Title: OCR Document
Author: Readiris
Last saved by: PC10
Company: I.R.I.S.

PARLIAMENT

KEY ISSUES EMANATING FROM THE HEADS OF MISSION CONFERENCE SANDTON, 13-14 AUGUST 2009.	.

1. In furtherance of the African Agenda

a There will be continued contribution in Sudan towards the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and the peaceful resolution of conflict. All processes should build up to the 2011 referendum aimed at granting the people of South Sudan a choice towards a political solution.

b The prognosis that Nigeria's ethnic fighting might escalate in the near future, bringing about instability in the continent must be closely monitored and timely analysis of early warning signs be made.

c. Regional integration is of strategic importance to South Africa and the countries of the region. There is an urgent need to deal with the challenges brought about the signing of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) by some members of Southern African Customs Union (SACU), namely Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana, Namibia. These countries be engaged immediately and continuously to discuss the repercussions of this move on the Custom Union and negotiate amicable solution to the impasse. The European Union must also be approached and made to appreciate the imbalance its intervention has bought about in the region.

d. Greater effort is to be geared towards engaging with Zimbabwean authorities towards the unconditional implementation of the Global Political Agreement (GPA). Resuscitation of the economic activity in an investor friendly environment is of paramount importance for Zimbabwe to get back on its feet.

e. lt has become clear that democratization of Africa will be met with a lot of challenges. There are varying notions and values which bring about different interpretation of democratic principles. While championing the African Agenda, sensitivity to the varying applications of democratic values will be taken into consideration, while not compromising on the South African democratic principles.

f. South Africa will continue highlight the plight of the people of the Saharawi Republic on their claim for self-determination. On the Israeli-Palestine issue, the department supports the two states solution to the crisis in the Middle East.

2. Departmental activities

a. Department is to playa major and influential role in enforcing the coordination role on all issues around relations of South Africa with the outside world. Currently there is no mechanism in place which spells out the how the activities of other departments with foreign entities should be handled. A green paper is to be tabled again in Cabinet as a reminder and in order to get it to pronounce on this disturbing trend. Cabinet is unequivocal that Dirco must coordinate. DG feels Dirco must ensure it adds value.

b. There are concerns on the state of readiness on the part of the Department of Home Affairs and other stakeholders for the influx of persons into the country for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Legislative processes will be put in place where necessary to empower main actors to adequately prepare for the event.

c. Current global economic crisis is to an extent, adversely affecting the activities of the department as most programs are financed through foreign currency. A document on the implication of the recession on South Africa will be sent to all missions once availed by department of Finance. The missions were advised to reprioritise the current allocation of funds to spend on the activities relating to the 2010 event. Where possible the missions were encouraged to raise funds through fund-raising activities of their choice.

d. Management of the department has resolved to shorten the turn around time for filling of vacant positions both in the missions and at headquarters. As a consequence of the economic downturn, they will be no advertisement for new positions. Promotion will continue to be on merit. A policy will be developed which will enable spouses of officers posted abroad to find employment in the countries that their spouses live. Bilateral reciprocal agreements will be negotiated with host countries to facilitate access. The policy must secure that spouses already in the civil service not be forced to resign.

e. In order to respond to government priorities on rural development, missions are to identify possible areas of cooperation in the countries of their accreditation to source funding and or best practices in developing different aspects in the rural areas. The concerned departments will be approached to submit projects which can be sold to donors. .

f. Missions were urged to source best practices on the operationalisation of planning commissions. The newly established planning commission is a very exiting development and it needs to be supported by all South Africans.

e. Some challenges facing the department:

i. Communication and submission of reports between the missions and headquarters are still not flowing as they should.

ii. There is a need to build an institutional capacity that is durable and truly capable of effectively articulating South African foreign policy.

iii. There is a need to improve on the human resource capacity. A number of positions are still not filled in the missions. It is a sad fact that capacity available does not match the amount of work to be done, except cases where available capacity is not up to the challenge.

f. Managers have engaged very well in budgetary matters. Internal audit is to simplify processes to facilitate regular and correct reporting on expenditure.

g. The department will embark on regional meetings with the missions to address problems peculiar to different areas of accreditation and also deal with mission specific concerns.