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?