Hansard: EPC: Debate on Vote No 5 – International Relations and Co-Operation

House: National Assembly

Date of Meeting: 22 Jul 2014

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Minutes

UNREVISED HANSARD

EPC – GOOD HOPE CHAMBER

Tuesday, 22 July 2014 Take: 1

TUESDAY, 22 JULY 2014

PROCEEDINGS OF EXTENDED PUBLIC COMMITTEE – GOOD HOPE CHAMBER

____________________

Members of the Extended Public Committee met in the Good Hope Chamber at 10:00.

House Chairperson Ms M G Boroto, as Chairperson, took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayers or meditation.

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto)

Start of Day

UNREVISED HANSARD

EPC – GOOD HOPE CHAMBER

Tuesday, 22 July 2014 Take: 1

APPROPRIATION BILL

Debate on Vote No 5 – International Relations and Co-Operation:

The MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATION: Hon Chairperson - I can see our brand-new hon Deputy Minister is walking into the House; hon members; our former hon Deputy Ministers, in particular our veteran, hon Ibrahim Ibrahim; Your Excellencies, Ambassadors and High Commissioners; representatives of international organisations; distinguished guests; and ladies and gentlemen, let us at the outset once more pay our condolences, after what happened to MH17, to the government and people of Malaysia, the Netherlands and all the nations that have lost loved ones in this tragedy, including our own South Africans.

Hon Chair, here we are as South Africans, and our membership of Brics is stronger than before! We were at the third summit of Brics in Sanya, China, when the vision document of what Brics is about was crafted and adopted. We were in New Delhi, India, when the idea of a development bank run by largely the countries of the South was mooted.

We hosted in eThekwini, Durban, the Brics summit at which the historic decision was taken to establish the new development bank of Brics. From eThekwini, Durban, to the recent 6th Brics summit in Brazil, this has brought a new groundbreaking institution called the New Development Bank.

In Brazil, our leaders reaffirmed once more our core vision to bring about a democratic, multipolar world. This is the world for which our forebears fought, sacrificed their lives and for which they yearned. This is the world we want and the world we continue to yearn for.

South Africa, as the previous chair, successfully brought to fruition all the key outcomes adopted at the last round of the Brics 5th summit in Durban. As such, in Brazil, the agreement to establish the bank and the treaty for the creation of the Brics Contingent Reserve Arrangement were signed. They are now legal documents. These agreements signal an historic and seminal moment since the creation of the Bretton Woods international financial architecture. South Africa, feel it, it is here - you are part of this history!

The headquarters of the New Development Bank will be located in Shanghai, China and its African regional centre will concurrently be established in South Africa to safeguard the interests of our continent.

Further significant initiatives, in respect of strengthening intra-Brics economic co-operation, included the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, on Co-operation by Brics Export Credit Insurance and Guarantees Agencies. This MoU will improve and support the environment for increasing trade opportunities among the Brics member states.

In Brics, the member states are equal when it comes to accessing the institutions we create. This will include the shareholding of the bank. We are all equal; there is no big and small. The representation in leadership positions is done through consensus and not through some consultancy. This is groundbreaking. This is change in action. [Applause.]

Madam chair and hon members, indeed, in his state of the nation address President Zuma was unequivocal about what needs to be done to move South Africa forward in the next five years. In his own words, he said, and I quote:

As we enter the second phase of our transition from apartheid to a national democratic society, we have to embark on radical socioeconomic transformation to push back the triple challenges of inequality, poverty and unemployment. Change will not come about without some far-reaching interventions.

What needs to be done in the next five years must find resonance with this undertaking.

South Africa's foreign policy is driven by the vision to achieve an African continent that is prosperous, peaceful, democratic, united and assertive in defence of its interests in world affairs. Today, as we enter the third decade of our freedom, it is therefore appropriate that we focus on the foreign policy tasks and challenges that lie ahead of us in the next five years.

Our foreign policy has a crucial role to play in the interventions required to realise the intended goals of the second transition. The task ahead may be daunting but our experience of the last two decades has schooled us in how to master the balance between our domestic and international priorities, and between the values we cherish and the pursuit of our national interests abroad.

We move forward into the next five years conscious of the fact that we have a solid National Development Plan, NDP, that seeks to guide our actions and sets priorities for our international relations mandate.

Hon Chair, the continent is currently engaged in extensive consultations on its vision for the next 50 years, known as Agenda 2063. Before we celebrated the 50th anniversary we were talking about Vision 2063. Now we are in the first year of the next 50 years and I jokingly say to my kids that I will still be around in the next 50 years. I will be about 100 years old, so I want to see this agenda in action and implemented.

The theme of Agenda 2063 is, The Africa We Want. This vision has become an action plan and is expected to be adopted at the January 2015 summit of the African Union. It spells out the aspirations of African people across all sectors and the pledges of our leaders, which are translated into a call to action comprised of 10-year action plans that will contain flagship projects.

Each AU member state, including South Africa, is expected to contribute to the vision through the inclusive national consultations by October this year. When the vision is adopted, member states will have to align their national policies with it through a process of domestication which, in our case, will entail harmonising Agenda 2063 with our National Development Plan.

The Department of International Relations and Co-operation has already begun our national consultations with different sectors. We will be approaching Parliament in due course with a proposal to consider holding a special debate on Agenda 2063. This vision has the potential to become a game-changer on the continent and South Africa can help ensure that this happens.

Agenda 2063 will impact on the Southern African Development Community, SADC, especially when it comes to the pace and direction of the integration of our region. Our approach to the SADC region in the next five years will be to aim at consolidating bilateral relations with our neighbours and strengthening SADC as an institution.

In particular, we will focus on the following. We will strengthen regional integration in our SADC neighbourhood by discharging our responsibilities to the full implementation of our Free Trade Area, FTA, including the current review of the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan.

The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, East African Community and Southern African Development Community Comesa-EAC-SADC tripartite trade negotiations must reach finality as they are an important step towards the realisation of the African Free-Trade Area by 2017.

Peace and political stability in our region will remain a priority. We are encouraged by the proactive and stabilising effect that resulted from the deployment of the SADC Intervention Brigade in the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, where negative forces are either on the retreat or have been defeated.

On behalf of the people and government of South Africa, let me take this opportunity to pay a special tribute to our men and women in uniform who are involved in peace missions. [Applause.] Their selfless sacrifice continues to inspire us. We are commanding real respect. When you go around in these parts of the region they say, "O ba bone na?" [Did you see what they did?] In less than a week there was peace and quiet in some areas where peace was unknown for decades.

In this regard, we will operationalise the tripartite agreement between South Africa, Angola and the DRC in support of the Peace and Security Framework Agreement for the Great Lakes Region.

We will galvanise political support for major infrastructure projects in our region, notably the Lesotho Highlands Water project Phase II. I know that Parliamentarians, through the Department of Energy, will be busy very soon with the ratification of the Grand Inga Treaty in the Democratic Republic of Congo and then implementation immediately must ensue.

For the rest of Africa, in the context of Agenda 2063, in the next five years the Department of International Relations and Co-operation will continue to: Strengthen bilateral relations with African countries through structured bilateral engagements to advance South Africa's interests throughout the continent; intensify our work in supporting the African Union including its institutions, namely the ones we host: Nepad, the Pan-African Parliament and the African Peer Review Mechanism; strengthen economic diplomacy to increase trade and investment opportunities for South Africa; give dedicated attention to the North-South Corridor, and other Nepad driven infrastructure projects on our continent championed by our President; ensure speedy provision of humanitarian assistance where needed to alleviate human suffering on the continent; implement the African Diaspora programme adopted here in South Africa when we hosted this summit with the AU in 2012; continue peace-building and conflict prevention efforts in conflict situations in support of multilateral institutions; and also reinvigorate our Postconflict and Reconstruction and Development strategy in African countries emerging from conflict.

Hon Chair, I do not know how many of us still recall that we are practically, basically, historically supposed to still be a postconflict country. But we have done so well that we have even forgotten that 20 years ago we were a conflict-driven country. [Applause.]

Hon Chair, it is indeed within our ongoing strategy to continue supporting Africa's peace efforts through mediation, troop contribution for peace-keeping and by providing material and financial assistance. The sterling work of Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa in South Sudan is one example.

South Africans do not send troops first. Our history has taught us that, we use our diplomacy. We use our elders, we use our leaders. We communicate with the regional blocks and the AU. When people who contest for elections and lose and then start negotiating power because they are mutineers who want to take over government or negotiate power with the democratically-elected government, that is when we intervene and that is when we should intervene to sustain the democracy project on our continent.

The African Union Peace and Security Council has just celebrated its 10th anniversary and we look back with pride at what it has achieved. South Africa has recently assumed its two-year membership of this region which will be used to focus on the restoration of constitutional order in the Central African Republic, and on stability in the DRC, Libya, Somalia and South Sudan.

The operationalisation of the African Peace and Security Architecture, Apsa, remains a critical element in providing the African Union with the necessary capacity to respond to our challenges of peace and security. The establishment of the African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crises, Acirc, championed by South Africa, is an interim mechanism to enable the African Union to respond to emerging security situations while the African Standby Force is being operationalised.

The increasing scourge of terrorism on our continent, especially in parts of East, West and North Africa, is a menace that must be fought and defeated. I am sure that many mothers still cannot sleep well knowing that there are more than 200 girls out there who are still in the jungle in Nigeria and we do not know what their fate is.

Chairperson, hon members, South-South co-operation is important in South Africa's foreign policy architecture, historically. Our approach to South-South co-operation in the next five years must be anchored on South-South forums like Brics; India, Brazil, South Africa, Ibsa; and the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation, Focac, which we will be honoured to host in 2015.

We will also intensify our engagements in multilateral bodies that also have the South or are championed by countries of the South like the Nonaligned Movement, Nam, and the G77 plus China, amongst others, as well as the network of bilateral relations we have established with the countries of Asia and the Middle East and Latin America and the Caribbean.

The key elements of this co-operation are the promotion of political and diplomatic relations, enhancing trade, investment and other economic relations, and collaboration on global issues for a better world. I was quite humbled when we had the last Brics summit when the President of Colombia sent his Minister of Foreign Affairs to say, that what you are, what you sent your Deputy President to do in South Sudan and Sri Lanka; we Columbians also want your model. This is what we are known for, to work for peace. [Applause.]

Latin America and the Caribbean are historically significant to our relations. South Africa shares a long history of cordial relations with the Americas and the Caribbean. South Africa will continue to utilise the strong political relationship with the countries of Asia and the Middle East, the long-standing relationships and solidarity, to further relations and leverage on all other important elements of a relation.

Hon Chair and hon members, the restoration of lasting peace in the Middle East is in our interests. In this respect, His Excellency President Zuma, will be dispatching a team led by our former Deputy Minister to Israel and Palestine to convey our concern with the escalation of violence in that part of the world. The senseless killing of women and children must stop now. [Applause.] We must silence the guns.

