Conclusions and recommendations
1. We
conclude that, while there remains a number of difficult challenges
to be faced, the prospects for the South African economy are generally
very positive. If it is to deliver the employment and increased
national prosperity the country needs, however, a significant
increase in direct foreign investment will be needed. We recommend
that the Her Majesty's Government continue to strive to stimulate
and encourage private investment in South Africa. (Paragraph 15)
2. We commend the
South African Government for its work in tackling so boldly the
lack of economic opportunities experienced by many black people
in the country. We recommend that the British Government continue
to work with its South African counterpart to promote a better
understanding of 'Black Economic Empowerment' among British investors,
and potential investors, and to assist them in seizing the opportunity
that it represents. (Paragraph 21)
3. We conclude that
the British Government is playing a key role in the fight against
the scourge of HIV/AIDS in South Africa, and throughout the world.
As always, though, more could be done and we recommend that the
Government maintain an active dialogue with the South African
Government on this subject in order to assess what further assistance
could be given. (Paragraph 28)
4. We conclude that
the fight against crime, especially violent crime, is one of the
most serious, and difficult, challenges facing South Africa at
this time. We recommend that the British Government continue to
offer significant assistance to South Africa in this field, and
that co-operation projects currently in place are strengthened
and improved, particularly those relating to improving the professional
training of police officers. (Paragraph 32)
5. We conclude that,
at this time, the South African Government appears to be pursuing
a sensible and considered policy of land reform, that seeks to
address the historically unequal distribution of land in the country.
However, we consider it is critical to South Africa's future prosperity
that any moves towards land expropriations similar to those seen
in Zimbabwe are firmly resisted. (Paragraph 37)
6. We are pleased
to conclude that, in general, South Africa and the United Kingdom
enjoy excellent bilateral relations on a very broad front of activities
and interests. We recommend that the FCO, in its Response to this
Report, sets out how it considers bilateral relations between
the United Kingdom and South Africa could be strengthened further
in the future. (Paragraph 40)
7. We recommend that,
within the constraints imposed on it by the United Kingdom's membership
of the European Union, the British Government should do more to
make clear its commitment to opening up trade to the developing
world and reforming the CAP at all opportunities. (Paragraph 48)
8. We conclude that
the reputation of the United Kingdom in South Africa has undoubtedly
been seriously weakened by differences in the two countries' approach
towards Iraq. We recommend that the Government seek to repair
the damage done to the relationship by this disagreement, at every
possible opportunity. (Paragraph 51)
9. We recommend that,
in its response to this Report, the Foreign Office sets out how
the cut in DfID's assistance to middle-income countries will affect
the Foreign Office's work in South Africa, and whether alternative
sources of funding will be available to carry on some of the very
valuable work being done there. We further recommend that the
FCO set out what inter-departmental consultation took place prior
to the re-allocation being announced. (Paragraph 54)
10. We recommend that
the Government ensure that the United Kingdom, while respecting
the rights of individuals, does not denude South Africa of its
much-needed skilled professionals and continue to monitor developments
in this area. (Paragraph 57)
11. We conclude that
South Africa has played a crucial and very welcome role in its
conflict resolution work across the continent. It has brought
new energy and focus to attempts to settle long-running disputes
such as those in Burundi and the DRC. We recommend that the United
Kingdom continue to offer every assistance to South Africa to
strengthen its work in this vital field, while remaining fully
involved in the continent itself. We further recommend that, in
its response to this Report, the FCO set out how it sees further
co-operation in the field of peace-keeping work and training of
regional forces developing in the long-term. (Paragraph 68)
12. We conclude that
SADC has the potential to play a very valuable role in helping
to solve many of the challenges facing its region. If it is to
realise this potential, however, and to be taken seriously as
a respected international organisation, it must be willing to
recognise the failings of member states whose behaviour does not
meet the expectations placed upon them by SADC's high aspirations.
(Paragraph 74)
13. We recommend that
the British Government continue to work with South Africa, as
a key player in the organisation, to support SADC's work generally
and encourage it to take seriously its role in promoting good
governance and respect for human rights. (Paragraph 75)
14. We conclude that:
(Paragraph 96)
a) South Africa and the United Kingdom unquestionably
share the same objective for Zimbabwe—the return to a fully-functioning
and economically vibrant democracy that respects the human rights
of its citizens; (Paragraph 96.a)
b) South Africa is acting in the manner it sincerely
believes to be the most effective and the most likely to bring
about the desired goal identified above; (Paragraph 96.b)
c) the situation of the Zimbabwean people will
continue to deteriorate unless effective pressure is brought to
bear on the Government of Robert Mugabe to change its disastrous
and self-seeking policies, and South Africa is the best placed
external force to stimulate that change; and (Paragraph 96.c)
d) South Africa, and the region more generally,
will continue to suffer from Zimbabwe's plight until such a change
takes place, not least by deterring much-needed foreign direct
investment. (Paragraph 96.d)
15. We recommend that
the British Government: (Paragraph 97)
a) continue to maintain the strongest possible
pressure on the Zimbabwean Government to respect the human rights
of its citizens and to call free and fair elections, especially
through multilateral means; (Paragraph 97.a)
b) recognise the importance of South Africa in
achieving a long-term solution to the severe crisis affecting
Zimbabwe; (Paragraph 97.b)
c) seek the closest possible co-operation with
South Africa on achieving the mutually desired outcome of a peaceful
and democratic Zimbabwe; and (Paragraph 97.c)
d) seek to promote a greater understanding of
its genuine concerns about Zimbabwe in South Africa, and elsewhere
on the continent, and the facts about the land reform issue. (Paragraph
97.d)
16. We conclude that
