Mr S J Njikelana (ANC) to ask the President of the Republic:
How does the Government, in view of the 50th anniversary of the Organisation for African Unity/African Union, intend to advance the African Agenda, especially with regard to the promotion of Pan-Africanism and the African Renaissance?
Reply:
In view of the 50th Anniversary of the Organisation of African Unity/African Union, we regard the African Agenda as the cornerstone of our country’s foreign policy.
The focus of our African Agenda has been particularly in five areas, namely: peace and security; participating in continental regional organisations; contributing to the fight against the underdevelopment of our continent; promoting democracy throughout Africa; and defending the interests of Africa in global affairs.
As part of the continent we are enjoined to promote all that is good about our continent, and use the natural and human resource strengths of Africa to build a better Africa, which is peaceful, democratic, united and prosperous.
At the World Economic Forum in Cape Town, we expressed the kind of Africa we aspire to be in the next fifty years. We are building an Africa that is united, integrated and free from the scourge of poverty.
An Africa that has conducive conditions for trade and investment. An Africa that will enable the creation of sustainable and decent jobs for our people, particularly the youth. An Africa that is industrialised and which is aligned with strategic like-minded partners. An Africa that can be competitive in the global market.
These aspirational intentions are clearly enshrined in Pan-Africanism and the African Renaissance. The Chairperson of the AU Commission recently engaged with all sectors of our society across the continent in order to put together the vision of citizens of Africa of the type of continent we would like to see by the time the AU celebrates its 100th anniversary.
This view of citizens from the ground is captured in the SADC 2063 vision.
The AU has created instruments to enable the achievement of these objectives, and South Africa participates fully in the work of these institutions.
The creation of the continental Peace and Security Architecture, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development and the African Peer Review Mechanism are just some of the mechanisms that take us forward in promoting the African agenda, especially to address Africa’s security and economic challenges.
On building a prosperous Africa, South Africa advocates the integration of Africa’s economies and increased intra-Africa trade as part of promoting an African free trade area.
Taking advantage of the fact that some of the world’s fastest growing countries are African countries, we also continue to play a role in promoting infrastructure development to unlock intra-Africa trade.
Currently, South Africa chairs the AU/NEPAD Presidential Infrastructure Championing Initiative and also champions and supports the overarching AU’s Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa.
Our task is to champion the North-South corridor, from Cape to Cairo, to achieve the dream of Kwame Nkrumah of infrastructure that connects the continent. Pan-Africanism and the African Renaissance also inform our engagement with the world.
Thus at the G20, BRICS, World Economic Forum or bilateral relations, we continue to promote Africa and positions that will take its development forward. It is for this reason that the fifth BRICS Summit in Durban had an African Retreat component, to enable us as Africans to engage the BRICS countries on matters of importance to the continent.
Most importantly, we need to promote Pan-Africanism as a way of life that informs our identity as Africans. This means we should look beyond economic development to our cultural and social identity and our frame of mind.
Let us recall the lines of the African Union Anthem:
Let us all unite and celebrate together
The victories won for our liberation
Let us dedicate ourselves to rise together
To defend our liberty and unity
O Sons and Daughters of Africa
Flesh of the Sun and Flesh of the Sky
Let us make Africa the Tree of Life
Let us all unite and sing together
To uphold the bonds that frame our destiny
Let us dedicate ourselves to fight together
For lasting peace and justice on earth
Let us all unite and toil together
To give the best we have to Africa
The cradle of mankind and fount of culture
Our pride and hope at break of dawn.
When we sing the African Union anthem, we need to do so fully appreciating being part of an independent Africa, and work harder to achieve economic independence for Africa as a whole.
This means promoting African unity and cooperation amongst the African nations, for we have one future.
Then we would have completed our freedom as the African people, from Cape to Cairo, from Morocco to Madagascar.
To achieve these goals we fully support the African Union and play our part in building the Africa envisaged at the formation of the Organisation for African Unity.
I thank you.
