Hansard: NA: Mini-plenary 3
House: National Assembly
Date of Meeting: 12 May 2022
Summary
No summary available.
Minutes
UNREVISED HANSARD
MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
THURSDAY, 12 MAY 2022
VOTE NO 6 – INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION
Watch: Mini-plenary
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PROCEEDINGS OF MINIPLENARY SESSION – NATIONAL ASSEMBLY CHAMBER
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Members of the mini-plenary session met on the virtual platform at 14:00.
The House Chairperson Mr M L D Ntombela took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayer or meditation.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M L D Ntombela): Hon members, before we proceed I would like to remind you that the virtual mini- plenary is deemed to be in the precinct of Parliament and constitutes a meeting of the National Assembly for debating purposes only. In addition to the Rules of virtual sittings the Rules of the National Assembly including the rules of debate apply. Members enjoy the same powers and privileges that apply in a sitting of the National Assembly.
Members should equally note that anything said in the virtual platform is deemed to have been said to the House and maybe ruled upon.
All members who have logged in shall be considered to be present and are requested to mute their microphones and only unmute when they are recognised to speak. This is because the mics are very sensitive and will pick up noise which might disturb the attention of other members. When recognised to speak, please unmute your microphone and connect your video. Members may make use of the icon on the bar at the bottom of their screens which has an option that allows the member to put up his or her to raise points of order. The secretary will assist in alerting the Chairperson to members requesting to speak.
When using the virtual system, members are urged to refrain or desist from raising unnecessary points of order or interjections. Hon members, we shall now proceed to the Order which is Debate on Vote No 6 – International Relations and Co- operation, Appropriation Bill. I now recognise the hon the Minister of International Relation and Co-Operation.
APPROPRIATION BILL
Debate on Vote No 6 – International Relations and Co-operation:
The MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATION AND CO-OPERATION: Chairperson, Deputy Minister Mashego-Dlamini, Deputy Minister Botes, chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Co-operation hon Supra Mahumapelo, hon members, members of the executive and guests joining us online, our
country, South Africa, has continued to conduct its foreign relations in accordance with the values and principles set out in our Constitution. We strive as South Africa to be a positive contributor to the global family of nations and to promote our aspirations for a peaceful, prosperous and united
Africa in a just and equitable world. These are difficult goals to pursue challenged as they are by complex shifts in global relations and unprecedented global instability. Some believe we are at an inflection point in history and that we have an opportunity to reshape and rethink global institutions and mechanisms. As honorable members would know COVID-19 has been a challenge like no other since the end of the Second World War, revealing our shared vulnerability and connectedness. The shadow of COVID-19 is still with us as we debate this Budget Vote. The pandemic exposed poverty and inequality in our own society and throughout the global community. We need as South Africa to continue to ensure that we respond effectively and to ensure that we prepare for future crises and new pandemics of this kind. We have been hard hit by the effects of this diseases, but, we did respond speedily and effectively as a nation and as government and this led to the saving of many lives and we need to build on that foundation.
The challenging crises that have affected South Africa since 2019, impacted negatively on our economy and led to continuing low growth and inadequate productivity. Our government had to adjust budgets and redirect funds toward the COVID-19 response and to respond to the effects of the riots we experienced in parts of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal in 2021. These changes have affected the resources available to us as the Department of International Relations and Co-operation and various government departments in this new financial year. We have been allocated just over R6,6 billion for this financial year, which is an extremely modest increase of around 1,3% from the
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2020-21 allocation. As we have said previously, our department
requires greater allocation of resources in order to carry out
its assigned work in the 116 diplomatic missions in the 102
countries in which our country has representation. However, we
are aware that South Africa is constrained in terms of the
availability of public finances and we have committed as the
Department of International Relations and Co-operation use of
this allocation in an efficient and robust manner.
