DA: Statement by Stevens Mokgalapa, Democratic Alliance shadow deputy minister of international relations and cooperation, on Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide (08/07/2010)

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Published: 08 Jul 2010

DA: Statement by Stevens Mokgalapa, Democratic Alliance shadow deputy minister of international relations and cooperation, on Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide (08/07/2010)

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A reply to a Democratic Alliance (DA) parliamentary question has confirmed that the ousted former leader of the Republic of Haiti, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, is continuing to live in South Africa at the South African public's expense. The government admitted in its reply that the expense of providing accommodation, transport, office support staff and security to Mr. Aristide is the same as that of supporting a South African Cabinet Minister.

Last year, the DA calculated that the benefits that Aristede is receiving amounts to an estimated R5 million per year, and with Aristide already having spent 6 years living in South Africa, this in effect means the South African public has spent R30 million for the upkeep of a man with who at best can be described to have a severely tainted reputation and at worst is labelled by some to be a dictator. Although the reply deliberately makes a point of inadequately detailing the costs associated with accommodating Aristide, it is nevertheless possible to calculate rough estimates using the lowest possible estimates:

• Accommodation: Ministerial houses are usually valued in the range of R3m-R4m.
• Car allowance: Aristide's car allowance would be around R1.2m.
• Staff: The reply does not say how many staff are employed to manage Aristide's affairs. But if he employs three people, this could easily be costing the state R500 000 a year.
• Security: This is determined by the VIP unit according to their estimates of need. Last year it was revealed that Jacob Zuma's security was costing the state R1m a month. If Aristide's security costs are even a twentieth of this, it is costing the state R50 000 a month (R600 000 a year).

With this in mind, a conservative estimate of his yearly costs to South Africa is R5 million, which amounts to about R30 million, given the length of time spent he has spent in our country. This is an enormous amount for an individual; to put it in context, it is almost four times what the South African government contributed to Haiti itself for earthquake victims and reconstruction following the devastating earthquake that killed more than 150 000 people, and left countless more homeless and destitute.

Furthermore, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation stated that once again that Aristide will remain in South Africa, "until conditions in Haiti permit the return of the former President and his family" yet six years later, he is still receiving very generous, indeed ministerial treatment. I will be writing to the portfolio committee chairperson asking that the Minister of International Relations & Cooperation, Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, appear before the committee to explain whether Mr Aristede will be receiving assistance indefinitely, whether there are any limitations on this support or whether other African Union countries, on whose behest South Africa received Aristide, could assist in this regard.