Date: 16/04/2003
Source: The Presidency
Title: J Zuma: Answers to questions in NA
REPLY FROM DEPUTY PRESIDENT ZUMA TO QUESTIONS FOR ORAL REPLY IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, 16 April 2003
QUESTION NUMBER: 10
Mr H Solomon (ANC) to ask the Deputy President:
Whether, in view of the concerns raised in certain religious communities, he will give the assurance that in introducing the Anti-Terrorism Bill B 12 - 2003, the Government's intention is not to restrict freedom of religion?
REPLY:
Honourable member the recently introduced Anti Terrorism Bill is NOT intended to restrict freedom of religion. As I have reported in this House in reply to Questions last year, and the year before, the purpose of the Bill is to enable South Africa to fulfil its international obligations regarding terrorism. These international obligations are set by multilateral forums such as the United Nations and the African Union. The Bill is also intended to deal with some domestic issues relating to terrorism as our current definition of terrorism dates back to well before 1994.
The process of drafting this Bill has been an extremely lengthy one. It started in November 1995, when the Minister for Safety and Security requested the South African Law Commission to undertake a review and rationalisation of South Africa's security legislation. The Law Commission produced a Discussion Paper in August 2000, which was published for public comment. They produced their final report two years later in August 2002. These reports also looked at the laws of a number of countries - not just the United States of America.
The Bill before this House was introduced after considering these proposals and after approval by Cabinet.
As the Bill is now with Parliament, it is for Parliament to decide how it should be dealt with and what changes should be made. The Parliamentary process provides for many further opportunities for the public to make an input into this Bill and I urge all members of the public who may have an interest in this Bill to make use of these opportunities.
The Government will not in any way seek to restrict the right of worship or the freedom of religion.
QUESTION NUMBER: 11
Mr C W Eglin (DP) to ask the Deputy President:
(1) Whether the African Union has taken any action as a result of Francois Bozize's military coup in the Central African Republic in March 2003; if not, why not; if so, (a) what action and (b) what mechanisms of the African Union will be employed;
(2) Whether the President, in his capacity as chairperson of the AU, has held talks with any other African leaders regarding these events; if not, why not; if so, (a) with whom and (b) what decisions were reached regarding action to be taken by the AU;
(3) Whether any timeframes have been agreed upon for the resolution of this matter; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
REPLY
The African Union has expressed its unequivocal condemnation of the military coup that took place in the Central African Republic (CAR) in March. The unconstitutional transfer of power in that country is a clear violation of the principles which underpin the Constitutive Act of the AU.
The African Union is paying urgent attention to the recent events in the CAR. The Central Organ of the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution met at Ambassadorial level in Addis Ababa on the 17th of March 2003, to review the situation in the CAR.
The Central Organ strongly condemned the coup d'etat in that country and called upon the perpetrators of the coup to take immediate steps to reinstate the democratically elected government. It recommended that the CAR be suspended from participating in the activities of the Policy Organs of the African Union until such a time that constitutional rule is restored in the country.
The African Union and the UN have mandated the CEMAC group of central African countries to deal with the political troubles in the CAR. The central African countries have tasked President Sassou Nguessou of the Congo with leading the process and our President, in his capacity as Chairperson of the African Union has been in contact with him in this regard.
The African Union supports and endorses the CEMAC in its difficult task of restoring constitutional order and stability in that country. The African Union supports the position that only an all-inclusive political process, which brings together representatives from the government that was overthrown, the various military factions in the CAR, and the different political groupings, will resolve the long-standing political problems in the CAR.
As the President has stated in this House, we need to resolve the political crisis in the CAR as speedily as possible. However, the convening of an inclusive political process which will bring together all of the aggrieved parties in the CAR will take time. Some of the political representatives that have to be consulted and involved in this process are in various countries, including France, Belgium and the United States. Members can, however, be assured that the President, as Chairperson of the African Union, and the African Union itself are seized with the urgency of the matter, and will seek a speedy solution to the crisis.
