Thank you, hon Speaker. The situation determines how long people stay. Sudan does not have problems in one area only. Apart from the differences and difficulties between the south and the north, you also have Darfur. Darfur is a major problem and that is where the main concentration is of those who are helping. As you heard recently, some South Africans were kidnapped there. It was in that area.
I am not certain whether it will be easy to do so after the elections. I cannot speculate. The reality is that Darfur is still a problem. Much as we have held elections, there is no evidence that the elections resulted in the disappearance of the problems in Darfur, or that it impacted positively so that we can see what happens.
Certainly, once the situation is better and there is no need for foreign forces to help, we will be able to call people back. That is also the view of SADC, the African Union and the United Nations. It will be determined by how the efforts on the ground, to bring about peace and stability, progress in terms of what we think should happen.
On the question of cost, I have a similar kind of answer. As long as there is conflict, one can't say that we have paid enough now, that we are leaving you, and you can go on killing one another. We will continue to ensure that we try to bring about peace.
Certainly, it is always costly. It has always been costly. But, of course, people will argue that one cannot put a price on the lives of people. Therefore, we want peace in this continent and we will do whatever is in our capacity, as will the AU and other countries. There is also IGAD - the Intergovernmental Authority on Development - which is closer to the situation and which is working with everyone. There is also the involvement of the international community. So all of them, I'm sure, will come together to decide whether the situation has changed enough to recall our people or not. It will depend on conditions as well as consultation. Thank you.
Reconciliation of President's comments about faster land reform with those about its application being within the ambit of the law
11. The Leader of the Opposition (DA) asked the President of the Republic:
How does he reconcile his recent comments at the Black Management Forum on 29 April 2010 about the government's faster and more pragmatic approach to land reform with his comments that such a policy would be carried out within the ambit of the law?