Hansard: NA: Unrevised Hansard
House: National Assembly
Date of Meeting: 25 May 2017
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Minutes
THURSDAY, 25 MAY 2017
PROCEEDINGS OF MINI-PLENARY SESSION – COMMITTEE ROOM E259
Members of the mini-plenary session met in Committee Room E249 at 14:02
Mr B L Mashile, as Chairperson, took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayer or meditation.
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr B L Mashile): Hon members, let us welcome our guests on the gallery but also to inform them that we appreciate their presence during this budget debate and also like them to assist us not to participate on what is happening on the floor. It is only reserved for the members. It does not matter how the members act but don‘t ululate or clap hands; just watch what is happening on the floor. I hope that you will enjoy this particular session. We also welcome our children who are on the gallery as well.
APPROPRIATION BILL
Debate on Vote No 6 – International Relations and Co-operation:
The MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATION: Hon
Chairperson, hon Deputy Ministers Mfeketo and Landers, hon Minister Cwele, hon Members of Parliament, Your Excellencies, Ambassadors, High Commissioners, Representatives of International Organisations, our own South African Council on International Relations council, SACOIR, distinguished guests, our children who are our VIP today, dumelang.
It is an honour to present this year‘s Budget Vote of our Department of International Relations and Cooperation, Dirco, in the year of O R Tambo. We also have an honour to be addressing you at this time; just a few minutes after our President led by example and addressed a gathering in Pretoria on this very important matter. Hoye Africa, Hoye!
Hon MEMBERS: Hoye!
The MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATION: This year
2017 the year of O R Tambo, one of the most outstanding leaders of our liberation struggle – I say our liberation struggle because it is my liberation and it is your liberation - because the ANC is an
undisputed leader of the liberation movement on the continent that is 105 years old. So, this freedom that we celebrate belongs to you and me. This history is our history and not of a particular grouping. It is of the Africa we want.
During the 2017 state of the nation address, His Excellency, President Jacob Zuma reflected on Oliver Tambo‘s role as he did again this morning and talked about Oliver Tambo, when he said:
We seek to live in peace with our neighbours and the peoples of the world in conditions of equality, mutual respect and equal advantage.
That was at the MPLA congress in 1977; but in 1981, again co- incidentally in Ruanda our forbearer O R Tambo said: When South Africa and Namibia become free; the place of an African woman will no longer be in the kitchen because women have always been part and parcel of the struggle for freedom in practical. The place of a woman in a free South Africa will be where she wants to be.
Luckily we are still mothers - we are mother - which you cannot take away from us because we are the only ones who know how labour pains go and have the honour. We can be ambassadors; we can be in
business; we can be grand mothers; and indeed we can be wherever else we want to be and also lead here.
So, when you give women access, it is because you are acknowledging their role. You are not giving them because you found them there, because we have never been passive participants. We have always been there. I know that, in fact, in this room, hon Ministers and Deputy Ministers, many mothers here and grand mothers like me and others are also worried about who is fetching the child at school, what is for dinner, and so on, but let us save that for another day, Chair.
What did O R represent together with Mama Adelaide Tambo, diplomacy of ubuntu? I am because you are: patriotism, loyalty, dedication, equity, and integrity; simply put Batho Pele. So, paying tribute to this giant we should continue paying tribute to him in action by trying to emulate the good things he did together like I said, mama Adelaide.
This reminds me of what one of our most successful former AU Chairs of the Commission who happened to be first woman to adorn this position as an African woman, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said:
Oliver Tambo, like Moses, had been to the mountain top and had seen the Promised Land, yet never lived to see the freedom of his people. Nonetheless, we shall continue to draw inspiration from his teachings, his commitment and his dedication in the service of the people of our country in building that Promised Land for which he dedicated his entire life.
We have taken a conscious decision to celebrate Africa Day the way we are doing. We started with the breakfast with all our stakeholders in a live telecast get together followed by as a precursor for our President hosting lunch for guest from all over including my home town Seshego, girl children because we are not celebrating the Africa of the others; we are an integral part of the this continent. We are Africans as on the eve of Ghana‘s independent which has just turned 60 years this year.
Our own Ghanaian Nkrumah said:
The independence of Ghana is meaningless unless it is linked up to the total liberation of the entire Africa.
Today all of Africa is free except yes, but the people of the Western Sahara still needs to be heard and to be listened to. And we
take this opportunity to urge the UN to complete its work. We are doing our part as the African Union but we also urge the international community to make sure that that which they yearned for also needs them.
This year we also commemorate the 50 years of the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories. The last time I checked that which was 1967 and owned by Palestinians was now reduced to less than 2% of that which they thought belonged to them. So, I am sure the honourables will be doing the honourable thing in checking on this.
Hon members, our foreign policy is guided by our own apex priorities informed by our NDP, in it there is Chapter 7 of the NDP which envisions an active role for South Africa in the region, the continent and the world.
We therefore seek to build strategic partnerships for development to advance our national interests and promote the enduring values that define our nation; namely, democracy, human rights and good governance, in line with ubuntu. I am because you are. That is where we change our name from foreign affairs to international relations and co-operations because we always prioritise co-operation and
collaboration against aggressive competition that does not help anyone.
So, for us regional economic and political integration of our continent is not a nice to have; but a true form of radical socioeconomic transformation not only for South Africans but for the Africa we want. We will not look back, we will not blink, but we will continue sustaining our socio partnership and solidarity that is mutually beneficial and continue our dialogue with the countries of the North.
We are conscious that this can be fully achieved within a reformed, just and equitable global system of governance. Remember 1945 that was more than 70 years ago. So, the more things change the more they remain the same somewhat. So, where we can make a contribution like when we were chairing the G77+ China championed the conclusion of a very inclusive, and unanimously adopted sustainable development goals that were transforming us from the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs to the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs.
However, if you check those two documents, our NDP and the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN and check our agenda 2063 of the Africa we want and the seven aspirations they are very much in
line. Because our forebearers decolonised us but we need economic emancipation.
When people ask: what is so unique about South Africa? My response, hon members, is that; we complained and fought for a colonisation of a special type but our Constitution said; we are a rainbow nation; we are a tapestry that we are today because black and white we have a place called home; and that is South Africa. That should not be just like it is a nice to have but a must have so that 90% of the population do not remain spectators of what is happening economically, on the continent and particularly here in South Africa. And say it loud that we are not an African outpost for Europe or whoever in our continent. [Applause.]
As we are gathered here integration of our economy first changing the structural form of our economy, the education system that teaches my son less – my last born is 17 years old and he comes back home everyday complaining about the history, but he says very little about the things I tell him at home and what they are taught at school. Let us tell our children the truth. [Applause.]
So that which I call not a nice to have is that in 1994 trade between South Africa and the rest of our continent was R11 billion,
but as at December 2016 trade between us as Africans particularly between South Africa and the rest of our continent stood at a staggering R436 billion. So, exports of processed beneficiated goods from 215 to 2016 grew up by almost another 5%.
We want to industrialise the rest of the continent. We want to invest in our young people the best resource we have to our people because we are ready-full nation. We need to educate job providers and not job seekers so that we go back to the land and beneficiate so that we export surplus of our agricultural goods to the rest of the continent working together and also to the real over seas.
There are some places where you go to where they say they have a problem of food security. They actually are desperate, they don‘t even have a plan even if they want to produce food, but we can. We really have to work, and I am sure Minister Davies had said this; to reverse this very anomaly of becoming a net importer of food when we can become a net exporter of surplus food because we shall have fed our people.
To the European Union and to other partners in the North we continue to appreciate the programme of the manufacturing investment programme, MIP, which has contributed since 1994 more than R76
billion to our developmental programme. This is also not a nice to have but in their interest as it is in our interest.
We continue to appreciate the continuation of the co-operation we have in or through the Americans on African Growth and Opportunity Act, Agoa. The expansion of business and technological networks continue to mutually benefit our countries. We want to urge countries from the developed North that indeed Africans do not want the four industrialisations zoom cost them but of ICT digitalisation, hon Minister Cwele, it is in our interest that this time around we become full participants.
During our 2016 Budget Vote Speech, we indicated to this august House that our future is in seeably linked with our own region, SADC. From August we will become the Chair of SADC, we did not ask for it. We were requested to take over, that is, in august.
In September the hon Minister Wang Yi of China will be handing over the reigns to us in the Palace of the UN General Assembly for us to start preparing for the tenth anniversary of BRICS. Remember about the conceptual notes of the formation BRICS Development Bank was in this country in 2013.
Leaders in the World Bank and IMF admit that they have never seen such a formidable determination to succeed like this one. We are proudly saying to you by the time they comeback here that building which we have identified and have gone through all the processes will be ready for the Africa regional centre; not only ready but will be fully-functional starting next month, in June. [Applause.]
In October we will be officially handed over the reigns which we did not ask for but was done unanimously. That is, the Indian Ocean Rim Association Chair. For us these three weaves threads of the Africa we want and how we will not be passive participants of how we change and transform the socioeconomic wellbeing of our people. So, goes with the implementation of SADC, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, Comesa, East African Community, EAC, Free Trade Area, FTA. So goes the continental agreement that we have signed.
