The President of the Republic submitted the following letter dated 10 October 2003 to the Presiding Officers informing Parliament of the employment of the South African National Defence Force:

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

This serves to inform Parliament that on the 8th day of October Two Thousand and Three, I authorised the employment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) personnel in Liberia as part of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) in compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 1509 of September 2003.

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 200 of 1993), [which Section continues 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 Mission in Liberia, in fulfillment of the international obligations of the Republic of South Africa towards the United Nations, and 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 20 of the Defence Act, 2002 (Act No 42 of 2002).

A total of three (3) personnel will be employed for a period of twelve (12) months from 1 October 2003 to September 2004.

The expected costs for the deployment of personnel to the mission for the period is R241 623 00. The South African contribution will be reimbursed at standard United Nations rates.

Regards
SIGNED
T M MBEKI