Speaker, hon members, South Africa has consistently campaigned for the right to self-determination of all the peoples of Africa, and our record in multilateral institutions like the African Union, the UN, and United Nations General Assembly, Unga, attest to this fact.
We do so, believing that every people or nation have the right to determine their own destiny without undue interference from others. The history of the continent and the Caribbean is littered with examples of nations whose development has been undermined due to external interference.
Let me emphasise that our position is influenced by our conviction that self-determination, peace and stability are important ingredients for cultural, social and economic advancement.
As the hon member is aware, the 1945 Charter of the United Nations calls for the development of, and I quote, "friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace".
All of us here in South Africa will recall that the democracy we enjoy today is a culmination of the struggles waged in pursuit of the goal of determining our own political status and the freedom to choose an economic, social and cultural development path. We acknowledge that this freedom was achieved with the persistent solidarity and support of the international community and, in particular, our brethren in Africa and its diaspora.
Finally, the recent Diaspora Summit attended by the heads of state and government of the African Union, the Caribbean and South America committed to encouraging and supporting the adoption and implementation of policies that will facilitate the elimination of racism and the promotion of equality among races in different diaspora countries. I thank you.
Hon Speaker, hon Deputy President, the issue which is of great concern to me, and I am sure it is of great concern to this House as well, is the question of the people of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, who have been deprived of their nationhood and statehood, despite recognition having been given by South Africa and 80 countries within the very continent of Africa. Until now that nation is deprived of its nationhood. The question is: What more do these people need to do for them to gain their recognition? And what is the Republic of South Africa doing to advance their cause?
Speaker, the plight of the people of the Sahrawi Republic is back on the agenda of the United Nations. As you know, over the years the United Nations sent one facilitator after the other to try to mediate between Morocco and the Sahrawi people. So, now that it is back on the UN agenda, we hope that the latest intervention in this regard will result in a mutually acceptable solution to the people of Sahrawi and the Moroccan authorities who, to date, are occupying parts of the land surface of Western Sahara. Thank you.
Speaker, Deputy President, key elements of the right of development include the right to self-determination to elect their government freely and to choose their own manner of pursuing social, economic and cultural development. Notwithstanding what you have said about the United Nations, what exactly was their response and progress, given the quest of the people of Western Sahara to realise self-determination, especially after the intervention made by the President at the 67th Session of the General Assembly on 25 September this year? I thank you.
Speaker, I have stated that this matter is back on the agenda of the UN and that there is fresh impetus to try to find a solution to the problem. As we all know, this matter has progressed up to a point where a number of African countries and other countries recognised the government of the Sahrawi Republic. But since the impasse, some of them have actually derecognised that government. Our President's intervention in the UN has ensured that this matter will now receive attention once more. As I said, we are optimistic and hopeful that a peaceful resolution can indeed be arrived at. Thank you.
Through you Speaker, Deputy President, you said that the UN and the African Union attest to the fact that the right to self- determination is promoted and respected. We all know that more than a year ago, both the UN and France were seen bombing a presidential residence in Cte d'Ivoire. Was that act not an indication that self-determination, in some instances, can be disregarded and that people can be removed at will if it does not suit their purposes?
Speaker, hon Meshoe will remember that the people of Cte d'Ivoire held elections. A dispute arose out of those elections, which resulted in the sitting president remaining in office while the UN, the Economic Community of West African States, Ecowas, and the AU confirmed that the leader of the opposition had actually won the elections.
So, there was a problem compounded by the fact that, besides the National Defence Force, there was also an armed force of 20 000 which was not integrated. When you have a conflict in a situation like that, it does result in the conflict escalating into loss of lives. That is why today, as we speak, the former president of Cte d'Ivoire is awaiting trial at the International Court for some of the excesses which happened at that time. Thank you.
Agb Speaker, ek wil graag vir die Adjunkpresident s dat Suid-Afrika se eie Grondwet kragtens artikel 235 ook vir selfbeskikking voorsiening maak.
Dit is so dat daar verskillende vorme van selfbeskikking is, Adjunkpresident. In die gees van artikel 235 van ons eie Grondwet, wat selfbeskikking steun, sal die regering bereid wees om steun te verleen aan 'n ministerie vir minderhede, waardeur hulle daardie behoeftes kan bevorder en uitleef? Indien nie, waarom nie? (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Mr P J GROENEWALD: Hon Speaker, I would like to tell the Deputy President that, in terms of section 235, South Africa's own Constitution also provides for self-determination.
It is true that there are various forms of self-determination, Deputy President. In the spirit of section 235 of our own Constitution, which supports self-determination, would the government be prepared to lend support to a ministry for minorities, through which they could promote and pursue those needs? If not, why not?]
Hon Speaker, hon members, the Constitution is very clear that it gives protection to all South Africans and recognises the rights of all the citizens without regard to language and so on. So, all of them enjoy exactly the same rights. It would not be advisable or serve any purpose to establish a ministry to take charge of the interests of minorities, because all South African citizens have the same right of access to and protection by the government of the day to promote their interests in all respects, without any inhibitions as it were.
So, I believe that the hon member should advise whichever section of our South African population is harbouring the view that there is a need for a minority ministry or department to look into specific issues affecting them, that they can still attain the same through this government. All they really have to do is to make representations to the correct Ministers and departments and their issues would be addressed because there is no basis to discriminate against any section of the South African population. [Applause.]