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Zuma reassures investors

Brussels -  South African President Jacob Zuma said on Tuesday he could understand why the violence accompanying miners' strikes in SA could worry international investors but the country's swift response should give them comfort.
 
Zuma spoke after a European Union-South Africa summit meeting in Brussels at which few if any specific agreements were made. At a joint news conference, Zuma and top EU officials praised the state of relations between the bloc and South Africa in broad terms and expressed hope for future agreements.
 
Asked by a journalist about the effect of the unrest on international investors, Zuma said the August 15 police shooting of miners in Marikana, in which 34 people were killed, was an "unfortunate" incident.
 
"Certainly, if such a situation happens, it must bring concern, particularly to investors," Zuma said.
 
"I believe that the manner in which we have swiftly attended to the situation, and we are now in full control - that must give comfort to investors," he said.
 
He mentioned the establishment of a judicial commission of inquiry charged with determining what happened, and stressed that South Africa was a stable democracy committed to the rule of law.
 
"I think South Africa remains a destination for investment," he said.
 
Both sides expressed hope that a trade agreement would eventually be negotiated between the 27-country EU and Sadac, the 15-country Southern African Development Community.
 
The EU already has a trade agreement with South Africa. And South Africa, as Sadac's economically strongest member, will have a major say in whether a wider agreement is reached.
 
The officials also said they would deepen their cooperation in fighting piracy off the coast of Africa.

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