions within the governing party.

Mbeki is also president of the ANC, which meets next year to choose a leader. That party chief probably will become the nation’s president if, as expected, the ANC wins elections scheduled for 2004.

Commentators said Mbeki supporters were trying to stifle the ambitions of his prospective challengers and muffle dissent.

“These are early shock waves of what will be a very bitter power struggle,” said Richard Calland, a senior political analyst at the Institute for Democracy in South Africa, a Pretoria-based think tank. “I don’t think there is a genuine concern or threat to the well-being of the president.”

The three accused men have denied any wrongdoing. They are independent-minded and command widespread public respect. In the run-up to elections in 1994, each was considered a strong candidate to become first deputy president and thus the natural successor to Mandela. Instead, Mbeki won the position.

“What you’re dealing with here is a particular mind-set that in being an opponent or not being under the control of the president is seen as plotting, subversion and treason,” said Steven Friedman, director of the Center for Policy Studies in Johannesburg. “It’s an expression of the leadership’s frustration that they can’t control people.”

Observers said the decision to brand the three men as suspects will prove to be a grave miscalculation.

“There is definitely going to be a backlash in a situation like this,” said Mafa Sejanamane, director of the Institute for Multi-Party Democracy. “It puts [the government] in a bad light. These are very well-respected people in society. It’s a pathetic way of dealing with rivals.”

Mbeki is facing criticism within the ANC for his performance. His image has been tarnished in recent months by a series of public relations disasters, including his controversial view that the human immunodeficiency virus might not cause AIDS and his measured response to political violence and land seizures in neighboring Zimbabwe.

The government also has come under fire for expending precious funds on military planes and submarines from European arms manufacturers.

“The disenchantment among the ANC support base is very real,” said Friedman, the policy studies center director. “People are disappointed. This is leaving the president beleaguered.”

In a statement Thursday, the ANC defended Tshwete’s investigation as unrelated to his position as a senior party member.

“The frivolous allegation that state resources have been utilized to deal with party matters is baseless and devoid of any truth,” the statement said. “The true facts are that Minister Tshwete conducted the investigation in his capacity as a custodian of the safety and security of all South African citizens, including the president of the country.”

Mbeki played down concerns surrounding the alleged plot to oust him.

“The whole topic sounds very dramatic, but I’m not worried about it at all,” he said.