Whether she will furnish Mr WF Faber with a comprehensive breakdown of the procurement allocation of (a) her department and (b) every entity reporting to her in terms of percentage allocated to (i) small – medium – and micro – enterprises, (ii) cooperatives, (iii) township enterprises and (iv) rural enterprises with a view to evaluating the effectiveness of the set – aside policy of the Government in fostering an inclusive and diverse economic landscape (details furnished) in the (aa) 2021 – 22 financial year and (bb) since 1 April 2023?
aa) The comprehensive breakdown of the procurement allocation of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO):
Financial Year: 2021-2022
(i) small – medium – and micro – enterprises
(ii) Cooperatives
(iii) Township enterprises
(iv) Rural enterprises
Financial Year: 1 April 2023 –
(i) small – medium – and micro – enterprises
(ii) Cooperatives
(iii) Township enterprises
Whether, given that her department issued a statement on 29 May 2023, that a notice was issued in the Government Gazette on Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges for the Meeting of the BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs and International Relations in Cape Town on 1 June 2023 and the 15th BRICS Summit to be held in Johannesburg in August, and noting that the specified statement indicated that these immunities do not override any warrant that may have been issued by any international tribunal against any attendee of the conference, the Republic will take action in relation to the arrest warrant of the International Criminal Court issued against the Russian President, Mr Vladimir Putin; if not, why not; if so, what are the full, relevant details in this regard?
The gazetting of a notice pursuant to the Diplomatic Immunity and Privileges Act, No. 37 of 2001 is a standard practice for international summits held in South Africa. The immunities are for the conference and not for specific individuals. This is a standard conferment of immunities that is done for all international conferences and summits held in South Africa irrespective of the level of ...
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Whether there has been any diplomatic engagement with Uganda regarding the anti-homosexuality bill signed by President Yoweri Museveni and the implications and precedence the legislation has on the LGBTQI+ community in the continent; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
There has so far been no diplomatic engagement with Uganda regarding the Anti-Homosexuality Act of 2023. South Africa is guided by its Constitutional principles that seeks to promote and respect the human rights of all people. This includes members of the LGBTQIA community. We are concerned about the developments in Uganda, which would impose severe criminal sanction on people because of their sexual orientation ...
How were the African Heads of States nominated that will lead the peace initiative to Russia and Ukraine, considering that some of the countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo have been unstable for many years?
Following extensive discussion of the Ukraine-Russia crisis and its impact on Africa and other developing countries, a group of seven African Presidents agreed to undertake a peace mission to Ukraine and Russia. The objective of the Mission is to promote the importance of peace and to encourage the parties to agree to a diplomacy-led process of negotiations. This initiative includes diverse voices from the ...
Whether she and/or the Government intends to declare the Ambassador of the United States of America a persona non grata based on two occasions that he communicated incorrect information to the South African public without following proper procedure, causing fear and doubt in the capabilities of the State; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, by what date?
On 12 May 2023, the Department dèmarched US Ambassador Reuben E. Brigety for a meeting with Minister Naledi Pandor, where the Minister expressed South Africa’s deep disappointment and outrage about the manner in which Ambassador Brigety had convened a press conference on 11 May 2023, and levelled allegations regarding the sale of ammunition by South Africa to Russia, via the US sanctioned Russian naval ...
Whether, given the alleged large-scale and persistent abuse of human rights, including the denial of free and fair democratic elections, in the Republic of Cuba, the Republic will consider downgrading the status of the SA Embassy in Havana to that of Liaison Office in order to demonstrate our commitment to democratic values and human rights; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
The South African Government is not considering the downgrading of its diplomatic representation in Cuba as the Government believes that institutions such as the National Human Rights Commission and the Office of the Attorney General have demonstrated their ability to deal with alleged human rights violations. Downgrading diplomatic relations is a drastic act that can only be considered when states continuously disregard international law ...
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With reference to a media statement issued by her department on 16 May 2023, according to which the African Heads of State are to be received in Moscow and Kyiv, while on a peace mission to find a peaceful resolution to the devastating conflict in the Ukraine with its cost to human lives and impact on the African continent, what (a) are the further, relevant details of the specified engagement and (b) does the Government envisage a peaceful resolution would entail?
(a) Six African Heads of State, the President of South Africa, HE Mr CM Ramaphosa, HE Mr Denis Sassou Nguesso, President of the Republic of Congo, H.E. Mr Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, H.E. Mr Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal, H.E. Mr Yoweri Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda, H.E. Mr Hakainde Hichilema, President of ...
Whether, noting that in the Budget Vote 6 documentation, mention is made of plans by her department to repurpose underused state‐owned properties in its global portfolio and refurbish, renovate and maintain 24 existing properties across the world, she will furnish Mr M Hlengwa with the relevant details of the (a) specified 24 properties, (b) nature of the renovations required, (c) projected cost of each renovation, (d) process followed when appointing service providers to complete such work and (e) mechanisms that are in place to protect her department if work is not completed on time, within budget, and/or faulty and/or poor workmanship is uncovered; if not, why not, in each case; if so, what are the relevant details in each case?
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No
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a) Specified Mission Properties
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b) Nature of renovations works
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(c) Projected cost of each renovation
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1
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Windhoek: Official Residence and staff houses
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Renovations of the exterior at the Official Residence and 3 staff houses -
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R3 688 300
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2
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Kinshasa: Chancery and compound
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Repair of lift and repainting of the exterior Chancery and staff compound
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R5 300 000
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3
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Mbabane: Official residence
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Refurbishment of ... |
Given the fact that the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) last held presidential elections in 2005, Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) elections in 2006, and local government elections in 2012, what steps are her department and/or the Government taking to encourage the PNA to embrace democracy and human rights in a region where only the state of Israel is known to hold regular, free, and fair elections?
1) While the South African Government works closely with the Palestinian National Authority to address the challenges it faces with regard to the building and strengthening of Palestine’s democratic institutions, renewal of the Palestinian Authority’s mandate, holding of the pending elections, and the issue of human rights, the South African Government cannot ignore the reality that Palestine’s ability to hold a credible free and ...
Considering the recent infringement by the United States (US) Ambassador who in essence accused the Republic of supplying arms in the war between Russia and Ukraine, what measures has her department taken beyond alleged apologies to ensure his immediate removal as the US ambassador to the Republic?
On 12 May 2023, the Department dèmarched US Ambassador Reuben E. Brigety for a meeting with Minister Naledi Pandor, where the Minister expressed South Africa’s deep disappointment and outrage about the manner in which Ambassador Brigety had convened a press conference on 11 May 2023, and levelled allegations regarding the sale of ammunition by South Africa to Russia, via the US sanctioned Russian naval ...
