No requirement for public announcements about UAE president’s private visit – Ntshavheni

Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says there was no need for the South African government to announce the private visit by UAE president and ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan, and his entourage last week.

Ntshavheni briefed the media on Friday afternoon, on the preparation government undertook for the private visit to the Eastern Cape by Al Nahyan.

The plane carrying the UAE president and more than 500 passengers landed at the Bhisho Airport in the Eastern Cape last week. It received a negative reaction from South Africans, who accused the government of enabling another Guptagate.

All processes followed

However, Ntshavheni said there was no reason for concern this time around as the UAE president and the government followed due processes for the visit.

“South Africans are right to be vigilant about such matters, but our vigilance should not make us jump to the worst assumptions and conclusions about our country or this administration,” said Ntshavheni.

“This visit has been possible with the diligence and integrity required of government as we interact with people from all walks of life including the president of the UAE.

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“The visit by the president of the UAE was preceded by a formal diplomatic correspondence from the UAE to the [Department of International Relations and Co-operation].

“The formal correspondence set out the intention of the president of the UAE to visit South Africa in his private capacity and indicated he would be accompanied by a large entourage and that the president would be domiciled at a game reserve the president owns in the Eastern Cape.”

No announcement of UAE president visit

Ntshavheni said there was no need for the South African government to make an announcement as this was a private visit by the UAE president.

“Very often, heads of states undertake such visits to enjoy privacy away from their public roles and profiles of high visibility,” she said.

“Of course different conditions apply where leaders visit South Africa in their official capacity, and where state visits take place, government consistently makes public announcements on these engagements.

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“It is common for heads of states to visit South Africa privately.”

Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said while the UAE president could have landed in any of the country’s airports, he requested the Bhisho Airport for logistical purposes and the cargo.

All the goods were declared at Sars, while no currency was found.

Trade relations with UAE

In announcing the visit by the UAE last week, Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane said the province was working to strengthen trade relations with the UAE in various areas including education, agriculture, renewable energy, oil and gas, research and innovation, as well as partnerships in the aviation economy.

“As such, the provincial government is negotiating the possibility of a joint investment project to raise standards at the government-owned Bhisho Airport in line with requirements of an International Cargo Airport as a start,” read the statement from the premier.

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He said the Bhisho Airport had been designated as a port of entry to enable the passage of the UAE president.

Formal complaint over UAE president visit

Meanwhile, the African Transformation Movement (ATM) says it lodged a complaint with acting public protector Kholeka Gcaleka, asking her to investigate whether due processes were followed in granting the UAE leader permission to land at the airport.

The party would like the public protector to investigate the matter for probable violation of s6(4)(a)&(b) of PP Act 94, read with immigration Act of 2002 and Border Management Authority Act, in the declaration of Bulembu Airport as International Port of Entry for the UAE president.

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“Given the flurry of hurried approvals from Home Affairs and Department of Transport all around the same time and virtually on the eve of the landing of the UAE Boeing, the ATM is convinced that these approvals were irregular and were ill fated machinations to cover up the tracks,” said the ATM.

The party wants the public protector to investigate whether Motsoaledi complied with the relevant section of the Immigration Act of 2002 and section 30(3) of the Border Management Authority Act.