QUESTION NUMBER: 12
Mr O Bapela (ANC) to ask the Deputy President:
What are the latest developments regarding the peace process in the Great Lakes Region?
REPLY
We are very encouraged by the recent promising and positive developments in the peace processes in the Great Lakes region, particularly in the DRC and Burundi.
The Inter-Congolese Dialogue was successfully concluded on the 2nd of April at Sun City. The final plenary of the Dialogue endorsed the Global and Inclusive Agreement on the Transition in the DRC, and ratified the Transitional Constitution.
The transition, in terms of the Pretoria Agreement of 17 December 2002, will be for a period of 24 months, with a possible extension of 6 months. President Joseph Kabila will lead the interim government, and will be supported by four Vice Presidents: two from the two main rebel groupings, one from the government, and one from the political opposition. This paves the way for the first democratic elections in the DRC since independence.
Following renewed tensions in the North-Eastern part of the DRC, President Mbeki convened a Summit Meeting on the Great Lakes on the 9th of April in Cape Town. The Presidents of the DRC, Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania attended the meeting. Among the outcomes of the Summit were:
* Uganda reconfirmed its plans to withdraw from the Ituri region by 24 April 2003
* The UN monitoring force, MONUC, will be deployed in the Ituri region after the withdrawal of the Ugandan People's Defence Force
* President Kabila would invite the five components of the Inter Congolese Dialogue to nominate their representatives to attend the first meeting of the Follow-Up Committee
* Progress made by the Third Party Verification Mechanism, which will now also verify troop withdrawal in the North East.
Developments over the last few months in Burundi, including ceasefire agreements that have brought all but one rebel group into political negotiations, have created more momentum for peace than at any time since the civil war began ten years ago.
All the groups that signed the Ceasefire Agreements have committed themselves to a cessation of hostilities.
The African Mission as mandated by the African Union at its Extraordinary Summit held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in February, is about to be deployed. In this regard, we have deployed the Director-General and Head of the Presidential Support Unit, Wellile Nhlapo, to be our representative in the African Mission in Burundi.
The African Union and the Transitional Government of Burundi have signed the Status of Forces Agreement, paving the way for the deployment to take place any time from now. The Force Commander of the African Mission in Burundi, General Sipho Binda arrived in Burundi with an advance team of thirty from South Africa and Mozambique on 10 April and the troops will be deployed soon.
The transfer of the presidency from President Pierre Buyoya who comes from the Tutsi political family to Domitien Ndayizeye of the Hutu political family is scheduled for 30 April 2003.
QUESTION NUMBER:
Dr P W A Mulder (FF) to ask the Deputy President:
(1) Whether, in light of the outcome of the recent window period during which politicians could cross the floor, the Government is still committed to multi-party democracy;
(2) Whether the Government is reconsidering the desirability of the clause on floor-crossing; if so, what are the relevant details?
REPLY
(1) Honourable member, when Cabinet approved the floor crossing legislation it did not see it as having a negative influence on multiparty democracy.
Our position, in this regard, is supported by the Constitutional Court. Some of those opposed to floor crossing, argued in the Constitutional Court that that the floor crossing legislation was in conflict with the founding value in our Constitution of a multi party system of government. The court however rejected this argument.
I note that the court defined multi party democracy as, and I quote, "contemplating a political order in which it is permissible for different groups to organise, promote their views through public debate and participate in free and fair election." I do not see, Honourable member, how the floor crossing legislation reduces anyone's ability to organise, or to promote their views through public debate or participate in a free and fair election.
Government remains committed to the Founding Provisions of our Constitution which states and I quote: "The Republic of South Africa is one, sovereign, democratic state founded on the following values:
a) Human dignity, the achievement of equality and the advancement of human rights and freedoms
b) Non racialism and non sexism
c) Supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law
d) Universal adult suffrage, a national common voters role, regular elections and a multiparty system of democratic government, to ensure accountability, responsiveness and openness."
