Zuma’s daughter comes to his defence
MK Party MP Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla has come to the defence of former president Jacob Zuma when his government was accused of failing to make “genuine efforts in halting bloodshed and violence” in Sudan.
She spoke during the Department of International Relations and Co-operation's briefing to Parliament on the conflict in Sudan, the DRC and South Africa's role in finding a lasting solution to the conflicts.
DA MP Emma Powell said it would be remiss not to acknowledge South Africa's failure to make “genuine efforts in halting the bloodshed and violence” in Sudan in 2015.
Powell said Zuma's government did not execute the ICC arrest warrant that had been issued for Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir and allowed him to leave South Africa without requesting the NPA to issue an arrest warrant.
Zuma-Sambudla said the criticism of Zuma for protecting al-Bashir ignored the complexities of Sudanese internal politics and the role of Western nations in destabilising that region.
“President Zuma's stance was rooted in protecting African sovereignty against external manipulation,” she said.
Zuma-Sambudla accused the DA of hypocrisy and selective outrage against African leaders such as Zuma and al-Bashir.
“They (the DA) remain silent on Western leaders' actions that have contributed to the conflict in Sudan and the DRC. The DA aligns with Western policies that perpetuate exploitation of African resources, which have been a significant factor in the conflict in Sudan and the DRC and throughout Africa,” she added.
“As the MK Party we are in full agreement with the honourable member of the EFF that some of the African problems must have African solutions.
“We also reiterate that we encourage the system ofBRICS, which includes Russia in this matter,” Zuma-Sambudla said.
EFF MP Mothusi Kenneth Montwedi commended the South African government for not arresting al-Bashir, saying problems in Africa need African solutions.
“No ICC must tell us how to deal with problems in Africa, having failed to deal with problems where the UN has been actively involved in bringing about all those problems in other parts of the world,” Montwedi said.
In his introductory remarks to the meeting of the international relations and co-operation portfolio committee, Minister Ronald Lamola said resolving the conflicts in Sudan and the DRC would go a long way towards enhancing economic development as the conflicts were wars on humanity leaving violence, hunger and displacement of people in their wake.
Lamola said South African foreign policy was centred on peaceful resolution of disputes as a mechanism of resolving conflicts and wars within and between states.
“Since the advent of democracy in 1994, our country has championed mediation and negotiation as a key instrument of engagement to resolve inter- and intra-state conflict.
“Throughout the past three decades South Africa has devoted herself towards efforts that promote peace, emphasising the nexus between peace and development.”
He said the crises in Sudan and the DRC came in the wake of the progress the continent experienced in consolidating democracy and the mission and agenda of the AU to “silence the guns”.
“These conflicts threaten and undermine development efforts and, if left unattended, will derail the democratic gains Africa has achieved in the past two decades.”
Lamola said South Africa stood ready to facilitate a process to bring the warring groups together in the interest of peace in Sudan.
“We continue to support the AU peace initiatives in this regard. An immediate priority for the warring parties is to cease hostilities and observe a ceasefire and begin negotiations to transform the country into a peaceful and democratic future.”
Lamola said developments in the eastern parts of the DRC posed a threat to regional peace and security.
The South African government continued to be actively involved in pursuit of peace, stability and security in the DRC and contributed troops to the Force Intervention Brigade since 2013 in the UN stabilisation mission in DRC. “In its capacity as guarantor of the peace and security co-operation framework, South Africa has dedicated itself to support the DRC in achieving sustainable peace, security and stability. It will continue to collaborate with the AU, SADC and international community.”