Questions & Replies: Presidency
2011-05-04
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QUESTION NO. : 3155
DATE PUBLISHED : 14 October 2011
DATE DUE : 28 October 2011
3155. Mr M G P Lekota (Cope) to ask the President of the Republic:
(1) Whether he has been informed of an incident involving the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation's refusal to have her handbag scanned which resulted in expenditure in excess of R200 000 being incurred for an unchartered flight to Bulgaria as she had missed her scheduled flight; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details;
(2) whether he intends taking any action in this regard; if not, why not; if so, what action? NW3682E
REPLY:
(1) Yes. The President was informed about the matter.
The President would like to bring to the attention of the Honourable Member that the Minister of International Relations' actions are consistent with the provisions of the Vienna Convention and the customary international law, both of which provide inviolability, immunities and privileges for persons of her stature.
The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the customary international law sets out the special rules – privileges and immunities – which enable diplomatic missions to act without fear of coercion or harassment.
(2) To avoid such occurrences in the future, the President has mandated State Protocol to ensure that when travelling abroad, the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation is treated in a manner that is consistent with the provisions of the Vienna Convention and customary international law.
QUESTION NO. : 3154
DATE PUBLISHED : 14 October 2011
DATE DUE : 28 October 2011
3154. Mr M G P Lekota (Cope) to ask the President of the Republic:
Whether, in view of the Gini coefficient that South Africa is the world's most unequal nation with the division between the rich and the poor widening all the time, his government has taken steps to reduce the glaring disparity to make South Africa a more equal nation; if not, why not; if so, what steps? NW3681E
REPLY:
The benefits of growth presently go disproportionately to the richest 10% of households. To ensure equality, government is committed to a qualitative improvement in the distribution of income and in the improvement of living conditions for all South Africans.
There are two ways to achieve this: by improving the primary distribution of income – that is, earned incomes from economic activity – and through the secondary distribution of income, after the provision of government services and taxation.
There is no question that the secondary distribution of income, after government services and social grants, is far more equitable than the primary income distribution.
Estimates by Statistics South Africa in the Income and Expenditure Survey for 2005/6 suggest that in the absence of social grants and taxation, the Gini coefficient would have been much higher than it is currently. Even these estimates do not include the impact of redistributive policies around social and municipal services and housing, or the impact of government spending would be shown to be even greater.
The main factors behind the unequal primary distribution of income are high unemployment; an unusually inequitable wage scale, with very high costs for skilled workers; and the impact of mineral rents, which have led to a tendency toward an increase in the share of profits relative to remuneration since 1994.
It is for this reason that government has now made job creation the central pillar of economic policy. In addition, we are reviewing and strengthening our efforts at rural development and land reform and expanding support for small and micro enterprise. These measures are also complemented by investment in cooperatives and social enterprises to boost the rural economy.
Government is also reviewing the BEE Codes to increase the incentives for collective, broad-based ownership by the masses of our people, encourage support for SMMEs, strengthen skills development and career mobility for ordinary workers, and bolster job creation through amongst other local procurement.
Government has set aside a detailed plan to boost job creation in South Africa. These include the 9 billion-rand Jobs Fund, 5 billion rand to subsidize wages for young people and 73 billion rand that will be spent by departments on public works, infrastructure, environmental projects and service delivery improvements initiatives such as the Expanded Public Works Programme.
In coming to terms with challenges facing our country, the people of South Africa led by our government recognised the need to prepare a New National Development Plan, commonly referred to as Vision 2030 which will guide economic and social development efforts up to the year 2030. The objective of this Development Vision is to awaken, co-ordinate and direct our people's efforts, minds and our national resources towards those core sectors that will enable us attain our development goals and withstand the expected intensive economic competition.
The Development Plan was discussed by various sectors of our society Honourable Members of Parliament, all political parties, leaders of various religious denominations, women and youth organisations, chambers of commerce and industry, farmers, professional associations, renowned personalities in our nation's history and ordinary South Africans. A Development Plan formulated through such a process is an important pillar in building that level of national unity and cohesion needed to ensure economic development in an environment of peace, prosperity, security and patriotism.
The Plan has identified a number of key issues in addressing our current challenges, including the kind of enabling environment that is essential for the nation to flourish economically, socially, politically and culturally. In reaching a national consensus on Vision 2030, we have issued a declaration of our determination to disentangle ourselves from the scourge of poverty. The task before us, therefore, is for each one of us in our different capacities to be aware of, and implement with discipline, our different roles in order to achieve the objectives we have set for ourselves.