Rev K R J Meshoe (ACDP) to ask the President of the Republic:
(1) What were the reasons for establishing a new military rapid reaction force, the African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crises (ACIRC), as proposed by him and agreed to by the African Union (AU) during its summit in May 2013, when the AU has already agreed to have an African Standby Force;
(2) whether the establishment of the planned military rapid reaction force will advance the commencement date of operations of the planned African Standby Force; if not, why not; if so, (a) by what date is it anticipated to start operations and (b) what are the further relevant details;
(3) whether Western countries will be requested to assist with training, equipment and financial contributions to the work of the ACIRC?
Reply:
The African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crises was tabled for consideration by the African Union Commission at the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union held in Addis Ababa last month.
The mechanism is viewed as necessary to correct the constant shortcoming by Africa to respond to crises as rapidly as warranted by situations such as in Mali.
This inability to respond adequately and urgently undermines Africa’s principles, decisions and statutes like the Lome Declaration on Unconstitutional Changes of Government.
The future and role of this immediate mechanism will be determined as and when the African Standby Force’s Rapid Deployment Capacity has been operationalised.
There is no fixed date as yet, the AU Ministers of Defence are working on the matter.
The general view of most AU member states is that this should be an African initiative. However that matter is still being discussed by the AU and specific recommendations will be tabled at the right time.
I thank you.
The Leader of the Opposition (DA) to ask the President of the Republic:
Why did the Gupta family have direct contact with members of his Cabinet (details furnished)?
Reply:
Honourable member, it is because any member of the public within South Africa and beyond our borders is free to contact members of my Cabinet, the Executive or the Public Service directly.
This is in line with the ethos of our administration which promotes an open and accessible government.
I thank you.
Mrs P Tshwete (ANC) to ask the President of the Republic:
(1) With reference to reports of the negative effect of substance abuse on the development of young people and on social stability in communities, what lessons from his visit to Eldorado Park can be applied to ensure that similar challenges will not occur in other parts of South Africa;
(2) how will he address this issue, especially among the youth;
(3) what mechanisms are in place to ensure that the issue of corrupt police personnel colluding with the drug lords is addressed;
(4) what role can other stakeholders play in reducing the supply of, demand for, and harm related to, substance abuse?
Reply:
There are many lessons that can be learnt from our intervention in Eldorado Park in the South of Johannesburg. The most important lesson is that communities must organise themselves to collectively stop the sale of drugs. Communities must work with the police and report wrong doing by the police where there is any.
Government’s impact will be minimal if communities do not participate actively in the fight against the scourge.
Visible leadership from all spheres of government working in partnership with local NGOs and functioning Local Drug Action Committees is vital for effective action. From the government side, the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Alcohol and Substance Abuse has developed policies and actions aimed at reducing the supply and demand for alcohol and drugs, and eradicating their abuse.
Using the Drug Master Plan as a guide, we are strengthening prevention and awareness programmes to educate youth about the negative effects of alcohol and drug abuse.
It is for this reason that the youth month theme for this year is “Working together for youth development and a drug free South Africa”.
On 26 June, we will join the world in marking the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, under the theme “Make health your new high in life, not drugs”.
We must not lose the momentum gained in Eldorado Park. Early Intervention programmes and services should also be put into place to assist parents, teachers, and care-givers to identify and help young people before they become addicted to drugs and alcohol.
The National Drug Master Plan 2013-2017 will be tabled in Cabinet soon. It outlines the roles of all spheres of Government, Non- Governmental Organisations and the Business Sector.
These roles are captured within three pillars of intervention; namely: supply reduction, demand reduction and harm reduction. The Central Drug Authority, Provincial Substance Abuse Forums and Local Drug Action Committees are to be strengthened to ensure effective functioning.
Each one of us has a role to play in combating the scourge of substance abuse.
Eldorado Park has shown that if we stand together we can defeat the scourge.
This is a matter of life and death for our society. I expect every member of this house to actively support this national campaign. It is a scourge we have to overcome. It is a scourge we shall overcome.
I thank you.
