the Deputy President Ms Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
13 January 2006
Dear Editor
RE: Media reports following yesterday's (Thursday, 12 January 2006)
interview of the Deputy President by the SABC
Subsequent to yesterday's (Thursday, 12 January 2006) interview conducted by
the SABC with the Deputy President, Ms Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, an impression
was created that the Deputy President said she had travelled to the United Arab
Emirates (UAE) on a fact-finding mission, or that her visit was half business
half holiday, and that she was there to study crane-building businesses. I
would like to set the record straight by reiterating what was earlier stated in
the media statements issued by The Presidency and (confirmed by the Deputy
President in her interview) to the effect that Ms P Mlambo-Ngcuka went to the
UAE on holiday.
The actual modalities of transport are determined on the basis of security,
in this instance the Deputy President was advised that the provision of
security would be best served through the use of South African National Defence
Force (SANDF) transport. With regard to the movement of the President and
Deputy President, security considerations are determined in terms of
government's Security Manual and the Risk Management System, both passed by
Cabinet. In terms of these, their movement remains at all times a security
matter and their physical security a permanent responsibility, rather than a
benefit. The Presidency and the SAPS and the President and Deputy President do
not themselves decide on the manner or modalities of movement.
Contrary to yesterday's (12/01/06) and today's (13/01/06) reports she did
not travel to UAE on a fact-finding mission, nor did she go there on half
business half holiday and she did not go there to study crane-building
businesses.
In her interview with SABC on Thursday, 12 January 2006, the Deputy
President stated that she went to UAE on holiday, but chose her destination
based on the ongoing discussions she's been having with the Accelerated and
Shared Growth Initiative - South Africa (ASGISA). In these deliberations it had
become apparent that the UAE could offer opportunities to train South Africans
in project management for infrastructure development. This skill is highly
sought after in our country in the context of accelerated and shared
growth.
In her interview with SABC the Deputy President referred to cranes only to
make a point about the visibility and presence of cranes in the extraordinary
infrastructure developmental work taking place in the UAE. All the visits and
the meetings the Deputy President conducted, with the purpose of creating the
framework and sourcing out training opportunities, were informal.
It is therefore regrettable that an error was made in reporting that the
Deputy President had made her visit to the UAE as a fact-finding mission, or
that it was a half holiday half working session, and that it was a study of
crane building businesses. Notwithstanding the Deputy President's interactions
and visit to infrastructure development areas, I would like to emphasise the
fact that she went to UAE on holiday. I hope that by setting the record
straight we have settled this matter once and for all.
Enquiries: Mr Khanyo Gqulu, Advisor to the Deputy President
Cell: 083 293 3377
Issued by: The Presidency
13 January 2006
Source: SAPA