(2) No
Issued by The Presidency, 16 April 2003
Source: The Presidency
Title: J Zuma: Answers to questions in NA
REPLY FROM DEPUTY PRESIDENT ZUMA TO QUESTIONS FOR ORAL REPLY IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, 16 April 2003
QUESTION NUMBER: 10
Mr H Solomon (ANC) to ask the Deputy President:
Whether, in view of the concerns raised in certain religious communities, he will give the assurance that in introducing the Anti-Terrorism Bill B 12 - 2003, the Government's intention is not to restrict freedom of religion?
REPLY:
Honourable member the recently introduced Anti Terrorism Bill is NOT intended to restrict freedom of religion. As I have reported in this House in reply to Questions last year, and the year before, the purpose of the Bill is to enable South Africa to fulfil its international obligations regarding terrorism. These international obligations are set by multilateral forums such as the United Nations and the African Union. The Bill is also intended to deal with some domestic issues relating to terrorism as our current definition of terrorism dates back to well before 1994.
The process of drafting this Bill has been an extremely lengthy one. It started in November 1995, when the Minister for Safety and Security requested the South African Law Commission to undertake a review and rationalisation of South Africa's security legislation. The Law Commission produced a Discussion Paper in August 2000, which was published for public comment. They produced their final report two years later in August 2002. These reports also looked at the laws of a number of countries - not just the United States of America.
The Bill before this House was introduced after considering these proposals and after approval by Cabinet.
As the Bill is now with Parliament, it is for Parliament to decide how it should be dealt with and what changes should be made. The Parliamentary process provides for many further opportunities for the public to make an input into this Bill and I urge all members of the public who may have an interest in this Bill to make use of these opportunities.
The Government will not in any way seek to restrict the right of worship or the freedom of religion.
QUESTION NUMBER: 11
Mr C W Eglin (DP) to ask the Deputy President:
(1) Whether the African Union has taken any action as a result of Francois Bozize's military coup in the Central African Republic in March 2003; if not, why not; if so, (a) what action and (b) what mechanisms of the African Union will be employed;
(2) Whether the President, in his capacity as chairperson of the AU, has held talks with any other African leaders regarding these events; if not, why not; if so, (a) with whom and (b) what decisions were reached regarding action to be taken by the AU;
(3) Whether any timeframes have been agreed upon for the resolution of this matter; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
REPLY
The African Union has expressed its unequivocal condemnation of the military coup that took place in the Central African Republic (CAR) in March. The unconstitutional transfer of power in that country is a clear violation of the principles which underpin the Constitutive Act of the AU.
The African Union is paying urgent attention to the recent events in the CAR. The Central Organ of the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution met at Ambassadorial level in Addis Ababa on the 17th of March 2003, to review the situation in the CAR.
The Central Organ strongly condemned the coup d'etat in that country and called upon the perpetrators of the coup to take immediate steps to reinstate the democratically elected government. It recommended that the CAR be suspended from participating in the activities of the Policy Organs of the African Union until such a time that constitutional rule is restored in the country.
The African Union and the UN have mandated the CEMAC group of central African countries to deal with the political troubles in the CAR. The central African countries have tasked President Sassou Nguessou of the Congo with leading the process and our President, in his capacity as Chairperson of the African Union has been in contact with him in this regard.
The African Union supports and endorses the CEMAC in its difficult task of restoring constitutional order and stability in that country. The African Union supports the position that only an all-inclusive political process, which brings together representatives from the government that was overthrown, the various military factions in the CAR, and the different political groupings, will resolve the long-standing political problems in the CAR.
As the President has stated in this House, we need to resolve the political crisis in the CAR as speedily as possible. However, the convening of an inclusive political process which will bring together all of the aggrieved parties in the CAR will take time. Some of the political representatives that have to be consulted and involved in this process are in various countries, including France, Belgium and the United States. Members can, however, be assured that the President, as Chairperson of the African Union, and the African Union itself are seized with the urgency of the matter, and will seek a speedy solution to the crisis.