We will also be contributing US$1 million for human assistance to Palestinian women and children through UN agencies in the near future. We are keen to also co-operate and contribute to Operation Phakisa through our participation in the Indian Ocean Rim.

We are looking forward to the US-Africa summit and we will continue expanding our relations with our friends in Europe and we welcome the signing of the Economic Partnerships Agreement, EPAs that has been negotiated for the past 10 years. We will continue to work and yearn for the reforms of the UN and particularly the United Nations Security Council as we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the UN.

The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms A T Didiza): Minister, you have two minutes left.

The MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATION: We will continue to defend the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, UNFCCC, successes as we did in Durban; the Millennium Development Goals; the Rio +20; and, the Durban Legacy on World Conference against Racism. We will continue to champion development in the G20 and we would also like to congratulate Navi Pillay on the completion of her tenure in the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights as a high commissioner for human rights.

As I have already been called to order, I just want to reiterate that we will continue to champion the diplomacy of ubuntu. We will strengthen our diplomatic training, research and development, DTRD, training. We are launching the Johnny Makhathini diplomacy programme and we will have 50 young cadres going out into the world to strengthen this.

We will transform our African Renaissance Fund, ARF, into the South African Development Partnership Agency, Sadpa, as you have called upon us to do.

Thank you so much, hon Chairperson. This road is long, but we are on track. I thank you. [Applause.]

Mr M S A MASANGO

UNREVISED HANSARD

EPC – GOOD HOPE CHAMBER

Tuesday, 22 July 2014 Take: 2

The MISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATION

Mr M S A MASANGO: Hon Chairperson; hon Minister Nkoana-Mashabane; hon Deputy Ministers Mfeketho and Landers; hon members of the Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Co-operation; members of the diplomatic core present here; and distinguished guests and fellow compatriots, we began this year on a very sad note. The merciless jaws of death had snuffed out the precious life of one of humanity's great icons, the former President of the Republic and president of the ANC, Mr Nelson Mandela.

Over the years, State Protocol has been tirelessly and diligently providing effective protocol services to facilitate incoming and outgoing high-level visits and ceremonial events. The international community has experienced the warm South African welcome and ubuntu every time it has been hosted. The department should be singularly applauded for the part it played during the funeral of our beloved former President Mandela in December 2013 ... [Applause.] ... when many heads of state and governments descended upon our country to bid farewell to the father of the nation.

However, this year allows us to reflect on the last 20 years of our democracy and set the tone for the future as we begin the very important work of the fifth democratic Parliament. As we begin this work, we continue to be guided by the Freedom Charter's injunction that there shall be peace and there shall be security.

South Africa's foreign policy is informed by very clear principles of democracy, equality and human rights. In other words, what we wish for ourselves, we also wish for the rest of humanity. No sooner had we become a constitutional democratic state in 1994, than we quickly unshackled ourselves from our pariah status and re-entered the international family of nations.

It is important to note that 20 years ago South Africa had only 34 missions abroad. Twenty years later we have 125 missions abroad and are now accredited to 160 countries and organisations.

By the way, Minister, you have contributed immensely to this effort, ably assisted by patriotic South Africans deployed in the foreign service. President Zuma was correct to utilise your attributes in this portfolio. [Applause.]

Today South Africa is one of the significant players in the global community and it is our responsibility, as a Parliament, to ensure that our country is successful in its endeavours.

IsiNdebele:

Lokhu kutjhengisa bonyana sisoke ngokuberegisana senza iSewula Afrika iragele phambili. Kodwana abaphikisako bayikghurumejela emva.

English:

Africa features prominently in our country's foreign policy, largely because we have recognised that our past, present and future have always been inextricably interwoven with that of the African continent. Africa contributed immeasurably to our own liberation struggle.

In his state of the nation address, President Zuma noted that the African Agenda remains at the centre of our foreign policy. As such, South Africa has worked tirelessly to strengthen its support for the African Union, AU, the Southern African Development Community, SADC, and all continental bodies whose purpose is to achieve peace and security.

Whilst talking about Africa, let me congratulate the hon Baleka Mbete, the Speaker of the NA, and the hon Dr Z Pallo Jordan on their deployment to lead our parliamentarians in the SADC Parliamentary Forum, SADC PF, and Pan-African Parliament, PAP, respectively. Both of them are distinguished leaders of our glorious movement, the ANC. [Applause.]

To this end, we are pleased that the African Union Summit's Assembly of Heads of State and Government that was held in June 2014, has approved the revised Pan-African Parliament's protocol unanimously. This watershed decision has assigned the African Union's law-making process to the Pan-African Parliament, subject to the approval of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government.

In his previous state of the nation address, President Zuma also emphasised that South Africa has prioritised the promotion of regional economic integration, infrastructure development, intra-African trade, interconnectivity and sustainable development on the continent. However, I would also like to remind you that the South-South co-operation has featured, and will also continue to feature, as one of our country's key strategic priorities.

Against this backdrop, I wish to reflect on one of our country's key strategic frameworks. But before I do so, I must emphasise that foreign policy development in the 21st century is a multidimensional endeavour, with states using different avenues to pursue their various interests. South Africa has chosen Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, Brics, as a potential avenue that can contribute greatly to the country's regional development.

Our membership of Brics should be understood in the context of our wish to alleviate the challenges facing the African continent, most of which are a legacy of the colonisation of Africa.

The complex nature of these challenges has compelled the South African government to single out infrastructure as a key vehicle for improving quality of life. It is also expected to create jobs and heighten our competitiveness. To this end, the Presidential Infrastructure Championing Initiative, Pici, comes in handy to boost the North-South Corridor.

I would like to congratulate the Brics member states on their visionary leadership because the New Development Bank will be an alternative to the obstructive conditionality that was imposed by the International Monetary Fund, IMF, and the World Bank.

We must not forget the importance of peace and stability. Given the challenges we have witnessed in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, Guinea-Bissau, the Central African Republic, CAR, and Somalia, it is imperative that we remain committed to strengthening the peace and security initiatives of the African continent.

Members will recall that in his state of the nation address, President Zuma noted that South Africa would continue to support Africa's peace efforts, including through mediation, troop contribution for peacekeeping and providing material and financial assistance. I am of the view that peace and stability is one of the cornerstones of a people-centred democracy and development on the African continent and this is the nerve centre of our national interests.

We can achieve this only through the establishment of relevant institutions and the strengthening of the African standby force in the Peace and Security Council, PSC, of the AU. This standby force gives full meaning to the principle of African solutions to African problems.

As a Parliament, it will be of vital importance that we work tirelessly with the department and the progressive formations of civil society to ensure that solidarity, development, peace and stability continue to be priority areas of engagement. The department has to ensure that economic diplomacy finds its fullest possible expression in the work it does whilst executing the country's foreign policy.

So, Minister, economic diplomacy training becomes an extremely important skill. South African negotiators will then be in a position to put our economic interest and that of Africa at the forefront before concluding trade agreements.

The National Development Plan, NDP, Vision 2030 provides good guidelines for development within South Africa and how we will contribute to the development of the African continent.

Our trade relations with the European Union, EU, is of strategic importance. However, the EU's protectionist policy on their agricultural and citrus projects makes their markets inaccessible to us. It accounts, amongst other things, for the current trade deficit in favour of the EU.

We fully support our government in demanding that the UN Security Council be made representative, participative and democratic.

On 8 November 2012, South Africa was elected to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, Ecosoc. The membership of Ecosoc will provide South Africa with an opportunity to contribute to the strengthening and reform of this UN organ. It will provide us with an opportunity to be located at the centre of the debate on the global development agenda, which includes the acceleration of the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs.

South Africa must utilise its participation in the G20, G77, the World Economic Forum, WEF, and the World Trade Organisation, WTO, to push the African agenda and articulate perspectives of progressive humanity in these bodies.

Because there is a shift towards the use of the Indian Ocean as a frontier of global economic growth, marine security and transport, South Africa should use its participation in the Indian Ocean Rim Association, Iora, to grow the South African and SADC economies, respectively.

IsiNdebele:

Sihlalo ohloniphekileko, Ngqongqotjhe, ngitjheje bonyana itjhebiswano neberigiswano namazwe wangaphandle liyakhula liyandlondlobala. Kodwana uNgqongqotjhe norhulumende wethu abaragele phambili bakhulumele, balwele begodu basekele ijima lokutjhaphululwa kwabantu bePalestina.

Sibawa bonyana uNgqongqotjhe azwakalise ilizwi labantu beSewula Afrika kuHlangano yeNtjhaba bonyana asikhambisani nokuthathelwa inarha, ukuthlagiswa, ukuthloriswa, ukubulawa, ukumanywa, ukudusulwa nokucindezelwa kwamalungelo wabantu bePalestina. Buyephi ubuntu?

English:

For years now, the ANC has been calling for the granting of self-determination to the people of Western Sahara. South Africa is committed to seeing their right to self-determination realised.

It is vitally important that the mandate of the Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara, Minurso, be amended to include human-rights-monitoring and the exploitation of natural resources in the occupied territories. Morocco should lift the military, security and media blackout imposed on the occupied territories of Western Sahara.

We call upon the Department of International Relations and Co-operation to continue to support the removal of the economic embargo against Cuba. South Africa must continue to pledge solidarity with Cuba and campaign relentlessly for the release of the Cuban Five. [Applause.] The Cuban people and their government contributed in no small measure and paid a heavy price to secure the freedom, democracy and the human rights that we now enjoy in South Africa.

Our Parliament should garner the support for Cuba through its memberships of interparliamentary bodies such as the Pan- African Parliament, the SADC Parliamentary Forum, the UN and the Non-Aligned Movement.

I would like to recall the words of President Zuma when he reminded us that, and I quote:

Democratic South Africa's foreign policy was shaped many decades ago during the fierce international campaign to isolate the apartheid state. The ANC President, Oliver Tambo, played a key role in that regard, assisted by amongst others, the late Johnny Makatini, former head of international affairs.

We must not forget this history, but more importantly, we must ensure that this history and the key tenets of our foreign policy, as it stands today, are known to the people of South Africa.

To this end, public diplomacy must be strengthened to ensure that we are able to mobilise the support of our people; and this can only be achieved if our people have a clear understanding of our strategic decisions.

I would like to advise that the department pay due and particular attention to the following areas.

Firstly, it should introduce a deliberate policy requirement that all officials at the Department of International Relations and Co-operation head office and missions abroad must undergo the economic diplomacy training and reorientation programme. This would ensure that economic diplomacy forms the basis for aligning foreign policy to domestic priorities.

Secondly, the headquarters of the Pan-African Parliament must be expeditiously constructed, working with the Department of Public Works.

