Hon Chairperson, the answer is yes, South Africa does recognise Somalia as a sovereign state. Somalia has, for the past two decades, been plagued by internal strife that has resulted in a most unusual state of affairs, which has not been conducive to the creation of stable and effective governance.
In spite of all those extreme challenges, though, Somalia still remains a full member of the United Nations, UN, and the African Union, AU. As such, the country continues to enjoy the full rights and duties accorded to sovereign states under international law. The SA High Commission in Kenya is therefore the focal point for all interaction between South Africa and Somalia.
The question regarding the status of Somali refugees entering South Africa and their protection in this country is a matter that falls within the area of jurisdiction of the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, in co-ordination with the South African Minister of Home Affairs.
The answer to the second part to that question is yes, there are official exchanges between our government and the transitional federal government at a senior level. The latter is internationally recognised. A visit to South Africa by the Somali Minister of foreign affairs is planned and it is expected that the agreement will be signed during that visit.
South Africa is also of the opinion that a political solution is the only option for resolving the situation in the country and continues to engage all stakeholders who still remain outside of the peace process, in order for them to participate in the talks to ensure an inclusive Somali-owned process and solution. Consequently, South Africa is in the process of exploring ways to assist in capacity-building activities for key Somali Ministries. This includes assistance in the areas of governance, the judiciary, peace-building and constitutional building.
The Minister of International Relations and Co-operation attended an international conference on Somalia hosted by the United Kingdom, on 23 February 2012. The gathering afforded South Africa an opportunity to reiterate its position and call for an inclusive Somali-owned peace process.
At this point I can also thank the South African society, both the public and the private sectors. This includes civil society, large NGOs, and community-based organisations who, in the past year, have been actively involved in the humanitarian situation in that country, and offered logistical support to efforts by the Southern African Development Community, SADC, countries aimed at combating the crisis in Mogadishu and other parts of Somalia. In fact, South Africa, through its patriotic responsibility, collectively contributed no less than R60 million. Thank you.
Seeing that the hon Bloem is not in the House, is anybody from Cope going to be putting a follow-up question on his behalf?
No, Chairperson.
Thank you.
Assistance for and solidarity with people of Swaziland in their quest for democratisation of their state and details relating to requested bail-out loan
13. Mr D V Bloem (Cope) asked the Minister of International Relations and Co-operation:
(1) To what extent will South Africa (a) assist and (b) show solidarity with the people of Swaziland in their quest for the democratisation of their state;
(2) whether South Africa will ease the conditions of the request by Swaziland for a bail-out loan of R2,4 billion; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? CO74E
Deputy Chairperson, the government of South Africa co-operates with the government of Swaziland within the broad framework of the Joint Bilateral Commission for Co-operation. Its main objective is to promote political, economic and social co-operation. In this regard, therefore, recognising the territorial sovereignty of Swaziland, South Africa remains ready to assist the people of the country in finding a lasting solution to their own political and economic challenges.
On the second part of that question, the two countries have agreed on economic and political reforms, as contained in the draft memorandum of understanding, MoU. Determining a mutually acceptable date for the finalisation of that process is still outstanding. At the level of international relations portfolios, we have already come to certain agreements in that regard. Thank you.
Deputy Chairperson, I would like to ask the hon Deputy Minister if that memorandum of agreement or understanding, MOU, is linked to the further establishment of democracy in Swaziland?
Deputy Chairperson, we have an MoU that recognises very critical issues around reforms, especially at the level of financing, as well as further institutional mechanisms. These were obviously a bone of contention sometime last year, but most of that has been resolved.
We must respect the fact that South Africa respects the sovereignty of the country, and is negotiating the process within that. We have clear regulatory processes to which we need to conform. These are the types of discussions and issues that we have there. Thank you.
Promotion and advancement of cause for recognition of indigenous groups registered on government's database
15. Mr D Joseph (DA) asked the Minister of International Relations and Co- operation:
In light of the United Nations definition of indigenous people, why does the government not (a) promote and (b) advance the cause for recognition of the indigenous groups who are registered on the government's database? CO88E
Deputy Chairperson, the question relates to the advancement and recognition of the indigenous people and it asks why the government does not promote this. The question is wrong. The question should possibly rather have been: Why does the government in the Western Cape not recognise the plight of the indigenous community?
The South African government does promote and advance the cause of the recognition of the indigenous people of South Africa. The involvement of the department in the issue of Khoi and San communities is derived primarily from international instruments that provide for the promotion and the protection of the rights of indigenous people. Key existing instruments and mechanisms in this regard are the following: the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; the International Labour Organisation's Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention; the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues; and the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
So, yes, we are very closely monitoring that process. There is an intergovernmental team led by Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Cogta, in this regard, which processes critical issues in the advancement and the promotion of the Khoi and the San community in South Africa.
Deputy Chairperson, I would just like to ask the hon Deputy Minister if the government is able to make available the entire database, as the Deputy Minister is claiming.
I also find it very interesting that the Deputy Minister has referred to the Western Cape, because it is the national government's responsibility to provide the database, which includes the indigenous people of the Western Cape. Thank you.
Deputy Chairperson, we have a national institution dealing with the Khoi and the San, and that is a structure representing that constituency at the national level, in partnership in this case with Cogta. At that level they are rolling out an analysis, a database and information, etc.
On the issue of the Western Cape, it is the only province involved in this. On 7 August 2011 the indigenous community of the Western Cape requested an engagement with the President, the premier and the mayor. Official letters to the institution - the Khoi and the San community - from the premier's office indicated that she did not recognise them. Clearly that is a very serious issue. It's an issue that we have to take up, especially in relation to our international responsibility in the country and it is something that will be taken up.
The plight of the Khoi and the San community is critical. We have recently seen even a disregard of what happened before 1652 and the fact that the Khoi and San were in the Cape area. These are issues that we will take up seriously with the Western Cape government.
Deputy Chairperson, in regard to the response of the Deputy Minister, I want to find out what the Department of International Relations and Co-operation, or the Deputy Minister's office specifically, is going to do about this issue of the Western Cape. He said quite rightly that the Western Cape does not recognise our indigenous people, whether they are the Khoi-San, or others - they do not recognise them. What steps can your department take, Deputy Minister, to force them into that recognition? Thank you. The DEPUTY MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATION (Mr M L Fransman): Chairperson, the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs which, as I indicated earlier, is the domestic custodian of these matters, has been processing the new National Traditional Affairs Bill. The Minister who sits just in front of me and who was the acting Minister at that time drove a process - I think in August, September and October - to get consultation with the Khoi and the San community, so that we could make sure that we put it into legislation. This is precisely to deal with the pockets of the Western Cape that refuse to appreciate the rights of the indigenous society in this country. Thank you.
Unfortunately, that was the last chance to co-own this question. There has been a mention of Cogta, and people must understand what that means.
Position in regard to growing trend by African countries to secure South African farmers for agricultural projects and commercial farming
16. Mrs E C van Lingen (DA) asked the Minister of International Relations and Co-operation:
Whether she has been informed of a growing trend by African countries to secure South African farmers for (a) agricultural projects and (b) commercial farming in their respective countries; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?