We are aware that peace, security, and development are two sides of the same coin. There will be no peace and security if there is no development and vice versa. So yes, we are not only concerned but we contribute where we can to the wellbeing of South Sudan, Burundi, the DRC, Mali, Libya, and Somalia. We are encouraged by some positive development in the Central African Republic. Lesotho is the
only country that is inside another country and the Greater Sahel and Great Lakes.
Post conflict and reconstruction and development initiatives, is a matter that we will remain seized with; because we know how to remain second class citizens in ones country – we didn‘t read about it we experienced it. So, even if we were called names sometimes we continued holding on the baton of facilitation for peace and security like we do in Lesotho and in South Sudan so that indeed we continue to do that which O R instructed us to do, not only in writing but by doing it for more than 30 years.
We are delighted, hon members, you know Africans – I keep on saying to neurotics – Africans like celebrating people when they are dead, but when they are alive they spend very little time with. That is now in the funeral programmes we have speaker number 17 because this is what we should have said when people were still alive. Can we heartily, genuinely say that we are delighted to welcome back our very own Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma after the successful conclusion of her tour of duty where she even got six extra months which we did not ask for? [Applause.]
We are delighted of the achievements that she got not alone but with all other commissioners till where we are seated today. Because she came back home waving that which we all have a document of the Africa we want. Our own African blue print, as to what do we do with ourselves from 1963 to 2063 and the seven aspirations that I referred to. I am also delighted to say to the hon members, one of the achievements of the last summit ... [Interjections.] ... was to officially comeback with a decision that puts Pan-African Women‘s Organisation as and organ of the AU. [Applause.] And it is based here in South Africa.
So, our youth are not bulge and a problem, but harnessing the demographic dividend it‘s the fact that we are Africa that is rising, and our youth population is our future. We are celebrating the Africa we want that is on the match positively moving forward. Have a wonderful Africa Day. [Applause]
Mr M S A MASANGO: Hon Chairperson, hon Ministers present here Nkoana-Mashabane and Cwele, hon Deputy Ministers, Mfeketo and Landers, excellencies, distinguished guests in the gallery, fellow South Africans, this Vote No 6 Debate takes place appropriately on Africa Day — ―The Year of O R Tambo: Building a Better Africa and a Better World.‖
The committee would like to applaud you for hosting a successful Africa Day dialogue at the Westin, this morning. Thank you very much. [Applause.] As articulated in the vision of Pan Africanism and by Agenda 2063, Africa must gravitate towards self-sufficiency and gradually wean itself from donor dependency which ultimately undermines its sovereignty and the national interests of its states. That imposes an imperative to build and train our own Afrocrats, and African Volunteer Corps, to deploy in various organs of the African Union, AU, Pan-African Parliament, and Southern African Development Community, SADC, etc.
The former president of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo and co-authors of the book, Making Africa Work have in this book - a handbook for economic success, not only highlighted the current weaknesses and challenges afflicting the continent, but alerted us to the dangers that could saddle us by 2050 if the demographic dividend, industrialisation, mechanisation of agriculture, etc, are not expeditiously attended to. This handbook should be read together with the Kigali Report as adopted by the African Union Summit of the heads of state and government on 29 January 2017.
It is extremely disheartening that a prominent South African praises colonialism‘s enslavement, the land seizure from the natives of
1913, the oppression of the African people, the denial of their inalienable human rights, and their impoverishment as something that was not bad. What a shame! What an insult to the memory of O R Tambo, Nelson Mandela and Kwame Nkrumah who fought against the excesses of colonialism. Yet, the victims of apartheid colonialism of over 342 years slavishly and sheepishly follow her and her self- serving, paternalistic party of white bosses and black stooges - to quote Mandela at the Cosatu rally in December 2000.
O R Tambo‘s stoic, soldierly physique was not just home to an incisive intellect, foresightedness, valour and progressive internationalism, but it also enabled him to provide a unifying stewardship to the ANC from 1967 to 1991. Tambo eloquently posited:
What I condemn, with all the vehemence I can muster, is the fact that for three quarters of a century we have been victims of white minority rule, which has progressively become more violent against us up to the point where it assumes the forms we are witnessing.
IsiNdebele:
Sihlalo neNdlu yesiBethamthetho, kazi kuyatlhuwisa ukukhumbula bonyana abantu bePalestina bathathelwa inarha njengathi.
Bayatlhagiswa, bayamanywa, bayadusulwa, begodu bayabotjhwa abanye badutjulwe ngesigidi naba nghonghoyilako njengathi ngaphambi kwaka-1994.
Sihlalo, njenga nje, pheze 1 300 yeembotjhwa zombanganarha zinghale ukudla ngombana zifuna kususwe ukuhlaliswa wedwa eseleni [Solitary confinement], nokubotjhwa ungatjhutjhiswa [Administrative detention], nokufuna bonyana imindeni yabo ivunyelwe ukubavakatjhela ejele.
English:
We applaud the Friends of Palestine and the boycotts, divestment and sanctions, BDS, and other prominent South Africans for conducting a fasting initiative for two days in solidarity with the #PalestinianPoliticalPrisoners mass hunger strike undertaken since
17 April, this year. The ANC hopes that President Trump‘s visit to the Middle East this week will possibly persuade the Israeli government to meet the #PalestinianPoliticalPrisoners demands and give an impetus to the negotiated two-state settlement.
In 2015 we applauded the rapprochement between Cuba and the USA, the détente policy, and we vainly hoped that the economic blockade would be expeditiously lifted. Washington continues to ban exports to Cuba
of products and equipment important to key sectors of the economy, whilst the embargo prevents Cuba from freely exporting products and services to the USA. For instance, Cuba cannot have direct banking relations with the USA. This embargo is unjust, flagrant and it‘s a violation of the human rights of the Cuban people and Guantanamo Bay has not yet been returned. Therefore, working with the Friends of Cuba, the mobilisation of the international community and other solidarity campaigns is necessary to help expose this extra- territorial act of aggression and blockade as condemned by the United Nations, UN, General Assembly.
Fellow compatriots, on 15 March 2017, our Parliament, together with the Department of International Relations and Co-operation hosted a public lecture on Western Sahara wherein various stakeholders including the ambassador of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, the Friends of Western Sahara and others made their demand abundantly clear about the urgent decolonisation and independence of Western Sahara. The AU must not concede on this demand.
As envisioned by the NDP - Vision 2030, the committee commends this department for leading South Africa, astutely, through unpredictable, unstable and sometimes troubled international waters in the United Nations, G20, G77 plus China, the World Trade
Organization, WTO, the World Economic Forum, WEF, and the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation, Focac. South Africa champions our trade and economic national interest within this environment. Hon Minister we need a radical, no holds-barred, frontal approach to the WTO and WEF to tilt the balance of trade in favour of the African continent. Olusegun Obasanjo also stresses the importance of improving the intra-African trade in his book.
The committee notes with appreciation that our country has a vast diplomatic footprint internationally. Let‘s utilise this to leverage more trade with Britain, notwithstanding their recent Brexit, African Growth and Opportunity Act, Agoa, notwithstanding the posture of the Trump‘s administration and the historical trade with the European Union, for example the Economic Partnership Agreements, EPAs.
The committee was encouraged by the department‘s commitment and resolve to achieve its strategic objectives this financial year, albeit with a budget reduced by R207,2 million. However, attending to the qualified audit, outcomes should be the department‘s priority including the implementation of the cost-containment measures agreed to with National Treasury. Alternative funding in order to curb the costs of leasing properties abroad, including the provision of a
permanent headquarters for the Pan-African Parliament should be attended to by the department as well as to updating the asset register.
The Foreign Service Bill is before the committee. In January this year, we conducted a successful public seminar on the Bill at the department‘s offices. Currently we are engaging with various departments to hear their views, suggestions, comments and objections on the Bill and will shortly be undertaking a study tour to Germany. The committee was satisfied that in this financial year the African Renaissance and International Co-operation Fund, ARF, would be utilised to support democracy and good governance in the continent, capacity building, training programmes, humanitarian and disaster interventions where it might be required.
Noteworthy is that the Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development will benefit from the Fund if the need arises. However, the ARF must still pursue its goal of migrating to SA Development Agency, Sadpa. One of the recommendations the committee has made to the department was that public diplomacy needs to be intensified and deepened so that the entire civil society can know, support and appreciate the sterling work being done by our various departments in the continent, such as peacebrokering and peacekeeping.
The SA Council on International Relations and our committee should also play a meaningful role to achieve the foregoing recommendation. In July 2015, the National General Council, NGC, took a resolution that South Africa should withdraw its membership from the International Criminal Court, ICC, in view of its perceived selective prosecution of heads of state and government in the continent and in East Europe, labelling it as a ‗colonial court‘ or an instrument used for global power of control to effect regime change.
However, the NGC was resolute that war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity and impunity must be dealt with in the national courts as well as the African Court of Justice and Human Rights, when all due processes in the AU are met to operationalise it.
isiNdebele:
Sihlalo, iKosi ithabile, amadoda aphethe ngammbili,
bafanelwa ziimporiyana, buyatjha, ngamaGwabo nje, kuhle ngakwethu. Angiswaphelise ngokuthokoza amaLunga wePalamende ngetjhebiswano nesebenzisano endzindzileko, ngithokoze noNgqongqotjhe, nabasekeli bakhe, ngingakhohlwa abasebenzi bePalamende abakukomidi yethu.
uKhongolose uyasisekela lesiSabeloMali saka-2017-18. Inarha ayilale, iinhliziyo zipharumelane. Ngiyathokoza. UZimu atjhudubaze iAfrika. [Iwahlo.]