In the long run ensuring more equitable access to education, healthcare and job opportunities are critical for economic equity. Government is working hard to ensure that more low-income students can have access to further and higher education and to improve the quality of historically disadvantaged schools. The National Health Insurance scheme should also ensure substantially improved public health while restraining costs.
QUESTION NO. 2399
DATE PUBLISHED: 2 September 2011
DATE DUE: 16 September 2011
2399. Mr V B Ndlovu (IFP) to ask the President of the Republic:
(1) Whether he has been informed (a) of the high number of (i) police officers who have been killed on duty and (ii) law-abiding citizens who have been murdered and (b) of the minimal (i) arrests and (ii) convictions of the perpetrators of these crimes; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details;
(2) whether he has considered calling for a referendum asking citizens what actions could be taken to stop these killings; if not, why not; if so, when;
(3) whether reintroducing the death penalty could be one of these actions; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW2790E
REPLY:
Yes. I have been informed of the unacceptably high number of police officials who have been killed in the line of duty.
I am also aware of the murder rate involving citizens of the country. While we believe one death of a citizen is one death too many, we are encouraged by the steady decline in the murder rate which has, for the first time ever, dropped below 16 000 cases. This translates into a 5,3% decline in the number of cases recorded during the 2010/11 financial year compared to the same period in the previous financial year and a 6,5% decline in murders per 100 000 people.
Fighting crime and corruption remains one of government's key priorities. The Justice, Crime Prevention and Security cluster has set clear targets aimed at bringing down the levels crime, in particular violent crime, including murder and violence against women and children.
On 8th July this year, the leadership of the South African Police Service convened a Summit Against Attacks on and Killing of Police Officials. The Summit culminated in the adoption of a 10-Point Programme of Action, which entails the following key activities:
· Adopt-a-cop awareness campaign
· Establishment of a multi-disciplinary committee within the South African Police Service
· Review of the 2000 Ministerial Team findings
· Police Killings, a priority agenda for JCPS and Cabinet
· Psychological and Human Resource support for families and colleagues
· Improve training of police officers
· Strengthen partnerships with researchers
· Provincial summits to mobilise communities
· Review of the SAPS Annual Commemoration for fallen heroes
· Fly the national flags at half mast in honour of killed police officers.
The 10-Point Programme of Action is aimed at eradicating such attacks on and killing of police officials and the rate of violent crimes in our country. The Programme of Action comprehensively addresses different issues and factors which will assist in eradicating attacks on and killing of police officers.
Through concerted efforts from the JCPS Cluster, government is making great progress in other fronts. This includes the improvement of both detection and conviction rates, especially in relation to violent crimes. Other measures to reduce crime and corruption include increasing the number of police officers, developing and supporting specialised units that will focus on resolving trio crimes as well as re-engineering business processes in and around courts to make them more effective. In addition, government has set up the Anti-corruption Inter-Ministerial Committee to ensure that government's response to corruption is well coordinated and effective at all levels.
These measures, coupled with other initiatives by the JCPS Cluster in partnership with our social partners and communities are beginning to reduce incidents of violent crime, including murder. However, we recognize that more work still needs to be done to drastically decrease the levels of crime against law abiding citizens and the killing of police officials.
It is for that reason that we urge our communities to participate in community safety forums, stop buying stolen goods and be ready to provide the police with information about criminal activities in their neighbourhoods.
I also wish to emphasise that the attacks on and the killing of police officers is a direct attack on our democracy and hits at the belly of the State. The police are a buffer between our people and anarchy. An attack on them is an attack on the defence mechanism of our citizens and will not be tolerated by our government.
We are happy that working together thus far we have made impressive and sustained progress in addressing this challenge and our government has renewed its commitment to preventing and combating crime and corruption.
The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (1996) outlaws the death penalty. Chapter 2 of the Constitution (Bill of Rights) clearly states that everyone has the right to life. In terms of the Constitution, the right to life and dignity are the most important of all human rights. It has not been shown that the death sentence would be more effective to deter or prevent the attacks on and killing of police officials and South African citizens.