Thirdly, the department must finalise its asset register of the mobile and fixed property of all its missions.

Lastly, the information and communication technology, ICT, infrastructure at all the missions must be upgraded to suit modern practices.

As I conclude, I therefore beseech this august gathering to vote in favour of the Budget Vote 5 of the Department of International Relations and Co-operation.

IsiNdebele:

Inarha ayilale, inhliziyo zipharumelane. Ngiyathokoza. [Iwahlo.]

Mr S MOKGALAPA

UNREVISED HANSARD

EPC – GOOD HOPE CHAMBER

Tuesday, 22 July 2014 Take: 3

Mr M S A MASANGO

Mr S MOKGALAPA: Thank you, hon Chairperson, Minister, Deputy Ministers, hon members, members of the diplomatic core and esteemed guests. Let me also take this opportunity to send our deepest condolences to the people of Malaysia and all other countries affected by the tragedy of Flight MH17.

Twenty years ago, the founding father of our democratic state, Nelson Mandela, declared that, and I quote:

Human rights will be the light that guides our foreign policy moving forward.

South Africa was seen as a beacon of hope and a shining example for the world. We had global respect.

Our human-rights-based foreign policy is what made us one of the esteemed global citizens and helped us claim our pole position in international relations among global players. However, over the past 15 years South Africa has dropped the ball in our global moral standing; our foreign policy has lost direction. The government has adopted very dubious stances in multilateral fora.

South Africa needs to reclaim itself and take its place as a leading moral compass. We do understand the need to balance our economic interests and domestic needs against human rights. This is not an easy task at all, and we agree.

The DA stands with the rest of the world in mourning the tragic loss of life in the current conflict in Gaza. The DA condemns the continuing escalation of this conflict on both sides. We condemn the strategies employed by both Israel and Hamas which have resulted in the death of civilians or that continue to threaten the lives specifically of women, children and the elderly.

Violence will only yield more violence and make the conflict more intractable. Israeli and Palestinian leaders must return to negotiations. All hostilities must be brought to an end and all strategies employed that result in the death of civilians must cease immediately.

The DA strongly reiterates the call made by the United Nations, UN, and the Department of International Relations and Co-operation for an immediate ceasefire. We in particular would like to reiterate the position of the Department, and I quote:

South Africa therefore strongly urges both Israel and Hamas to work towards a ceasefire agreement, which will be the basis for the resumption of negotiations on a permanent resolution to the conflict – a two-state solution of a viable Palestine existing side-by-side and in peace with Israel. This too remains the DA's position.

The National Development Plan, NDP, states that South Africa's foreign policy should be driven by a clear and critical understanding of our national, regional and continental imperatives. It is for this reason that we are calling for a clear definition of our national interests. Our foreign policy should be driven by a clear desire to ensure that our national interests are pursued to respond to our pressing domestic imperatives.

A clear alignment of our domestic imperatives with our foreign policy output is important. The absence of a clear outline of our national interests will result in our foreign policy being labelled as "eclectic", as observed by Dr Zondi, who is from the Institute for Global Dialogue, IGD.

Minister, our foreign policy and our global footprint should reflect and respond to who we are as South Africans. Whenever we decide to have relations we need to ask one question: What is our domestic strategic need that we would like to achieve in particular relations? If we fail to do that, we are in danger of being inconsistent and overcome by the murky world of diplomacy.

It is not enough only to respond to political and alliance needs, loyalty and past relations. There is a famous saying in the world of diplomacy that goes: There are no permanent friends in foreign policy; only permanent interests.

Allow me to highlight some of the concerns about the department's annual performance plan. Programme 2: International Relations, with a budget of R2,8 billion, is the largest consumer of the department's annual budget. Forty-eight percent of the department's budget is spent here. The NDP's diagnostic overview highlighted the fact that South Africa is overstretching itself in terms of its global footprint. That means that the department is punching above its weight.

There are 125 missions abroad in over 180 countries. This is unsustainable considering the current international political climate and financial meltdown amid our sluggish economic growth. Is it not time that we review our missions and see if we have value for money? We need to evaluate if the means justifies the ends.

To date, our trade relations in our missions are skewed and not adequately responding to our domestic imperatives. In Africa, for example, there are 47 missions, only 3 bilateral engagements and 4 trade seminars. While our foreign policy is focused on the African Agenda, there is very little intra-Africa trade.

Yet, with Europe, the situation is different. Out of 28 missions we have 6 bilateral and 38 trade seminars.

This, Minister, clearly gives us an indication of where there is value for money. It calls for the department to take a step back and review our foreign missions in this belt-tightening environment. It is important that we conduct due diligence and ensure our foreign missions add value and address our needs. Currently this is not the case.

This brings me to another point which is oversight and accountability. There is a significant oversight deficit in our foreign missions which needs to be addressed. We only hear through the grapevine what is happening in our foreign missions and we, as a committee, cannot conduct proper oversight.

How do we follow the money? How do we track the R2,8 billion that we appropriate without ensuring that the money is well spent? There have been reports of fraud and corruption in our foreign missions, for example, the mission in Ghana. We would like to know the status of the investigations and any consequences thereof. This gives the wrong impression about South Africa and needs to be addressed properly.

The department cannot properly account for the assets in foreign missions. The long-standing debate about leasing or buying of property must be clarified and addressed. We are conscious of the fact that there are foreign currency fluctuations that affect our spending. However, with proper planning, we can address the issues of overspending and unforeseen circumstances. Our foreign missions are our eyes and ears in the world and should be treated with caution.

Allow me to further address you on the next issue, which is Programme 3: International Co-operation. South Africa needs to engage in candidacy diplomacy to influence the multilateral forums that we participate in by ensuring that South Africans fill the positions in these institutions. It is not useful to always pay our membership fees without any influence in these institutions. Hence, we urge the Minister to prioritise these.

We acknowledge and endorse the appointment of Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, as the AU Commission Chairperson, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, as the UN Executive Director of Women, and Navi Pillay on the UNHCR, but this is not enough considering our membership and participation in these forums.

The integration of the Southern African Development Community, SADC, is moving slowly while we need to move with speed to ensure that this is realised. We need to deal with barriers to integration and pertinent issues of infrastructure, good governance and democracy to ensure sustainable and prosperous integration. By now we should have a Free Trade Area in the SADC region. The deadline was March 2014. We need to know what the progress has been made, Minister.

We need to ensure that the African Peer Review Mechanisms, ARPM, and New Partnership for Africa's Development, Nepad, are strengthened so that the AU can fulfil its mandate of ensuring development, democracy, human rights and good governance on the African continent.

We call for the re-establishment of the SADC Tribunal to ensure justice in the region. Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng, at an AU Consultative Workshop, also called for this Tribunal to be reinstated.

Minister, we are concerned about the resolution taken by the AU heads of state in Equatorial Guinea who endorsed a resolution on the protocol on amendments to the Protocol on the Statutes of the African Courts of Justice and Human Rights which will allow immunity for sitting heads of state and senior government officials against prosecution for human rights abuses.

It is against international law and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and a travesty of justice for the people of Africa. South Africa cannot be seen to be backtracking on its foreign policy mandate on human rights, international law and justice.

The other concern is the voting in the United Nations Human Rights Commission, UNHRC, where South Africa voted against the Lesbians, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex, LGBTI, people's resolution on inclusive "family" language.

This is a shift from our human-rights-based foreign policy and against South Africa's constitutional obligation to uphold the right to freedom of sexual orientation. How can we abandon our constitutional human rights? We need an explanation, Minister, as to why would we do such a thing to appease our Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Brics, allies? When will the Minister host the regional seminar on LGBTI as promised?

We commend our membership of UN Economic and Social Council, Ecosoc, and we believe it is a step in the right direction. Our growing role in Brics is noteworthy and we await the Brics development bank in Shanghai.

Programme 4: Public Diplomacy, is very important to communicate South Africa's role and position in international relations to both local and international audiences. We support the work on this programme and we would like to see more funding and resources allocated here. We would also like to see this programme being strengthened and capacitated to fully discharge its mandate.

Public diplomacy should be able to reach every corner of South Africa and the world to explain our foreign policy decisions and objectives. We welcome the launch of Ubuntu Radio on DSTV. However, we also caution that this radio platform should not be abused for propaganda purposes but should be used to deliver our foreign policy message and engage in diplomacy.

We are concerned about the internal audit report on the African Renaissance Fund, ARF. We would like to receive a full report on the Ministerial investigations into the ARF, and would like to know what actions the Minister will take to ensure that those found to have done wrong are dealt with.

We are also equally concerned about the lack of oversight and accountability in regard to the ARF projects. This is a R3 million programme and we would like to see better oversight. We look forward to the establishment of the SA Development Partnership Agency to replace ARF. We hope it will address the integrity of the ARF and be managed better.

Dr Zondi, of the Institute for Global Dialogue, made one of the following observations. We need to make our foreign policy inclusive. We need to evaluate our binational commissions. We need to increase public engagements in foreign policy, which means engaging in more public diplomacy. We agree.

Last, and most important, we need to define our national interests. We agree with his observations.

The DA's foreign policy, as an alternative, calls for a balance between human rights and economic interests. We believe that our national interests should be to grow the economy, to create jobs, to ensure quality education and to have global economic competitiveness.

In conclusion, we need to align our foreign policy with our domestic policy and ensure that there is a clear definition of our national interests. We must do this while reclaiming our local and international moral compass. This can only be done by re-aligning our foreign policy to human rights.

Indeed, hon members, we can still be the beacon of light and hope that we were 20 years ago. In recognition of the work done by our democratic founding father, Nelson Mandela, let us hope this again becomes a reality. I thank you. [Applause.]

HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Thank you, hon Mokgalapa. Hon members of the public, we really do appreciate your presence here but please refrain from participating in the debate with gestures and in all other ways. Thank you.

Ms M MOONSAMY

Mr S MOKGALAPA

UNREVISED HANSARD

EPC – GOOD HOPE CHAMBER

Tuesday, 22 July 2014 Take: 4

Ms M MOONSAMY: Hon Chairperson, there are no international relations and co-operations that can verify any value contributed to avoiding the current political, social and economic state of the continent and the world.

The EFF is calling for a radical, internationalist outlook that seeks to liberate the oppressed people of the world from the current sociopolitical, exploitative, neoliberal, global capitalist system. The EFF instructs that international relations is not about sending troops to fight illegal wars and deploying our soldiers to die.

South Africa's so-called foreign policy is based on the economic diplomacy of state and the personal business interests of the family of the President. This has been horrifically exposed by South Africa's continued protection of business interests at the expense of taking a sound stance against atrocities being perpetuated by terrorist Israel against the people of Palestine.