Mr S MOKGALAPA: Chair, honoured guests, hon members, today as we mark the 54th anniversary of the African Union, we salute the founding fathers and visionary leaders of the African continent. Fifty-four years later a vision was borne of Agenda 2063, which is the blueprint for a paradigm shift in Africa‘s future. This vision aims to create an environment of inclusive economic growth and sustainable development. It strives for an integrated continent with shared values, good governance and democracy, the rule of law, justice and a peaceful and secure Africa.
We want to acknowledge and commend the hard work done by the New Partnership for Africa‘s Development, Nepad, and the African Peer Review Mechanism, the APRM, programmes that seek to facilitate Africa‘s renewal and reshape its future. Unfortunately, the current crop of leaders is working hard to reverse the noble deeds of our forefathers and, in the process, is tainting the legacy of our continent. Africa is still ravaged by civil wars, conflict, underdevelopment, unemployment, power-obsessed dictators who act
with impunity, undemocratic regimes, human rights abuses and corruption.
The current global environment is volatile, as the rise of populist, nationalist and extremist movements are posing a threat to global security and undermine international order, bringing about fear and mistrust among people and states. This trend has led to many states adopting a narrow nationalistic approach, as opposed to globalisation, to foreign policy. Recent examples are the elections in the United States and Brexit.
This trend is compounded by growing expectations and disappointments, as well as by demographic shifts and migration. All of this leads to a scramble for resources owing to jobless economic growth, which contributes to unemployment and poverty. National interests become the focal centre of a state‘s approach to foreign policy. States are pursuing a zero-sum game through a narrow, nationalistic focus in trying to outsmart each other for the maximum benefit of attracting foreign direct investment.
Globalisation and urbanisation are a twin reality which must be managed by states, as nonstate actors are intensifying their role and involvement in the foreign policy space.
Chairperson, allow me to address you on some of the department‘s programmes. Regarding Programme 1, we are quite concerned about the allegations against the CFO and we would want to urge the Minister to act swiftly in dealing with a disciplinary case.
In terms of Programme 2: International Relations, we want to address the core business of the department with a budget R3,6 billion. This programme remains a source of concern with 126 missions abroad in
107 countries and 160 missions resident in South Africa. This is unsustainable and hurtful to the fiscus under the current economic conditions.
It is prudent under the circumstances to follow NDP and National Treasury advice to consider the rationalisation of our missions and to cut expenditure on foreign infrastructure projects. It is also important to consider the reduction of maintenance costs on foreign- leased properties, as over 1 000 properties are leased at a cost of R575 million.
Economic diplomacy is still lagging behind the number of high-level visits and bilateral commissions, which still yield little in terms of value for money. We need quality outcomes and not quantity in number of visits. This requires a concerted effort in skilling and
equipping our diplomats as economic diplomats to market and sell our country abroad.
Our current crop of diplomatic cadets are a shame as they serve their personal interests rather than public interests. Some are criminals and others are dishonest through faking their academic credentials and being corrupt. We need more vigorous vetting processes to ensure that these cadets are beyond reproach and are people of integrity ready to serve with pride, dedication and patriotism. This is the reason why the DA supports the finalisation of the Foreign Service Bill to professionalise and regulate our foreign service and eliminate the dumping-ground syndrome.
Programme 3 provides an opportunity for South Africa to play a meaningful role and take leadership in global politics by influencing the multilateral agenda through its constitutional values. However, South Africa is failing dismally in multilateral forums when it comes to promoting our constitutional values and principles and championing human rights. This is evident from our failed withdrawal from the ICC and our relationships with dictators like Al-Bashir, Nkurunziza, Kabila and Mugabe, to name a few.
We cannot afford to be quiet when opposition leaders are persecuted on fabricated charges, as is the case in Zambia. We must use our chairpersonship of SADC to seriously address this issue. In a seemingly democratic country like Zambia, the intimidation and suppression of opposition parties should be strongly condemned.
In Programme 4 with respect to public diplomacy, we are happy to see an increase in the allocation to this programme. We would like to see this programme provide early-warning systems of major international events, and we suggest organising a national dialogue on South Africa‘s foreign policy and national interests to ensure participatory diplomacy of nonstate actors and civil society in foreign policy.
In Programme 5 we need to evaluate our participation and commitment to international membership. We also need to ensure that we respect and uphold our constitutional values. The DA is concerned about the recurring and serial adverse audit opinions. For three consecutive years the department has received a qualified opinion. This raises serious concerns in the department and we hope that the issues will be addressed very urgently.
We have abandoned our moral high ground in order to stoop low and get onto a slippery slope. If South Africa is to realise its vision of a better South Africa in a better Africa and a better world, we must shape up and be counted, or ship out and lose all credibility in the global arena.
We must be vocal and speak out against wrongdoing and also be bold to challenge our allies when they do wrong. The days of failed quiet diplomacy are over. We need to redeem ourselves by ensuring that our voting patterns in the multilateral forums are consistent with our values.
Let me conclude by saying that the DA‘s foreign policy is centred on three key pillars: constitutionalism, human rights and economic diplomacy. Under the DA government, we will not roll out the red carpet to dictators and mass murderers like the ANC does. We will respect international law and institutions, we will speak out against wrongdoing, and we will ensure our diplomats are well trained in economic diplomacy and are assessed on what they bring in in terms of foreign direct investment.
Human rights will be the guiding principle in our international relations as we aim to promote intra-Africa trade and prioritise
regional integration. In 2019, South Africans can choose between the ANC‘s racial nationalism, populism and division on the basis of race, or they can choose the DA: moving towards progress in an open- opportunity society for all. Our country‘s national interests will be clearly defined and pursued in all our international relations for the benefit of all and not the elected few. I thank you. [Applause.]
Mr N PAULSEN: Thank you, hon Chair. Good afternoon, members and guests. The EFF reject Budget Vote 6 of the department. It is a very welcome coincidence that we are having this debate on this day, remembered across the continent as Africa Day. It was on this day in 1963 when leaders of the newly liberated African countries gathered in Ethiopia to ask themselves that perennial revolutionary question: What must be done to free Africa from the bondage of colonialism and capitalism, from landlessness, from divisions among African people on the continent and those in the diaspora? The resolve back then was, as President Nkrumah put it: Africa must unite or perish.
It is with this understanding therefore that we are of the firm view that our international relations policy must be premised on the principle of Pan-African unity: Pan-African unity in culture, in economics, in the arts, in defence, in the protection and
advancement of our ability to use our resources for the benefit of our people. The peculiarity of our history and our present position in world affairs demand that unity.
Our posture in world affairs from the Mandela to the Mbeki administrations had always had this clarity, despite some disjuncture between that ideal and implementation. But who can now tell us what our international relations posture is all about? There is no clarity and no singularity of purpose. We limp from one international policy relations failure to another: from voting with imperialist forces to destroy Libya, to letting our soldiers act as mercenaries for Mr Zuma and his corrupt comrades in the DRC and the Central African Republic; from imposing the inept Nkosazana Dlamini- Zuma as the head of the African Union for purposes that are still not clear to using our foreign missions as vehicles for enriching the Guptas.
Chidi Odinkalu, a human rights activist in Nigeria, said that Dlamini-Zuma didn‘t know Africa and was more concerned with her ambitions at home than she was with African people or African issues. He also said that many would be forgiven for screaming,
―Good riddance, Ms Dlamini-Zuma!‖ I‘m not sexist and you shouldn‘t be either. But wrong is wrong.
Our international relations policy has been confusing and lacks strategic direction. In international relations, one of the basic tenets and assumptions is that a national government, through its foreign policy, must be predictable in its behaviour and where that is not the case, that country cannot be trusted. It was under Dlamini-Zuma‘s leadership that a colonial power, Morocco, that was still colonising the Sahrawis, was readmitted to the African Union. Where is our policy on being anticolonialist?
We need a clear, strategic thrust in terms of our foreign policy, one that recognises that we cannot run with hares and hunt with hounds.
Our relationship with Brazil and China must be premised on this understanding. It must be a relationship that enables our full development of our own capacity as a nation to utilise our resources for our own development. The differences between these countries could not be more pronounced. The unemployment rate in this country is 26%, while in Brazil is at 13% and in Russia at 5%. In India and China it is 4%. If we are not in a position to leverage resources from these countries for our own development, then why are we in a partnership with them?
And to my colleagues in the ANC I would like to say: Palestine deserves more than a footnote in a budget debate. It deserves much more than that, so I hope you are not going to abuse this because we need to debate this more fully. We need to debate what would bring about a more peaceful coexistence between Palestinians and Israelis. Thank you very much, Chairperson. [Time expired.]
Mr M HLENGWA: Hon House Chairperson, hon Ministers and Deputy Ministers, hon members, Your Excellencies and guests, I want to start on a different note and congratulate the IFP on a resounding victory in Nquthu. [Applause.] A landslide victory when we warned you that do not dissolve the municipality but you chose otherwise. And so yesterday we were there.
IsiZulu:
Eyi, siyaqhuba siyi-IFP. Sanishaya ungathi nimile. [Ihlombe.]
