QUESTION 

Adv G Breytenbach (DA) to ask the President of the Republic:

What criteria informed his selection of the panel to make the recommendation on the appointment of the next National Director of Public Prosecutions?

 

NO6751E

Honourable Members, 

The Constitution empowers the President to appoint the National Director of Public Prosecutions without stipulating any criteria to this effect. 

Although there are no requirements in law to do so, I decided to constitute a panel to assist in the process of the appointment of the next NDPP, in terms of calling for nominations, shortlisting candidates and interviewing the shortlisted candidates.

This is exactly similar to the process I followed in appointing the current NDPP, Adv Shamila Batohi. 

This process is transparent and helps to build public confidence in this critical office.

I selected a panel that would combine a variety of skills and experiences. These include public service administration, financial management, legal and jurisprudence, administration of justice, and promotion of equality and human rights. 

The panel I constituted includes representatives from the National Executive, Chapter 9 institutions and legal bodies.   

I chose the heads of certain of the Chapter 9 institutions for the panel because these are independent bodies established to support and protect South Africa's constitutional democracy. 

They are required to always act impartially and subject only to the Constitution and the law, ensuring their decisions are made without fear, favour or prejudice.

They are therefore well positioned to understand the qualities and capabilities expected of an NDPP.

I have included legal practitioners in the advisory panel so that candidates are evaluated by people who have experience in the legal and criminal justice system.

In addition to their legal acumen, candidates must be able to demonstrate qualities and capabilities relating to leadership, strategic management, financial management, ethical leadership, and broad understanding of our criminal justice system.

Based on their assessment, the panel will submit a shortlist of recommended candidates to me for consideration and appointment as empowered by the Constitution and the NPA Act. 

I thank you.

 

QUESTION 

The Leader of the Opposition (MK) to ask the President of the Republic:

1. Whether, in view of his constitutional obligations under section 83 of the Constitution of the Republic, 1996, to uphold, defend and respect the Constitution, and the National Assembly’s duty under section 55(2) of the Constitution to hold the Executive accountable, he as the Head of State and Government or through any Minister acting on his instruction, authorised the deployment of the Special Task Force and the National Intervention Unit to Richards Bay Minerals; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, under which statutory or constitutional authority was such deployment made;
2. Whether Cabinet, Parliament and/or any oversight body was informed or consulted prior to or after the deployment; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details of the consultations?

 

NO6996E

Honourable Members, 

The President is not responsible for the authorisation of the deployment of the South African Police Service Special Task Force or the National Intervention Unit.

Such deployment falls within the statutory and operational authority of the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service.

I have consequently not authorised any deployment of these teams, either to Richards Bay Minerals or to any other place.

I thank you.

 

QUESTION 

Mr M Ntuli (ANC) to ask the President of the Republic:

In light of the fact that the Republic is hosting the G20 Summit, whereupon he commissioned a G20 global report on inequality amid macroeconomic fears that global wealth and income inequality, which are already very high, are set to increase sharply, what are the envisaged outcomes that the Republic desires from the G20 Summit that will (a) reform the global financial architecture and (b) address some of the challenges that hold back the economic growth and development of many of the developing countries, especially in Africa?

 

NO6737E

Honourable Members, 

South Africa’s G20 Presidency is being held under the theme ‘Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability’.

In line with these principles, we are working to foster a more stable, a more effective and resilient international financial architecture. 

The envisaged outcomes of the G20 Leaders’ Summit include agreement on strengthening multilateral development banks, such as the World Bank, IMF and African Development Bank.

This builds on the work of Brazil’s G20 Presidency on a roadmap to make these institutions much better, and more effective in helping countries meet their sustainable development goals.

We expect the Summit to make a political commitment to address debt vulnerabilities in low and middle-income countries.  

These debt vulnerabilities constrain their fiscal space, their ability to address poverty and inequality, and their capacity to invest in growth and development. 

The Johannesburg Leaders’ Declaration is expected to include a commitment to further strengthen the implementation of the G20 Common Framework for Debt Treatment in a predictable, timely and coordinated manner. 

The Summit will urge the international community to support vulnerable countries with a strong reform agenda whose debt is sustainable but are facing liquidity challenges.

Related to this, the Summit is expected to support efforts to strengthen the global financial safety net and enhance the representation of developing economies in decision-making in the international economic and financial world.

There will also be a focus on promoting sustainable capital flows to emerging markets and fostering sound policy frameworks and central bank independence. 

South Africa is presiding over the G20 at a time when the world is faced with increasing wealth and income inequalities. 

It was against this background that we established the G20 Extraordinary Committee of Independent Experts on Global Wealth Inequality, chaired by Professor Joseph Stiglitz the Nobel Laureate. 

The Committee submitted their report to me earlier this week, providing a comprehensive analysis of global inequality and recommending specific actions that leaders need to take to address this challenge.

These actions will include the reform of international economic rules, such as redesigning intellectual property rules and rewriting tax rules to ensure fair taxation of multinationals and the ultra-wealthy.

National actions could also include pro-worker regulation, reducing corporate concentration, taxing large capital gains, investing in public services. 

The report also recommends new models for cooperation between countries, for instance on taxes, and others.

A key recommendation is the creation of a new international and independent panel that will monitor inequality trends and ensure policies for addressing inequality.

I thank you. 

 

QUESTION

Mr JS Malema (EFF) to ask the President of the Republic:

1. Whether he has been informed of the recent murder of seven young persons at Better Life in Philippi, Cape Town; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so,
2. Whether he is concerned with the escalation of incidences of daily killings and mass murders in Cape Town and the clear indications that the City, the Western Cape provincial government and the SA Police Service are not able to protect innocent and vulnerable persons in Cape Town from the marauding gangs; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what immediate to medium term policing policy interventions does he intend to put in place to guarantee the safety of persons living in townships in Cape Town?    

 

NO6752E

Honourable Members, 

All South Africans must be concerned at the apparent rise in gangster-related killings in Cape Town and other parts of our country. 

Every part of society needs to work together in support of our criminal justice system to bring these killings to an end.

The murder of seven young men at the Better Life informal settlement in Philippi is one of the most recent cases of brutality.

The Philippi case remains under active investigation by our policd. To date, five suspects have been apprehended in connection with that crime.

The safety, protection and well-being of all residents remain a central operational priority of the South African Police Service.

In response to the persistent threat of gang-related violence, the South African Police Service, in collaboration with the Western Cape Provincial Government and the City of Cape Town, is implementing an integrated, intelligence-led and driven multi-disciplinary approach. This is aimed at countering organised criminal networks and restoring stability in affected areas. 

As part of this broader framework, Operation Lockdown, implemented as a national intervention operation, was launched to stabilise identified high-crime precincts through the deployment of specialised national resources and tactical units. 

Immediate and medium-term policing interventions currently being implemented include enhanced intelligence capability. This involves strengthening intelligence collection, analysis and dissemination to proactively identify and disrupt gang operations.

These interventions also include focused operational deployment.

This involves targeted, intelligence-led operations, such as Operation Shanela and Project Combat, which focuses on the recovery of illegal firearms, dismantling of drug distribution networks and the apprehension of wanted gang affiliates.

Thr South African Police Service  implemented Operation Lockdown II to stabilise gang-affected areas in the Western Cape through the deployment of specialised national resources, such as the National Intervention Unit, Tactical Response Team, and the Public Order Policing. 

Operation Lockdown III has now been launched, integrating the Anti-Gang Unit and intelligence components to sustain high-impact operations across Cape Town and surrounding areas. 

Through sustained operational focus, intelligence-led policing and strengthened community partnerships, the South African Police Service continues to prioritise the stabilisation of gang-affected areas and the protection of innocent and vulnerable persons. 

The South African Police Service provincial management will continue to monitor progress and adapt a number of strategies to maintain peace, order, and public confidence. 
 
I thank you.

 

QUESTION

Mr NM Hadebe (IFP) to ask the President of the Republic:

In view of the growing crisis of illegal migration in the Republic, which, according to various experts and civil society representatives, continues to strain public resources, undermine national security, and fuel social tensions, and given the calls for decisive government action to repatriate those who are in the Republic unlawfully while promoting legal and skills-based migration, (a) what policy interventions does he intend to initiate to address the crisis of the estimated 15% of undocumented foreign nationals and (b) how will the Government coordinate law enforcement and Home Affairs to enforce immigration laws and secure the Republic’s borders?

 

NO7000E

Honourable Members, 

One of the most important intervention to tackle the problem of illegal immigration is to secure our borders.