Israel attacks hospitals, killing the infirm. The position from the South African government is a gutless one towards Israel because in South Africa, hospitals are where people go to die.

The EFF is calling for an immediate expulsion of the Israeli Ambassador and not leave for ours, but recall without return. We demand the end of Israel's illegal occupation and further instruct South Africa to end all business with companies that continue to perpetuate terrorism in Palestine.

The situation rings true with the plight of the people of Western Sahara, who remain without a state and at the murderous behest of Morocco. Our position on relations with oppressive regimes must end now.

What international relations are we influencing when we remain a permanent, powerless visitor in the United Nations Security Council, USSC? We will remain powerless for as long as this is a nation whose people do not own its land, and hence we do not even aspire to sovereignty. South Africa's power is traded in the name of economic diplomacy, because it chooses to export our natural resources as opposed to securing benefit to our people through rapid industrialisation.

South Africa is an international comedy. It has failed to lead the African struggle on the continent, consequently, losing our mandate on the continent to Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, which is seething with terrorism and bleeding its competent and skilled citizens.

South Africa, however, unleashes daily economic terrorism and genocide on its people. This we see through irredeemable levels of poverty, inequality, crime and labour controversies, mass-murder massacres and the catastrophe of lack of political leadership. It is quite clear that South Africa should, at no point, engage itself with any international matters if it is unable to resolve its domestic problems.

The world and the continent acknowledge that South Africa has betrayed the African Agenda and see it as a subimperial power. The EFF and the continent have lost trust and respect in South Africa's dizzy approach to international relations. It should abide by the EFF's cardinal pillar number six. This addresses massive development of the African economy and advocates a move from reconciliation to justice on the entire continent.

The silence on the establishment of the Africa Command Centre by America in SADC is deafening. How will we respond if such acts of terrorism happened here? Will we wait for weeks to pass before we blame ourselves and blame our people, like President Zuma, who blames Hamas even when lives are lost in Gaza?

The EFF calls for the immediate disbandment of the imperialist military base in Botswana and surrender of imperialist forces to people-driven reform. We also encourage prosperity for all in Swaziland - not just for the family of the dictatorial monarch - and discontinuing the undemocratic system and practices, because the ANC refuses to act on its so-called special resolutions.

As we continue to mourn the premature passing of our beloved brother and revolutionary leader, Muhammad Abu Minyar Al-Gaddafi, we will never forget that the President of South Africa opted to undermine the collective wisdom of the African Union, AU, and seek the permission of the European Union regarding Tripoli. This is why the African Agenda has failed in his hands.

How have we accounted for the hundreds of millions of rands spent on the establishment of the African Renaissance Fund, ARF, through an Act of Parliament in 2000 - whose mandate is to enhance good governance and socioeconomic development and integration, to name but two - when government has done everything but that which it has been allocated for. Adding to the mayhem is the approval of the SA Development Partnership Agency, Sadpa, by Cabinet in 2009, whilst a new Bill will be tabled for the repeal of the ARF and the establishment of a new fund.

This is the extent to which this budget has reduced the African Agenda to one deserving pure mockery and disregard. We vote No! [Applause.]

Mr M A MNCWANGO

Ms M MOONSAMY

UNREVISED HANSARD

EPC – GOOD HOPE CHAMBER

Tuesday, 22 July 2014 Take: 4

Mr M A MNCWANGO: Hon Madam Chairperson, from the very onset, the IFP supports the budget. [Applause.] While doing so, however, the IFP would like to extend its condolences to the people of both Palestine and Israel who have lost their loved ones in this current conflict.

As the IFP, we condemn in the strongest possible terms any form of violence used as a means to resolve conflict. For that reason, we ask that both parties lay down their arms and observe a cessation of hostilities. They should continue to give negotiations and diplomacy a chance, as it is only through these means that the senseless loss of life can be halted.

The IFP has always supported a two-state solution to this vexing conflict. It can only be through this solution that conflict can cease and lasting peace and coexistence achieved.

It is also critically important that South Africa not only be seen to be pragmatic and neutral in its approach to this situation but that it also takes active steps to promote peace. Our government's current approach, through the ANC's political antics, lends itself to be perceived as taking sides in this conflict. If that is the case, it could compromise its international standing, fostered by former President Nelson Mandela, that South Africa is an honest broker for peace.

By supporting one side and vilifying the other, the South African government runs the risk of damaging its standing and compromising its position on issues relating to this conflict.

Both parties in this conflict have national aspirations that need to be acknowledged and supported. Israel has a duty to protect its citizens, as no state should allow its citizens to live in fear of another state that keeps firing a relentless barrage of missiles at it. This is understandable.

However, what is equally wrong is Israel's adoption of collective punishment of the Palestinian people for the wrongs that Hamas has done. The Palestinian people cannot be indiscriminately described as supporters of Hamas and so, by default, as the enemy. Many lives have been lost because of such classifications.

We appeal to the international community to assist both parties to find peaceful solutions to the crisis that they are in now. I thank you, Chairperson. [Applause.]

The DEPUTY MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATION (Ms M C MFEKETO)

Mr M A MNCWANGO

UNREVISED HANSARD

EPC – GOOD HOPE CHAMBER

Tuesday, 22 July 2014 Take: 5

The DEPUTY MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATION (Ms N C MFEKETO): Hon Chairperson, hon members, Your Excellencies Ambassadors, High Commissioners, representatives of international organisations and distinguished guests, I am honoured to address the House on this very important occasion of the Budget Vote of the Department of International Relations and Co-operation.

As we celebrate 20 years of freedom and democracy in our country, it is important always to remember that this is the result of a negotiated solution taken through the collective wisdom of the visionary leadership of the time.

There were other options that could have been pursued if we were driven by short-sighted, vengeful ambitions of settling scores with perpetrators of injustice. The celebration of the 20 years of democracy is a reaffirmation of the correct decisions taken then by the wisdom of the collective leadership, with a long gaze into the future for later generations to continue building on a firm foundation for a nonracial, nonsexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa.

With this as the spine of our freedom, we stand upright with reassurance to build upon our work with great zest in the next five years for the execution of solid plans, which in turn will contribute to the long-term goals of our National Development Plan, NDP.

During the release of the Twenty Year Review of South Africa, President Jacob Zuma appraised the nation as follows:

It is an occasion to reflect on what has been achieved in our country over the past twenty years, by South Africans working together ...

The Twenty Year Review is packed with facts and figures to support its analysis and it is honest and frank in its approach.

Where the facts indicate that we have made progress, we say so, and where the facts indicate that we have challenges and have made mistakes, we also say so.

We also move forward into the future with great optimism to realise a prosperous Africa, which is at peace with itself as well as a better world, as the great Madiba once envisioned. With the reminder of his first birthday without him last week, we continue to treasure his memory and the 67 minutes of service marks the introduction of a new tradition in the history of our country.

We salute this great son of Africa as well as all departed leaders and dedicated cadres who served and sacrificed their lives for this great nation.

Hon Chairperson and hon members, as we are celebrating 20 years of freedom and democracy, a human tragedy is unfolding in the Middle East. An injustice, and gross loss of human life that cannot go unabated in Gaza and other parts of that sacred region of the world, is continuing.

This tragedy could also serve as a vindication of our collective wisdom in South Africa, as the same fate could also have been on our shores had we followed the route of military combat. As we celebrate our freedom, let us remember that for other oppressed people in the world, this is but a distant dream, but we have much to share as we are.

Last week, in the wake of the Israeli offensive on Palestine, we called in the ambassador of Israel to express our grave concern about the escalation of violence between Israel and Palestine, which has resulted in the loss of civilian life and the destruction of property.

We called on both parties to immediately observe a ceasefire and for the state of Israel to allow safe and free passage of civilians and the operation of humanitarian organisations to alleviate the suffering.

Furthermore, we called on both Israeli and Palestinian leaders to immediately resume negotiations leading to a two-state solution with economically a viable Palestinian State, existing, side by side, in peace with Israel, inside mutually agreed and internationally recognised borders based on the 4 June 1967 Lines.

We demanded the immediate halt to the construction and expansion of settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories by the Israeli government, which not only violates international law, but also gravely undermines peace efforts, and threatens the viability of the two-state solution.

We, here, reiterate all the above positions and continue to oppose any threat of ground invasion, and urge the State of Israel to refrain from making utterances to that effect. We object to any attempt to use the current situation to undermine unity in Palestine.

Asia has emerged to change the face of international power dynamics and has strong ties with South Africa. In the last decade, Asia has emerged to be South Africa's number one trading partner. This is a good story to tell and a highlight of the success of our foreign policy to create jobs.

China remains our good friend, and is therefore critical not only to our own development, but also that of the African continent as a whole. Given the nature of our trade relations, currently dominated ... Sorry, Chairperson, just give me a minute. [Laughter.] I just need a few seconds. [Interjections.]

The HOUSE-CHAIRPERSON (Ms M G Boroto): Order, hon members!

The DEPUTY MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATION (Ms N C MFEKETO): We are of a firm view that the tangible benefits of our relations with countries in the Middle East must be felt by the ordinary masses of our people. If we can achieve this milestone, we will have set our relationship with the region on the right path.

It is imperative that a good story of our international relations be told. This should include reference to our successes and challenges ... [Time expired.] Thank you very much, Chairperson. [Applause.]

Ms T E KENYE

The DEPUTY MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATION

UNREVISED HANSARD

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Tuesday, 22 July 2014 Take: 6

Ms T E KENYE: Thank you, hon Chairperson, hon Ministers, Deputy Ministers members of the diplomatic corps, hon members of the House and guests, the ANC supports the Budget Vote of the Department of International Relations and Co-operation.

It is true that our democracy was born out of a fierce struggle by the majority of South Africans whose only sin was to be black. Our mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters were scattered all over the world in search of human dignity and solidarity to defeat the evil system of apartheid. Indeed, our own experience, as confirmed by the President in his state of the nation address, shaped our foreign policy.

It has been central to our policy as the ruling party that African dignity and self-worth must be restored for Africa to take its place in the world of international politics. For Africa to command respect and authority globally, our approach has been that of ensuring peace, stability and support of the democratisation of the continent.

These lessons we learnt from our own painful experiences of the past which, more often than not, came dearly, through the loss of life and breakdown of families. The continent is still afflicted by pockets of conflict in some countries, such as Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, Guinea Bissau, Somalia, and so on. The ANC is steadfast in supporting these countries through various political platforms.

The President was among the leaders of this struggle and played a key role in campaigning against and fighting the evil system. True to the spirit of brotherhood of man and ubuntu, our leaders and comrades were accommodated in different African countries, as well as around the world. This experience shaped our foreign policy and ensured it would be centred on Africa, its development and security.

