Special Report Transcript Episode 76, Section 2, Time 52:08

Then former security policeman Paul Erasmus told the Commission that during the late 1980s and early 1990s there was a disinformation and dirty tricks campaign against Madikizela-Mandela. // Using the existing intelligence STRATCOM network I turned a massive information or negative propaganda on a wide variety of matters. As a basis for this disinformation I relied on intelligence reports including surveillance reports, telephone tappings, postal interceptions, hearsay and rumours and the media. President Mandela was the obvious target but due to his impeccable integrity it was difficult to target him in a STRATCOM sense and personally. We however put out the message that it had little control over the radical ANC cadres and SDU’s. There was a power struggle within the ANC hierarchy. He was going senile and had little control over his wife who was running rampant in the townships with the football club who inter alia intimidated the local population. The security branch questioned why legal actions or prosecutions weren’t taken against Mrs. Mandela, but the general feeling was that she should be left alone as far as possible and that after her statements like the necklacing thing, she would be digging her own grave anyway and counterproductive to the ANC’s aims... // Thank you. Would you also say it was quite useful for the security branch to have the kind of activities that were emanating out of the backyard in Soweto from Mrs. Mandela’s house, that this was actually very useful propaganda material for you? // Most definitely.

Notes: TRC testimony: Paul Erasmus; Piers Pigou; Erasmus