September 1986

Botha denies reports that he complained about blacks on flight

ERIC ELLIS, Hong Kong

South African Foreign Minister Roelof (Pik) Botha has denounced as "vicious lies and malicious propaganda" reports of a skirmish on a recent Cathay Pacific flight in which he allegedly sought to eject black Nigerian men from the plane's first-class section.

The South African Foreign Office in Pretoria said Mr. Botha categorically denied that any such incident had occurred and said it was another example of "malicious lies and vicious propaganda" against South Africa.

A confidential report obtained in Hong Kong by the Globe and Mail indicates otherwise.

The report filed by Flight 521's chief purser, Raymond Chan, after the flight's arrival in Hong Kong from Osaka, Japan, says that Mr. Botha approached Mr. Chan during the flight and demanded to know the black passengers' identity and nationality and why they were travelling first class near the Botha party.

The confidential Cathay Pacific report says: "Mr. Botha, (seated in row 2A) and members of his South African delegation apparently did not like the sight of our two black FRCL pax (airline shorthand for first-class passengers) Mr. Agbodike of Row 3H and Mr. Uchemdu of Row 3K.

"Mr. Botha approached C/P (chief purser) and demanded to know where they were from and why they were in (first class).

"Polite explanations and apologies rendered."

The report says that Mr. Botha then told Mr. Chan: "We would never have taken Cathay if we knew you put these people on board."

It continues: "Again polite explanations and apologies rendered.

"At this moment, Mr. Botha's assistant, Mr. Deklick of Row 2H, tried to approach row 3HK (the black men) in an extremely hostile manner.

"He was politely stopped by (Mr. Chan), who reminded him any violence in-flight would lead to a very serious consequence.

"He reluctantly went back to his seat.

"It should be noted every effort was put forward by Chief Purser and our first-class crew to pacify the 'sensitive' situation in-flight.

"Once again, extra special attention paid and repeated apologies rendered."

The report concludes by saying that Captain Keith Thompson, the Australian pilot of Flight 521, was informed. Capt. Thompson has refused to comment.

The report, stamped confidential, has been taken out of the airline's files because of its sensitive nature. Cathay Pacific has refused to confirm or deny the affair, but a senior official of the airline confirmed it.

The report is signed by Mr. Chan and Capt. Thompson and was filed on Sept. 7 after the plane's arrival in Hong Kong from Japan via Taipei.