This administration will continue to support the development and economic integration of the continent through the structures of South African Development Community, SADC, and New Partnership for Africa's Development, Nepad. As the Minister of International Relations and Co-operation, the hon Nkoana-Mashabane, recently pointed out:

A key component of South Africa's foreign policy for Africa is support for the establishment of peace and political stability in order to create the foundations for democracy as a necessary prerequisite for sustainable social and economic development.

The ANC supports the various efforts to stabilise these countries. These include the efforts of the African Union, AU, and the United Nations, UN, to bring a lasting solution to the DRC and the efforts of the Economic Community of Western African States, Ecowas, the African Union, AU, and the UN to solve the conflict in Mali and also in Guinea Bissau.

As the ANC, we will never forget the support the Partido Africano da Independência da Guiné e Cabo Verde, PAIGC, and other liberation movements and current governments gave us in our struggle. We therefore commit ourselves to working with other liberation movements and governments on the continent to assist our brothers to attain a lasting peace.

As the ANC, we continue to work on the continent and in the world through party relations, conflict resolutions on the continent, championing the global governance transformation issues, engaging in various campaigns and all of these to make sure that we uplift our continent and create a better continent and a better world.

Given the wealth of mineral and natural resources on this continent, a peaceful African continent will lead to better economic opportunities for its inhabitants. It will therefore contribute significantly to socioeconomic development and a better life for all, as championed by this centenarian national liberation movement, the ANC.

One must remember that, at one point, the ANC was viewed as a liberation movement for Southern Africa, so we have a responsibility to lead our brothers and sisters to the Promised Land of Chief Luthuli, uTata Tambo, uTata Sisulu and uTata Mandela. [Applause.]

Just to emphasise the importance of strengthening our relations with the continent, recently, the then Minister of Finance, the hon Gordhan, indicated that investment into Africa reached R36 billion a year in a range of industries, with South Africa being the second largest developing country investor on the continent. Siyaqhuba. [We are moving on.]

He further showed us that, last year, our exports to other African countries increased to 29%, with 12% of our dividend coming from the continent. This is a clear indication that our foreign policy with reference to Africa is bearing fruit. This emphasises the point that we must not relent, but multiply our efforts to create economic and political stability on the continent through the organs of SADC. In this way, we will take the continent forward.

Therefore, on economic growth, there is a collective determination to turn Africa into one of the centres of rapid industrialisation and social development. As the ANC and the ANC-led government, we are committed to a just, humane, equitable and free continent.

Our foreign policy is anchored by the Freedom Charter, which states, "There shall be peace and friendship". That is the last clause. We want to create a better Africa and therefore a better world. This is what drives us.

The ANC continues to seek a path of hope and human solidarity and to pursue effective dialogue and mutual friendship among peoples of the world, proceeding from the premise that all nations have shared a responsibility collectively to improve the human condition. As the continent continues to strive to be the best that it can be, South Africa will continue to lead the efforts of ensuring that the Africa agenda is never forgotten. South Africa will continue to champion the cause of economic and political stability to ensure a better life for all Africans.

The hard work of the Department of International Relations and Co-operation is commendable with regard to their efforts to strengthen the support of Africa's multilateral structures, especially with reference to the African Union and SADC. These structures are central to making sure that countries on the continent achieve peace and security.

We support the President and the executive, through the hon Minister Nkoana-Mashabane, in prioritising the promotion of regional economic integration, infrastructure development, intra-African trade and sustainable development on the continent.

Our leaders have pedigrees in peacemaking and conflict resolution on the continent, from President Zuma in his years as Deputy President of the country and former President Mbeki to our current Deputy President, the hon Cyril Ramaphosa. The department plays a key role in ensuring that these efforts come to bear fruit. It is my humble submission that we should all roll up our sleeves and support these noble initiatives to make our continent a better place.

IsiXhosa:

Makube chosi, kube hele!

English:

Thank you, Chairperson. [Applause.]

Dr B H HOLOMISA

UNREVISED HANSARD

EPC – GOOD HOPE CHAMBER

Tuesday, 22 July 2014 Take: 7

Ms T E KENYE

Dr B H HOLOMISA: Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Ministers and hon members, the recent and rapid developments in the global political landscape demand of the South African Parliament an active and central role in the conduct of foreign policy.

The mandate of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Co-operation should stretch beyond oversight on activities of the department. It should include assessment and evaluation of executive decisions and commitments made in the execution of our foreign policy and actions. Such an approach would allow us an opportunity to present a united front on conflicts, such as that in the Middle East.

In this regard, a radical intervention from South Africa must seek to champion the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolutions on the Middle East. South Africa should engage all other states who tend to undermine the multilateral decisions on this ongoing conflict.

On 9 September 2013, I penned a letter to the President of the Republic and the then Minister for the Public Service and Administration, and carbon-copied the then and current Minister of International Relations and Co-operation. In the letter I alerted the President to serious and disturbing information regarding looting of the African Renaissance Fund, ARF.

These concerns were also reported to the Minister of International Relations and Co-operation by the audit committee of the department. The audit committee held the opinion that, and I quote:

The management report together with the audit report are materially misleading, not a true reflection of the state of affairs and are not a fair presentation of the financial position of the department.

The amount involved here exceeds half a billion rand. It is in the public interest that this matter be disposed of as soon as possible. Until this has been addressed, the UDM cannot support Budget Vote 5. Thank you.

Mr M G P LEKOTA

UNREVISED HANSARD

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Tuesday, 22 July 2014 Take: 7

Dr B H HOLOMISA

Mr M G P LEKOTA: Hon Chair, first of all, we are indebted to the Minister and others who have already expressed our condolences to those who lost their lives, and so on.

Chairperson, with regard to this budget, we would like to concentrate our focus on this question of the New Development Bank. At the present time, the Minister has informed us that we are all equal in the fund. From what I have seen in the papers, China will contribute about US$40 billion to the contingency reconstruction fund and we will contribute US$5 billion. Now, by all calculations, we cannot be equal.

The nations which participate with us have huge reserves and we don't. As a matter of fact, as a country, we are more than R1 trillion in debt.

I have been wondering to myself where we are going to get the US$10 billion that we need to contribute. It does suggest to me that we may have to go and borrow that money in order to put it in the fund, so that we can to borrow from that money. [Interjections.] In this situation, why don't we just borrow money and do our own reconstruction, instead of trying to set up a bank when we don't have the money to pay our own international debt?

This situation has also put us in a very difficult position. The Bretton Woods Institutions have been lending money to various nations of the world for the last 60 years - since the end of the Second World War. If they call in their debt from those countries that owe them money, what are we going to do? We, ourselves, are now in danger.

Our African agenda is in danger because many African countries, in fact, all of them who have international debt are indebted to the Bretton Woods Institutions. Now, the question for me is: How are we going to ask them to vote with us when they know that they are going to be voting against people to whom they are heavily indebted?

I think we must tell South Africans the truth, that is, we are taking on obligations which, as things stand today, we do not have the capacity to carry. South Africa has to be realistic about that. We have to be realistic because we will leave our children and grandchildren an inheritance of huge, unmanageable debt.

The future does not look as bright as the beautiful speeches that are being delivered here say it does. It was the late Bobby Kennedy who told the Stellenbosch students in 1966 that there is always a wide and tragic gap between ideal and reality. Let us not repeat the mistakes of the old order, who told their people that there is a difference between black and white human beings when that was not true. History has since disproved it.

We cannot say we are equal to countries with a growth rate of 7%, 8% or 9%, when ours is going down all the time. Honestly, South Africans, let us look at our hard realities and take decisions that help to change our situation for the better. I thank you. [Applause.]

Mrs C DUDLEY

UNREVISED HANSARD

EPC – GOOD HOPE CHAMBER

Tuesday, 22 July 2014 Take: 7

Mr M G P LEKOTA

Mrs C DUDLEY: Hon Chair, South Africa's engagement with the world has been increasing since 1994. We host the second-largest number of foreign representations in the world, with 125 missions covering 180 countries, and the minimal budget the department operates on, year after year, is even more stretched by unpredictable and often unstable circumstances, externally.

The ACDP applauds the department's efforts but has called for an audit on missions and an assessment of whether all missions are essential to the broader goals and objectives.

Having, once again, interrogated the budget alongside colleagues on the committee, the ACDP will be supporting this budget with all its constraints and challenges. [Applause.]

There are so many issues the ACDP would like to speak on today, many of which the Minister and others have touched on. These include the young women from Nigeria, whose whereabouts are still not known, and the DA's shameful opposition to a UN Resolution promoting and protecting family, making the issue something that it is not.

I will use my few minutes, however, to express appreciation for the discipline shown by our President, the Minister and her department, and the portfolio committee in resisting the temptation to add to the one-sided condemnation of Israel at this time. Without a doubt, government will be between a rock and a hard place right now because no matter how personal this is, they cannot "unknow" what they know about both sides.

Being pro-Palestine and pro-Palestinian people has got to be more than condoning religious fanaticism and the form of Islamic extremism and covering for those who so ruthlessly use and abuse their own. This same Islamic extremism is destabilising Africa and is a huge threat, globally. Yes, let us fight for the rights and freedoms of Palestinian people and for the rights of those in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt and Iraq, but let us fight for life, and not death, and let us be sure who the oppressors actually are.

The ANC has expressed themselves on the issue through their national executive and their parliamentary caucus, and, in time, the parliamentary committee is likely also to want to express itself. War is a terrible thing and the ACDP is grieved by the loss of life and the terrible anguish families on both sides of this tragedy are facing at this time.

The ACDP notes that on Friday at a news conference in Berlin, German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, said:

Both sides must accept painful compromises but we stand by the side of Israel when it comes to self-defence.

Merkel said that there was a new quality to weapons used by the Palestinian Territories Hamas group against Israel, and added that countries under attack must be allowed to defend themselves.

For Israel and the world, the most dangerous weapon in Gaza is not the M302 rockets that have put millions of Israelis under direct threat of terror. It is the ideology of Hamas, an ideology that is focused on destruction, Israel's destruction – and then, who next? We note the statement by Hamas leader, Khaled Mashal, that before Israel dies, it must be humiliated and degraded.

Something the media and the anti-Israel chorus don't mention is that the Qassam rockets actually rained down on Israel for more than a week before the Israeli military finally responded. Every innocent civilian killed, regardless of which side, is tragic. It is all the more tragic, though, when it is a goal knowingly pursued by Hamas to protect its weapons and to gain international legitimacy as victims.

Regardless of my opinion or your opinion, or the opinion of the ACDP or that of the ANC, South Africa's foreign policy in this regard must protect life, promote peace, and support development. Palestinian people and Israeli people have no future unless it is a shared future, and the help South Africa must give is to help both peoples find a way to do this. Thank you. [Applause.]

