Contrary to media reports, the Africa Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) was tabled and will be discussed at the next African Union summit, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Aziz Pahad told reporters on Monday.
”It was tabled last night [Sunday]. As it is with all reports that are tabled, the country that is reviewed gives its own view in relation to the report.
”It will now be studied by heads of state and will be discussed in the next summit,” Pahad said in Pretoria.
He said it was unfortunate that confidential reports are leaked, which results in selected distortions of the report.
”We have committed ourselves fully to the APRM process and we will indulge in discussions with all sectors to look at the final report and see where the necessary changes must be made.”
Pahad said Mbeki responded to the review at the summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The Afrikaans daily, Beeld, reported on Monday that the report, which criticises the crime rate in South Africa, among other things, was not tabled before the African Union’s head of state at the summit.
The APRM forum dropped the South Africa peer report from its agenda on Sunday morning, Beeld reported. — Sapa