Question 7
Mr D D Gamede (African National Congress (ANC) - Gauteng) to ask the Deputy President:
(1) Whether the Government has taken any position regarding the current political unrest in Syria (details furnished); if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details;
(2) whether such a position will include engaging with the (a) Syrian government and/or (b) United Nations Security Council members to find a lasting peace agreement; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
South Africa remains deeply concerned about the continuing violence and deteriorating human rights situation in Syria and has persistently called on all the parties to the conflict to stop the violence and to respect as well as protect the rights of the Syrian people. Since the beginning of the Syrian crisis, South Africa has condemned all human rights abuses; in particular violations of the rights of vulnerable groups, such as women and children.
All the parties have the responsibility to protect and preserve human rights. South Africa reaffirms its commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria and that any political solution to resolve the conflict must reflect the will of the Syrian people and must be consistent with the Charter of the United Nations.
The South African Government urges all parties involved in the current conflict in Syria to engage in a process of all-inclusive national dialogue, free of any form of violence, intimidation or outside interference, in order to satisfy the legitimate democratic aspirations of the Syrian people. We will continue to promote this approach in the United Nations Security Council, where South Africa is a non-permanent member until December this year.
I thank you.
Question 8
Mr M J R de Villiers (Democratic Alliance (DA)-Western Cape(WC)) to ask the Deputy President:
(1) Whether the Government has deployed any observer missions to Rwanda to assess the situation (a) during the past three financial years and (b) from 1 April 2012 up to the latest specified date for which information is available; if not, why not; if so, (i) when in each case, (ii) who served on each mission and (iii) what were the findings in each case;
(2) whether he will make a statement regarding the relationships between South Africa and Rwanda; if not, why not; if so, when?
Reply:
No, Honourable Member, South Africa has not deployed any observer missions to Rwanda during the past three financial years.
South Africa took part in a mission of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation to Rwanda and other neighbouring countries between 3 and 8 August 2012.The mission was led by Lt Gen Derick Mgwebi of the South African National Defence Force.
The findings of the Mission were reported to the Ministerial Committee of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.
South Africa and Rwanda maintain normal and friendly diplomatic relations, and High Commissioners are currently serving in both capitals.
I thank you.
Mr D B Feldman (COPE-Gauteng) to ask the Deputy President:
What was the outcome of his diplomatic efforts in the United States of America in an attempt to prevent the stopping of Aids funding to South Africa as a result of the recent successes in curbing the pandemic (details furnished)?
Reply:
The United States Government supports South Africa’s response to HIV through a programme called The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
Since 2003, South Africa’s support from PEPFAR has been significant and indeed we have been allocated the largest proportion of funding.
In 2010 the US Congress took a decision to significantly reduce funding to all countries through PEPFAR and as a result of this decision, support for South Africa’s programmes will be reduced significantly over a five year time frame.
The intention of the United States Government was to start effecting cuts in the budgets from September 2012 which is the end of the financial year for the United States of America.
During my visit to Washington DC to attend the 19th International AIDS Conference I met with members of Congress and requested that funding levels from PEPFAR be kept stable over the next two years, thus giving South Africa sufficient time to plan the takeover of services.
Consequently, South Africa will continue to receive the same levels of funding from PEPFAR over the next two years in 2013 and 2014; and support will be reduced from 2014 through to 2017.
This represents a reduction by 50% from US$ 460milllion to US$ 250milllion by 2017.
In recognition of South Africa’s success in responding to HIV and AIDS and the significant increases in the allocation of domestic funding to the HIV and TB National Strategic Plan, the United States Government has committed itself to continue supporting prevention programmes, strengthening health systems as well as providing support for orphans and vulnerable children.
During her recent visit to South Africa, US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton once again expressed support to our Government as we strengthen our technical capacity so that in terms of the new partnership agreement more can be done in the long run.
The United States government also committed itself to provide support for any new evidence-based programmes if South Africa presents a strong case and motivates for new resources from the United States Government.
In light of the aforementioned, my mission to the United States was a success. A Technical Task Team comprising of senior officials from relevant departments and their US counterparts has been established to monitor and oversee the transition of treatment programmes from PEPFAR supported Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) to the public health sector.
I thank you.
Ms N D Ntwanambi (ANC-WC) to ask the Deputy President:
Whether, in light of the tragic events at Marikana, the Government has any set of business conditions for the mining companies to make economic contributions with regard to social challenges such as plans for the management of exposure to the environmental effects of (a) mining activities, (b) anti-poverty initiatives, (c) provision of (i) health care, (ii) clinics and (iii) hospitals and (d) preferential community employment to the communities where they mine; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
Honourable Member, most of the conditions that you refer to in your Question are requirements set out in the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (Act 28 of 2002) and in the Broad-based Socio-economic Empowerment Charter for the South African Mining and Minerals Industry developed in terms of that Act.
The Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act states that any prospecting or mining operation must be conducted in accordance with generally accepted principles of sustainable development by integrating social, economic and environmental factors into the planning and implementation of prospecting and mining projects in order to ensure that exploitation of mineral resources serves present and future generations.
The Mining Charter meanwhile lists one of its objectives as: “to promote employment and advance the social and economic welfare of mine communities and major labour sending areas.”
Both the Act and the Charter provide more detail with regard to the implementation of these objectives. Section 23 of the Act states that a mining permit cannot be granted if the mining will result in environmental damage or if a prescribed social and labour plan has not been provided.
Section 25 of the Act requires the holder of the mining right to comply with the environment management programme and the social and labour plan, while section 39 of that Act provides that an applicant who in preparing an Environmental Management Programme or Plan must investigate, assess and evaluate the impact of his or her proposed prospecting or mining operation on the socio-economic conditions of any person who might be directly affected by the prospecting or mining operation.
The Mining Charter meanwhile requires amongst others that the mining companies conduct an assessment of the developmental needs of the mining communities and identify projects that they can contribute to in line with the Integrated Development Plan of that community.
So while there are no specific legal conditions for mining companies to contribute to the provision of health care, clinics and hospitals, these could well be covered by this provision.
Whilst companies are encouraged to recruit from local communities, all South Africans should be given an opportunity to work on the mines.
I thank you.
Mr R A Lees (DA-KwaZulu-Natal) to ask the Deputy President:
(1) Whether the (a) Government and/or (b) President of the Republic has made any recommendations to the Southern African Development Community to ensure the adoption of the negotiated constitution of Zimbabwe; if not, why not; if so, what were the recommendations;
(2) whether the Government has taken any steps to facilitate the adoption of the negotiated constitution of Zimbabwe by the relevant political parties; if not; why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
Yes, President Zuma, in his capacity as the SADC Facilitator to the Zimbabwe Inter-Party Dialogue, has made recommendations to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) regarding the constitution-making process in Zimbabwe.
In this regard, President Zuma, at the recently-held Maputo SADC Summit, recommended that the parties to the Global Political Agreement work together, in particular on the constitution-making process and he also urged them to develop a Roadmap with timelines that are guided by the requirements of the process necessary for adoption of the Constitution.
In answering the second part of the question, yes South Africa, in executing her SADC mandate, has taken steps to facilitate progress in the constitution-making process.
The Facilitator and his Task Team recently visited Zimbabwe and met the political party principals with the view to encourage them to conclude the constitution-making process. Furthermore, the facilitator urged the parties to the Global Political Agreement to reach a consensus and adopt the draft Constitution.
The Facilitator remains seized with the process and as resolved by the Maputo SADC Summit namely, that should there be any difficulties with regard to the Constitution and implementation of agreements, the facilitator should be called upon to engage with the parties and assist them to resolve such issues, bearing in mind the timeframes and the necessity to hold free and fair elections.
I thank you.
Question 12
Ms M C Dikgale (ANC-Limpopo) to ask the Deputy President:
(1) Whether (a) he and/or the Government and (b) the Moral Regeneration Movement has engaged (i) the religious forums, (ii) the churches and (iii) individuals to look at (aa) establishing programmes and (bb) initiatives to provide spiritual counselling to the miners and the families of the deceased in the Marikana incident in order to deal with the impact of this matter; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(2) Whether he will co-ordinate this process; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
Through the Inter-Ministerial Committee on the Marikana Tragedy, Government met the religious and traditional leaders to ensure that they assist the people of Marikana and the country in the process of healing.
The President had also declared a national day of mourning during which the religious leaders led the country in prayer, counselling and healing. The religious leaders have also conducted a spiritual cleansing ceremony at the site of the Marikana shooting.
Government has availed more than 50 social workers to provide psychological counselling to those who are injured, the families of the deceased and any other affected parties.
The process of healing does not end with finding a solution to the labour dispute but also with the on-going support to bereaved families, the injured and miners. The 16th of August will always be remembered and commemorated by all South Africans as a day of pain and healing. We continue to engage with the religious leaders to ensure that there is continued support to all.
We hope that religious leaders will continue with the work of counselling both the individual families and the community of Marikana. Government through the Department of Social Development will continue with the psycho-social services for the families long after the burial of those who died.
I thank you.