The DEPUTY MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATION

UNREVISED HANSARD

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Tuesday, 22 July 2014 Take: 8

Ms C DUDLEY

The DEPUTY MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATION (Mr L T Landers): Hon House Chairperson, hon members, hon Minister, Your Excellencies Ambassadors and High Commissioners, representatives of international organisations and distinguished guests, it is an honour and privilege to stand before this House to present my first Budget Vote speech as Deputy Minister of International Relations and Co-operation. [Applause.]

Let me begin by paying tribute to my predecessors, the former Deputy Ministers, the hon Ebrahim Ebrahim and the hon Marius Fransman, for the formidable legacy that they have left behind. I am humbled to follow in their footsteps.

Our international relations continue to be guided by the same foundations that we laid 20 years ago. Led by the great son of Africa, Nelson Mandela, these foundations are a firm commitment to a humane, just, democratic, free and equitable world.

We have played a leading role in championing human rights, Pan-Africanism, equality, peace, reconciliation and development, founding values that draw on the Freedom Charter and are deeply rooted in the long years of struggle for liberation.

Our activism has been inspired by our experience of international solidarity, the ideals and principles for which so many of our heroes made the ultimate sacrifice, and the visionary leadership that emerged from South Africans, again led by Nelson Mandela. These leaders were determined, against all odds, to build a nation that would be free from oppression, discrimination, inequality and poverty.

We remain determined to contribute to building a better world through the diplomacy of ubuntu, recognising that in an interdependent and interconnected world, it is in our national interest to assist others to also have what we want for ourselves.

In her eloquent speech today, the hon Minister noted that our foreign policy has a crucial role to play in the interventions required to realise the goals of our second transition. As much as our domestic priorities have always been a central objective of our foreign policy, over the next five years the department will dramatically intensify its efforts to create new opportunities to achieve the goals of the National Development Plan, NDP.

In his state of the nation address, the hon President Jacob Zuma made it clear that the economy takes centre stage in a radical programme to move South Africa forward to prosperity and success, because the creation of decent work is the most effective weapon in the campaign against poverty.

Economic diplomacy, concentrating on export and tourism promotion, skills development and attracting foreign direct investment to priority sectors of our economy to create sustainable jobs and place the country on a more competitive global path, is now the main focus of all our bilateral missions.

During the coming year, we plan to aggressively expand our economic activities, which will include more than tripling the number of trade and investment seminars and engagements with Chambers of Commerce and high-level investors that we hold abroad.

Economic diplomacy lies at the heart of what we do in Europe and the Americas, which remain our primary investment partners and the principal buyers of our value-added exports. During this coming year, we will strengthen relations with Europe, including working towards restoring bilateral trade levels to the pre-economic crisis period.

Although still facing challenges, Europe is showing clear signs of recovery. Amongst other things, we plan to hold 97 trade and investment seminars and 82 tourism events in 2014-15 to achieve this.

We celebrate the Economic Partnership Agreement, EPA, which was initialled last week and look forward to much greater access to the European market at a practical level. We hope to finalise all other outstanding issues with the European Union. We also want to pursue and finalise a binding agreement with all EU members for a favourable visa-free regime for all our citizens, to enable a balanced and free movement, a privilege that currently only favours EU citizens visiting South Africa.

People-to-people contacts enhance and create long-lasting impressions and relations. We will intensify our work around culture, tourism and student exchanges, so as to solidify the excellent relations that already exist. Tourist arrivals from Europe grew 7% to 1,49 million in 2013 and our target for the next five years is to expand this threefold.

Britain, Russia and France are three of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council who exert influence on how the United Nations and its agencies function and are reformed. We want to intensify our engagement with these countries in order to accelerate the reform of the council, in particular.

It is unacceptable that we still have an undemocratic, unrepresentative body managing the affairs of the globe, especially in the area of peace and security. The situation in Gaza and the Ukraine, where innocent civilians have been massacred, is indicative of this.

I had the honour and privilege of attending the G77 Summit in Bolivia in the recent past. One of the heads of state addressing the summit made the point that the UN Security Council is a council that promotes insecurity. Whatever your opinion about that particular view, you must agree that, faced with the various crises in various parts of the world, will the council's handling of these crises taint the legitimacy and credibility of its resolutions and interventions?

There is further potential for substantial growth in trade and investment with the Americas and the Caribbean. Our commercial diplomacy with this important region will be reinforced in the year ahead by high-level meetings with key strategic partners. The Americas are showing increasing interest in Africa and are important partners for the realisation of the AU's Vision 2063. Latin America and Africa share similar development trajectories, providing economic and political opportunities to pursue complementarities within the context of South-South co-operation.

As the Minister and Deputy Minister have outlined, we have managed to excel in delivering on our foreign policy imperatives, despite having very limited resources. Against the odds, we have succeeded in doing more with less. However, as I am sure you will appreciate, this approach remains unsustainable going forward, especially given the scale of the department's foreign currency commitments and recent developments in the foreign exchange rate. I thank you. [Applause.]

Mr L K B MPUMLWANA

THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATION

UNREVISED HANSARD

EPC – GOOD HOPE CHAMBER

Tuesday, 22 July 2014 Take: 9

Mr L K B MPUMLWANA: Hon Chair, hon Minister, hon Deputy Ministers and hon guests, first of all, let me congratulate the hon Minister and Deputy Ministers for the good work that they are doing and for having been deployed again to these positions. You deserve it. [Applause.]

On behalf of the ANC, I submit that this budget stands to be supported by all hon members in this House, including the hon members from the left. It is a budget that is intended to move South Africa forward and, indeed, to promote the interests of the country.

After being an international pariah for decades due to its relentless persecution of the doctrine of separate development, South Africa was welcomed into the sisterhood of nations from 1994. It has been able to put behind its divisive past and is now united in building a new nonracial, nonsexist and a prosperous society. The ANC takes credit for this. [Interjections.]Yes, it does. [Applause.]

The ANC has, since its launch in 1912, been based on progressive internationalism. It has been its view that injustice and the violation of human rights is a phenomenon of universal proportions and progressive international forces should unite to fight against such undesirables.

It mobilised the international community to isolate the apartheid government and was, in the same vein, persuasive enough to have the United Nations declare apartheid a crime against humanity.

It can boast with two of its former Presidents, the honourable Chief Albert Luthuli and Dr Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, having been recognised for their peacebuilding conduct through the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize.

The ANC has, indeed, liberated all the people of South Africa - even the former oppressors - and it continues through programmes of the Department of International Relations and Co-operation to open many doors for all South Africans. South Africa today is a better country, in a better Africa and a better world, which contributes towards building a better and a safer world for all who live in it, through the diplomacy of ubuntu.

Who does not want to do business in Africa, the world's fastest-growing economy, today? Farmers are all over. They are in Zambia and everywhere, you name it. Business people are almost everywhere. South Africa can do business anywhere in Africa and the world. I therefore call upon even those members across the floor to thank the ANC for liberating them. [Applause.]

South Africa conducts a foreign policy that promotes international justice and equality, respect for human rights, respect for international law, democracy, peaceful coexistence among nations, regional integration and African unity and progress. It is the ANC's view that there should always be equal treatment of equals and that those who break international law should face the might of international law.

We aver that all countries and nations should experience equal treatment, regardless of the size of such countries. We believe that this equal treatment will be experienced if the United Nations Security Council is reformed.

The UN Security Council's composition and veto system benefit the interests of the permanent member states only. The United Nations Security Council has substantial power that it can use negatively if it is not democratically constituted.

The reforms we envisage include the following.

There should be expansion of the council in order to ensure representation of all regions of the world, especially those which predominate over the agenda of the council year in and year out.

The expansion should encompass both veto-wielding permanent and nonpermanent seats; and improved working methods, including the promotion of transparency in agenda setting and strengthening working groups to ensure an efficient council. Who can oppose such a heavenly sponsored view? [Applause.] [Laughter.]

South Africa successfully sponsored UN Security Council Resolution 2013 for strengthening co-operation between UNSC and the AU, in peacemaking, peacekeeping and peacebuilding missions in Africa. We also pride ourselves on being equal members, uTata Lekota, in the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa bloc, Brics.

The following words of His Excellency President Jacob Zuma to the Sixth Brics Summit Plenary Session in Fortaleza, Brazil, are noteworthy:

The summit saw for the first time since the post-Bretton Woods Institutions era, the creation of a new and unique financing initiative. The agreements that were signed today mark our strengthened bonds of co-operation in the financial and economic domains, which will produce tangible results and impact on the lives of our people as we continue to address the challenges of inequality, poverty and unemployment. Among the four agreements signed today is the agreement establishing our bank, the New Development Bank.

There is a contribution that the bank has given and the time, initially. Let me not go into that.

Let me say that we are also participating in many other global institutions. This includes the Non-Aligned Movement. The ANC also participated in the Non-Aligned Movement long before 1994. In 1955, there was the first gathering of forces of the Global South, the Non-Aligned Movement's conference in Bandung. The ANC participated in shaping what would be known as the world progressive movement committed to nonalignment in the Cold War, nonproliferation of nuclear arms, noninterference in domestic affairs of countries, a peaceful resolution of conflicts, and the right of all nations to determine their own path.

Today, South Africa is reaping the fruits of being a member of that organisation. South Africa is also a member of the G77, G20 and various other bodies. It influences these bodies for its benefit.

As the governing party, the ANC has used progressive internationalism, including commitment to multilateralism, peaceful resolution of conflict, human rights, social justice and the reform of the global political and economic order, as a prism of its role in international affairs.

It has, from conference to conference, also been guided by the need to link national interests to the achievement of a better Africa and a better world.

This ANC-led government is successfully building a strong Africa and deepening its agenda as our foremost principle continues to be the centrepiece of our foreign policy. Driven by our objective of transforming the African Union into an efficient and effective continent body, together with SADC, we have successfully lobbied for the historic election of Dr Dlamini-Zuma as the first female Chair of the AU Commission. [Applause.] This was inspired by the ANC ideal of a nonracist nonsexist, democratic society at peace with itself.

This diplomacy of ubuntu, nonracism, nonsexism and a democratic society has inspired the nations of the world to know that all human beings are equal. We have also transplanted this to various countries. In the United States, every citizen today can stand for office, regardless of the colour of his skin. Even the DA has got some black faces around! [Interjections.]

This budget will therefore promote the stated programmes of the department. These include international relations, international co-operation, public diplomacy and protocol services, international transfers, as well as the administration of such programmes. It is thus my submission that the amounts inserted in this budget are all justified and that this budget should be supported in the interest of South Africa.

Hon Minister and your team, please carry on with the good work. God bless South Africa. I thank you. [Applause.]

Ms S V KALYAN

Mr L K B MPUMLWANA

UNREVISED HANSARD

EPC – GOOD HOPE CHAMBER

Tuesday, 22 July 2014 Take: 10

Mrs S V KALYAN: Chairperson, judging by this morning's report presented by the Minister, it is clear that the Ministry of International Relations is the key Ministry in the security cluster. One could say that it is the public face of the country, after the Presidency.