English:
So I really want to thank the people of Nquthu on how they voted.
IsiZulu:
Siyabonga kakhulu. Siyazithoba phambi kwenu. Sizosebenza ngokuzikhandla.
English:
No, no, no, we won outright majority. It is not a coalition, co- operation, we won outright, so wake up and smell the coffee.
IsiZulu:
Enquthu, siyabonga.
English:
We are taking Nquthu to the world and bringing the world to Nquthu, so it is very relevant Minister. Whilst we acknowledge the importance of a comprehensive presence in respect of our foreign missions we also must take cognisance of the fact that such presence comes at a very hefty price tag of R3,5 billion a year. With foreign representation in 107 diplomatic missions around the world, second only to the United States of America, USA, one must ask the question of wisdom and benefit to South Africa of having such a large number of missions. Are they all worth their respective spend and the cost to the South African taxpayer? Or are they just other jobs for politically connected friends of the President? An independent audit should be conducted on all foreign missions from a cost/benefit to South Africa perspective and those found to be wanting in respect of their contribution to the current and future prosperity of South Africa and its people must be closed with immediate effect.
In this regard, the rationalisation project which is taking place must be sped up.
IsiZulu:
Niyayithanda iNquthu kodwa yona ayinithandi. Niyayithanda, ayinithandi.
English:
The African Peer Review Mechanism, APRM, a continental governance monitoring instrument is still not up to standard in respect of assisting governance reforms, institutions and processes amongst its members. New Partnership for Africa‘s Development, NEPAD‘s vision relies largely on a fully functional ARPM as governance deficiencies abound today in many African states, not least of which are right here at home in South Africa. Good governance remains a fundamental and foundational to socioeconomic development therefore the APRM must continue to be supported and efforts made to enhance and give teeth to its recommendations at member state level as it remains light on implementation.
The Israeli-Palestinian impasse does not bode well for global peace and stability. In this regard, the IFP reiterates its position in support of two-state solution where Israel can live together side by
side in peace and tolerance. The IFP maintains that the decision of the government to withdraw from the Rome Statute was ill-advised and grinds against the grains of justice and human rights. We view this decision as a kneejerk reaction which seeks to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Rather, let us seek to revamp and improve the International Criminal Court, ICC. In conclusion, key to our international obligations is the pursuit of global democracy. For us to achieve this we must strengthen our own democratic agenda in South Africa and use our Constitution as a benchmark of our international interactions. Therefore, in this regard, as the continent celebrates Africa Day today, we should pause and reflect on the gains made by the African Union and ask ourselves the question, does it still espouse the vision of which it was found upon? Is the organisation an organisation for the people of Africa, is it promoting the ideal and spirit of Pan-Africanism and if not we must take the lead in reforming it. I thank you, hon Chairperson.
Mr A M SHAIK EMAM: Hon Chairperson, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, media and our distinguished guests in the gallery, I think I must agree when you had a laugh earlier on when we speak about human rights violations, every single day almost every hour our people are massacred in Palestine and some of the parties speak about human rights here. The same parties that support, that are funded by
Israel and allowing them to treat our people in the most inhumane manner but we talk about human rights.
So it clearly shows one thing, if ever the DA was back in power, all they would do is to do what they did before in the apartheid days, exactly the same thing. They would do exactly what the United States of America is doing. Everything that you see in the world, the civil unrest, let me give you an example, if we talk about terrorism, who created these terrorists? The United States of America, who funded them? The Americans created them. This is the influence that the West has and let me also say, the African continent is the wealthiest in the world but yet we are the poorest. Why? Our wealth is being controlled by these capitalists and these colonialists and I think it is time for us to take a stand. As I stand here right now, I have just been advised another two children in Palestine have been massacred by the Israeli army as I stand here right now. The NFP wants to say, our involvement in the international community especially in The Southern African Development Community, SADC, I think it bearing a lot of fruit. I think we need to take advantage of that. And I can tell you that I am proud to say that as a member representing the country in the SADC region, we were the first region in the entire world to adopt the Model law on Eradication of Child Marriages in the continent and in fact it has been a great
achievement working together in the SADC region. Let me also add, the influence, in our understanding, is that some of these countries in terms of Africa, we must become a little more self-reliant, in other words, I am saying, what we need is an African solution to African problems.
Our dependence on the international community, and whilst we have achieved a great thing in terms of the Brazil Russia India China and South Africa, Brics, Bank, let us be honest, it is a sore point because they believe we are in conflict with the World Bank and nobody wants to lose that control. What the Western powers want is that they want that control. They want that power. And that is what the DA wants to do, to work with the Americans and work with the British and that is basically what it is all about. Let me on behalf of the NFP also condemn the terrorist act that took place in Manchester and call for those perpetrators to be brought to book.
Let us also be mindful of the fact that the BDS in South Africa is playing a massive role in trying to promote the struggle of the people of Palestine and I think it is time the international community and especially us as South Africans, and you know the words of our hon Madiba when ge said, There will be no peace in South Africa if there is no peace in Palestine. Let us not forget that. [Applause.] Let us play a more pivotal role in trying to bring
peace there. The two-state solution and that will probably give a lot peace in the other parts of the country. I thank you. The NFP supports this. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATION: Hon
Chairperson of the House, Chairperson and members of the Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Co-operation, hon members that are here, the diplomatic core, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, more importantly, a special welcome to learners who are here with us today. I am sure in jut few years time you will sit in these benches. [Applause.] However, do not copy everything that we do today. [Interjections.]
This year marks what would have been the 100th birthday of the liberation struggle stalwart and the longest serving President of the ANC, Oliver Reginald Tambo, South Africa‘s chief diplomat in exile. President O R Tambo laid the foundation for our foreign policy and was passionate about our solidarity with the oppressed masses of the South in general and the people of the Asian and the Middle East regions in particular.
After 50 years of the occupation of the Palestinian territories this year, the Palestinians continue to be deprived of the most basic
human rights. We stand by the Palestinian people, in particular we remember prisoners who are on the 37th day of hunger strike demanding to have access to basic human rights that they are not given and most of those prisoners have never been brought to court. They are prisoners who are in detention, some of them for 17 years, in detention without trial.
[Interjections.]
Yes, it makes think and remember where we come from.
We continue to reaffirm our solidarity with the people of Palestine and call upon the international community to find the lasting solution to this long standing conflict.
Hon members, we will continue to advocate for freedom and justice in support of the people of Western Sahara. This foreign policy position to support Western Sahara is found on our experiences of struggles against colonialism and subjugation. Ever since we took a decision to recognise the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, South Africa has continued to lobby for the Sahrawi cause on all multilateral forums that we participate in.
We wish to reiterate the urgent need for renewed efforts to facilitate an early resolution of the Western Sahara issue and call on the United Nations, UN, General Assembly to determine a date for the holding of the self-determination referendum for the people of Western Sahara. Equally, we urge the UN Security Council to fully assume its responsibilities in restoring the full functionality of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara. This is vital for managing the ceasefire and the organising of the referendum in the Western Sahara as well as addressing issues of human rights violation in that country.
We will continue to mobilise the international community to call for the acceleration of the referendum on self-determination.
Despite the above challenge, we believe that the readmission of Morocco to the African Union, AU, presents opportunities for all of us to work within the collective of this august body to resolve the Western Sahara issue.
With regard to the Asian countries, we believe that it is in our best interest to continue strengthening our relations, specifically in the area of economic diplomacy. The International Monetary Fund
classified the Asia-Pacific region as a global leader in economic growth, with a projected 5,5% in 2017 and 5,4% growth in 2018.
The same however cannot be said about the Middle East region which together with North Africa experienced a slow growth of up to 2,7% in 2016. What is important in this regard is to note that economic growth has been negatively affected by ongoing conflicts in Syria, Palestine, Yemen, Iraq and as well as constraints in oil production. It is therefore crucial that we continue advocating for sustainable and peaceful resolution to the conflict in the Middle East.
Ladies and gentlemen, we engage with partners in various regions at bilateral and multilateral levels. This is the basis of our membership of the Indian Ocean Rim Association, IORA. As you are aware IORA is the brainchild of former President Nelson Mandela. He viewed its establishment as a renewal of historic trade relations. In his address to the National Assembly of the Republic of Mauritius in September 1998 Madiba said and I quote, ―With the end of colonial era, new conditions allow us reach out to our Indian Ocean neighbours and revive ancient links of trade and interaction for mutual benefit.‖
South Africa will, in honour of our icon leader, assume the IORA chairmanship when the Minister of International Relations and Co- operation hosts the 17th meeting of the IORA Council of Ministers later this year in Durban. At this meeting South Africa will take over the chairmanship from Indonesia for a two year period and the United Arab Emirates will become the vice chair.
The Ocean Economy is a strategic focus area for South Africa, the African Union and IORA member states. We will seek to align the activities of IORA to the 2050 Africa‘s Integrated Maritime Strategy in areas such as maritime security, capacity-building, skills development and technology transfer in the area of the ocean economy.
We are also working in partnership with Oman to build the Port of Sohar in that country. This port will enhance economic connectivity and bolster trade and investment between countries in the Indian Ocean Rim.