I am pleased to report to the hon members that we have made
progress in advancing our foreign policy agenda in the past
year and have worked hard at consolidating the progress
achieved by our country in the past two decades plus of
freedom. We are committed to using our foreign policy to
contribute to a better South Africa, a better Africa and a
better world as stated in goal seven of our Medium-Term
Strategic Framework. Our country showed this commitment
through implementing a comprehensive strategic framework in
combating the pandemic and its effects and sharing our
programs and our experiences with the entire continent as well
as with others throughout the world. We have also used our
participation in the G20, the G7 and Brazil, Russia, India,
China and South Africa, Brics, to secure practical actions to
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address the fallout from the pandemic. We were able to achieve
important outcomes through this. One of these was an agreement
that multilateral financial institutions would ...
[Recording stopped.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M L D Ntombela): Minister, we are
missing you. I have lost the Minister. Is the Minister around?
The MINISTER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND
CO-OPERATION: ... implement a year-long debt standstill to
provide liquidity for the economies of low and middle income
countries and as well as funding for businesses that
experienced losses ...
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M L D Ntombela): I have lost the
Minister. I don’t know whether is my connectivity or that of
the Minister, ho members.
An HON MEMBER: Chairperson, perhaps the Minister should be
advised to switch off her video.
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The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M L D Ntombela): Actually, let’s
switch off our videos all of us so that she is able to
reconnect. Hon Minister, we have lost you completely.
Mrs E N NTLANGWINI: Chair, is there no one from the department
who can just take over. Are we going to wait for the Minister?
She has deputies, let them take over.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M L D Ntombela): It was unexpected
that this would happen, hon member. Let’s give the Minister
one or two minutes, please.
The MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATION AND CO-OPERATION: I am
back, hon Chairperson.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M L D Ntombela): Okay! Sorry about
that, hon Minister. We lost you completely.
The MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATION AND CO-OPERATION: No,
no, the Deputy Ministers cannot present my speech they will
present their own speeches.
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In 2021, the UN Secretary-General gave the global community
new hope when he presented a global vision of inclusive and
transformed multilateralism. He proposed adoption of a common
agenda for humanity that will see us address climate change,
conflict, poverty and insecurity in a manner that promotes
inclusion, shared development and equality. He proposed that
the United Nations and its institutions would serve as the
strategic multilateral body supporting the globe in acting on
this common agenda. The 2021 General-Assembly enthusiastically
welcomed the Secretary-General’s initiative and committed to
his common agenda. We thus began 2022 with renewed hope for
the global community.
The Russia-Ukraine war has severely eroded that hope and has
divided the world once again and diverted us from the
Secretary-General's common agenda. Despite our calls for a
ceasefire and for UN-led negotiations, the war rages on, with
millions displaced and thousands maimed and dead. We remain
steadfast in our belief that war benefits no one and that all
efforts should focus on peaceful settlement of all disputes.
The United Nations Security Council has failed the world,
proving that it cannot be relied upon to preserve peace and
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security. The ongoing conflict has starkly exposed the
inadequacy of the UN system and highlighted the need for
serious attention to our repeated calls for substantive reform
of the Security Council and indeed the United Nations body
itself. We look forward to working closely with new
nonpermanent members of the Security Council to urge them to
initiate a genuine robust process of reform. We firmly believe
that the Ukraine-Russia war will only be ended through
negotiations, and we urge the Secretary-General to lead as the
key negotiator to secure a cessation of hospitalities.
Drawing on our experiences in the past year, South Africa will
give greater attention to member states of the nonaligned
movement and work with them to ensure that we all actively
contribute to shaping the reform deliberations within the
United Nations system, as well as giving new content to the
United Nations Security Council. The nonaligned movement
member states have always worked hard to support
multilateralism and have contributed extensively to the
battles for an end to colonial oppression and abuse of
multilateral institutions.
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We continue to derive great value from the Brics partnership.
Our joint call with India, a fellow Brics member, for the
World Trade Organisation to temporary suspend the intellectual
property rights regulations under the trips so that COVID-19
vaccines and other new technologies treatments and diagnostics
would be accessible to developing countries was an important
intervention in the fight against COVID-19. We are pleased
that South Africa and India will also be collaborating in
genomic sequencing to further research COVID-19 and its
mutations.
