Aristide still Haiti's president: South African Foreign Affairs Minister

Replying to written questions in the National Assembly by Democratic Alliance Chief Whip Douglas Gibson, she said Aristide had not applied for asylum in South Africa.

He, his family and aides were being treated as "foreign distinguished guests of the state" in terms of the Immigration Act.

"The financial upkeep of president Aristide and his family will be done in accordance with the standards and procedures laid down for a cabinet minister in South Africa, while the security assessment will be done on an ongoing basis by the security establishment," she said.

Asked whether government had asked France or the US to pay for Aristide's stay in the country, Dlamini-Zuma said Cabinet had received a formal request from the Caribbean Community (Caricom) to accommodate him in SA.

"The South African government acceded to this request. We did not think it appropriate to ask somebody else to pay," she said. Regarding the cost of transporting Aristide to South Africa, she said: "We do not know. He was transported courtesy of the South African National Defence Force."

Gibson also wanted to know whether government still recognised Aristide as president of Haiti.

"Yes, the government recognises president Jean-Bertrand Aristide as the legitimately elected president of Haiti," Dlamini-Zuma said.

No restrictions, apart from "those dictated by reasons of security", were being placed on Aristide's political activities and movements inside or outside of South Africa, she said.
In Johannesburg, South Africa's elder statesman Nelson Mandela met Aristide on Friday for the first time since the controversial former leader arrived in South Africa in May.

"We feel great because we are with (former) president Mandela and we just want to thank him for what he did for Haiti and for the entire world," Aristide told reporters during a brief photo opportunity with his wife Mildred and Mandela.

Aristide has kept a low profile during his contentious exile, which has sparked opposition criticism that the government is tainted by association with a man accused of human rights abuses back home.
President Thabo Mbeki has been a strong supporter of Aristide and was the only foreign president to attend Haiti's bicentennial celebration earlier this year while Aristide was still in charge.

The government has rejected opposition and media criticism over its funding of Aristide's exile - including his rent and two daughters' school fees - saying he arrived in the country without any possessions or money.

Mandela thanked Aristide for his visit. "I should have come to see you (earlier) but I don't want to appear to be competing with President Mbeki. He's doing very well," he said.

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