How is it then that, according to the National Development Plan, NDP, South Africa has experienced a decline in power and influence in world affairs and has even lost some of its moral authority in Africa?

While the department itself is highly skilled and capable, the Minister seems to skirt around issues like a floating cloud, especially in respect of policy formulation and direction. It would appear that the Minister is quite content to be South Africa's meeter-and-greeter-in-chief and would rather let the Presidency and Luthuli House make and comment on our foreign policy. Case in point one, troops were deployed to the Central African Republic, CAR, by the Presidency, the Minister was unaware of this. Case in point two, Mali received nonmilitary aid from the Minister of Defence, our Minister was unaware of this. Case in point three, a plane full of wedding guests landed at Waterkloof with permission from the Ministry's Chief Protocol Officer. The Minister was unaware of this!

Mr Koloane apparently had instructions from Number One to okay the use of a national key point by his friends. You would think that he would tell his boss about it. All that the Minister said is that she would talk to the Indian government about the behaviour of the Indian Consul General, Mr Virendra Gupta. And then what?

We have heard in this debate of a quote by the late Nelson Mandela that human rights will be the light that guides our foreign policy. [Interjections] I read it. That's who told me. I read. Yet, it seems that we have abandoned the human rights pillar which underpins our Constitution. South Africa holds a much coveted nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council, yet, instead of flying the flag of human rights high, South Africa's voting record during the last two terms has been widely decried as we seem to seek misguided favour with rogue regimes.

Case in point one, we voted against the human rights violation in Burma and Tibet. Case in point two, we are silent on the antigay legislation passed by the Ugandan government. Case in point three, we voted in favour of a resolution in the United Nations Human Rights Council, UNHRC, on the definition of a family which discriminates against same-sex couples.

On that point I would like to tell the ACDP, the DA is not ashamed to declare that we support equal rights for same-sex couples and we will defend discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. Minister, there is an opportunity to redeem ourselves in the eyes of the world on this issue. And I hope you will do the right thing when there are further deliberations on this resolution at the 27th session ... [Interjections.]

Ms M C C PILANE-MAJAKE: Chairperson, on a point of order: Is the member ready to take a question?

Mrs S V KALYAN: Chairperson, not at this stage. Thank you for asking though. South Africa is host to the Pan African Parliament, PAP ...

Mrs C DUDLEY: Chairperson, on a point of order: Would the member like to take a question?

Mrs S V KALYAN: Not at this point, thank you for asking.

The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr J M Mthembu): Order! Just a minute, members. The member has already indicated that she would like to finish her speech, please.

Mrs S V KALYAN: South Africa is host to the Pan African Parliament, PAP. However, regrettably, the Department of International Relations and Co-operation seems to have abandoned its commitment in respect of housing PAP in more suitable premises. Having been a member there since 2009, I can tell you from personal experience that we are literally squatting in the temporary quarters.

While the debating chamber itself is fairly okay, we do not have suitable offices, telephones or access to IT facilities. The revised protocol of PAP transforming it from an advisory and consultative body to that of a legislative body was approved at the 23rd AU Summit.

In your budget speech of 2008, Minister, you assured this august House that the new seat of PAP would be ready by 2010. Now your department says maybe 2016. Madam, I hope that you will step up to the plate and fast-track the process, thereby honouring the host agreement.

Madam Minister, the time has also come for you to dispel the perception that you are the head of SA Reception Committee and assert your role and influence over the formation and implementation of effective foreign policy, as you did so admirably with Cop 17.

The following matters need decisive action, with speed, by you.

Firstly, update the ICT policy and infrastructure as a matter of urgency. It is outdated and quite unbelievable that in this day and age this has not yet been done.

Secondly, launch the Standing Advisory Committee on International Relations, SACIR, without delay. It is a much-needed institute to advise on, provide and analyse foreign policy. The argument offered by your department that there is a delay in finalising the panel is weak. This idea was mooted in 2012. There are many skilled persons who could do the job, so get on with it - enough of the feet-dragging!

Thirdly, table the Foreign Services Bill without delay and finally, implement the NDP's proposal of convening a high-level and high-impact team to investigate the SA Foreign Relations without further ado. [Time expired.] [Applause.]

The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr J M Mthembu): Hon members, before I call the next speaker, we have no problem with it, as it is your right to interject, but bear in mind that this is an honourable House. Our interjections should not result in drowning the speaker at the podium.

Mr B A RADEBE

The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr J M Mthembu):

UNREVISED HANSARD

EPC – GOOD HOPE CHAMBER

Tuesday, 22 July 2014 Take: 11

Mr B A RADEBE: Hon Chairperson, hon Ministers and Deputy Ministers, members of the diplomatic corps and members of this august House, I want to state unequivocally that the ANC supports Budget Vote 5. [Applause.]

This Budget Vote is based on the National Development Plan, NDP, which came into existence because of the resolutions of the ANC at its 52nd watershed conference in Polokwane. The ANC's resolutions made a call for the creation of an institution that would determine long-term planning for the state. This culminated in the establishment of the National Planning Commission.

It is indeed very heartening and humbling that the ANC really lives and leads because today, as we speak, the members on our left have wholeheartedly embraced the NDP. Congratulations ANC, you have done good work. [Applause.]

What is also very important here is that the NDP is not only supported by Parliament, but the business sector, civil society, labour movement and religious movement are all behind it. It shows that the work which was done by our forebears Mr Luthuli, Mr Tambo and Mr Mandela has borne the fruits we are enjoying today. [Applause.]

Chapter 7 of the NDP raises certain fundamental issues about the positioning of South Africa in the international arena. The first issue raised states that the Department of International Relations, together with the government of the Republic, must define the national interest. Apart from that, it also says that it must create adequate research capacity so that it can respond to the issues as they arise every day and every night, because the world is operational 24 hours a day.

With regard to this Budget Vote, Programme 1, which deals with administration, has been allocated R1,4 billion. In this allocation, one of the key things which is going to be looked at is the capacitating of the department through human resources development. That is where we are going to have this research capacity which is going to enable us to get cutting-edge recommendations, as we move forward.

What is also important is that Chapter 7 of the NDP raises the issue that trade must take centre stage in the international relations arena. This is because, whatever we do, if at the end of the day it does not transform the ordinary lives of the people on the ground, that policy is not worth the paper it is written on.

This department, therefore, through its Programme 2: International Relations and Co-operation – I will expand a little on that later – has done a lot to address the very same issues of the NDP. So, when hon Mokgalapa says that we must implement - we are already implementing because this is our project. This is our pet project – which you adopted along the way - and we know where we want to take it as we move towards the future.

One of the founding leaders of the Organisation of African Unity, OAU, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, said in 1961:

Divided we are weak; united, Africa could become one of the greatest forces for good in the world.

As we participate in this Budget Vote debate of the Department of International Relations and Co-operation for 2014-15, these wise words of Dr Kwame Nkrumah are as relevant today as they were 53 years ago. This Africa could become this "greatest force" through the vast mineral and natural resources of the African continent.

President Nkrumah was one of the pioneers of rapid industrial development, propagating that the resources of Africa must be beneficiated before they are sold in the markets.

We heard hon Moonsamy say in this debate that we don't beneficiate goods, as we export them. I know that she only came to Parliament this year so she has a lot of catching up to do. This Parliament ...

Ms M MOONSAMY: Chair, on a point of order.

The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr J M Mthembu): What is your point of order?

Ms M MOONSAMY: I am requesting that the hon member withdraw his statement which says that I only came here this year. What does that mean?

The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr J M Mthembu): No, what is your point of order?

Ms M MOONSAMY: The point of order relates to the statement that was made by hon Radebe.

The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr J M Mthembu): What is your point of order?

Ms M MOONSAMY: it is a point of order with regard to his approach, Chair.

The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr J M Mthembu): No, hon member, sit down because when you stand up ... [Interjections.] Don't worry; your minutes are being taken care of.

When you rise on a point of order, member, just say what the point of order is as you rise, so that I don't have to ask you what the point of order is. You can't raise a point of order if a member says you came this year, unless you are saying it is not factually correct. Is that so? Let us leave it at that.

Ms M MOONSAMY: Chair, it is the assumption that a year would mean that there is a lack of experience or knowledge, and so it's an issue.

The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr J M Mthembu): Sit down, hon member! There is nothing out of order in relation to what he has said. Continue, hon member.

Mr B A RADEBE: This government of the ANC has policies which are anchored in transforming the economy of the country. The first policy I want to refer the member to is the Industrial Policy Action Plan, Ipap, which was also adopted by the Parliament of the Republic. It guides our trade policy as a country.

Remember, before 1994 the trade policy dictated the domestic policy. Now with that specific policy, we have turned it around. We said that the national interests comes first, and that is why the trade policy is informed by our own domestic policies.

What are our domestic policies? Our domestic policies are: firstly, the Ipap; and secondly, the New Growth Path, NGP. In whatever we do, we are going to ensure that, as we engage with stakeholders around the world, those policies are adhered to so that at the end of the day, jobs are created for South African citizens. This policy was completed and adopted in 2012. [Applause.]

These policies did not fall from the sky, but they emanated from the resolutions of the ANC. That is why, at its 53rd national conference in Mangaung, the ANC made the clarion call for radical socioeconomic transformation. This call entailed a radical shift in the way of managing the economy, so that the economy can address the challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality.

These contradictions that are there in the economy are being addressed by the creation of the national democratic society. This national democratic society is going to be created as we enter the second phase of our transition from apartheid and colonial power to a national democratic society.

What does that mean? This radical call of the ANC is for us to promote regional and continental integration so that we can promote intra-Africa trade. The important programme of regional integration has been prioritised by the ANC-led government. That is why President Zuma hosted the summit for the launch of the Tripartite Free Trade Area Agreement.

This Free Trade Area agreement will cover 26 countries with a total population of 600 million people, and with a combined gross domestic product, GDP, of US$1 trillion. This huge market will be strengthened by the free flow of goods and businesses as well as infrastructure development.

An example of that infrastructure development is the North-South Corridor for rail championed by President Zuma, and the harmonisation of industrial development across the region. This was achieved by President Zuma. It was not achieved by Cecil John Rhodes who once dreamt of connecting Cape Town to Cairo. President Jacob Zuma has done that.

He started from Cairo to Cape Town. [Applause.] The ANC has been able to achieve those things that were elusive for many years, which is why all of us should support the Budget Vote.

The success of the tripartite agreement will depend on the harmonisation of regulations between the individual countries, eg with regard to customs; standards of products sold between the countries; lowering or elimination of tariffs; and the alignment of the information technology, IT, systems at our border gates.

