Question NW2457 to the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
06 July 2015 - NW2457
Kalyan, Ms SV to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
(1) Who in her department authorises the payment of (a) annual membership and (b) other fees to the African Union; (2) Does her department consult with the Minister of Finance or any relevant officials from the National Treasury before authorising South Africa’s annual membership payments to the African Union; if so, (a) have such taken place or (b) when will such consultations take place with regard to the country’s payment(s) for the 2015-16 financial year; (3) Have any representatives from the African Union contacted her department in the past 12 months to request additional funding, other than the country’s annual membership fees?
Reply:
1. The Director General or his delegate (Accounting Officer) approves payments for annual membership and other fees to the African Union.
2. No, it is not a requirement for her department to consult with the Minister of Finance or any relevant officials from the National Treasury before authorising South Africa’s annual membership payments to the African Union as the budget is appropriated to the department.
3. No, the department has not been contacted in the past 12 months by any representatives from the African Union to request additional funding, other than the country’s annual membership fees.
UNQUOTE