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South Africa House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee South Africa Fifth Report of Session 2003–04 HC 117 Reports and Evidence from the Foreign Affairs Committee since 2001 The following reports and evidence have been produced in the present Parliament. Session 2003–04 REPORTS Fourth Report Human Rights Annual Report 2003 HC 389 Third Report Iran HC 80 Second Report Foreign Policy Aspects of the War Against HC 81 (Cm 6162) Terrorism First Report Foreign Affairs Committee Annual Report 2003HC 220 First Special Report Implications of the Work of the House and its HC 440 Committees of the Government’s Lack of Co- operation with the Foreign Affairs Committee’s Inquiry into The Decision to go to War in Iraq MINUTES OF EVIDENCE Written Evidence Overseas Territories HC 114 Written Evidence The Biological Weapons Green Paper HC 113 Written Evidence Private Military Companies HC 115 Written Evidence Turkey HC 116 Session 2002–03 REPORTS Twelfth Report Foreign & Commonwealth Office Annual HC 859 (Cm 6107) Report 2003 Eleventh Report Gibraltar HC 1024 (Cm 5954) Tenth Report Foreign Policy Aspects of the War against HC 405 (Cm 5986) Terrorism Ninth Report The Decision to go to War in Iraq HC 813 (Cm 6062) and (Cm 6123) Eighth Report Zimbabwe HC 339 (Cm 5869) Seventh Report Strategic Export Controls: Annual Report for HC 474 (Cm 5943) 2001, Licensing Policy and Parliamentary Scrutiny Sixth Report The Government’s proposals for secondary HC 620 (Cm 5988) legislation under the Export Control Act Fifth Report The Biological Weapons Green Paper HC 671 (Cm 5857) Fourth Report Human Rights Annual Report 2002 HC 257 (Cm 5320) Third Report Foreign Affairs Committee Annual Report 2002 HC 404 Second Report Foreign Policy Aspects of the War against HC 196 (Cm 5739) Terrorism First Report The Biological Weapons Green Paper HC 150 (Cm 5713) First Special Report Evidence from Mr Andrew Gilligan to the HC 1044 Committee’s Inquiry into the Decision to go to War in Iraq House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee South Africa Fifth Report of Session 2003–04 Report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence Ordered by The House of Commons to be printed 27 April 2004 HC 117 Published on 18 May 2004 by authority of the House of Commons London: The Stationery Office Limited £23.00 The Foreign Affairs Committee The Foreign Affairs Committee is appointed by the House of Commons to examine the expenditure, administration, and policy of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and its associated public bodies. Current membership Rt Hon Donald Anderson MP (Labour, Swansea East) (Chairman) David Chidgey MP (Liberal Democrat, Eastleigh) Fabian Hamilton MP (Labour, Leeds North East) Eric Illsley MP (Labour, Barnsley Central) Rt Hon Andrew Mackay (Conservative, Bracknell) Andrew Mackinlay MP (Labour, Thurrock) John Maples MP (Conservative, Stratford-on-Avon) Bill Olner MP (Labour, Nuneaton) Greg Pope MP (Labour, Hyndburn) Rt Hon Sir John Stanley MP (Conservative, Tonbridge and Malling) Gisela Stuart MP (Labour, Birmingham Edgbaston) The following Members were also members of the Committee during the Parliament. Sir Patrick Cormack MP (Conservative, Staffordshire South) Richard Ottaway MP (Conservative, Croydon South) Powers The Committee is one of the departmental select committees, the powers of which are set out in House of Commons Standing Orders, principally in SO No 152. These are available on the Internet via www.parliament.uk. Publications The Reports and evidence of the Committee are published by The Stationery Office by Order of the House. All publications of the Committee (including press notices) are on the Internet at : www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/foreign_affairs_committee.cfm. A list of Reports produced by the Committee in the present Parliament is printed in the inside front cover of this volume. Committee staff The current staff of the Committee are Steve Priestley (Clerk), Geoffrey Farrar (Second Clerk), Ann Snow (Committee Specialist), Kit Dawnay (Committee Specialist), Kevin Candy (Committee Assistant), Julia Kalogerides (Secretary) and Chintan Makwana (Senior Office Clerk). Contacts All correspondence should be addressed to the Clerks of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Committee Office, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA. The telephone numbers for general enquiries are 020 7219 6106/6105/6394; the Committee’s email address is [email protected]. 1 Contents Report Page Conclusions and recommendations 3 Introduction 9 Background: challenges facing South Africa 12 Economy 12 Inequality 15 HIV/AIDS 16 Crime 18 Land reform 19 UK–South African relations 21 ‘Broad and deep’ 21 ‘Periods of turbulence’ 22 Trade liberalisation 22 War in Iraq 24 Changes in development assistance priorities 25 ‘Brain drain’ 26 South Africa’s role in its region 27 A regional superpower? 27 Peace-making and peace-keeping 30 United Kingdom support 30 Southern African Development Community 31 South Africa and Zimbabwe 34 Background 34 United Kingdom policy towards Zimbabwe 35 South African policy towards Zimbabwe 35 Reasons underlying South Africa’s policy 36 Signs of change 38 The way forward? 