US embassy cable - 98PRETORIA3354

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRETORIA 003354 
 
//CORRECTED COPY// ADDING "CLASSIFIED BY" LINE 
 
E.O. 12958:  DECL:  03/19/08 
 
 
TAGS: PINR, PGOV, PREL, SF 
SUBJECT: BIO INFO ON MBEKI'S NEW INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ADVISOR 
 
REF: A) 97 PRETORIA 12542  B) 97 PRETORIA 12543 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: POLOFF JOHN UNDERRINER PER 1.5 (B/D). 
 
 
1.  (C) POLMILOFF AND POLOFF PAID A COURTESY CALL ON DEPUTY 
PRESIDENT MBEKI'S DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS IN THE NEW 
POLICY COORDINATION AND IMPLEMENTATION UNIT (CIU) MARCH 18.  THE 
CIU, WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THE DEPUTY PRESIDENT'S OFFICE, PROVIDES 
POLICY COORDINATION AND OVERSIGHT, AND ENSURES THAT AGREED UPON 
POLICIES ARE FOLLOWED THROUGH TO IMPLEMENTATION (REFTELS).  THE 
CIU ALSO ACTS AS AN INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSE TO ENSURE THAT THE 
DEPUTY PRESIDENT IS FULLY INFORMED ON THE WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES 
THAT FALL UNDER HIS RESPONSIBILITIES.  (NOTE: AFTER RESEARCHING 
SIMILAR BODIES IN BOTSWANA, MALAYSIA AND THE U.K., MBEKI 
SPECIFICALLY REJECTED THE ROBUST POLICY-MAKING MODEL FOR THE 
BROADER COORDINATION FUNCTION OF THE CIU).  THE CIU IS DIVIDED 
INTO THREE SECTIONS:  INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, POLITICAL AFFAIRS, 
AND ECONOMIC AFFAIRS.  THE LATTER TWO OFFICES ARE HEADED BY VUSI 
MAVIMBELA AND MOSS NGOASHENG, RESPECTIVELY.  MAJOLA IS PRESENTLY 
RESPONSIBLE FOR DEFENSE AND SECURITY ISSUES IN THE CIU, BUT SHE 
ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE CIU IS STILL IN ITS INITIAL STAGES AND THAT 
A SEPARATE POTITION MAY BE ESTABLISHED TO HANDLE DEFENSE AND 
SECURITY.  SHE ALSO SAID IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE CIU WILL BE 
TRANSFERRED TO THE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE AFTER 1999. 
 
2.  (C) THEMBI MAJOLA IS THE HEAD OF THE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS 
OFFICE.  AGE 34, SHE COMES FROM WHAT SHE TERMED A "HIGHLY 
POLITICAL" FAMILY.  AT AGE 7, SHE ACCOMPANIED HER FAMILY INTO 
SUDDEN EXILE UNDER CLOAK OF DARKNESS ON ORDERS FROM THE ANC; THEY 
CARRIED ONLY A PLASTIC BAG OF POSSESSIONS AND A RUG TIED AROUND 
HER MOTHER'S WAIST.  THE FAMILY MOVED TO CUBA, WHERE THEMBI 
MAJOLA ENTERED SCHOOL AND LIVED FROM 1970-1990.  FROM 1992-97 SHE 
LIVED IN GENEVA, WHERE SHE WORKED FOR THE WORLD COUNCIL OF 
CHURCHES.  SHE RETURNED TO SOUTH AFRICA LAST YEAR TO TAKE UP A 
POSITION IN THE DEPUTY MINISTER'S OFFICE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF 
TRADE AND INDUSTRY.  AFTER A FEW WEEKS, SHE WAS "REDEPLOYED" TO 
HER CURRENT POSITION.  A XHOSA, MAJOLA IS FLUENT IN ENGLISH AND 
SPANISH.  SHE IS MARRIED AND HAS YOUNG CHILDREN. 
 
3.  (C) COMMENT: DESPITE THE EXTENDED STAY IN CUBA, MAJOLA 
EVINCED NO IDEOLOGICAL BENT, NOR DOES SHE SEEM TO HARBOR ANY 
HOSTILITY TOWARD AMERICA OR U.S. DIPLOMATS.  INDEED, SHE WELCOMED 
THE OPPORTUNITY TO ESTABLISH A DIALOGUE WITH THE U.S. EMBASSY AND 
INTERACT WITH US ON MATTERS OF MUTUAL INTEREST. 
 
 
JOSEPH