We are thrilled that the virtual Brics vaccine research and
development centre was launched in May this year, and that it
is one of South Africa's Brics chairship legacy projects. We
look forward to leading further progress on Brics initiatives
once more as we assume chair of Brics in 2023. We are very
heartened at the advances recorded by the Brics new
development bank. Last year its membership expanded to include
Bangladesh, Egypt, Uruguay and the United Arab Emirates. We
hope to expand the membership further during our chairship in
2023. We also remain committed to championing the interests of
Africa within Brics as the African agenda remains a
cornerstone of our foreign policy.
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In terms of our priorities on the continent, we are ever
mindful that there can be no development without peace and no
peace without development. We had long hoped to silence the
guns on our continent, but there is still much work to be done
to achieve that. One of the important priorities in the
African Union, AU, agenda, as well as in the Secretary-General
of the UN’s common agenda is the maintenance of peace and the
prevention of conflict worldwide. Member states have been
encouraged to reshape their responses to all forms of violence
and to engage in genuine peace building and conflict
prevention. It is clear that much must be done to promote
democracy and good governance on our continent. We welcome the
efforts led by President Ramaphosa to strengthen unity and co-
operation throughout Africa and plan to build on the
foundation laid through our successful visits to Nigeria, Côte
d’Ivoire, Ghana and Senegal last year. These are very
important partners for South Africa.
In August last year South Africa assumed the rotational chair
of the Southern African Development Community, SADC, organ on
politics, defence and security co-operation. Our chairship is
focused on the challenging political and security matters in
the Kingdom of Lesotho, Mozambique, Democratic Republic of
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Congo as well as in the Kingdom of Eswatini. President
Ramaphosa’s facilitation on behalf of SADC in the Kingdom of
Lesotho continues, and the national reform process is at a
very critical stage. The constitutional amendments have now
been tabled before the Parliament of Lesotho and are under
consideration to be passed before the elections this year. We
also continue to support the SADC deployment in Mozambique as
part of our region's response to the fight against extremism
and terror. We thank our men and women in uniform for their
courageous efforts in the fight against terrorism. We welcomed
the establishment of the Tanzania-based regional
counterterrorism centre in February this year. This would be
an important step towards strengthening our SADC regional
security architecture.
We are also promoting strong humanitarian efforts on the
ground in Mozambique. This involves working with other SADC
member states to alleviate the plight of internally displaced
persons in the Cabo Delgado region. The Mozambican government
has specifically requested assistance for internally displaced
families to be resettled. We plan to make a contribution to
this through support for sustainable food production projects.
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Our efforts at promoting democracy and good governance in
Eswatini are also underway. The SADC Secretariat has through
the organ Troika prepared a terms of reference for an
inclusive national dialogue in Eswatini. These terms have been
submitted to the government of Eswatini and to His Majesty
King Mswati III. We are hopeful that the kingdom will draw on
our goodwill of SADC and convene a genuine national dialogue.
We are deeply concerned that there appears to be a rise in
unconstitutional changes of governments in other regions of
our dear continent as well as a rise in violent extremism. We
believe this undermines our continents efforts to realise a
peaceful and secure Africa.
We will work with the economic community of west African
states as well as the African Union to combat these incidents
of insecurity. Working with our partners on the continent and
elsewhere we will redouble our efforts within the AU to hold
governments accountable to build a united front against
terrorism and to prevent military interventions as well as to
stop negative foreign interference on our continent. We have
to combat persistent instability caused by poverty, high
unemployment and violent conflict in Africa. We believe that
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there are massive opportunities awaiting South Africa in the
promotion of African trade, African regional integration and
African industrialisation. We need to draw benefit from these
opportunities and have to be seen as a country that support
inclusive, that practices social cohesion and that is a home
for all who live in it. We believe that if we intensify our
efforts at increasing intra-African trade and at reducing
imports from beyond the continent and increasing manufacturing
in Africa, we will show the continent our commitment to the
joint prosperity and development of Africa.