Ladies and gentlemen, during the 2nd Investing in Africa Forum on 7 September 2016 in Guangzhou, China, a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, between Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, Prasa, and the China Communication Construction Company was signed. This will
enable us to explore various infrastructure development initiatives, including the Moloto Rail Development Corridor, linking Gauteng and Mpumalanga provinces.
Furthermore, we have just concluded the South Africa China High- Level People-to-People Exchange Mechanism this past month, which aims to deepen mutual understanding between the people of South Africa and China and to enhance people-to-people exchanges and co- operation.
Ladies and gentlemen, this year marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Red Fort Declaration between South Africa and India. This declaration was signed by former President Mandela during his state visit to India in 1997 and reaffirmed the strategic partnership between the two countries.
The previous year, 2016 witnessed the official visit of Prime Minister Modi to South Africa and this visit was successful.
In conclusion, we are committed to enhancing efficiency, accountability and cost-effectiveness in the pursuit of our foreign policy objectives, through the implementation of the Foreign Service Bill. This Bill has been presented to Parliament and we welcome the
comments and the guidance of the portfolio committee in this regard. We will accordingly engage in further consultations in order to enhance key elements of the Bill to ensure that enabling legislative framework is created during this financial year. I thank you, Chair. [Applause.]
Dr P W A MULDER: Chairperson, both the Brexit referendum in Britain and the election of President Trump in the United States of America have created new international realities – new international realities with implications for Africa, on this Africa Day, for South Africa, and surely, for this Department of International Relations and Co-operation.
In the United Kingdom, the outcome of the referendum on Brexit has major implications for Britain and for the European Union, but also for South Africa. Britain is an important country for South African exports, be it for fruit, wine or any other products. The Brexit situation creates an opportunity that must be used to negotiate new and better advantages for South Africa.
South Africa and the United Kingdom have reached an agreement, in principle, that an interim arrangement be put in place once Britain leaves the European Union. I think that is good and positive.
However, this interim agreement is based on the existing economic partnership agreement that South Africa has with the European Union. I believe we can do better.
Afrikaans:
Ek dink dit is ‘n fout om die huidige ooreenkoms tussen ons en die Europese Unie net so op Brittanje van toepassing te maak. Suid- Afrika en Brittanje het ‘n unieke en lang, historiese, ekonomiese geskiedenis, en ek glo ons kan ‘n beter ooreenkoms beding in albei se belang.
English:
The United States and President Trump present a more complicated situation. Many jobs are being created in South Africa because of the benefits from the United States of the African Growth and Opportunity Act. I worry and I predict that South Africa might lose these advantages once President Trump applies his mind to the African Growth and Opportunity Act and South Africa. Why? Because it is not a trade agreement but an American Act.
Let me read section 104 of that Act:
The President is authorised ...
... on an annual basis ...
... to designate a sub-Saharan African country as an eligible country if the President determines that the country has established ... a market-based economy that protects private property rights, incorporates an open rules-based trading system, and minimises government interference in the economy through measures such as price controls, subsidies and government ownership of economic assets.
At the moment, President Zuma and the ANC leaders refer to radical economic transformation in every speech. They explain it as more interference in the economy. That goes against section 104 of the African Growth and Opportunity Act. On land and private ownership, the willing-buyer, willing-seller principle is debated as not being ANC policy anymore and we hear about land grabs without compensation. That is also in direct conflict with section 104 of the Act.
The President and several ANC leaders, with their irresponsible remarks, seem to be trying their best to get us out of the Act, with a lot of job losses. This is not an idle threat. In the past, the United States has kicked countries out. Eritrea, the Central African
Republic, Niger, Madagascar and, more recently, Swaziland, were kicked out of that agreement.
In 1993, during Tambo‘s time, the ANC published a brochure, Foreign Policy Perspectives in a Democratic South Africa. According to this publication, human rights would be the central focus point of the ANC‘s foreign policy once the ANC came into power. [Interjections.] Yes. I quote from the brochure:
... the world dare not relinquish the commitment to human rights. This has a special significance for South Africa; our struggle to end apartheid was a global one and we believe that the change has enhanced the necessity for a worldwide human rights campaign.
South Africa ... must play a central role in this ...
I‘ve got another quote here, but time is catching up on me.
In the end, the problem is that, in several instances, South Africa voted in the United Nations with countries like Iran and Cuba to defend North Korea and Myanmar – all countries with very bad human rights records. The Omar al-Bashir visit and South Africa‘s initial decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court are more examples of this.
How sad that, within 23 years, this department and this country lost its central focus point on human rights in the world. I think that‘s sad and we have lost the opportunity to take the high ground that Mandela gave us. I thank you. [Time expired.]
Mr M G P LEKOTA: Chairperson, Madam Minister, Deputy Ministers, colleagues, I think we should start by dealing with the issue that we are faced with the deployment of large numbers of missions. The way the situation is in our country requires that we should seek to rationalise our resources such that we prioritise missions that are urgently needed by the country and cut down and intensify in those areas where our country can benefit our people.
Let me say that a bird‘s-eye view of our situation since we started this democracy does show that we started off with a very high gloss at international relations. Today, that gloss has dimmed significantly. This is because our foreign policy was always, at the beginning, seen to be underpinned by the values of our Constitution, by a human-rights approach. It is clear at this time that, under the present administration, our country has drifted away from that position. When you look at this, there is a clear indication that government values its relations with pariah states more than it does its commitment to human rights, whichever way we look at it.
One of the most instructive examples is the motivation our present government tried to give as to why we should leave the International Criminal Court, ICC. The International Criminal Court is an institution that was set up by the international community. So, citizens of any country, including ours, who are defenceless in the countries that govern them - especially in the light of dictatorships that we have seen since the Second World War - are able to go to a body like that and say, We are defenceless in our country. We have a government that is slaughtering our people, our communities, our relatives, and so on.
When we joined the International Criminal Court, we were not compelled by anybody. We were guided by the leading thinkers, minds that were fresh from what had happened to us in this country. So, we placed ourselves in a position in which we could assist victims of dictatorships who would approach the ICC and say something of this nature is happening in our country. That was the reason we went in there.
If it is victims, and even in the case of the Sudan, by the way ... At that time, we were on the ground in the Sudan. We were in Darfur. I walked there with our soldiers. We saw what was happening and reported regularly what was happening in the Sudan. When victims of
that Darfur situation approached the ICC and told them about the situation, etc, etc, we didn‘t have to read it in the newspapers. We had our own report.
Yet, when Al-Bashir came here and the international community, as a result of the pleas of the people, said that he must be brought before them, our present government refused. It refused, even when our own domestic courts said this person should be taken there.
South Africans and South Africa must look at themselves. We must ask ourselves how we can forget so quickly what happened to us. [Time expired.]
Ms D D RAPHUTI: Hon Chairperson, hon Ministers and hon Deputy Ministers and hon members, the fellow South Africans and the staff, today we celebrate the African Day. To all 54 countries on the continent we say, ola, bonjour, sawubona, hello, enhlekani, ndi masiari, and even to the Christians there, amen.
As we celebrate Africa Day, may I take the opportunity to congratulate the appointment of our Director-General, Mr Kgabo Mohai
... [Applause] ... and the Chief Operating Officer Ambassador Nkosi to this committee?
Fellow South Africans, we will be naive not to recognise what is happening inside and outside the borders of our continent. The abducting, the killing of women and children needs our urgent intervention. The question is, to everyone who is seated here and watching there at home, rise up and say not in my name.
The Setswana idiom says, Mangwana o tshwara thipa bogaieng. It takes a village to raise a child. What are you doing in that village? What are you doing in that township, and what are you doing in those suburbs in that home? To our families, what had happened to our children‘s attacks, the killing, the rapes, abuse and abductions They are painful criminal acts that needs all of us who is seated here, very disturbing acts that disturbs our peace, our security in our homes, villages and in the entire society.
Fellow South Africans, ensuring peace keeping inside and outside the country - it‘s an ANC and the government policy. The peace keeping ideals are rooted in the ANC. We have learned them from our stalwarts of whom this year is dedicated to you, the year of Oliver Reginald Kaizana Tambo, the year of deepening unity. [Applause.]
This was announced at the January 8th Statements and also at the state of the nation address. This is the man who paved the way for
this country by opening the missions in 23 countries while being the President of the ANC. It means that he governed before the democratic election. [Applause.] A man with the vision. He shaped the foreign policy of South Africa. For that reason, we are having
124 missions abroad, and we still need more. The sky is the limit.
He represented the ANC at the United Nation whereby apartheid was declared a crime against humanity. Colonialism, apartheid, inequality, poverty, racism are one and the same, which is rife here in the DA Racist Western Cape government. Human rights are being abused here in Western Cape, Ntate Mokgalapa. [Interjections.]
Those who have visited the Western Cape will know what I am talking about. [Applause.] Gross divided community, violation of human rights is in DA. [Interjections.]
Fellow South Africans, I quote what OR said about peace, "We seek to live in peace with our neighbours and the peoples‘ of the world on conditions of equality and mutual respect‖.
Fellow South Africans, this is the man who criss-crossed the world and saw how peace and security played a role in development in one‘s life and the country. It is very important that peace-keeping should be our hall mark in our missions.
Fellow South Africans, the foreign policy outlook is based on our commitment to the values and the ideals of the Pan-Africanism; solidarity with the people of the South, and the need to cooperate with all peace loving people across the globe in the pursuit of shared prosperity in just equitable rules based international order.
