THURSDAY, 1.00PM:
THE CABINET Wednesday approved a Bill prohibiting South Africans from rendering military services abroad without government authority. The Bill provides for a fine of up to R1-million or 10 years’ imprisonment for offenders. The new law is clearly aimed at curtailing the activities of mercenary outfit Executive Outcomes.
The Foreign Military Assistance Bill provides that “individuals or companies who wish to provide such services must in future first seek approval from the government to market these services, and receive authorisation to enter into a contract with a third party,” said National Conventional Arms Control Committee chair Kader Asmal. Asmal described the Bill as pioneering legislation, but emphasised that it is not intended to prohibit mercenary activities but rather to regulate the rendering of foreign military assistance. Nonetheless, it is widely believed to be aimned primarily at local private army for hire Executive Outcomes.
The Bill describes foreign military assistance as, among other things: “engaging in combat or providing military advice, training or co-operation, various form of support, recruitment, medical or paramedical service, procurement of equipment and providing security services for indivuduals or property”. The Bill gives local courts jurisdiction over any such acts committed outside the country.
Said Asmal: “We start off by saying that activities of this kind are unlawful. Once the Bill becomes law, anybody providing foreign assistance will have to register.”