QUESTION NO. 2114
DATE PUBLISHED: 12 August 2011
DATE DUE: 26 August 2011
2114. The Leader of the Opposition (DA) to ask the President of the Republic:
(1) What was the reason for the delay in signing the Local Government: Municipal Systems Amendment Bill [B 22B - 2010] into law;
(2) whether negotiations with the SA Municipal Workers' Union (SAMWU) contributed to the delay; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details? NW2388E
REPLY:
The President did not immediately assent to the Local Government Municipal Systems Amendment Bill because he wanted to consider concerns raised by the South African Municipal Workers Union regarding the constitutionality of certain of the provisions of the Bill.
Once the President had satisfied himself on the constitutionality of the Bill he assented to it and signed it into law.
QUESTION NO. 1974
DATE PUBLISHED: 29 July 2011
DATE DUE: 12 August 2011
1974. Mr N J J van R Koornhof (Cope) to ask the President of the Republic:
Whether there had been a Cabinet decision to instruct the departments of Economic Development, Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries and Trade and Industries to appeal the Competition Commission's decision with regard to the Walmart takeover of Massmart; if not, why not; if so, when? NW2217E
REPLY:
On the meeting of 8 June 2011, Cabinet endorsed the stewardship of the three Ministers on the Walmart matter.
The Ministers of Economic Development, Trade and Industry, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries acted within the mandate in terms of section 18(1) of the Competition Act no. 89 of 1998 ("the Act''). In terms of the Act, the Minister of Trade and Industry is entitled to participate in intermediate or large merger proceedings by making representations on any public interest ground referred to in section 12A (3) of the Act, namely, the effect that the merger will have on:
· A particular industrial sector or region;
· Employment;
· The ability of small businesses, or firms controlled or owned by historically disadvantaged persons, to become competitive; and
· The ability of national industries to compete in international markets.
Government will continue to act in the public interest and will at all times conduct itself within the ambit of the legal prescripts of this country.
QUESTION NO. 1148
DATE PUBLISHED: 01 April 2011
DATE DUE: 15 April 2011
1148. The Leader of the Opposition (DA) to ask the President of the Republic:
When will the State Owned Enterprises Review Committee's 6 month report, that was due to have been submitted in February 2011, be made public or tabled in the National Assembly? NW1272E
REPLY:
The Review Committee has not yet submitted its 6 month report to the President due to delays emanating from internal and external factors.
These delays have been caused by budgetary constraints in that the allocated budget was insufficient to cover the costs of key review activities. Challenges were also experienced with regards to obtaining information on SOEs, particularly from the provincial and local spheres of government.
QUESTION NO. 1012
DATE PUBLISHED: 25 March 2011
DATE DUE: 8 April 2011
1012. Mr B H Holomisa (UDM) to ask the President of the Republic:
Whether any steps are being taken to use the forthcoming Conference on Climate Change (COP 17) in Durban to educate the public and create awareness about the importance of environmental issues; if not, why not; if so, what (a) steps and (b) are the further relevant details? NW1127E
REPLY:
The Department of Environmental Affairs will soon embark on a climate change awareness raising campaign. The campaign will focus on radio, television and print media. The campaign will consist of a combination of advertisements and short radio dramas to demystify the concept on climate change while also advocating behavioural change.
We consider raising awareness and educating the public on issues of COP 17 and climate change as very important. As such, the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs has already conducted a stakeholder information session on COP 17. The session took place on 01 April 2011, bringing together various stakeholders as part of the preparations towards the COP 17.
A comprehensive communication strategy for COP 17 consisting of various platforms including media relations, stakeholder sessions, advertisements, publications and websites is currently in the planning phase.
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY
FRIDAY, 2 DECEMBER 2011
661. Mr D V Bloem (COPE-FS) to ask the Deputy President:
Whether, with reference to the President's reply to the questions asked at the Wesgro Investors Forum on 23 November 2011 regarding the Eurozone debt crisis, the Government has initiated any plans to cushion the country against food crisis; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) what plans and (b) what are the further relevant details? CW824E
REPLY
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations estimates the number of undernourished people in the world at close to one billion in 2010. In Sub-Saharan Africa 250 million people went hungry in 2010, almost a third of the population. In 2011, hunger plagued the Horn of Africa, hit by the worst drought in 60 years.