38 South Africa’s international role 41 The African Union 41 Commonwealth 43 United Nations 45 UNCHR 45 UN Reform 46 2 South Africa and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development 48 NePAD 48 African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) 49 Response of the United Kingdom and the G8 50 What difference will NePAD make? 51 Value of NePAD 51 Importance of the APRM 51 Response of the G8 53 Conclusion 54 South Africa and the war against terrorism 55 Work of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in South Africa 58 Consular work 59 Visa entry clearance 59 Trade and investment (UKTI) 61 British Council 62 BBC World Service 64 Estate management 65 Conclusion: a special relationship? 67 Annex A 69 List of abbreviations 69 Annex B 71 Visit to South Africa 71 Formal minutes 73 Witnesses 75 List of written evidence 77 3 Conclusions and recommendations 1. We conclude that, while there remains a number of difficult challenges to be faced, the prospects for the South African economy are generally very positive. If it is to deliver the employment and increased national prosperity the country needs, however, a significant increase in direct foreign investment will be needed. We recommend that the Her Majesty’s Government continue to strive to stimulate and encourage private investment in South Africa. (Paragraph 15) 2. We commend the South African Government for its work in tackling so boldly the lack of economic opportunities experienced by many black people in the country. We recommend that the British Government continue to work with its South African counterpart to promote a better understanding of ‘Black Economic Empowerment’ among British investors, and potential investors, and to assist them in seizing the opportunity that it represents. (Paragraph 21) 3. We conclude that the British Government is playing a key role in the fight against the scourge of HIV/AIDS in South Africa, and throughout the world. As always, though, more could be done and we recommend that the Government maintain an active dialogue with the South African Government on this subject in order to assess what further assistance could be given. (Paragraph 28) 4. We conclude that the fight against crime, especially violent crime, is one of the most serious, and difficult, challenges facing South Africa at this time. We recommend that the British Government continue to offer significant assistance to South Africa in this field, and that co-operation projects currently in place are strengthened and improved, particularly those relating to improving the professional training of police officers. (Paragraph 32) 5. We conclude that, at this time, the South African Government appears to be pursuing a sensible and considered policy of land reform, that seeks to address the historically unequal distribution of land in the country. However, we consider it is critical to South Africa’s future prosperity that any moves towards land expropriations similar to those seen in Zimbabwe are firmly resisted. (Paragraph 37) 6. We are pleased to conclude that, in general, South Africa and the United Kingdom enjoy excellent bilateral relations on a very broad front of activities and interests. We recommend that the FCO, in its Response to this Report, sets out how it considers bilateral relations between the United Kingdom and South Africa could be strengthened further in the future. (Paragraph 40) 7. We recommend that, within the constraints imposed on it by the United Kingdom’s membership of the European Union, the British Government should do more to make clear its commitment to opening up trade to the developing world and reforming the CAP at all opportunities. (Paragraph 48) 8. We conclude that the reputation of the United Kingdom in South Africa has undoubtedly been seriously weakened by differences in the two countries’ approach towards Iraq. We recommend that the Government seek to repair the damage done 4 to the relationship by this disagreement, at every possible opportunity. (Paragraph 51) 9. We recommend that, in its response to this Report, the Foreign Office sets out how the cut in DfID’s assistance to middle-income countries will affect the Foreign Office’s work in South Africa, and whether alternative sources of funding will be available to carry on some of the very valuable work being done there. We further recommend that the FCO set out what inter-departmental consultation took place prior to the re-allocation being announced. (Paragraph 54) 10. We recommend that the Government ensure that the United Kingdom, while respecting the rights of individuals, does not denude South Africa of its much- needed skilled professionals and continue to monitor developments in this area. (Paragraph 57) 11. We conclude that South Africa has played a crucial and very welcome role in its conflict resolution work across the continent. It has brought new energy and focus to attempts to settle long-running disputes such as those in Burundi and the DRC.
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