Thank you very much, hon Speaker. Hon Koornhof, we are reasonably satisfied that preparations for the referendum are progressing fairly well.
As the hon member is aware, Sudan was mired in conflict for many years. Through mediation efforts, mainly by the African Union, the main political parties signed the historic Comprehensive Peace Agreement on 9 January 2005.
In terms of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the National Congress Party and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement agreed to work together to address the causes of conflict in different parts of the country. Indeed, the two parties have formed a government of national unity to govern the Sudan as a whole, whilst the Sudan People's Liberation Movement also governs Southern Sudan. Part of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement is that a referendum be held to give the people of Southern Sudan the opportunity to decide whether to remain part of the Sudan or to secede. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr Speaker. Thank you, Deputy President, for your answer. My question is: Will the President consider appointing a special envoy to Sudan to enable South Africa to contribute towards achieving a peaceful Sudanese referendum, reflecting the will of the people of Sudan? Secondly, could the Deputy President indicate what is the role of the African Union panel on Sudan in this regard?
Thank you very much, hon Koornhof. The President has already appointed a special envoy in the person of former Minister Charles Nqakula, who has already been dispatched to Sudan.
The role of the African Union panel is to facilitate peace, particularly in the area of Darfur, which is not quite part of the South. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr Speaker. Mr Deputy President, I was just wondering exactly what South Africa's involvement will be in the preparations, logistically and otherwise. Does it mean we will send members of the Independent Electoral Commission, the IEC, personnel or soldiers there or will it be in the form of other logistical assistance? Are we going to have to pay? What is it going to cost South Africa? If you do consider a second envoy, I suggest you send Dr Koornhof. [Laughter.]
Thank you very much, hon Speaker. As we all know, Sudan has just held elections and, therefore, the machinery that was set in motion to conduct the elections will also take charge of the referendum in the South. So, most of the logistical questions have already been addressed.
As a country, we would indeed assist if approached. In the past the Sudanese Electoral Commission had extensive discussions with our IEC and they drew a lot from the experience of the South African IEC. But, because this is a referendum, at best we can send observers to ensure that it is conducted in the spirit of peace. Thank you.
Thank you, hon Speaker. Hon Deputy President, will the South African government support the will of the people in the government to organise the Sudanese referendum, where the Sudanese people will in peace, it is hoped, be able to decide for themselves whether they want to be part of one Sudan or not?
If their will is disregarded, what steps will the South African government take to ensure that their right to self-determination and to live and let live in the spirit of ubuntu is protected in accordance with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement proposed by the United Nations on this matter?
Thank you, hon Trollip. This referendum is provided for in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and the understanding of all parties is that the outcomes of this referendum must not ever lead to conflict, because they are part of the peace agreement and the operative word here is peace. Whatever the outcomes are, for instance if the South decides to secede, it is not going to be possible to take that part of the country and locate it elsewhere. They still have to live together as neighbours, at peace with each other, because there are still a number of outstanding issues that they will have to address. The possibility exists that, perhaps in the next hundred or two hundred years, they may want to reunite and form one country, if they do vote for secession. So, the outcomes, regardless, must serve to buttress peace in the region.
Thank you, hon Deputy President. If, by some chance, a country could implement the prosecution of President al-Bashir, that would have an impact, one way or the other, on the process of the referendum. What is the position of South Africa on the prosecution of al-Bashir, and what should be the articulation by Members of Parliament, internally and externally, on this issue?
I also want to ask the Deputy President whether the government will be in a position to support a delegation from this Parliament to Sudan to assist in the process of the referendum. I thank you.
Thank you, hon Ngonyama. The position of the South African government is that we are part and parcel of the International Criminal Court, the ICC, and are therefore bound by the decisions of the ICC. We are also part of the African Union, and in this regard the AU asked for deferment of the prosecution of President al-Bashir in order to allow time for the AU panel, amongst other challenges, to find a resolution to the conflicts in the Darfur region. The AU's position was premised on the understanding that it does not condone or promote impunity and that those who must face charges must face charges.
The only request that the AU made, which we subscribed to, was that time must be allowed for peace and stability to be obtained in the Darfur region. Whoever the ICC wishes to charge and whoever is identified as suspect for having perpetrated atrocities must face those charges.
I am not quite qualified to respond to the question of sending parliamentary committees and so on. I think the Members of Parliament and the Speaker can deal with that issue, and ours will be to facilitate. If the parliamentary team has been selected, we will issue you with passports and ensure that you travel safely to Sudan. Thank you.
Position regarding Government's endeavour to create a nonracial South Africa
16. Dr G W Koornhof (ANC) asked the Deputy President:
Whether the Government remains on course in its endeavour to create a nonracial South Africa which is premised on the principle that South Africa belongs to all who live in it?