However, food security, poverty and climate change are closely linked and cannot be considered separately. Feeding Africa and the world at a time of climate change is one of the major challenges of our era. Irrespective of the Eurozone debt crisis, global food production must rise by 70% by 2050 to feed over 9 billion people worldwide. Without strong adaption measures, climate change will reduce food crop yields 16% worldwide and by 28% in Africa over the next 50 years. It is likely that price and yield volatility will continue to rise as extreme weather continues, further hurting livelihoods and putting food security at risk.
While agriculture is the sector most vulnerable to climate change, it is also a major cause, directly accounting for approximately 15% of greenhouse gas emissions, or as much as approximately 30% when considering land-use change, including deforestation driven by agricultural expansion for food, fibre and fuel. Addressing agriculture is therefore critical to achieving global climate change goals. However, what is urgently needed is a change of the agriculture paradigm to embrace the concept of agro-ecology. Climate-smart agriculture seeks to increase sustainable productivity, strengthen farmers` resilience, reduce agriculture`s greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon sequestration. It strengthens food security and delivers environmental benefits. It also offers triple wins for food security, adaptation and mitigation.
In South Africa, it is estimated that 20% of households have inadequate to severely inadequate access to food. The SA Hunger Index indicates that only 14.4% of households in rural areas and 24.7% of urban households are food secure. The obvious factors that aggravate the situation are marked high food prices and affordability, unemployment, lack of economic activities to generate income and access to markets for producers.
Poverty is a key factor affecting the underlying determinates of household food security, caring capacity and health environments. Poor families not only struggle to put sufficient quantity of food on the table, but are also prone to food insecurity with regard to the quality of their diets; even when dietary energy requirements are met, their diets may lack essential micro nutrients.
In this regard, the Zero Hunger Programme is an intervention by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) aimed at combating hunger and its structural causes. The Zero Hunger approach is a strategy to reduce the incidence of food insecurity through improving the capability of all South Africans to access nutritious food.
Objectives of the Zero Hunger Programme are as follows:
(a) Ensure access to food by the poor and vulnerable members of our society;
(b) Improve food production capacity of resource-poor farmers;
(c) Improve nutrition security of the citizens;
(d) Develop market channels through bulk government and private sector procurement of food linked to the emerging agricultural sector; and
(e) Foster partnerships with relevant stakeholders within the food supply chain.
Other strategies which broadly address the issue of food security include the government's food security strategy, focusing on household food production, income opportunities, nutrition and food emergencies as well as the production strategy which seeks to position primary agriculture by targeting subsistence, smallholder and commercial production for the purposes of improving national food security.
QUESTION NO. 659
DATE PUBLISHED: 7 March 2011
DATE DUE: 18 March 2011
659. Mr I O Davidson (DA) to ask the President of the Republic:
Whether a report on the ethics review conducted by Cabinet has been presented to Cabinet; if not, why not; if so, (a) what are the key findings of the report and (b) when will this report be made public? NW705E
REPLY:
As indicated in the reply by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development to Question No.: 3541 of 26 November 2010, asked by the Leader of the Opposition; Cabinet, during November 2010 considered a memorandum by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development regarding proposed draft amendments to the Executive Members' Ethics Act, 1998 (Act 82 of 1998), as well as to the Executive Ethics Code that was promulgated in terms of the said Act.
Cabinet approved in principle that the amendments concerned be formally developed and processed in the ordinary course of business. Consequently, the Department has prepared an "Executive Members' Ethics Amendment Bill" which will shortly be made available for public comment. Proposed amendments to the Code will also be submitted to Parliament in due course.
QUESTION NO. 658
DATE PUBLISHED: 7 March 2011
DATE DUE: 18 March 2011
658. Mr J Selfe (DA) to ask the President of the Republic:
With reference to his reply to question 2486 on 17 December 2010, what steps have the (a) Ministers of Justice and (b) Attorney-Generals of the Southern African Development Community member states decide should be taken against the government of Zimbabwe following their meeting held on 16 and 17 August 2008? NW704E
REPLY:
The Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government held on 16-17 August 2010 in Windhoek, Namibia mandated the Committee of SADC Ministers of Justice / Attorneys General to consider the legal issues relating to Zimbabwe's non-compliance with a ruling by the SADC Tribunal and also to conduct a review of the roles, responsibilities of the SADC Tribunal with a view to strengthening it and improving its terms of reference. Summit also adopted the recommendation by the Committee of Ministers of Justice / Attorneys General to commission a study which, in addition to covering the above matters, would also deal with the recognition and enforcement of decisions by the SADC Tribunal.