Our foreign policy belongs to all. It mirrors the long relationship of the international community. It reflects the ideals of the Freedom Charter that says, there shall be peace and friendship that encompasses the clause in our hard fought Constitution.
Fellow South Africans, we have 124 missions abroad of which 38 are headed by women, Minister. Promoting peace and security, women must play an important role in peacekeeping society.
South Africa became instrumental in the adoption of the landmark at the United Nations Security Council by resolving on the resolution 1335 and 1820. This resolution – it seeks to prevent violence against women, and to address the disproportionate and unique impact of armed conflict on women.
The Acting Chairperson (Mr N Gina): Hon member, roundup.
Ms D D RAPHUTI: South Africa, Just three weeks ago, the tweet by the DA Premier, Hellen Zille of the Western Cape, has left us with a bitter taste in our mouth and scarred wounds in celebrating colonialism whilst conflict on this continent has taken so many lives. This is inciting terror, conflict and war in this beautiful country. [Interjections.]
Watch out. [Interjections.] Watch out, those who vote DA. [Interjections.] She is still living ...
The Acting Chairperson (Mr N Gina): Order!
Ms D D RAPHUTI: ... the legacy of colonialism. She is fighting war So, we are saying even to that Mmusi Maimane ...
The Acting Chairperson (Mr N Gina): Hon member, your time is up.
Ms D D RAPHUTI: ... who secretly went to Israel. [Interjections.] No, those who vote DA; they vote ... [Interjections.]
An HON MEMBER: Point of order.
Ms D D RAPHUTI: ... for the apartheid, racial, racist community. I thank you. The ANC support this Budget Vote. [Time expired.]
Ms C DUDLEY: Chair, hon Ministers, Deputy Ministers, colleagues, now as celebrate Africa Day today, I had purposed to refrain from commenting on the Middle East Peace process, which both South Africa and the ACDP support and which will be discussed in a future debate. However, the ACDP will continue to pray for both Palestinians and Israeli‘s for sustainable peace and for development that will benefit all in the region. A philosophy of hatred and violence promotes murder is not restricted to Palestinian leaders and is reaching out across the world against all who hold different believes.
So, South Africa implements its Diplomacy of Ubuntu of humanity to others in the context of achieving its national interests, which are premised on eradicating poverty, unemployment and inequality. South Africa‘s national interest is however neither narrow nor nationalistic, and it recognises the importance of others, especially in the region and on the continent.
This complex task is constrained by further reduced budge, which continues to be affected by foreign exchange currency fluctuations.
The ACDP does note however with approval that the department, National Treasury and the Reserve Bank have begun joint discussions on finding a workable system to curb the negative impact of foreign exchange fluctuations on the budget of the department.
The overall budget reduction will no doubt impact on national priorities like the strengthening of bilateral cooperation with countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, the Americas, the Caribbean and Europe. This is regrettable because the purpose of these relations is to increase exports of South African goods and services, foreign direct investment into value added industries like mineral beneficiation, inbound tourism and skills enhancement.
Another area of concern for the ACDP would be the long term impact of the department‘s one entity, the African Renaissance and International Cooperation Fund. The ARF's mandate includes the promotion of democracy and good governance, the prevention and resolution of conflicts, socioeconomic development and integration, human resource development and infrastructure development.
The African Renaissance and International Cooperation Fund, ARF, which requested more than R400 000 million, has been allocated R22 million. Although we are assured that the fund has sufficient
cash reserves to absorb the impact of the reductions - and its operations are not expected to be affected - this cannot bode well for the long term.
The department will have to improve monitoring of ARF activities and deal more effectively with irregular expenditure, lack of human capacity and non-compliance with applicable laws and budget constraints will work against them.
We note that South Africa will chair SA Development Community, SADC, from August this year which will create opportunities to advance the SADC regional integration programme and the finalisation of the Tripartite Free Trade Area processes. This agenda should be prioritised bearing in mind that the AU intends to launch the Continental Free Trade Area by the end of 2017.
The Acting Chairperson (Mr N Gina): Hon member, roundup.
Ms C DUDLEY: Development aid for Africa from traditional sources can be expected to drastically reduce and it is more important than ever those countries in Africa become self-reliant individually and collectively to ensure sustainable development.
To roundup, the ACDP notes progress made at last regarding recurring issues identified in previous audit outcomes. The signing of professional for the purpose of classification of art in the London Mission is a good start and we hope this process will take place in all missions without delay. W also notes that a new asset management register is in place etc. This will go a long way in assisting the department to finally achieve a clean audit in the 2017-18 financial year. The ACDP supports the passing of this budget Vote, understanding the huge financial constraints, appreciating the challenges and recognising achievements under extremely difficult circumstances. [Applause.]
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION (Mr L
T Landers): Hon Chairperson, Chairperson and ho members of the portfolio committee, hon Ministers, hon Deputy Ministers, hon members, your Excellencies, distinguished guests, I gladly followed on the hon Dudley‘s address and she seems to have a greater grasp of matters of international relations than other hon members.
I am humbled to address you on this important occasion. This session coincides with Africa day as has already been mentioned, which is designed to commemorate the establishment of the Organisation of African Unity, OAU, which is now the African Union, AU. We also
commemorate the centenary of the birth of O R Tambo. OR's legacy remains that of a founding father, and one of the greatest patriots and diplomats of this world, our continent and our country. We pay tribute to this giant by continuing to vigorously implement the foreign policy principles which he fought and died for and embedded in the ruling party's deoxyribonucleic acid, DNA, that is Pan- Africanism; international solidarity with the poor and oppressed; human rights; democracy; good governance; peace; security; stability and development on our continent and globally.
We are living in a geo political and economic environment that is extremely fluid, unstable and volatile. The effects of this have been the emergence and rapid rise of right wing, extremists and demagogic political parties, movements and leaders globally. This is why South Africa needs to be more vigilant, resilient and committed to diversify our relations particularly with other emerging progressive countries and forces of the left if we want to continue OR‘s ideals.
South Africa and Cuba have maintained long standing relations, dating back to the struggle against colonialism, imperialism and apartheid in Africa. To this end, we remain resolute in our call for the immediate and complete lifting of the United States, US,
economic blockade against Cuba. We remain grateful that Cubans have, under the most difficult circumstances continued to provide support to us and the rest Of Africa.
Since May 2012 over 3 000 South African students have received medical training in Cuba and 520 South Africans have already graduated over the past years and are now providing critical healthcare services to our poor and rural communities. In addition, about 800 will be returning to South Africa in 2018 to finalise their last year of study in South Africa. As a small contribution of our gratitude we entered into an Economic Assistance Package, EAP, with Cuba in 2012. I can confirm that we are making progress in its implementation and that our agreement has been extended until November 2017.
We have also continuously strengthened our relations with the African Diaspora and we have undertaken high level visits to
El Salvador and Honduras early this year. We will continue to visit other Diaspora communities later this year with the intention of reaching out to them.
We continue to monitor developments in the Americas including the change in administration in the United States and its impact on the
geo political economy. Having said that, we remain committed to deepening our co-operation with the US in multilateral and bilateral issues. We also continue to enjoy strong economic ties with the European Union, EU. Despite the challenges to our country‘s trade balances, exports to the European Union have been increasing steadily over the years. We will also forge ahead in strengthening relations with our non EU partners in Europe such as the Russian Federation, Turkey and Azerbaijan, to name a few. In this regard, the South Africa — Russia Inter-governmental Trade and Economic Committee, ITEC, was convened in November 2016 to review progress in various areas of co-operation.
In the current financial year, we will continue to explore opportunities in numerous areas in this region including skills development; vocational training and scholarships; off-shore oil and gas exploration; aquaculture; and ocean governance; ports development; tourism promotion; alternative energy technology;water resource management and additional trade and investment.
The People of African descent continue to suffer from multiple forms of discrimination. As a result, the United Nations General Assembly, UNGA, proclaimed the years 2015 to 2024 as the International Decade on the people of African descent under the theme ‗recognition,
justice and development‘. We commend the United Nations for this initiative and look forward to participating in that programme. To this end, South Africa continues to lead United Nations efforts aimed at the promotion and protection of human rights of people of African descent.
At the 34th session of the Human Rights Council, HRC, the Human Rights Council adopted a resolution calling on the United Nation‘s General Assembly, UNGA, to establish a forum on people of African descent. Going forward via the Group of 77, G77, plus China, South Africa will lobby the annual United Nation‘s General Assembly to indeed establish this forum.
South Africa also continues to play its leadership role in combating all scourges of racism. We led the process of the Human Rights Commission, HRC, council during its 34th session earlier this year, in adopting resolutions reviewing the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism; racial discrimination; xenophobia and related intolerance; the Intergovernmental Working Group on the effective implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and the elaboration of complementary standards to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
We believe that the Western Sahara question must be urgently resolved. We commend the countries that have recently implemented the EU court decision to ensure that Morocco does not continue benefitting from Sahrawi resources.
There are two events of particular significance in this regard: A bulk vessel was detained in Port Elizabeth; the NM Cherry Blossom is stuck at anchor, 4km from Port Elizabeth harbour. The ship is carrying what is referred to as conflict minerals. Specifically, an estimated 54 000 tons of phosphates valued at US$5,2 million. The shipment was destined for New Zealand and was being exported by a Moroccan state-owned company in contravention of the order by the European Court of Justice handed down in December 2016.
