Secret UK military plan to keep the ANC in power: report
Vice media claims it has uncovered a secret plan by Britain’s Ministry of Defence to keep the ANC in power in the next general elections.
The media group reported that Freedom of Information Requests it put through to the ministry revealed that a group of military officers from Britain’s Royal College of Defence Studies visited South Africa in 2015.
When further information was requested on the visit, the request was denied, saying that if the information was released, it “has the potential to adversely affect relations with the South African government”.
According to the information that was available, Vice reported that military officers were required to devise a medium-term strategy – with “concrete deliverables” – for the ANC to retain power at the next general election.
The UK Ministry of Defence told the publication that the visit was a “purely academic exercise” for internal purposes – “strictly for internal college study purposes, designed to develop course members’ skills in strategic analysis,” it said.
However, the group reported that the military officers’ itinerary – seen by Vice – involved activities outside the scope of a normal military visit.
This included meetings with various businesses, including the controversial Lonmin platinum mine group – which has ties to government through deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa – and briefings at the JSE and HSBC bank.
The report follows on the heels of weekend reports that the USA’s Central Intelligence Agencys (CIA) had a hand in having former president Nelson Mandela arrested and imprisoned for 28 years.
It was reported by the UK’s Sunday Times, citing a former CIA operative, that a tip-off from the agency led to Mandela’s arrest in 1962.
Responding to the reports, the ANC said in a statement that it confirmed their long-held suspicions that a so-called “third force” was at play in South African politics – and continues to do so today.
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