Letter dated 9 October 2003 from the Minister of Foreign Affairs to the Speaker of the National Assembly, in terms of section 65(2)(a) of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No 1 of 1999), explaining the delay in the tabling of the Annual Report and Financial Statements of the Department of Foreign Affairs for 2002-2003:

Dear Madam Speaker

TABLING OF ANNUAL REPORT 2002/03 OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS BY DR NC DLAMINI ZUMA, MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

In terms of section 65(1) of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999, I as the Executive Authority for Department of Foreign Affairs, should have tabled the Department's annual report and financial statements in the National Assembly within six months after the end of the financial year, 30 September 2003.

The reason for the delay in the tabling is that the Department had to re-work the contents of the annual report to truly reflect the work of the Department and government in general.

This written explanation is submitted in terms of section 65(2) of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999, setting out the reasons for the delay.

Please accept my sincere apology for this delay.

Yours sincerely
NKOSAZANA DLAMINI ZUMA
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS