Reports appeared in the South African press on 30 March 1999 that two unnamed security companies, based in Johannesburg and Pretoria, are recruiting former members of the South African Defence Force to work for the Angolan government in its fight against the UNITA rebel movement. These reports state that 'A senior South African intelligence official confirmed that they have received reports of massive recruitment of former soldiers to fight on the side of Angola.'
Subsequent to the publication of the press reports Sandline has become aware that allegations are circulating on the Internet that it is one of the companies conducting this recruitment. We have determined that these unfounded allegations originate in South Africa.
The company has decided to set the record straight by making it clear that it has not been approached to conduct the recruitment of military personnel to work with the government of Angola, nor is it involved in the hiring of any such personnel for the government or any other entity embroiled in the conflict.
The only recruitment programme Sandline is aware of in Angola is the hiring by various mining companies of expatriate security personnel to enhance the protection of their concession areas in the wake of the increased targeting of these operations by armed bands.