and Ms Gugulethu Matlaopane
26 July 2006
Kinshasa - His Excellency, Ambassador Sisa Ngombane, the Ambassador of the
Republic of South Africa in Kinshasa, received a letter from MONUC (the United
Nations Organisation Mission in the DRC) dated 17 May 2006, formally requesting
a technical assistance team to support the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
CEI. Among others the letter detailed requests for:
* 64 information technology (IT) support officers to be deployed in CEI's 64
liaison offices; and
* 64 electoral officers (generalists) having familiarity with computer
equipment and office systems.
Having considered the merits of this request, the South African Government
agreed to deploy a total of 128 people in 64 liaison offices. These staff
members arrived in Kinshasa on 2 July 2006 and were accredited by the United
Nations (UN). All of them are currently "gratis personnel". It must be noted
that these staff members have volunteered their services in solidarity with the
people of the Congo.
For the record, Ms Gugulethu Matlaopane, once an employee of the Electoral
Commission in South Africa, left about 24 months ago. She has visited the DRC
on many occasions in pursuit of her private business interests, which the
Embassy has no knowledge of.
The South African Government would like to stress that the government
efforts and assistance in terms of
* ballot papers (expertise and transport of ballot papers)
* 128 personnel seconded to the UN as part of the Asia-Pacific Economic
Co-operation (APEC) programme on elections;
* 32 South African Police Service (SAPS) officers deployed with the PNC at all
provincial centres are directed at helping the Congolese people to have a
better election. This forms part of the need expressed by many role players to
have international expertise to be given to the Independent Electoral
Commission (DRC) for it to carry out its task professionally.
Finally, the South African Government has maintained and will continue to
maintain strict neutrality in the election process in the DRC.
Our elected government will not deny the people of the Congo the right to
choose their leaders.
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
26 July 2006
Source: SAPA