the African Union holds the potential to deliver significant improvements
in the standard of life for Africans, and should be fully supported
by the United Kingdom and the EU. The recent creation of an African
court of human rights and the agreement on a continental peace-keeping
force are to be particularly welcomed, demonstrating, as they
do, a commitment to tackle some of the most fundamental problems
facing Africa at this time. South Africa has played a crucial
role in all these developments. (Paragraph 106)
17. We recommend that
the Government continue to work with South Africa, and all its
African partners, to assist the AU in realising the impressive
ambitions it has set for itself. (Paragraph 107)
18. We conclude that
South Africa plays a crucial role as a leading member of the Commonwealth,
actively supporting the organisation's aim of bridging the gap
between the developed and developing worlds and supporting global
respect for human rights. The recent disagreements over Zimbabwe
at Commonwealth meetings—the issue that "poisons everything
it touches"—should not be allowed to damage the organisation's
very valuable work, nor the UK's working relationship with South
Africa within the body. We recommend that the British Government
seek every possible opportunity to restore any damage done to
inter-Commonwealth relations by the recent disagreements at the
Abuja CHOGM, while maintaining the organisation's tough stance
on Robert Mugabe's continuing human rights abuses. (Paragraph
113)
19. We conclude that
the role South Africa has played at the UNCHR to prevent even
the discussion of resolutions that address the appalling human
rights situation in Zimbabwe is deeply regrettable, especially
in light of the very positive involvement it has with the rest
of the UN's work, and could be damaging to South Africa's wider
interests. (Paragraph 116)
20. We conclude that
the arguments for reform at the United Nations, particularly at
the Security Council, are undeniable. We also conclude that were
there to be an 'African seat' on the Council, South Africa would
be amongst the strongest African candidates, filling nearly all
of the criteria for such a position. We recognise, though, that
this will be a matter for African nations themselves to settle
when the time arises. (Paragraph 121)
21. Given the evidence
that we have seen during this inquiry, we conclude that NePAD
has the potential to deliver significant, and important, changes
within Africa and to its relationship with the rest of the world.
Both sides of the Partnership, though, need to understand fully
both the challenges and the opportunities that it presents. African
nations have to recognise that good governance and respect for
human rights are central to their development prospects, and to
how they are perceived by both foreign governments and potential
private investors. The G8, in turn, needs to see beyond the confines
of the peer review mechanism and recognise the progress that African
nations have already made in delivering on their commitments.
(Paragraph 140)
22. We recommend that
in partnership South Africa and the United Kingdom work together
to ensure that it is not simply left to 'wither and die' as so
many previous programmes have been. The British Government needs
to impress upon South Africa, and its fellow AU members, the importance
of a rigorous peer review mechanism for spreading good governance
in the continent, and for attracting much-needed foreign investment.
At the same time, it should use every opportunity, especially
its forthcoming Presidencies of the G8 and the EU, to ensure that
the developed world delivers on its commitment to support genuine
African growth and development. Mutuality is the basis of the
relationship. (Paragraph 141)
23. We conclude that
South Africa has an important role in the war against terrorism,
especially by helping to prevent international terrorists using
the continent as a base for their activities elsewhere in the
world. South Africa has a particularly crucial role to play, as
an influential African nation in disseminating best practice in
anti-terrorism activity across the continent. We recommend that
the United Kingdom continue to offer substantial assistance to
ensure that South Africa can both combat international terrorism
within its own borders and act as a catalyst for improving Africa's
ability to respond to the threat. (Paragraph 149)
24. We recommend that,
in the light of the importance of the United Kingdom's relationship
with South Africa and the crucial work being done by the Post
there, the level of staffing and resources allocated to the United
Kingdom High Commission in South Africa be at the very least maintained,
if not increased, in the long-term. (Paragraph 152)
25. We recommend that
UK Visas continue to monitor closely the demands on staff and
resources at the United Kingdom High Commission in South Africa
resulting from the increasing numbers of entry clearance applications
being received there. We further recommend that, in its response
to this Report, the FCO set out what extra resources and personnel
have been allocated to visa entry clearance work in South Africa
since 2003. (Paragraph 159)
26. We conclude that
the trade and investment section of the High Commission in South
Africa is performing to a high standard in assisting British businesses
to operate there and exploit new opportunities. (Paragraph 165)
27. We conclude that
the British Council is carrying out very important work in South
Africa, both in promoting a deeper relationship between the two
nations and in providing crucial educational support to the South
African Government. We are also convinced that the Chevening scholarship
scheme is a vital part of the British Council's work, and a very
important way in which the United Kingdom can influence future
decision-makers. We recommend that the FCO give serious consideration
to increasing the number of scholarships available to South Africans
in the near future. (Paragraph 171)
28. We further recommend
that the British Council continue actively to support civic organisations
and to train their leadership. (Paragraph 172)
29. We conclude that
the BBC World Service's Bureau in Johannesburg is carrying out
excellent work in producing high-quality and informative programmes
for both radio and television. We recommend that the Bureau continue
to be given the funding it needs to carry on this important work.
We further recommend that the BBC World Service give serious consideration
to increasing the resources it allocates to its Swahili service
in the future. (Paragraph 179)
30. We strongly recommend
that the FCO does not repeat the gross error it has made in so
many other locations of exchanging a valuable and appreciating
property—the High Commissioner's Residence in Cape Town—which
is clearly greatly assisting the promotion of United Kingdom interests,
for rapidly depreciating ICT assets. (Paragraph 181)
| 