The vessel stopped in South African waters for provisioning during which time lawyers acting for the authorities from the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic initiated legal proceedings against the NM Cherry Blossom. A court order resulted in the detention of the cargo aboard the ship.
We welcome this development as we do a similar development in the Panama. The Sahrawi representative to New Zealand and Australia said and I quote, ―The export of these non renewable resources from a
place under armed occupation is a violation of well settled principles of international law. It is a war crime.‖
Of course, these developments beg the question: Why does New Zealand seek to purchase conflict minerals to the detriment of the attainment of Independence of the Sahrawi people? We reiterated; the sooner Morocco recognises the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic‘s right to self determination; the better.
I was privileged and honoured to form part of an official delegation more than ably led by my colleague the Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, the hon John Jeffrey. The delegation presented South Africa‘s third Universal Peer Review Report at the 27th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva last month. It must be noted that almost of the 102 participating member states commended and congratulated South Africa on the progress and clear commitment to the fulfilment of human rights and freedom for all who live in South Africa. [Applause.] The President of the Council formerly adopted South Africa‘s third Universal Periodic Review, UPR, report and set the date of September this year for South Africa‘s submission of its responses to the recommendations made. The South African delegation was congratulated on this report. I thank you. [Applause.]
Mr M S A MAILA: Hon House Chairperson, hon Ministers and Deputy Ministers, your excellencies, hon members, officials the Department of International Relations and Co-operation led by the director- general, the chief operating officer and the chief financial officer who doesn‘t have any issues ... [Interjections. ] ... distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, today on this Africa Day, we pay tribute to one of the greatest sons of Africa who would have turned
100 this year had he lived to see the day — Oliver Reginald Tambo, a world renowned statesman and internationalist par excellence. We celebrate Africa Day with the theme, The year of O R Tambo – building a better Africa and a better world.
As we tread in the footsteps of O R Tambo, we enable the Department of International Relations and Co-operation to continue making South Africa an esteemed global player in the family of nations through the passing of this budget.
This year we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the independence of Ghana. Ghana served as a trailblazer for the dismantling of colonialism from the African continent. It is however regrettable to note that there is still a colony in Africa. Western Sahara remains an occupied territory. The words of Oliver Tambo as he addressed UN-
Organisation of African Unity Sanctions Conference in 1986 remain relevant to the situation in Western Sahara. Tambo had this to say:
Surely it has by now become patently clear to all thinking people that, unless the world takes decisive action now, a bloodbath in South and southern Africa is inevitable.
The same can be said about western Sahara.
Whilst we don‘t dispute the fact that Morocco has been admitted into the African Union, AU, we urge the Kingdom of Morocco to recognise the right of self determination for the people of western Sahara. We call on the international community to pressurise the UN to enforce its resolution on the holding of a referendum. This we do in order to prevent possible blood bath.
We are saddened by the aftermath of the regime change in Libya. Demand by the AU to intervene by finding an African solution to the Libyan question was treated with contempt by western countries. The invasion of Libya by US forces under the pretext of protecting the Libya people from their government has left the African continent with multitude of problems. Libya is now a failed state; Mali and
Mauritania are experiencing political instability; and arms of war have found their way to Boko Haram and Al Shabaab.
We wish to acknowledge the role played by Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma during her tenure as Chair of the African Union Commission. She became the first woman to lead the continental organisation at the time when many pessimists claimed that the continent was not ready for a woman at that position. [Applause.] She spearheaded the launch of Agenda 2063 in 2013, thus shaping a vision of where Africa wants to be in the next 50 years, 100 years after the formation of the OAU.
In marking the 50th anniversary of the OAU, the AU signed a solemn declaration to end strife in the continent and to work for peace and prosperity. One of the flagship projects and initiatives was Silencing the Guns by 2020.
Pockets of instability in parts of Africa are worrying as 2020 is only three years away. Guided by the African Union Peace and Security Council, South Africa will continue to promote peace and security on the continent in line with Agenda 2063‘s fourth aspiration for a peaceful and secure Africa. With the involvement of other role players, South Africa has played a meaningful role in
conflict and post conflict situations in various countries including Burundi, Lesotho, Sudan, Central African Republic, Libya and Somalia.
The department continues to support regional and continental processes, responding to and resolving crises, strengthening regional integration, contributing to an enabling trade environment, increasing intra-African trade and championing sustainable development and opportunities. Strengthening the AU and its structures is a key priority for deepening continental integration.
South Africa views the Southern African Development Community, SADC, as the foundation for its regional, continental and global engagements. South Africa, as the incoming chair of SADC, will have to work hard for the logical conclusion of the Tripartite Free Trade Area Agreement.
I was very disappointed with hon Mokgalapa. All along, I was of the view that the DA supported the situation of western Sahara. But the deafening silence of hon Mokgalapa shows that the white caucus still dominates the politics of the DA. [Interjections.] The fact that we differ also with the DA in the fact that the global footprint is a
waste of money. They are not happy because most of our missions are on the African continent.
Ms A LOTRIET: Chairperson, on a point of order ...
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr B L Mashile): Hon Maila, please hold on. Let us hear the point of order.
Ms A LOTRIET: Chairperson, I rise on Rules 64 and 65. It is about
... and rulings have been made in this regard in the past ... that no racial categorisations may be made. Referring to a ―white caucus‖ is unacceptable and unparliamentary. [Interjections.]
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr B L Mashile): Order! Order, hon members! Order! [Interjections.] Order, hon members!
Hon Maila, of course, did refer to a ―white caucus‖, but did not refer to a specific member of a political party in the House. I think we need to allow him to proceed. Thank you very much. [Interjections.] But I just plead with all of you, hon members, to maintain the discipline that you have maintained all along.
Proceed, hon Maila.
Mr M S A MAILA: They are not happy because most of our missions are on the African continent. President Mandela – whom they claim today
– stated that South Africa can never be an island of prosperity in a sea of poverty. They are driven by their colonial mentality which says that good relations can only be made with Europe and America.
When Helen Zille made her pro-colonialism tweet, she had returned from Singapore. When she saw the achievements of the people of Singapore, she could only attribute them to the colonisers because of her belief that white men are unquestionably superior, efficient, clever, industrious and capable, while other races are unquestionably inferior, slothful, stupid, evil and clumsy.
She got it all wrong; Singapore was built by the people of Singapore. The only legacy of the colonial slave masters in Singapore is the Raffles Hotel! Thank you very much, Chairperson. [Applause.]
Ms S V KALYAN: Chairperson, firstly, I would like wish everyone in this House happy Africa Day. Secondly, today is also Take a Girl Child to Work Day, so welcome to all the girl children. I hope you will be inspired by some of us. Not all of us will ... [Laughter.]
The Minister emphasised that the Department of International Relations and Co-operation derives its responsibility from the Constitution and the NDP, specifically Chapter 7 of the NDP, which places economic growth and investment as a priority.
But the reality, Madam Minister, is that we have strayed very far off that course. Firstly, before I qualify what I said, I would like to ask the Minister what the average age is of South African diplomats. It is well known that most ambassadorial postings are given as a reward for service in the struggle, jobs for pals, and, of course, nepotism.
The placement policy of the Department of International Relations and Co-operation is disregarded. Let me give you some recent embarrassing events that cast doubt on South Africa‘s integrity. Take, for example, Ms Mohau Pheko. She who claimed to have a PhD, she lied. [Interjections.]
Just like how Helen Zille‘s news is stale, this is stale! Okay?
What about Ms Francis Ngubeni, a convicted drug trafficker appointed to the position of High Commissioner in Singapore. That‘s not stale news!
Then there‘s Obed Mlaba who openly used government letterheads to source business for his daughter‘s company.
Ambassador-elect to Japan, Thulani Dhlomo, who has a dubious background, was suspended by the State Security Agency, SSA. He will replace Beryl Sisulu, sister of Minister Lindiwe Sisulu, who will go to Australia.
Ambassador Ngcobo, South Africa‘s posting to Mali, a former police officer who lied about a matric certificate. [Interjections.]
The sister of the Minister of Defence, Nontobeko Mapisa, who worked at the Burundian mission, was complicit in organising fraudulent documents for a friend of the family. [Interjections.]
This is not wrong information; this is correct information.
This is the calibre of the diplomats appointed by Number One, damaging South Africa‘s credibility and footprint in the international arena.
Given the history of our country, President Mandela stressed the absolute need for human rights to underpin both our Constitution and
foreign policy. Yet, our track record at the UN is a poor reflection of our commitment to uphold human rights. South Africa voted to deny the Committee to Protect Journalists observer status. We initially abstained from the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex, LGBTI, vote. Why? It‘s enshrined in the Constitution. Yet we were swayed by the African bloc, and we did a flip-flop, an approach which is highly questionable and unacceptable.
We also recently voted against the UN decision on the promotion, protection and enjoyment of internet freedom.
So the question to ask is, what‘s going on, Minister? You clearly do not have a handle on our representative at the UN.
South Africa is a member of the AU and the host country to the Pan- African Parliament, PAP. The Annexures to the host agreement and the relocation of the Parliament to more permanent quarters must be sorted out as a matter of urgency. We pay about R32 million in rental annually.
