By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, on Friday,says president of the UAE had promised to invest more than $10 billion (R185 billion) in energy, oil, economic infrastructure, tourism, agriculture and other sectors of the economy.
According to Motsoaledi, the promise was made in 2018 during President Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit to the UAE.
Motsoaledi appeared before Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs on Friday to account for bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s controversial landing.
The president landed in the Eastern Cape last month to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, accompanied by more than 500 members of his family.
Motsoaledi said the investment benefit for the Eastern Cape province was also a consideration during the visit.
He said,a few days before the UAE president arrived, the minister of economic development of the UAE also came to South Africa.
“He met with several ministers, among them the minister of trade and industry Ebrahim Patel, the minister of energy Gwede Mantashe, and minister of forestry and fisheries Barbara Creecy. Those ministers were met about the issues of investment,” said Motsoaledi.
He added: “I also do know that during the investment summit of the president, the ambassador of South Africa to the UAE Saa’d Cachalia came to that investment summit.
“He did ask for a meeting with me to brief me about the issues of investment in the Eastern Cape, and exactly why it is so important for the country.
“You are aware that part of the work of ambassadors is to mobilise and encourage countries to come to countries where ambassadors come from. That is what I know and perhaps the committee would like to invest that further to get more details.”
Motsoaledi also assured MPs the visit by Al Nahyan and more than 500 members of his family, posed no security risk.
The visit sparked fierce debate on the issues of compliance with South Africa’s immigration laws.
He assured MPs that all the international protocols and security considerations were followed.
Some committee members likened the incident to the controversial landing of the Gupta family at Waterkloof Airforce Base in 2013.
But Motsoaledi justified that the UAE president and his entourage landed at Bulembu Airport because of the size of their plane and all the processes were followed.
“The two airports where the president of UAE could have landed without any changes, it is O.R Tambo International Airport, Cape Town International Airport and King Shaka International Airport. There he could land and come anytime because there are civilians airport.
“The Gqeberha airport was intended to be the area where he was going to land, that was the first choice but when it was assessed, it was realised that the type of aircraft he is going to use cannot land there, the runway is very small.
“It could also not land in East London, so they realised that it was not possible to land at any airport in the Eastern Cape.
“The Bulembu Airport was found to be suitable in terms of the length of the runway, but it just needed a few finishing touches and the UAE President decided to take over that work.
And that is the only reason why had to be asked to declare,” said Motsoaledi.
Asked if the country is not under any threat, Motsoaledi warned that most of the speculations and assumptions are simply untrue.
“We are not under any threat whatsoever, nobody writes a diplomatic communication when they are preparing to do something that is dangerous or threatening the country.
“And as I have said, the Minister of Police (Bheki Cele ) and law enforcement were there, and Minister Cele mentioned publicly that some of the rifles were not allowed in the country but they were subjected to all the laws of the country,” he added.
He also invited MPs to the Office of the Public Protector if they need any further answers.
“If this whole drive here is driven by the suspicion of shenanigans, I would believe that this is exactly what the public protector is there for and if members believe there are shenanigans, they should equally mention them.”