Question NW2222 to the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
07 September 2020 - NW2222
Waters, Mr M to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
Whether, the reference to the Foreign Service Act, Act 26 of 2019, in terms of which her department is compelled to render consular services in line with the Guidelines for the Provisions of Consular services, civic and immigration services are fully operational at all the South African missions; if not, (a) which missions do not currently have full operational services and (b) what are the reasons for not providing full operational services in each case?
Reply:
Yes, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation and the Missions abroad have been rendering consular services and civic and immigration services to South African citizens abroad utilising the Consular Services Guidelines of the South African Government. While the Foreign Service Act (FSA), Act 26 of 2019, recognises, acknowledges and reinforces the consular services and civic and immigration services that the Deparment has been rendering to South African citizens abroad, however, the Act is not yet in force.
a) All South African Missions have full services at all times.
b) None.