Mr N Singh (IFP) to ask the President of the Republic:
Whether, in light of the recent low gross domestic product growth result of 0,9%, current unemployment levels and the crisis in the labour, mining and agricultural sectors, he intends to move towards a more liberalistic approach in (a) market and (b) labour regulation as the best model for South Africa;
if not, why not, in each case; if so, what are the relevant details in each case?
Reply:
The weaker than expected GDP data during the first three months of this year was heavily influenced by a number of sporadic factors that impacted negatively on growth.
Weak economic activity was primarily due to output losses in the manufacturing sector, which subtracted 1.2 percentage points from growth in the first quarter, as a result of various supply-side disruptions. Honourable Members are also aware of the disruptions in the mining sector. Added to this are global economic factors that are beyond our control.
A more liberal approach to product markets would not have avoided these negative developments. Given the temporary nature of the disruptions, we may expect a rebound in manufacturing activity during the second quarter of this year. We are also working with labour and the mining sector to resolve problems in that sector.
It is important to note that South Africa’s product markets perform relatively well in international comparisons. The World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report for 2012/13 ranks South Africa 32nd out of 144 countries in terms of its goods market efficiency, performing well across a number of indicators.
We rank sixth for the effectiveness of anti-monopoly policy, and in the top 40 in terms of the extent of market dominance. We rank 31st in the extent and effect of taxation, 29th in the number of procedures to start a business, 39th in the prevalence of trade barriers and 32nd in buyer sophistication.
The National Development Plan highlights the importance of lowering the costs of doing business to improve competitiveness. This includes actions to reduce regulatory burdens and to promote entrepreneurship and small business.
Recently we have achieved progress in a range of measures that will influence product markets and competition.
These include the following:
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The signing of Section 6 of the Competition Amendment Act of 2009 with amendments that give the Competition Commission powers to conduct a market enquiry, search and seize powers and summon firms to present information.
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Progress towards establishing special economic zones, which will include a range of incentives aimed at attracting investment, reducing red-tape and increasing competitiveness.
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SA Revenue Service customs modernisation programme, which has moved customs procedures from paper-based to electronic processes. This has enhanced the flow of goods and has improved turnaround times and reduced trading costs.
- A more favourable tax environment for small businesses as government has increased the R14 million turnover threshold for small business corporations to R20 million.
These measures and others identified in the National Development Plan and other policy documents of government will help in creating a product market that is conducive to growth, investment, firm start-ups and expansion, and job creation.
Honourable Member,
It is a misconception that our economic growth in the first quarter was heavily adversely affected by our country’s labour regulations. The crisis in the agricultural sector emanates from unequal relationships between employers and employees and the high levels of poverty as opposed to our country’s labour laws.
The challenges in the mining sector, as we have explained before, are also not as a result of our labour regulations and these are being attended to in discussions facilitated by government.
I thank you.
Mr L Ramatlakane (Cope) to ask the President of the Republic:
(1) Whether his office has had any (a) contact or (b) meeting with a representative of the Libyan government regarding substantive sums of money allegedly deposited on behalf of the late Col M Gadaffi and held by banking institutions in South Africa; if so, when, in each case;
(2) whether the representative of the Libyan government informed his office of these deposits and the banking institutions that are holding them with a view to transferring the monies back to Libya; if so, what are the relevant details;
(3) whether he will make a statement on the matter.
Reply:
Yes, the Presidency was approached by officials from the Libyan government regarding reported sums of money allegedly deposited on behalf of the late Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and held by banking institutions in South Africa. They were referred to the Ministry of Finance.
On 4 June, Minister Pravin Gordhan met Mr Usama al Abid, the Minister in the Office of the Libyan Prime Minister. The two delegations agreed that the repatriation of Libyan funds and assets from South Africa will be handled in terms of United Nations resolutions and protocols.
The decision was informed by the fact that the Government of Libya established a single body in 2012 to coordinate the repatriation of assets to Libya in line with United Nations protocols.
I thank you.
Enquiries:
Mac Maharaj
Cell: 079 897 2303
