Date: 23/03/2011
Source: The Presidency
Title: SA: Reply to Parliamentary questions, by Kgalema Motlanthe, Deputy President of South Africa, in the National Assembly

ê1. Mr S J Njikelana (ANC) to ask the Deputy President:
What (a) is the Government's position with regard to the United Nations investigating war crimes in Sri Lanka and (b) are its plans in contributing to such UN-driven investigations? NO1006E

REPLY

As far as we know there are no such investigations taking place, and thus our government has therefore not been requested to contribute.

What we do know as the government of South Africa is that the United Nations Secretary-General appointed on 22 June 2010 a three-member United Nations Panel of Experts to advise him on accountability issues relating to alleged violations of international human rights and humanitarian law during the final stages of the Sri Lankan conflict.

The panel consists of Mr Marzuki Darusman (Indonesian and Chairperson), Ms Yasmin Sooka (South African) and Mr Steven Ratner (United States) and officially commenced its work on 16 September 2010. The deadline date for submissions in this regard was set as 31 December 2010.
As of March this year, we are aware that a Sri Lankan government delegation met with the UN panel in New York. The UN panel was expected to issue its report to the UN Secretary General, but has decided to postpone the issuance of the report by two to three weeks.
Once again may I express that we are not aware of any investigation of war crimes in Sri Lanka. We know and respect the work of the advisory panel as established by the U.N. and we thus await the panel's report.

I thank you
ê2. Mr K S Mubu (DA) to ask the Deputy President:
(1) Whether the Government will (a) call for the resignation of President Gadaffi and (b) end diplomatic ties with Libya in light of the Libyan government's killing of more than 1000 protesters; if so, when will the message be sent to the government of Libya, in each case; if not,(2) whether the Government is able to reconcile its commitment to human rights and democracy with its refusal to call for Mr Gadaffi's resignation in light of the continued killing of Libyan citizens by the Gadaffi government; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, how? NO972E

REPLY
Honourable Members as the South African government we deeply deplore the killing of civilians under any circumstances and we have repeatedly spoken out against the violence that has claimed the lives of innocent people in Libya.
As you may be aware, the President responded to a similar question in this House last week. As government we have certainly not been silent on the matter of Libya, and commenced our engagement with other Heads of State and Government when events started unfolding. Furthermore, as government we have called on all parties involved to exercise restraint in order to prevent further loss of life.
The South African government has also expressed its views directly to the Libyan leader, Colonel Muammar Gadaffi, regarding the violence and loss of civilian lives. We concomitantly called on the Government and people of Libya to seek a speedy and peaceful resolution to the current conflict.

The President further articulated that South Africa does not operate in a vacuum on international matters, since we operate within the ambit of the African Union and the United Nations.

Pursuant to government's on-going engagements on this matter, in his Human Rights Day address two days ago, the President called for an immediate ceasefire in Libya and an end to attacks on civilians. He asserted that the UN Security Council Resolution should be implemented in letter and spirit by all members of the UN Security Council.

Furthermore, he called for operations aimed at enforcing the 'no fly zone' and protecting civilians to be limited to just that, and that they should not harm or endanger the lives of civilians.
Thus, our commitment as government to human rights and the protection of human life remains steadfast and we will continue to express ourselves vociferously about the unacceptability of the loss of civilian lives wherever this may occur.
I thank you
ê3.Mr L S Ngonyama (Cope) to ask the Deputy President:
Whether the Government had any plans other than those predicated on economic growth of 3% or more to eradicate poverty in at least 100 communities by 2011; if not, why not; if so, (a) what are these parallel plans that the Government has been using achieve to eradicate poverty in targeted areas and (b) what are the further relevant details? NO1007E
REPLY
Three percent growth is not enough to reduce poverty rapidly. We need considerably higher growth. This is why we have introduced the New Growth Path for public discussion, and for implementation. Nevertheless, even if we did achieve much higher levels of growth, this would not eradicate poverty and inequality.
The key strategies to reduce inequality and poverty are to provide better education and health care and better infrastructure services in poor regions. These activities are at the top of our agenda. In addition, we need to improve the environment for investment by the private sector in labour absorbing businesses.
Furthermore, government's plans to reduce poverty are spearheaded by the Comprehensive Anti-Poverty Strategy. This Strategy has used the War on Poverty Campaign to identify 1128 of the most deprived urban and rural wards where poor households would be identified, their needs assessed, a database of their profiles developed, and their needs referred to government and its social partners for appropriate services to be delivered.
Beyond this we have several well known poverty reduction initiatives that include:
The social grant programmes, especially the Child Support Grant, are amongst the most comprehensive poverty alleviation programmes in any developing country. They are well designed, and, largely, well administered.
There are similar programmes in other middle income developing countries like Mexico and Brazil, but, in relation to the size of our GDP and our population, ours is one of the very largest.
We also have the Expanded Public Works Programme and the Community Work Programme. The EPWP has many elements including infrastructure programme and environmental programmes. These programmes are well known.
The newest targeted programme is the Community Work Programme. Though it is a relatively new programme, it now reaches more than a hundred settlements and more than a 100 000 people. We expect that the CWP will be one of our major tools to alleviate and as far as possible reduce poverty in our poorest settlements.
In order to realize the three per cent or more growth, Government has taken the following proactive steps:
· Investment promotion;
· Increasing productivity
· Promoting savings
· Increasing spending both in the social and economic sectors

These are not only directed at achieving economic growth, but the direct spin offs on poverty eradication are evident in the provision of basic services, human capital development, and most importantly the creation of jobs.

I thank you
ê4. Ms A C Mashishi (ANC) to ask the Deputy President:
(1) With reference to the statements by the President and the Minister of Finance on job creation (details furnished), what is the readiness of the Government's distribution of funds to women, youth and people with physical disabilities;(2) whether the provinces will receive an equal share of funding on women, youth and people with physical disabilities; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NO966E

REPLY

Government already allocates substantial funding to Expanded Public Works Programmes administered by municipalities, provincial and national departments and a wide range of partner organizations.

These programmes will spend an estimated R73 billion over the next three years, and in 2011/12 about 800 000 work opportunities of 104 days duration, on average, will be supported. The EPWP has demonstrated considerable success in targeting youth, women and people with disabilities.

Government therefore has gained considerable experience in creating employment opportunities for disadvantaged groups, and is well prepared to extend this experience into expanding existing programmes and new initiatives which will be focused on self-sustaining employment supported through the new Jobs Fund.

Funding for job creation, and funding targeted at special initiatives for women, youth and people with physical disabilities, will be allocated to provinces taking into account their population, levels of unemployment and potential for effective project management in partnership with the private sector.

The Constitution sets out clear criteria of fairness and transparency in the allocation of funds between provinces and municipalities. It is, however, also important that provinces and municipalities should develop sound and forward-looking growth and development plans, taking into account their economic potential and comparative advantage.

Consultation with the business sector and all stakeholders is important to ensure that infrastructure spending, business investment, training and skills development and enterprise finance are well-aligned, and effectively coordinated towards agreed economic and development goals.


I thank you