Question NW96 to the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
23 February 2021 - NW96
Marais, Mr S to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
With reference to Project Thusano and the agreement between the South African Government and/or her department and the Cuban government and Cuban entities, what (a) are the details of the protection services that are provided to the Cuban representatives in the Republic and (b) have been the costs related to the specified protection services in the past five years?
Reply:
1. (a) The South African National Defence (SANDF) has the responsibility to provide security for any of its guests on the South African soil. This is based on diplomatic responsibilities by utilising our current inherent Protection Services for movement, protection and security of the Cubans during deployment.
(b) The VIP Protection Services comprises of members of the SANDF, and therefore the detachment of this Service to Project THUSANO does not involve additional cost either than what is already utilised as an inherent service within the Department of Defence.