Criteria for the Stay in South Africa of Retiring Heads of State or Heads of Government as Guests of South Africa

 NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

FOR WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION NO: 857

PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 19 DATED 8 JUNE 2007

Dr PWA Mulder (FF Plus) to ask the Minister of Foreign Affairs

• Whether her department and/or the Government have fixed criteria whereby consideration is given to requests to let deposed and retiring heads of state and/or heads of government to stay in South Africa as guests of the country; if not, what criteria are used to enable a certain deposed head of state (name furnished) to remain living in South Africa as a guest, if so, what criteria are used;

• Whether her department and/or the Government are planning to determine criteria that will be used regarding future requests to let deposed and retiring heads of state and/or heads of government live in South Africa as guests of the country; if not, (a) why not and (b) how will such future request be considered; if so, when will the criteria be determined and available? N1245E

REPLY

1. No, South Africa has no fixed criteria, but each case is dealt with on its merits. This was in compliance with a regional organisation and in the interest of resolving problems in that country.

2. Further requests will be dealt with in a similar fashion.