Status on the former Leaders and / or their Families of any Government and / or Political Party who have been granted Asylum in / or Exiled to South Africa since 1994

QUOTE

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

FOR WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION NO: 234

PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 2 OF 19 FEBRUARY 2010
           
Mr KS Mubu (DA) to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation:

1.Whether any former leader and / or their families of any (a) government and / or (b) political party have been (i) granted asylum in and / or (ii) exiled to South Africa since 1994: if so, (aa) who are these persons, (bb) from which country, (cc) what is the reason in each case and (dd) from what date are each of these persons in South Africa; (2) whether the Government provides any (a) security and / or (b) financial support to any of the persons listed above; if not, why not; if so, what are the (i) cost involved, (ii) duration and (iii) details in each case?

REPLY:

HAITI:

1. Yes

(a) Haiti.

(aa) Former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and his family.

(bb) Haiti

(cc) The South African Government, at the behest of the African Union (AU) and the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM), continues to provide accommodation and services to former President Aristide until conditions in Haiti permit the return of the former President and his family.

(dd) 2004.

2. Yes

(aa) Yes

(bb) Yes

(i) The monthly costs related to Mr Aristide and his family’s accommodation, transport, office support staff and security are similar to the cost associated to a South Africa Cabinet Minister.

(ii) Until conditions in Haiti permit the return of the former President and his family.

MADAGASCAR:

1. Former President Marc Ravalomanana and his family are presently exiled in South Africa (without asylum having been requested or granted).

(a) Republic of Madagascar.

(aa) Former President Marc Ravalomanana and his family.

(bb) Republic of Madagascar.

(cc) South Africa, at the request of the SADC, agreed to host former President             Ravalomanana until the situation permits him to return to Madagascar.

(dd) March 2009.

2.
(a) Yes. Security provided by the South African Police Services.

UNQUOTE