At its meeting held on 27 October 2010 in Swakopmund, Namibia the Committee of SADC Ministers of Justice / Attorneys General appointed experts to conduct the study referred to above.
This study has been completed. The Committee of SADC Ministers of Justice / Attorneys General met in Swakopmund, Namibia from 14-15 April 2011 to consider this study and to make recommendations to the SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government.
A report containing recommendations regarding these matters will be presented by the Committee of Ministers of Justice / Attorneys General to a special SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government to be held on 19-20 May 2011 in Windhoek, Namibia.
QUESTION NO. 656
DATE PUBLISHED: 7 March 2011
DATE DUE: 18 March 2011
656. Mr J Selfe (DA) to ask the President of the Republic:
What index does the Government use to measure poverty levels? NW702E
REPLY:
Government understands that poverty is a multidimensional issue and thus, no single definition can be used to describe poverty and no single index is used.
Currently, two approaches are used for poverty measurement.
The first is an absolute or "money-metric" approach in which poverty lines are developed based on the consumption expenditure of households. A household is classified either poor or not poor by whether its consumption expenditure is below or equal and above a poverty line. Stats SA uses both nationally derived poverty lines to derive poverty indicators such as poverty headcount, poverty gap and severity of poverty, as well as international poverty lines ($1 a day per capita) for the purposes of monitoring the MDGs. These data are gathered every 2.5 years.
The second approach measures the welfare of households by looking at socio-economic characteristics such as access to services and facilities, housing type and others.
Given the multidimensional nature of poverty, Stats SA is currently investigating other additional methods of measuring poverty in the country, such as subjective poverty measures on welfare and well-being.
QUESTION NO. 223
DATE PUBLISHED: 18 February 2011
DATE DUE: 4 March 2011
223. Mr M Waters (DA) to ask the President of the Republic:
(1) Whether his office received a letter from Mr M Waters on 7 December 2010 (copy furnished) with regard to the Government's support in the removal of the reference to sexual orientation from a resolution on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions at the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly; if so, (a) why has no acknowledgement been received, (b) what were the reasons for the Government voting the way it did and (c) who took the decision to vote in favour of the removal of sexual orientation from a resolution on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions;
(2) (a) what were the reasons for the Government's u-turn at the United Nations on the above matter and (b) who was responsible for the change in its position? NW65E
REPLY:
(1) (a) The Private Office of the President received the Hon Member's letter and an acknowledgement was sent to the Honourable Member, through his Secretary, on 14 January 2011, advising that the matter was receiving attention.
b) The resolution on extrajudicial, summary and arbitrary executions poses challenges to many countries, particularly a paragraph that sought or attempted to list the various circumstances under which people are killed extra judicially. What was problematic was the list itself was not exhaustive and contains issues which are not defined in international human rights law or on which there is no consensus in the international human rights system. As it will be recalled, the July 2010 Summit of the AU in Kampala, adopted by consensus a resolution on shared values by which, the AU resolved not to engage in issues that do not fall in the general rubric of the "Universally recognised human rights".
During the negotiations in the 3rd Committee on the matter at hand, South Africa supported a proposal that advocated for the principle of non-discrimination. South Africa therefore did not vote to remove any reference to sexual orientation, but voted in favour of the principle of non-discrimination which was broad enough to include all forms of discrimination, including sexual orientation. There was a general feeling among the majority of Members of the Committee, especially Africa that it was not necessary to list the forms of discrimination, to avoid the risk of either creating a hierarchy or not mentioning others.
However, when the same resolution was taken to the General Assembly plenary for final adoption, the US delegation introduced an amendment that listed all the forms of discrimination, including sexual orientation. The principle of non-discrimination that we supported in the 3rd Committee was still upheld by the General Assembly. Our vote therefore in the 3rd Committee and the General Assembly did not contradict each other.
c) The custodianship of South Africa's foreign policy and the management of its international relations both in the bilateral and multilateral spheres, is the responsibility of the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation. The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation therefore issues all political instructions and directives on how South Africa votes in the various UN thematic resolutions especially those which do not enjoy consensus and are the subjects of recorded votes.
(2) There was no u-turn of the Government with regard to our principled position. South Africa, guided by its Constitution which guarantees the Right to life, holds a strong view that no killing of human beings can be justified under any circumstances whatsoever. For further detail see 1 (b) and (c) above.
