Status on the Properties and Interests of South Africa Citizens in Zimbabwe

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

FOR WRITTEN REPLY

QUESTION NO: 2060

PUBLISHED IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. OF 23 NOVEMBER 2007

Mr A J Botha (DA) to ask the Minister of Foreign Affairs:

(1) Whether, with reference to her reply to Question 103 on 27 March 2002 (copy furnished: Annex A ), the Government still regards the situation in respect of the South African citizens’ interests in Zimbabwe as normalised; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) what positive results have been obtained in respect of the large number of South African properties in Zimbabwe that have been expropriated and property owners forcibly evicted from their properties without any adequate compensation and (b) what steps are being or will be taken to protect South African citizens’ interests which have been negatively affected by the Zimbabwean government’s actions; (2) whether any retaliatory steps are being or will be considered against the Zimbabwean authorities for damages suffered by South African citizens as a result of their actions; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW3134E

REPLY:

1. The South African Government including the Embassy in Harare continues to intervene if there are any threats to the property rights of the South African citizens as well as South African companies.

a) The Zimbabwean authorities have acknowledged the concerns raised by South Africa and undertook to respond.

b) The South African Government continues to engage with the Zimbabwean Government through diplomatic channels in an effort to ensure the safety and security of all South African citizens and their properties.

2. South Africa will continue to engage, through proper diplomatic channels to ensure protection of the South African citizen’s properties and good bilateral relations between these two countries .