Johannesburg — President Jacob Zuma has sent a minister to asses the situation in the Central African Republic (CAR), the international relations and co-operation department said on Wednesday.
"President Zuma deployed Defence and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula to go and assess the situation on December 31," spokesman Clayson Monyela said in a statement.
The move was part of South Africa's contribution to efforts to bring about peace and stability in the CAR.
"South Africa condemns the continued attacks on several towns perpetrated by the coalition of armed groups, which undermine the Libreville comprehensive peace agreement and threaten the civilian population, as well as the stability of the Central African Republic."
He said South Africa demanded the armed groups immediately cease hostilities, stop advancing on Bangui, and withdraw from captured cities.
"We call on all parties to refrain from any acts of violence against civilians and to respect human rights."
South Africa called for constructive political dialogue and welcomed CAR President Francois Bozize's intention to achieve a negotiated solution, Monyela added.
South Africa supported efforts by the Economic Community of the Central African States to solve the crisis. South Africa would support sanctions and other measures against perpetrators of any unconstitutional change of government.
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Where is the "Non interference to other country's internal affairs" constantly voiced by African leaders? Yesterday Bozize, and with the financial/material support from some external nations, took arm against the constitutional government of Hans F.Patasse. Today, when the CAR people are fed up with the new system of government in expansion all over Africa: kleptocracy, monocracy, bad governance,puppet regimes, etc. it is being seen as menace to stability, respect of human rights, constitutional government, etc. The AU should clearly define its positioning - Democracy or Dictatorship/Tyrant governments. Zuma effort is welcomed. This is what should have been done between Patasse and Bozize - DIALOGUE. History should not be repeated. We should stop fighting and DISCUSS to find solutions to our problems. Yes, when two elephants fight the grasses that suffer.
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IT'S TIME FOR A/AN CAPABLE AFRICAN COUNTRY(IES) TO START HELPING ANOTHER AFRICAN COUNTRY. IF THE AU AND OTHER STRONG AFRICAN COUNTRIES DO NOT STAND FIRMLY AND HELP THE HELPLESS COUNTRIES IN AFRICA - OUR POPULATION WILL SOON DECREASE. THAT'S ONE OF THE IDEAS OF THE IMPERIALISTS, DECREASE AFRICA POPULATION, DISUNITED THEM AND MAKING SURE THAT WE "AFRICANS" HAVE NO VOICE(S) ON ANY IMPORTANT CIRCUMSTANCES CONCERNING AFRICA AND AFRICANS. THEY "IMPERIALISTS" MUST NOT BE ALLOW TO ACHIEVE THEIR DEVILISH THINKING AGAINST AFRICA AND AFRICANS AT ALL.