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN REPLY
86. Mr M W Makhubela (COPE-Limpopo) to ask the Deputy President:
Whether the Anti-Poverty Programme has been able to provide the income security to the most vulnerable members of the society; if not, why not; if so, (a) what are the details of the successes which have been achieved and (b) what strategies have been adopted for the future? CW46E
REPLY
(a) Yes, Government's Anti-Poverty Programme is ensuring the income security of the most vulnerable members of our society through work opportunities and cash transfers. These are variously facilitated through the following anti-poverty initiatives that include among others:
· The Comprehensive Rural Development Programme
· The Expanded Public Works Programme
· The Community Work Programme
· Working for Water
· Social grants
· Provincial initiatives such as Operation Hlasela in Free State, Operation S'duduli Indlala in Mpumalanga, and the Flagship programme in KwaZulu-Natal
The exact details of the number of beneficiaries reached by each ancillary programme are provided by the respective programmes.
(b) The Anti-Poverty Programme plays the critical role of galvanising, coordinating and integrating government service delivery to the poorest communities and most vulnerable members of our society.
The strategic approach of the Anti-Poverty Programme is on long term sustainable solutions like ensuring decent work through job creation and broadening education access and success to counter the damaging effects of chronic poverty.
We believe that the long term solution must be anchored on short-term strategies that enable households and communities to accumulate assets and to secure incomes.
Thus, we are emphasizing skills training for the vulnerable members of our community as a long term strategy. We are also emphasizing the creation of long term work opportunities for those to whom skills training has been offered as a means of graduating them out of poverty.
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN REPLY
85. Mr M W Makhubela (COPE-Limpopo) to ask the Deputy President:
Whether the Energy Advisory Council plays any direct and/or indirect role in the financing of Nuclear Power Station projects; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details? CW45E
REPLY
No, the Energy Advisory Council plays no direct or indirect role in the financing of Nuclear Power Stations. As with other advisory councils, this multiple stakeholder body concerns itself with policy matters – in this case those pertaining to energy.
Decisions regarding the building of nuclear power stations and possible financing mechanisms are dependent on Government endorsement of a nuclear power programme. This will only be considered once Government has finalised the Integrated Resource Plans which include the nuclear power programme.
The Energy Advisory Council may, if so required, consider any issues related to the nuclear programme and its financing mechanism at the appropriate time.
QUESTION NO. 59
DATE PUBLISHED: 10 February 2011
DATE DUE: 24 February 2011
59. The Leader of the Opposition (DA) to ask the President of the Republic:
(1) Whether he has been informed of reports that diamonds mined at the (a) Marange and (b) Chiadzwa diamond fields in Zimbabwe are being sold outside of the Kimberley Process to fund the operations of Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu-PF party; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what is the Government's position in this regard;
(2) whether the Government has taken an official position on human rights abuses that took place at these diamond fields; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW69E
REPLY:
(1) Our information is that the said sale of both Marange and Chiadzwa diamonds was effected, following an agreement within Kimberly Process Certification System, that the requisite level of compliance had been attained for specific mines in the Marange and Chiadzwa area, subject to such sales taking place under the supervision of an independent monitor appointed within the Kimberly Process.
Our position therefore is that Zimbabwe has fulfilled the known and stated Kimberly Process requirements and that sales of diamonds takes place within that context.
(2) The Government of South Africa is aware of the allegations of human rights abuses that were leveled against the Zimbabwean Government and that such abuses took place at these diamond fields. The implication of these allegations being that Zimbabwe was non compliant with Kimberly Process as a result.
Whilst human rights abuses do not form part of the Kimberly Process requirements as stated in the Kimberly Process founding documents, we are further aware that the Zimbabwean government, in response to these allegations, allowed unfettered access to the Kimberly Process monitoring team in Zimbabwe and specifically in the Marange and Chiadzwa mines.
In our capacity as the Chairperson of the Association of African Diamond Producing Countries (ADPA), South Africa also led a delegation of members of the association and visited these mines and the surrounding communities to verify for itself the level of compliance. During these visits, we were impressed as ADPA at the level of compliance with the Kimberly Process Certification System process and soon after these monitoring visits, Kimberly Process approved exports of diamonds in Zimbabwe, took place under the supervision of a Kimberly Process monitor. Such sales took place via auction in August and November 2010, respectively.