Our Pan African dream of Africa's prosperity and development
really relies on mutual African support and African
interdependence. South Africa must boost intra African trade
and reduce import of goods from beyond Africa and ensure that
that which can be grown in Africa, is grown in Africa, that
that which can be manufactured in Africa, is manufactured in
Africa. We have developed a framework through which we can
realise the benefits of intra African trade and we look
forward to the full operationalisation of the African
continental free trade area.
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This will show our commitment to the joint prosperity and
development of Africa.
It is our hope that the free trade area implementation will
result in a continental customs union robustly overseeing
intra-African trade. I have been very thrilled about the
progress that has been made in the ratification of the
tripartite free trade area which consists of SADC, East
African Community and the Common Market for Eastern and
Southern Africa, Comesa. Only three more states need to ratify
this instrument in order for the agreement to enter into
force. The tripartite free trade area has the possibility of
creating a market of 29 African countries with a combined
population of more than 700 million. The challenge we face as
South Africa is to increase trade within the continent beyond
the SADC region, and to ensure that we take up these
increasing economic opportunities which will make us a very
successful region.
We have worked hard as the Department of International
Relations and Co-operation to co-ordinate South Africa's
economic diplomacy on the continent and to develop concerted
coherent approach to this. We have launched a co-ordination
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mechanism for economic diplomacy, Comed, as a platform in
South Africa drawing government departments, the private
sector and civil society together to explore economic
opportunities on the continent and to co-ordinate our efforts
for export promotion. We hope that Comed will assist in
ensuring a coherent South African response to economic
opportunities.
As the Department of International Relations and Co-operation
we are committed to providing humanitarian assistance as part
of our global responsibility, particularly on the African
continent and in countries of the South. It makes no sense to
us that South Africa expect to receive grants and support from
other nations of the world and yet as South Africa we don't
wish to give to others when we can. The African Renaissance
Fund was set up for the purpose of humanitarian assistance. We
receive requests from various partners on the continent for
mitigating circumstances of extreme poverty and providing
support in disaster relief. We will continue within our
abilities to provide what we can to assist. We believe this is
a vital obligation and as one of the world’s nations we must
honor it.
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We are also prepared and committed to act in solidarity with
our brothers and sisters in Cuba as we cannot turn a blind eye
to their plight while their economy is strangled by illegal
blockades and sanctions. The Cuban economy has been brought to
its knees after 61 years of draconian US economic sanctions
imposed on that impoverished island nation. This is a nation
that stood shoulder to shoulder with our combatants in the
struggle for freedom and we must help if we can. It was Cubans
who sent their sons and daughters to fight for the liberation
of southern Africa. Of course, those who were never in the
trenches fighting for freedom cannot appreciate or know this
history. Cuba played a pivotal role in turning the tide
against our colonial oppressors. It would unjustified and
unethical to turn our backs on them in the hour of their
greatest need.
We will also consolidate our support for international
solidarity. We continue to support the revolutionary causes of
those who suffer under the yoke of colonial oppression. The
last colony in Africa, the Western Sahara, is still not free.
The people of Palestine continue to struggle for human rights,
dignity and self-determination in their own land and need our
support. The situation on the ground for ordinary
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Palestinians has become unbearable in terms of the gross
violations of their human rights and dignity. We hope that all
members of the United Nations will combat the infringement of
the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Palestine and
will ensure that as the global family of the United Nations,
we are equally angry at the plight of the people of Palestine,
just as we are angered at the war in Ukraine. The UN
Secretary-General has issued a call to action for human rights
and his agenda calls for human rights for all to be placed at
the centre of our global and national agenda.
We have also launched our campaign to return to the Human
Rights Council in 2023, and we are please the African Union
has endorsed our candidature.
