Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian

What SA’s international role costs the taxpayer

2 min read

From hosting the World Summit on Sustainable Development to the African Union inaugural summit and mediating in the Burundi ceasefire negotiations, South Africa’s taxpayers are picking up the tab — just short of an extra R427-million over and above February’s budget allocations.

The costs of South Africa’s new international role as outlined in Minister of Finance Trevor Manuel’s medium term budget policy statement are as follows:

  • R67,4-million to foreign affairs, including R37-million to host the African Union inaugural summit, R6-million for costs incurred as the first African Union chair and R10-million for South Africa’s role in negotiations for a democratic transition in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

  • R60,27-million to the Department of Defence for its continued presence in Burundi as ceasefire negotiations continue and R6,92-million for the military police that form part of the United Nations contingent in Congo. Another R14,81-million was allocated for security at the World Summit.

  • R59,08-million to the Department of Safety and Security for security at the World Summit, including allowances and accommodation for policemen, on top of the R20-million already allocated in the February 2002 budget. And R57-million so that the South African Police Service complies with the 2001 Telecommunications Act, which moves all users of the 1800MHz band to other channels.

  • R157,6-million to the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism for the World Summit, which cost an estimated preliminary R512-million, although a final tally is still outstanding. The additional allocation was needed to cover the cost of running the Ubuntu Village, accommodating officials and creating the necessary information technology infrastructure.

  • R2,06-million went to Parliament for convening a meeting of the Inter-parliamentary Union ahead of the World Summit and another R1,84-million for hosting the Pan-African parliament that preceded the launch of the African Union.