TRC Final Report

Volume 2

Chapter 3

Subsection 58

Project Capital

566 The Federal Independent Democratic Alliance (FIDA) constitutes one example of a national project. The 1991 Kahn Committee described the project, code-named Capital, as a “moderate alliance of black organisations to combat violence and advance stability”, further stating that “we were told it was a very valuable source of information to the Defence Force on violence in black townships”. FIDA had a head office in Johannesburg and was active in thirteen regions with at least sixty-eight employees by 1991. SADF links were terminated in September 1991 with a once-off payment of R1.47 million. Its annual budget by 1991 was at least R3 million per year.

567 Project Ancor, which fell under the umbrella of Project Orange, was identified as the national contra-mobilisation project. Other projects included Metros: Mobilisering van tradisionele genesers (Mobilisation of traditional healers); Natal Vakbond; KwaNdebele project; Venda project; QwaQwa project; Eagle Jeugklubs (Youth clubs) (OVS); Vaaldriehoekse Swartjeug projek (Vaal Triangle black youth project); Oriënteering Swart onderwysers; Globale Kleurling projek; Kleurling Parlementariërs (Coloured parliamentarians); Mobilisering van gematigde Swart leiers in RSA (Mobilisation of moderate black leaders in RSA); Navorsingsprojek Stellenbosch Universiteit (Stellenbosch University research project); Capriviprojek; Kaokoland-projek; Namaland-projek; Mike Wildtuin; Rigters; Kerkgroep SWA; Spesialisgroep Kommunikators SWA; SWA Swart Leiers; and SWA Bybelskool. It was anticipated that the annual amounts required to cover these groupings would be in excess of R15 million.

568 ANCOR also involved the creation of a front company called Adult Education Consultants or AdEd CC in Pretoria. Its members included Dr LJ Pasques and Dr JL van der Westhuizen. The mission of the organisation was “die effektiewe mobilisering en kontramobilisering van die verskillende groepe in Suidelike Afrika, ter beveiliging van die RSA se Nasionale Veiligheidsdoelwitte” (the effective mobilisation and contra-mobilisation of different groups in Southern Africa, to protect the National Security goals of South Africa).

569 Project Kampong, under which regional projects fell, was a sub-project of ANCOR. In the Eastern Cape, an extensive network of MI-funded front companies were established from 1985 onwards with the aim of building an anti-revolutionary base of support. The Eastern Cape COMOPS unit was awarded the ‘Vrede Sabel/Peace Sword’ for four years in the late 1980s as the most successful region in this field, an honour previously awarded to the South West African component. Projects included Pullin (East Cape Sports Foundation), Lactone (Lion Life Resource Corporation), and Vallex, and they received funding through the SADF or the STRATCOM branch of the SSC.³² The above projects did not directly involve the creation of vigilante groupings. However, the individuals who were promoted, trained and supported through the projects were sometimes themselves involved in acts of violence. The clearest example of this is Reverend Maqina and the AmaAfrika movement.

570 The SAP adopted some measure of activity regarding contra-mobilisation. Key SAP unrest strategist General Wandrag sent out a set of directives or guidelines for dealing with unrest to all divisional commissioners of the police and railway police, as well as army HQ on 23 March 1986. Point 11 dealt with contra-mobilisation.³³ In the SAP, the key channel through which vigilantes and fomentation of conflict would have been encouraged, sponsored or initiated would have been through agents employed by the Security Branch.