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Statement on the South African - Belgian
Annual Consultations on Development Cooperation
The second annual consultations on Development cooperation
between South Africa and Belgium took place on the 6th
of February 2003 in Brussels. The South African delegation
was led by Mr Shahid Rajie, Chief Director: International
Development Cooperation, National Treasury, accompanied
by Ambassador Jerry Matjila, Ambassador to Belgium,
Luxembourg and Head of Mission to the European Communities.
The annual consultation assesses the execution of the
2001-2005 Indicative Development cooperation programme
between South Africa and Belgium, concluded in August
2001.
The indicative programme defines the following priority
sectors:
Health with special attention to HIV/AIDS-TB
Land reform
Safety and security
Conflict prevention and democratization
In the past year, a solid base was laid for an accelerated
execution of the programme. The General Agreement on
Development Cooperation and the Agreement Regulating
Technical Assistance signed between South Africa and
Belgium in 2002, provide the legal basis of the cooperation.
Projects for a total amount of Euro 12.1 million were
started.
With the assistance of a Study fund, the departments
can now be assisted in a flexible way in their policy
development and the formulation of projects.
The support to the department of Health became real
with the signing of an agreement for support to HIV/AIDS-TB
prevention, care and support within the department (Euro
6.2 million). This project will improve the health services
on the local level and increase the capacity of the
department in the planning process.
The land restitution to victims of apartheid was supported
with a project of Euro 1.4 million. The project provided
for a first analysis of all the claims. From now on,
a more systematic approach to land claims will be possible.
A project for safety and security in collaboration
with the South African Police Service (SAPS) will be
signed soon (Euro 3.0 million). This funding will improve
the quality of service delivery by police stations to
the population.
In the framework of the peace process in Burundi, a
cooperation agreement was signed with the Ministry of
Defence (Euro 5.5 million). This is a successful example
of tripartite cooperation.
Next year, the next stage of the indicative programme
will be implemented.
There will be more funding in the selected sectors
for an estimated minimum amount of Euro 9.7 million.
A new project estimated at Euro 6.0 million will continue
the support to the South African policy of land restitution,
prioritizing the claims of poor, rural groups. A second
project with the department of Health will provide training
(Euro 3.7 million). There would also be a possibility
of funding further projects in the land reform process,
perhaps in the sector of post settlement support.
Both parties also reiterated their support for the
NEPAD process, and the means to support the development
of the process will be further explored.
Issued by the South African Embassy to Belgium and
Luxembourg and Mission to the European Communities
Brussels, 6 February 2003
For any additional information, please contact First
Secretary Ms. Suhayfa Zia at the South African Embassy,
Brussels. Tel: 02-285 44 05
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