The Speaker:

The President of the Republic submitted the following letter dated 12 August 2003 to the Speaker of the National Assembly informing the National Assembly of the employment of the South African National Defence Force:

EMPLOYMENT OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL DEFENCE FORCE IN ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA IN FULFILLMENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA TOWARDS THE UNITED NATIONS

This serves to inform the National Assembly that on the 12th day of August Two Thousand and Three, I authorised the employment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) personnel to Ethiopia and Eritrea as part of the United Nations Observer Peace Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea.

This employment was authorised in accordance with the provisions of Section 82(4)(b)(ii) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1993 (Act No 2000 of 1993), [which Sections continue to be in force in terms of Item 24(1) of Schedule 6 to the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Act No 108 of 1996)], read with Section 201(2)(c) of the said Constitution of 1996, for service as part of the United Nations Peace Keeping Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea, in fulfillment of the international obligations of the Republic of South Africa towards the United Nations, in terms of Section 227(1)(b) and (c) of the Constitution of 1993, (which section is also still in force by virtue of the aforementioned Item 24) and Section 18(1) read together with Section 11 of the Defence Act, 2002 (Act No 42 of 2002).

A total of three personnel will be employed additional to members that were employed pursuant to authorization given on 5 December 2000.

The expected costs for the deployment of personnel to the mission for three months until 31 March 2004, R82 500.

The current Defence allocation has been reprioritized to cover this expenditure.

I will also communicate this report to the Members of the National Council of Provinces, and wish to request that you bring the contents of this report to the notice of the National Assembly.

Regards
T M MBEKI