VZCZCXRO1609
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHSA #2443/01 3311426
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 271426Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY PRETORIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0396
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUEHTN/AMCONSUL CAPE TOWN 7381
RUEHDU/AMCONSUL DURBAN 1452
RUEHJO/AMCONSUL JOHANNESBURG 9736

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PRETORIA 002443 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KDEM PGOV ASEC SF POL PAS ECON
SUBJECT: SOUTH AFRICA: POLITICAL NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 20-27 
 
PRETORIA 00002443  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1.  (SBU) This was written in partnership with the Open Source 
Center's Pretoria Bureau.  The newsletter is open to contributions 
from officers in the Embassy or in the Consulates who wish to 
highlight political trends.  Contact Madeline Seidenstricker for 
more information, or to make contributions.  The newsletter also is 
available on the Political Section's blog, "A View from South 
Africa," found on intelink.gov. 
 
------------- 
Domestic News 
------------- 
 
Home Affairs works on new migration policy 
 
¶2.  Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma announced 
that her department is working on developing a new migration policy 
to help government distinguish between economic migrants and 
asylum-seekers.  Dlamini-Zuma, consulting various stakeholders, met 
with COSATU in Johannesburg.  Once the process of consultation is 
completed, the Minister will present the proposals to both Cabinet 
and Parliament for approval and implementation.  This takes place 
against the background of the approval granted by Cabinet for the 
Minister to develop a new migration policy," according to a 
statement issued by the department.  November, 25, 2009, Buanews 
 
SAPS to be assisted by specialized units 
 
¶3.  Minister of Police Nathi Mthethwa announced that the South 
African Police Service (SAPS) will be deploying members of 
specialized tactical teams to provide operational support at grass 
roots level.  According to Mthethwa, the deployment of these units 
is part of the SAPS turnaround strategy adopted after the release of 
crime statistics in October, and is intended to enhance techniques 
aimed at fighting crime.  Tactical teams will be deployed in some 
business areas, particularly in informal and small businesses, and 
residential areas where house robberies are taking place.  Crime 
experts have welcomed the deployment of tactical teams to local 
police stations, calling it "a right move" for government.  Analysts 
have expressed their confidence in this decision but emphasized that 
it would need strategic coordination to ensure that the units work 
cooperatively to stamp out criminals. (November, 24, 2009, Buanews) 
 
 
Scopa calls for Balfour's head 
 
¶4.  Government's watchdog standing committee on public accounts 
(Scopa) called on President Jacob Zuma to recall former Prisons 
Minister Ngconde Balfour from the former Minister's current post as 
Ambassador to Botswana.  Themba Godi, head of Scopa, told reporters 
that the President must show his seriousness about fighting 
corruption and deal with Balfour.  This comes after the special 
investigation unit's (SIU) report released in Parliament last week. 
The SIU's three-year investigation found that alleged corruption to 
the value of R2,1 million took place in the Correctional Services 
Department while Balfour was Minister.( November,24,2009,Sowetan) 
 
 
Men called on to respect women 
 
¶5.  Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu has challenged South African 
men to lead this year's 16 Days of Activism against Women and Child 
Abuse campaign.  The drive kicked off on Wednesday and will end on 
December 10.  It is primarily focused on generating an increased 
awareness of the negative impact of violence on women and children. 
(November, 24, 2009, Eyewitness) 
 
------------------ 
International News 
------------------ 
 
¶6.  (U) The South African government expressed its concern at the 
latest round of Israeli settlement activities in East Jerusalem and 
registered its condemnation of Israel's approval of 900 new 
Qregistered its condemnation of Israel's approval of 900 new 
settlement units in the settlement of Gilo, south of East Jerusalem. 
 South Africa emphasized that the issue of Jerusalem is one of the 
final status issues that needs to be part of a negotiated solution 
to the conflict in the Middle East.  The South African government 
called upon the Israeli government to cease settler activities that 
are reminiscent of apartheid forced removals and resume negotiations 
immediately. (DIRCO Briefing 24 November 2009) 
 
¶7.  (U) The Department of International Relations and Cooperation 
(DIRCO) together with the "Embassy" of Palestine in South Africa and 
the Office of the United Nations in South Africa hosted an annual 
event to celebrate United Nations International Day of Solidarity 
with the people of Palestine on November 25.  The event included a 
seminar with many panelists from both South Africa and Palestine. 
(DIRCO Briefing, November 25) 
 
 
PRETORIA 00002443  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶8.  (U) President Zuma received King Harald V and Queen Sonja of 
Norway for a State Visit November 24-26.  Zuma was supported by 
Minister for Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation, Collins Chabane 
as Acting Minister of International Relations and Cooperation; 
Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies, Minister of Higher 
Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande; Minister of Energy, Ms 
Dipuo Peters; Minister of Environmental and Water Affairs, Ms 
Buyelwa Sonjica; Minister of Land Affairs and Rural Development, 
Minister Gugile Nkwinti; and Minister of Science and Technology; Ms 
Naledi Pandor.  The visit comes within the context of North-South 
Dialogue and further maintaining the already strong bilateral 
relationship between South Africa and Norway. 
President Zuma and King Harald were expected to discuss: 
 
--International Relations and Cooperation- Declaration of Intent on 
Bilateral Cooperation 2010-2014, including the importance of 
partnerships in Africa and trilateral cooperation and Climate change 
 
 
 
--Education and Science & Technology- Cooperation in higher 
education and research 
 
--Energy- MOU to be signed by SASOL and Gassnova and the Norwegian 
involvement in Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) 
 
--Trade and Industry- Cooperation in mutual trade and investments. 
(DIRCO Briefing, November 24). 
 
GIPS