The newly-established Border Management Authority has deployed 600 border guards at vulnerable segments of our country border to prevent illegal migrants that are undocumented and are inadmissible from entering the country. 

The Border Management Authority has demonstrated the effectiveness of modern technology like the utilisation of drones and body cameras in creating a more secure, and digital border environment.

Phase one of the Electronic Travel Authorisation system is currently being rolled out for the G20 delegates. 

Over 200 applications have already been seamlessly processed by this new system, which uses machine learning to verify the authenticity of documents and facial recognition to secure the immigration process. 

Following the stabilisation phase around the G20, Electronic Travel Authorisation will be opened for tourist visas and other visa categories. This will ultimately lead to the automation of entry-and-exit processes at our borders, including land borders. 

This will eliminate the space for the abuse of paper-based and manual processes through biometric verification and digital transformation.

Another area of work is to detect, apprehend and deport illegal migrants in our country.

This is mainly done through intelligence-driven joint operations planned and executed by the Department of Home Affairs Inland Inspectorate and other structures. These structures are coordinated and account to the Inter-Ministerial Consultative Committee on Border Management and our NATJOINTS.

In the past financial year, over 51,000 illegal immigrants were deported.

Engagements with countries whose nationals are frequent transgressors are ongoing through discussions with their embassies, and these matters are also included as an Agenda item on the Bi-National Commissions that we have with a number of countries. This is to ensure that the implication of illegal migration is understood.

Illegal immigration does place a strain on our social services and it also undermines our national security. 

We should not however allow vigilante acts targeting foreign nationals as these do not solve the problem and they just undermine the rule of law.

Instead, we need to address this challenge by strengthening the enforcement of our laws and the resourcing of the border management capabilities.

I thank you.

 

QUESTION 

Ms LS Makhubela (ANC) to ask the President of the Republic:

1. In light of the global economic trade flow disruptions arising from unilateral imposition of tariffs, the investment confidence challenges that negatively impact the domestic industry performance and economic growth prospects and the Cabinet’s recently endorsed economic response package to the 30% tariffs imposed by the United States of America, there is now also an imminent imposition of 50% European Union tariffs on the steel industry, what is the Government’s comprehensive response to the global economic volatility that negatively impacts the major domestic industries, particularly the steel and related sectors;
2. How will the Government’s ambitious strategic investment drive as part of its Investment Strategy to boost foreign direct investment, reinforce direct investment in the productive sectors of the economy to ignite industrial growth, localisation and diversification?

 

NO6738E

Honourable Members,

Part of a comprehensive response to global economic trade flow disruptions is the acceleration of the diversification of markets and products of South African exports.

While we are actively engaged with both the both the European Union and the United States on negotiating trade agreements, we are prioritising implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area and expanding export initiatives as well as to established and emerging markets globally. 

The aim is to expand opportunities for South African products across a range of sectors, to develop increased resilience of South African exports in dynamic global markets, and to manage the risk that results from targeting too few markets.

While the recent tariffs are likely to disrupt export flows, they can also serve as a catalyst for deeper continental integration and faster implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area’s trade liberalisation as well as industrialisation agenda. 

South Africa’s strategic investment drive aims to attract increased foreign direct investment and reinforce domestic investment in key productive sectors. 

Priority areas include manufacturing, renewable energy, mining beneficiation, ICT and agriculture and agro-processing.

These are all important for expanding industrial capacity in our country, promoting localisation and creating sustainable employment.

Over the past few months, I have personally engaged with many investors to ensure that we both understand impediments to investment and work closely with ministers to ensure that we create an investor friendly environment. 

Through strategic infrastructure investment in our own country in energy, transport and digital systems, we are improving industrial competitiveness, reducing the cost of doing business and supporting long-term economic growth.

This is further advanced through policy and regulatory reforms to enhance investor confidence and simplify investment procedures to make our country a preferred investment destination. 

Partnerships with the private sector and development finance institutions are being used to mobilise capital for strategic projects, while promoting green and inclusive industrialisation. 

The B20 process – which is taking place alongside the G20 – is an important opportunity for the many companies that will be visiting South Africa to explore bilateral opportunities, seek partnerships and achieve greater understanding of the many opportunities that we will display and showcase. 

All of the interventions we are making are aligned with South Africa’s commitments under the African Continental Free Trade Area aimed at diversifying the economy, strengthening local value chains and positioning our country as a leading investment destination on the Continent.

I thank you.