Premier
(1) Whether his government has a policy on international relations; if not, why not; if so, (a) what are the relevant details and (b) what guides his government on international relations;
(2) under which powers and legislation did he take the decisions to declare the provincial government’s support for Ukraine and to ban the Russia’s Consul General from participating in any provincial government’s functions;
(3) whether his government has a position with regard to the continued atrocities of the Israeli government against the Palestinian people; if so, what are the relevant details;
(4) whether his government has supported the Palestinian people in any way in (i) 2014, (ii) 2015, (iii) 2016, (iv) 2017, (v) 2018, (vi) 2019, (vii) 2020, (viii) 2021 and (ix) 2022 to date?
(1) (a) Yes, the policy on the International Relations Strategy (IRS) of the Western Cape Government (WCG) was adopted in 2013 and is currently being revised / updated, to bring it in line with the WCG’s strategic priorities, as set out in the 2019 – 2024 Provincial Strategic Plan.
(b) The strategic priorities, as set out in the 2019 – 2024 Provincial Strategic Plan, guide the WCG’s approach to international relations.
(2) The Provincial Cabinet took the decision to condemn Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, and the consequent suffering of the Ukrainian people. This unprovoked, illegal war, which threatens world peace and the very foundation of the liberal international order, cannot be met by neutrality and silence. The WCG is clear that it cannot, and will not, remain neutral in the face of such a cruel attack on the democratic values that we all hold dear.
(3) I condemn all acts of violence and support a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine in line with the UN’s 1967 resolution.
(4) No
