European Parliament resolution on the situation in South Africa
Date: 2001-07-05
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: South Africa, economic policy, health policy, human rights, social policy

14.3.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 65 E/371

Thursday 5 July 2001

19. Human rights: South Africa

B5-0489, 0500, 0509, 0511 and 0522/2001

European Parliament resolution on the situation in South Africa

The European Parliament,

(cid:129) having regard to its previous resolutions on South Africa,

(cid:129) having regard to its resolution of 15 March 2001 on access to pharmaceutical products for AIDS

victims in the Third World (1),

(cid:129) having regard to its delegation(cid:146)s report on the 6th EP/South Africa Interparliamentary Meeting,

A. whereas the new, democratic South Africa, which is free of institutionalised racial segregation, is a
crucial element in the political stability and economic development of the African continent and of
southern Africa in particular, standing as it does as proof that there is an alternative to underdevel-
opment, war, despotism, corruption and bad government,

B. whereas South Africa is currently experiencing a number of very grave problems, to which the EU and
the international community cannot remain indifferent, ranging from the AIDS epidemic (4,5 million
people with HIV/AIDS), which affects mostly young people and therefore a significant part of the
active population, alarming unemployment levels and economic stagnation to extremely worrying
levels of violent crime,

C. whereas the second democratic elections organised on an all-race, multi-party basis were successful

and largely peaceful,

D. whereas, despite the successful completion of the political changeover, the task of consolidation must

address the problems of poverty, unemployment and inequality,

E. whereas the poorest 20 % of the population receives 3,3 % of GDP and the richest 10 % receive 47,3 %

of GDP, and the level of unemployment is almost 30 %,

F. whereas the tragic impact of the alarming crime levels is felt not only by the South African people
themselves but also by the European immigrant communities in the country, who find themselves
even more exposed to the impact of crime due to their involvement in economic activities linked to
trade,

G. whereas these communities make a decisive contribution to economic development and job creation

in South Africa,

H. whereas, although figures for certain types of crime have fallen slightly in the last year, crime in

general is tending to become a standard feature of city life,

I. whereas the prevailing climate of insecurity is having a very negative effect on the process of econ-
omic recovery, which is essential to the stability of the new, democratic South Africa of the post-
apartheid era, particularly the inflow of foreign capital and the development of tourism,

J. whereas, as a result of apartheid, the Republic of South Africa had developed a largely self-sufficient

economy and must now face the challenges of the globalisation of trade,

K. whereas South Africa must under no circumstances be allowed to become caught in a vicious circle in
which growing insecurity means less economic development, thus engendering more poverty and
more insecurity,

L.

alarmed that violence against women in South African society is widely recognised as having reached
one of the highest levels in the world,

(1)

(cid:145)Texts Adopted(cid:146), Item 13.

C 65 E/372

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.3.2002

Thursday 5 July 2001

M. appalled in particular by the problems of sexual violence in schools,

N. whereas South Africa would have serious difficulties in overcoming these problems without the sup-
port and solidarity of the international community, in which the role of the European Union is crucial
in so far as the Union and its Member States account for 70 % of international aid to the country
(EU cooperation with South Africa is scheduled at € 885 million to 2006, plus EIB funding of € 135
million per annum),

O. whereas the South African President, Thabo Mbeki, has called on corporations to do more to foster

economic growth and black empowerment within the country(cid:146)s economy,

Calls on the South African Government to make the necessary efforts to enhance sustainable devel-

1.
opment and raise the living standard of the majority of the black population;

Fully supports the South African Government in its efforts, together with the Zimbabwean auth-
2.
orities, to find a solution to those conflicts which could influence the economic attractiveness of the
whole region;

Calls on the South African Government for an even greater, straightforward policy commitment to
3.
fighting poverty and social inequalities and to creating jobs, since poverty, inequality, poor education and
unemployment are all factors working against the consolidation of democracy;

Calls on the South African Government to speed up the land reform in favour of the landless and the

4.
poor by due process of law;

5.
Urges the South African Government to face up to its responsibility and do everything in its power
to combat the HIV/AIDS problem; calls therefore for a clearly defined project to be set up to deal with
prevention, care and treatment of HIV/AIDS;

Calls on the relevant authorities to step up their efforts in fighting crime and insecurity, while ensur-

6.
ing that the fight against crime does not jeopardise respect for human rights;

7.
Calls on the South African Government to adopt a national plan of action, to issue guidelines to
schools on procedures to deal with sexual violence and to adopt methods to prevent such behaviour, as
well as protecting girls;

8.
Recalls that, apart from reducing poverty, one of the other main priorities of the European Pro-
gramme for Reconstruction and Development (EPRD) in South Africa is (cid:145)to consolidate the foundations
laid for a democratic society and a state governed by the rule of law, in which human rights and funda-
mental freedoms are fully respected(cid:146);

9.
Calls on the Member States, the Commission, the European Investment Bank and the international
community to offer their assistance to the South African Government within their respective established
programmes with South Africa, to devise new measures to prevent and combat crime, and step up existing
measures with a view to promoting the climate of greater security required for economic development and
a peaceful society;

10.
Believes that in the context of the budgetary debate particular attention should be paid to forms of
cooperation which are directly linked to combating HIV/AIDS and eradicating poverty and unemployment,
and to measures for reforming the judiciary and the police system and for training policemen;

11.
Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments
and parliaments of the Member States, the Government of the Republic of South Africa, the OAU and the
Co-Presidents of the ACP-EU Joint-Parliamentary Assembly.