QUESTION NUMBER: 12
Mr O Bapela (ANC) to ask the Deputy President:
What are the latest developments regarding the peace process in the Great Lakes Region?
REPLY
We are very encouraged by the recent promising and positive developments in the peace processes in the Great Lakes region, particularly in the DRC and Burundi.
The Inter-Congolese Dialogue was successfully concluded on the 2nd of April at Sun City. The final plenary of the Dialogue endorsed the Global and Inclusive Agreement on the Transition in the DRC, and ratified the Transitional Constitution.
The transition, in terms of the Pretoria Agreement of 17 December 2002, will be for a period of 24 months, with a possible extension of 6 months. President Joseph Kabila will lead the interim government, and will be supported by four Vice Presidents: two from the two main rebel groupings, one from the government, and one from the political opposition. This paves the way for the first democratic elections in the DRC since independence.
Following renewed tensions in the North-Eastern part of the DRC, President Mbeki convened a Summit Meeting on the Great Lakes on the 9th of April in Cape Town. The Presidents of the DRC, Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania attended the meeting. Among the outcomes of the Summit were:
* Uganda reconfirmed its plans to withdraw from the Ituri region by 24 April 2003
* The UN monitoring force, MONUC, will be deployed in the Ituri region after the withdrawal of the Ugandan People's Defence Force
* President Kabila would invite the five components of the Inter Congolese Dialogue to nominate their representatives to attend the first meeting of the Follow-Up Committee
* Progress made by the Third Party Verification Mechanism, which will now also verify troop withdrawal in the North East.
Developments over the last few months in Burundi, including ceasefire agreements that have brought all but one rebel group into political negotiations, have created more momentum for peace than at any time since the civil war began ten years ago.
All the groups that signed the Ceasefire Agreements have committed themselves to a cessation of hostilities.
The African Mission as mandated by the African Union at its Extraordinary Summit held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in February, is about to be deployed. In this regard, we have deployed the Director-General and Head of the Presidential Support Unit, Wellile Nhlapo, to be our representative in the African Mission in Burundi.
The African Union and the Transitional Government of Burundi have signed the Status of Forces Agreement, paving the way for the deployment to take place any time from now. The Force Commander of the African Mission in Burundi, General Sipho Binda arrived in Burundi with an advance team of thirty from South Africa and Mozambique on 10 April and the troops will be deployed soon.
The transfer of the presidency from President Pierre Buyoya who comes from the Tutsi political family to Domitien Ndayizeye of the Hutu political family is scheduled for 30 April 2003.
QUESTION NUMBER:
Dr P W A Mulder (FF) to ask the Deputy President:
(1) Whether, in light of the outcome of the recent window period during which politicians could cross the floor, the Government is still committed to multi-party democracy;
(2) Whether the Government is reconsidering the desirability of the clause on floor-crossing; if so, what are the relevant details?
REPLY
(1) Honourable member, when Cabinet approved the floor crossing legislation it did not see it as having a negative influence on multiparty democracy.
Our position, in this regard, is supported by the Constitutional Court. Some of those opposed to floor crossing, argued in the Constitutional Court that that the floor crossing legislation was in conflict with the founding value in our Constitution of a multi party system of government. The court however rejected this argument.
I note that the court defined multi party democracy as, and I quote, "contemplating a political order in which it is permissible for different groups to organise, promote their views through public debate and participate in free and fair election." I do not see, Honourable member, how the floor crossing legislation reduces anyone's ability to organise, or to promote their views through public debate or participate in a free and fair election.
Government remains committed to the Founding Provisions of our Constitution which states and I quote: "The Republic of South Africa is one, sovereign, democratic state founded on the following values:
a) Human dignity, the achievement of equality and the advancement of human rights and freedoms
b) Non racialism and non sexism
c) Supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law
d) Universal adult suffrage, a national common voters role, regular elections and a multiparty system of democratic government, to ensure accountability, responsiveness and openness."
(2) No
Issued by The Presidency, 16 April 2003
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