Status on Shortcomings that hampered South Africa’s Performance during its previous Tenure in 2007-08 as a Non-Permanent Member within the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)

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NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

FOR WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION NO: 544 (NW591E)

PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 3-2011 OF 25 FEBRUARY 2011

MR L.S. NGONYAMA (COPE) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION:

1. Whether she has identified any shortcomings that have hampered South Africa’s performance during its previous tenure in 2007-08 as a non-permanent member within the United Nations Security Council (UNSC); if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) what shortcomings have been identified and (b) what are the further relevant details;
   
   
2. Whether she has taken any steps to deal with these shortcomings; if not, why not; if so, what steps;
   
   
3. Whether she has any plans in place with regard to raising concerns and opinions within the UNSC in 2011 – 2012 to ensure that previous mistakes are not repeated; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

REPLY:

South Africa’s first stint in the United Nations Security Council in 2007 and 2008 greatly enriched South Africa’s understanding of the Council.  It also enabled the country to better play its role as a non permanent member of the Security Council.  Council membership provided South Africa with an opportunity to promote the African Agenda and South Africa’s national interests, as well as to advance the maintenance of international peace and security.  South Africa’s track record and experience in peacekeeping operations, conflict prevention and mediation especially in Africa means that the country has intimate knowledge of conditions on the ground where Council resolutions are applicable.  In this connection, South Africa was instrumental in creating synergies between the work of the United Nations Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council, with the aim of preventing conflict on the continent.  We continue to strive to promote a culture of collective responsibility and collective responses in dealing with the current peace and security challenges.  South Africa also continues to work with other like-minded member states towards improving the working methods of the Security Council to make it a more accountable, transparent and representative body. 

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