An esteemed member of this House is a major shareholder in Gallagher and one wonders if the reluctance ...
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr B L Mashile): You are left with one minute.
Ms S V KALYAN: ... to relocate has something to do with protecting interests. [Interjections.]
Find out. Google it!
Also of concern is the apparent violation of the quota for employment of South Africans at the Pan-African Parliament. During the last sitting, persons from Egypt were employed to do basic housekeeping tasks. I ask you, why?
South Africa has not ratified the Protocol to make the PAP a legislative body. I‘m happy about that. We should look at it very carefully because it has some unintended consequences. It is important to seek legal opinions before we sign the protocols.
As a Member of PAP since 2009, I feel that our Parliament does not take PAP seriously. Reports and resolutions are not tabled and debated in this House. During the last sitting, I submitted a motion to amend the Rules to include the Principle of Rotation of the Presidency. The motion was unanimously adopted.
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr B L Mashile): Thank you, hon Kalyan.
Ms S V KALYAN: You were supposed to give me a warning that I have one minute left. I didn‘t get my warning of a minute. I don‘t think that‘s correct.
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr B L Mashile): Thank you very much, hon Kalyan.
Ms S V KALYAN: No, I don‘t think so. I would to place on record my thanks to the International Relations staff ...
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr B L Mashile): Hon Kalyan, I did. Thank you. Your time has expired.
Ms S V KALYAN: ... Nomondo Oluthando and Stembiso Thembe ...
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr B L Mashile): Your time has expired, hon Kalyan.
Ms S V KALYAN: You should have given me a minute‘s notice.
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr B L Mashile): We did so.
Ms S V KALYAN: I never heard it. I think I‘ve been prejudiced.
The CHAIRPERSON (Mr B L Mashile): Thank you very much. Thank you.
Mr L K B MPUMLWANE: Hon Chairperson, hon Ministers and Deputy Ministers, hon diplomats, hon members, distinguished quests, good afternoon. Minister, on behalf of the people of South Africa, I thank you. Your team has done exceptional work under very difficult circumstances. Your efforts have provided millions of jobs in this country. Unfortunately, very few people know about this. Please pass this to His Excellency, the President.
There is a narrative developing by many in the opposition benches that we have too many embassies, that they have become too costly, and that we should consider closing down those embassies. This solution is both myopic and simplistic, given the current complexities in the geopolitical world we live in. We know that the opposition understands the unintended consequences of this approach. They are aware of this. They know that it would, with no doubt, lead to the closing down of our embassies, mainly in Africa and countries of the South, which are the future emerging markets. The underlying reasons for this are to maintain the neoliberal status quo of extractive economies where more than 90% of African trade is with Europe, rather than between Africa, to benefit Europe.
We must rather continue with the diversification of our political and economic relations across the world for our future generations.
This neoliberal short-term approach will have serious long-term negative consequences for our peace-building, conflict resolution and post-reconstruction and development work across Africa. This work is not only politically important because of our commitment to Pan-African and South-South solidarity, but for South Africa to grow and remain stable, Africa also needs to develop and become stable.
We know it is unsustainable to be an island of wealth surrounded by a sea of poverty.
We must furthermore commend your department for the good work you have done in supporting our President in the establishment and continued development of Brics.
Our participation in Brics is another example of how we have been instrumental in creating more transformative and progressive alternatives to challenge the current archaic neoliberal Bretton Woods institutions such as the International Monetary Fund, IMF, and the World Bank and their right-wing economic ideological underpinnings. This is thoroughly in line with our ruling party‘s
policies and ideals. The launch of the Brics Bank is but the latest example of this.
However, whilst we believed that competition that challenges the current paradigm would have resulted in the possible reformation of these Bretton Woods institutions, over the past years and since the launch of the Brics Bank, in particular, we have rather seen that international forces like western countries and International Capital, who support these right-wing agendas, neoliberal paradigms and its supporting institutions, have, in fact, not transformed.
Instead, we have seen them rather resisting change and attempting to collapse the Brics as a united multilateral front, by pushing for regime change in these countries through both constitutional and unconstitutional means.
We have seen this happen in Brazil with the removal of the President without parliamentary elections, who was replaced by an unelected President who is now under investigation for corruption. We have seen our comrades in the congress movement in India replaced by a more right-wing government under Modi. We have seen similar trends and attacks against both Russia and China.
In addition to Brics countries, the neoliberal countries and the supporters of International Capital have continued to apply pressure and force regime change in many other countries that have dared to question, tamper with or outright reject the neoliberal economic paradigm. This includes what is happening now in Venezuela, Cuba, Iran and what transpired in Libya. They do this through sanctions, downgrades, creation and propping up of the so-called civil society and the media to oppose the legitimately elected governments and achieve their objective, which they cannot achieve at the ballot box.
Our own country has also not been immune to this, as we have seen the drastic rise of right-wing demagogic and neoliberal parties and individuals over the past decade, with the very deliberate agenda of removing our government as well as our President and replace them with an opposition that is committed to maintaining the status quo. For us, this means that we will not be able to address the current economy that remains dominated by white national and international capital.
Madam, we therefore call upon you and your team to strengthen your resolve and put the necessary resources in place to defend our advances such as Brics against this onslaught. We call on you and
your department to continue to use other multilateral platforms such as the Southern African Development Community, SADC, the African Union, AU, the United Nations, UN, and so on.
Right-wing parties like the DA and perhaps the EFF and the IFP, I am not sure, are financially supported by Neticash that is contracted by Israel to build and maintain the apartheid wall between Israel and Palestine. Whose agenda are these parties following? The DA is a liberal party and continues with a liberal agenda. [Interjections.] Wait a minute. Let me tell you something. I still have more. Let me quote to you the words of the early liberal because the DA is a continuation of that liberal agenda. Let me quote to you. This was Lord MaCaulay addressing the British Parliament on 2 February 1835 and I quote:
I have travelled across the length and breadth of Africa and I have not seen one person who is a beggar, who is a thief. Such wealth I have seen in the country, such high moral values, people of such calibre, that I do not think we would ever conquer this country, unless we break the very backbone of this nation, which is her spiritual and cultural heritage, and therefore, I propose that we replace her old and ancient education system, her culture, for if the Africans think that all that is foreign and English is
good and greater than their own, they will lose their self esteem, their native culture and they will become what we want them, a truly dominated nation.
To vote DA is to continue doing that. I beg you and the nation to always vote for the African National Congress and its programme of action. The ANC will continue to support this department. If you oppose it, you believe that the millions of people who are at work must lose their jobs. I thank you.
The MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION: Malibongwe
igama la makhosikazi on Africa Day Malibongwe!
After hon Mpumlwana I really don‘t have much to say except to thank some people on my left who still need some workshops, not one. So public diplomacy you still have a lot of work.
However, - really at this time and hour do we still have people who find it okay that people must remain in detention for seventeen years without trial and yet we are coming to Parliament wearing their scarves – that‘s the lowest level of pretence.
I think it is okay that we have taken off the scarf. I will leave you alone ... [Interjection.]
Mr M M Paulsen: [Inaudible.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr B L Mashile): Order hon Paulsen!
The MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION: I will
leave you alone because I am sure you were not alive or you were not born yet when OAU whose precursor is Pan African Women‘s Organisation for all organisations was born. I was – I just don‘t turn grey like you because I don‘t have too many sins to confess so that‘s why I‘m much better than you are. [Laughter.]
Hon Deputy Minister Landers says, hundred and two countries in Geneva unanimously clapped up for South Africa and then somebody from this other side who wasn‘t there says ―I don‘t know.‖
The ICC - how I wish one day when they have something called Assembly of State Parties, ASP – it would be good if we had money that we could just take a few of the hon members, hon Lekota - to go and see for yourself as to who attends the organisation that was formed by you and Madiba.
It is not the same. All the solutions of the problems we have had on our continent were by the Africans finding own solutions by themselves. So we will also leave that for another day.
Hon Mokgalapa, really – more than five hundred years of subjugation and you want all the solutions in 23 years. You need some assistance and I know that when you speak in this Parliament you don‘t speak the same way as you are outside; but you are forgiven. [Laughter.]
Jobless growth – Minister Cwele will explain to you that a fourth industrial revolution would bring more and more jobless growth as the global economy that is producing joblessness today is digitising and using more and more ICT.
We will not cut down our mission because we have not even reached a point where OR Tambo said we should be. [Applause.] Brazil has 47 embassies on our continent and we have much less, so we will not close our missions in countries like Chad and others because they need us more than you do. You have just made our resolution much more serious. We will continue to think globally and act locally. [Applause.]
We will continue to take care of our national interest in the spirit of co-operation and collaboration. Lastly, I will say to our staff, starting with our brand new DG, and DDGs and all our senior officials - thank you ever so much for continuing to doing much with less.
I also thank your families for the sacrifices they continue to make particularly our Deputy Ministers - as you continue caring your bags from one country to the next. ―Tau tsa tlhoka seboka di sitwa ke nare e tlhotsa.‖
Unity is our strength. I‗m worthy that the majority of those who spoke today here made our young people - particularly our girl children to learn that we put Africa and South Africa first. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
The Mini-Plenary session rose at 16:17
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