Status of the Organisation of a Function in Auckland, New Zealand by a South Africa Foreign Mission abroad

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

FOR WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION NO 1075

PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 36 OF 12 NOVEMBER 2004

MR LB LABUSCHAGNE TO ASK THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS:

(1) Whether any South Africa foreign mission abroad organised a function in Auckland, New Zealand, during the latest six-month period for which information is available; if so, (on what date, (b) what was the purpose of the function and (c) what was the cost to the taxpayer of (i) airfares and other transport, (ii) accommodation and daily subsistence allowances, (iii) venue hire, (iv) equipment hire, (v) publicity and marketing for the event, (vi) food and drinks provided at the event and (vii) entertainment;

(2) Whether any persons were flown from South Africa to attend the event; if so, (a) what is the name of each such person and (b) what was the purpose of flying them to New Zealand for the event;

(3) Whether any remuneration or honorarium was paid to any of these persons; if not, why not; if so, what amounts were paid to each specified person? N1571E

REPLY:

1. No, the High Commission in Canberra, which is also responsible for New Zealand, participated in an event in Auckland, New Zealand. The event was organised by the South African community in New Zealand in collaboration with GCO Agencies, an entertainment and events company owned by former South Africans based in Auckland.

(a) On 6 November 2004.

(b) The purpose of the event, entitled, the "Out of Africa" Festival, was to celebrate South Africa's 10 years of democracy. It was in line with a series of similar events arranged by South African missions all over the world to mark 2004 as the year in which South Africa celebrated a decade of freedom.

(c) (i) A$7 789 (approximately R 47 000).

(ii) A$ 2 306.06 (approximately R 13 835).

All funds for airfares, other transportation, accommodation and subsistence were taken from the High Commission's 10-Year Celebration budget.

(iii-vii) No tax payers' money was utilised for any of these items.

2. None.

(a) Three South African entertainers flew to New Zealand for the event from private funds. They were: Dmitri Jegels - 1st black radio announcer - who was MC for the event, Trevor Davids, P4 radio character "Sister" and Esti van Rooyen, a solo artist (all from Cape Town).

(b) The purpose of inviting the three entertainers to New Zealand was to give New Zealanders a taste of South African entertainment and to promote an understanding and appreciation of South Africa and its people.

(3) No remuneration or honorarium was paid to any of the entertainers. SAA sponsored their return flights from Cape Town to Perth, while GCO Agencies covered the return flights from Perth to Auckland for Trevor Davids and Dmitri Jegels. Esti van Rooyen paid for her own return flight from Perth to Auckland.

Accommodation and expenses for Trevor Davids and Dmitri Jegels were covered by GCO Agencies, while Esti van Rooyen's accommodation and other expenses in New Zealand were covered by the South African Club in New Zealand.

The three artists, as well as several local New Zealand artists, performed free of charge, as they regarded their performance as their contribution to the global celebration of South Africa's 10 years of democracy.

END