Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
22 November 2001
The South African Government has noted the very detailed and comprehensive Addendum to the Report of the Panel of Experts on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources and Other Forms of Wealth of the DRC, presented to the United Nations Security Council on 19 November 2001.
The Government has consistently provided its full cooperation to the Panel in its important work. The Government has held in-depth discussions with the members of the Expert Panel during their visits to South Africa, the most recent of which took place on 10 and 12 September 2001.
It is stated in the Addendum that the Panel has credible information indicating that various actors, some based in South Africa and others outside, are using the territories and facilities of South Africa to conduct illicit commercial activities involving the natural resources of the DRC. It is surprising that the Expert Panel neither mentioned this during its meetings in South Africa, nor did it at any stage share with the Government the evidence that it claims to have in this regard. The Government will now seek to obtain the information from the Expert Panel in order to take appropriate action where necessary.
In addition the Addendum to the Report of the Expert Panel will be studied to determine the full implications for South Africa in the context of all the information contained in the Report, as well as the Panel’s conclusions and recommendations.
The Government remains of the view that the illegal exploitation of the natural resources and other forms of wealth of the DRC is one of the underlying causes of the conflict in the DRC and must be addressed in order to establish lasting peace in that troubled country. The unwavering commitment of the South African Government to finding a solution to the conflict in the DRC is borne out by its direct involvement in the Inter-Congolese Dialogue, as well as its active participation in the United Nations Mission in the DRC (MONUC).
The Government will continue to provide its full cooperation to the Security Council and the Expert Panel in the quest for lasting peace in the DRC.
For further information, contact Ronnie Mamoepa at 082 990 4853