Programme 2: International Relations and Co-operation, of the department, has received R2,8 billion, which is the largest chunk of the budget, and which is 1,5% more than the previous allocation. This allocation is expected to improve economic diplomacy in the missions, so that the country can increase value-added exports.

Hon Moonsamy, this very budget which you went through addresses the issues which you raised, and that is what we want to do. We are going to increase value-added exports, as we move forward.

What is also critical is to attract foreign direct investments to priority sectors, as identified in the NGP and Ipap. This will be done by hosting or participating in trade seminars and tourism promotions. This allocation will also promote engagements with the chambers of commerce, high-level investors and relevant Ministries locally and internationally.

One member said that we had dropped the ball when it comes to our international relations policy. That is wrong, and that is why now, as we speak, 20 years down the democracy line, South Africa remains the largest benefactor of foreign direct investment in Africa. [Applause.]

It is second to none. Why is that? It is because of the progressive policies which it has instituted. It is not only the ANC; I heard Comrade Mpumlwana say that the ANC must take credit for that. Comrade, research institutes like Ernst and Young in 2013, confirmed that the ANC-led government, and South Africa, is receiving the largest foreign direct investment in the whole of Africa because of the integration programme we have within the Southern African Development Community, SADC, and the Tripartite Free Trade Area.

What has happened is that this foreign direct investment has also dispersed to other countries within Africa. Let us use the example of the Grand Inga Dam, hydroelectric power station in the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC. That project came into being because this ANC-led government brought stability to the DRC. It has benefited more than US$80 billion through investments from the World Bank, European Bank and African Bank. Which ball did we drop?

Our growth is not only for us. We are children of Mandela, and ubuntu means that I am what I am because of who we are, so I cannot be successful when my neighbour is down on the ground. That is why this issue of stabilising the whole of Africa is a priority because at the end of the day, everyone is going to benefit. [Applause.]

With regard to the Grand Inga Dam project, the Inga 3 will export about 4 300 megawatts of energy to South Africa. Oh, what a benefit, what a good investment! That is our foreign policy. Did we drop the ball, hon Moonsamy? I don't think so! I don't think so! [Laughter.]

South Africa advocates a developmental integration that aims to combine market integration for more open trade supported by infrastructure development, economic diversification and regional industrialization. The region needs to upgrade and diversify its production structures to take advantage of the more open regional markets. In 2013, this Parliament, led by this very department, ratified SADC's trade protocol, which has led to 90% of intra-SADC trade being duty free. Did we drop the ball? The answer is no. We did not drop the ball; we are still advancing.

What is important is that South Africa has agreed to pursue further work to consolidate the Free Trade Area, by making sure that all members meet their commitments and thereby ensuring that this protocol works. What is critical about this is that work on industrial development in SADC is underpinned by the adoption of the Industrial Development Framework focused on developing regional value chains in agroprocessing, pharmaceuticals and mineral beneficiation.

This is an exact answer to what the NDP raised. What is the national interest? Our national interest is to ensure that the economy of South Africa and Africa is thriving. As I said, the NDP, plus the Ipap, is doing exactly that.

What is very important with regard to this is that Dr Kwame Nkrumah – I like this man; he was very good; he was an icon par excellence – once said during the 1964 summit of the OAU:

By far the greatest wrong which the departing colonialists inflicted on us, and which we now continue to inflict on ourselves in our present state of disunity, was to leave us divided into economically unviable states which bear no possibility of real development.

The work done by this department, through the creation of the tripartite free-trade area plus the integration of the SADC, is actually realising what Dr Nkrumah could not do in his own lifetime. Upon assuming the Presidency in Ghana, like a prophet, he said that the liberation of the African continent was coming from the north but economic liberation would come from the south.

Why did he say that? He said that because he knew that in the south there was this organisation known as the ANC, and I say, wherever you are Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the ANC has achieved your dream. [Applause.] Because we are here in this Budget Vote debate, we cannot allow certain things to be said and leave them to go unchallenged.

One of the issues raised by hon Lekota was the creation of the New Development Bank. Comrade Lekota makes us shiver because we are going to disturb the West. What I want to say is that we, in the ANC, are the descendents of Moshoeshoe, Shaka, Mahatma Gandhi and Dr Naicker, and we are not afraid.

We have never been afraid to take the struggle by the scruff of its neck. So, we are going to challenge this issue of multinational organisations. It is one way of challenging the hegemony of those ... [Interjections.]

What is also very important is what was raised by hon Kalyan, when she stated that in the UN it was said that this government supported rogue states. Do you know what the worst rogue state is now? Let's go to Libya or Iraq and see what is happening there. Why is the problem of Palestine and Israel being perpetuated? Who is actually sponsoring that? Not on a single day has the DA said a word against that rogue state. [Interjections.] They have never said a word against that rogue state, so they cannot come and lecture us on how to deal with this issue.

What is critical is that we – being children of Mandela, hon Mokgalapa – said that loyalties of the past must not be dumped. That was not Mandela's philosophy. He said in Washington that the morality of the South African people demands that we don't abandon our friends in their hour of need. It means that once you have friends, you don't ditch them, but you have to support them. That was Mandela. Don't embrace only one side or dimension of Mandela; embrace him wholeheartedly.

Hon Chairperson, the ANC supports this Budget Vote. [Applause.]

The MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATION

UNREVISED HANSARD

EPC – GOOD HOPE CHAMBER

Tuesday, 22 July 2014 Take: 12

Mr B A RADEBE

The MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATION: Hon Chairperson, it is always such a pleasure and honour to speak among South Africans - if I'm not at what I do at my day job - to propagate the good diplomacy of ubuntu with humility across the globe. It is a great honour. [Applause.] I am honoured to be a Diplomat-in-Chief for this very noble country and I do it with pride, hon Kalyan. [Applause.]

Let me say to all hon members ...

Sepedi:

Tau tša hloka seboka di šitwa ke nare e hlotša.

English:

The interpreting will happen over lunch. [Laughter.] Many of us were saying here that we need to urgently bring the White Paper on our foreign policy of diplomacy of ubuntu to Parliament, so that we all embrace that which we must go all out and defend.

I know of a democracy in the world, Brazilians, Indians, and Americans, which changed the parties in government, but you can never trust their defence policies and foreign policies. [Applause.]

It is always a shame to listen to South Africans struggling to say something against ourselves instead of celebrating our successes. When we started we said that we are still supposed to be a post-conflict country, but we have been called in to help from Colombia to Sri Lanka, and I don't know where else, in a period of less than 20 years.

I don't know how we could be called upon if indeed our moral compass was somewhere else. What we have been told is that we are on track. If you go to an international meeting and you keep quiet, they say this meeting cannot end because South Africa has not yet spoken. [Applause.]

We have one of the few countries in the world where human rights is enshrined in the Constitution. We don't champion what others say - no. Also, we are not afraid to call a spade a spade in front of our friends.

But how do we do it? We do not do it through megaphone diplomacy because we have never seen it succeed. We have said we need genuine resolutions to stop the killing of innocent people, particularly Palestinians. Far too many have been killed.

We will be one of the few countries to send an envoy to Palestine and Israel. I repeat that - we will send a delegation, led by our former Minister Pahad.

In terms of peace-brokering, that's what we have been doing, and hon Lekota is very much aware of that. It did not start and end with Mandela. He was there in Cabinet, and although he didn't say this, I'm just reminding him that from Mandela to Mbeki to Zuma we did this.

The last incident was when Zuma was the Deputy President, he is our President now. It was in Burundi and when he landed at the airport in Burundi, ordinary Burundians cheered like there was no tomorrow because of the work he did in helping them broker peace in their country. [Applause.]

Public diplomacy is a branch we have started and we are very proud of the work we are doing. But colleagues, we have a dire shortage of resources. Let me repeat to those who have just joined Parliament, that South Africa will continue to provide leadership with humility and responsibility - and we also know now that commanding respect is better than demanding it. [Applause.] And there is no leadership through insults.

What is economic diplomacy? Economic diplomacy is, before I sell my goods to Japan - which is our very good friend, if I may give an example, among the other friends we have in Asia - the backyard, our own neighbourhood, with a population of 1 billion, the Continent of Africa where Africans have always been buying from and selling to each other, walking across the borders before borders were formed, is what we should be talking about.

So when we say let's continue training our diplomats in economic diplomacy, let's tell them that they are Africans first and that it will make political, economic market sense if they remember next door. [Applause.]

We will continue to champion multilateralism because that is the way we will get to our full objective of multipolarism.

Hon Mpumlwana was already engaging hon Lekota as to the difference between the New Development Bank, NDB, and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement, CRA. The Contingent Reserve Arrangement, as much as it is a groundbreaker, it is a bank. These are two separate entities. The bank is a bank and we have full shareholding because we are founder members of the bank, so it not about who brought 10c and who brought R1,00.

Secondly, the Contingent Reserve Arrangement is a groundbreaker because it will not wait for an economic fallout or financial fallout, as happened in Greece, Spain and other places. These countries had been lending to other developing countries through the International Monetary Fund, IMF, and the World Bank. Then they woke up one morning to the fact that they were borrowing from their own backyard and realised how difficult those conditionalities are.

It is about an early warning system and cushioning before the trouble starts and we are very proud of it. Let me also make another undertaking here; that we will come back and run a workshop about the outcomes of Brazil, Russia, China, India and South Africa, Brics, so that we all know what we are talking about.

Absolutely nothing can compare...

The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr J M Mthembu): You can sum up, Minister.

The MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATION: Yes, I'm summing up, Chair.

Britain's institutions and their conditionalities were not good, and that's why they admitted that there was space for this bank.

We will never take our eye off the ball and we will never run the diplomacy of what people will say. We will continue championing the spirit of Madiba everywhere we go, with humility.

I take this opportunity to thank the hon Deputy Ministers, past and present, director-general, deputy directors-general, the team and all senior officials, as well as my children for the support I always get during the good and not so good times. Above all, I thank my fellow African men and women, South Africans, for the support you give to this very noble task that you have given us. Thank you. [Applause.]

The TEMPORARY CHAIRPERSON (Mr J M Mthembu): Thank you, hon Minister. May I also join you and my colleague, the Chair of Committees, in thanking all those who have graced this occasion.

We would like to thank our diplomats, I see many of them here; our guests, who in the main come from the diplomatic environment; and of course, the media. Thank you for gracing the occasion. A big thank you goes to Members of Parliament who have made us proud by debating such an important matter of how South Africa fits in, in the world environment, as South Africa. We would like to thank all of you very much.

Members, as you would know, you are reminded that the debate on the Parliamentary Budget Vote will take place at 14:00 in the National Assembly Chamber. It is our vote, all of us, including you, Minister.

Debate concluded.

The Council rose at 12:22


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