Chairperson, we have also began our major initiatives in
advancing the legacy of Charlotte Maxeke, an internationalist
South African who played a major role in women and youth
empowerment during her life time. She was one of our earliest
ambassadors, a true internationalist forging relations across
the globe. We will initiate a number of flagship programmes
that will honour her legacy.
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We are also running an international women’s capacity building
programme through the Department of International Relations
and Co-operation in which we support African women in
strengthening their role in conflict resolution and
postconflict reconstruction. It is a programme which invites
women from all over the continent. All of these indicate our
commitments to the full participation of women in advancing
and maintaining peace and security in Africa.
Finally, I am really pleased that we could welcome our new
Director-General, DG, Zane Dangor and I look forward to be
working close to him to advance our foreign policy agenda. I
also thank the Deputy Ministers for the support and leadership
that they give within the department. I thank all members of
the portfolio committee for the important oversight role that
they play in Parliament.
As our first president of our democratic South Africa,
President Nelson Mandela said during the fifth Steve Biko
Lecture in 2004, and I quote:
One of the challenges of our time, without being
moralistic is to reinstill in the consciousness of our
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people that sense of human solidarity, of being in the
world for one another and because of and through others.
That quotation I believe illustrates our own South African
platform of global solidarity. I thank you, Chairperson.
Mr S O R MAHUMAPELO: The hon House Chair, collective of the
legislative arm of the state, a collective of the executive
arm of state, the newly appointed director-general, DG, Zane
Dangor, and all our friends and colleagues who are watching
this debate, hon members one of the things about the budget is
that it is a necessary political economic instruments in the
hands of the International Relations and Co-operation
Department to build a better Africa and a better world. The
reports of the Auditor-General have demonstrated a consistent
upward positive trends by the department in how it wields this
economic instrument called the budget to comply with the
Public Finance Management Act. We commend the department under
the stewardship of hon Minister Pando, hon Deputy Ministers
Candith Mashego-Dlamini and Alvin Botes, because in the
execution of their responsibilities they have demonstrated a
clear understanding that our struggle for a better Africa and
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a better world is pursued under conditions of neither our
choice nor design.
We are pleased as a collective of progressive and vigilant
agents of oversight that the department does acknowledge the
need to intensify the struggle against its own weaknesses such
as information and communications technology, ICT,
environment, compensation of employees, asset management,
financial performance management and many others as reported
to the committee by the department. We are acutely aware of
the difficult task of a constrained physical environment which
forces the department to close some of the missions. It is,
indeed, our position as a portfolio committee that the
reduction of the missions shouldn’t be applicable in Mama
Africa the continent. It is also our hope that at some point
in future the difficulties the department faces of having to
work within a stipulated National Treasury sealing on matters
of compensation of employees would be overcome. Link to this
matter it is the resolve of committee that comprehensive
skills to audit will have to be done by the department. This
will partly contribute to the compliance of the Foreign
Service Act of 2019.
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The department correctly assess that its strategic plans are
developed in a complex and dynamic global environment.
International relations strategies are forced, cognisant of
the country-base initiatives, the challenges and opportunities
that arise from national, continental, and global relations as
well as the imperatives of global development co-operation.
This requires set of strategies that position the country to
effectively engage in global politics, trade and development
with the requisite capabilities to manage multi-layered
relations within the global political and economic
architecture. Our support for this budget, hon ...
[Interjections.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr M L D Ntombela): Hon member, please,
mute. Sorry, hon Ntate Mahumapelo.
Mr S O R MAHUMAPELO: Thank you very much, House Chair.
Afrikaans:
Baie dankie.
English:
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Our support for this Budget Vote, hon members, is in
appreciation that we have played our oversight role in the
budget process. This include the observation and
recommendations we made during the budget review
recommendations report, BRRR. In the BRRR we noted and
commended the department for having achieved 35% of its target
in 2021-22 financial year. There are a number of
recommendations made by the portfolio committee in the BRRR of
2021 financial year and this includes, among others, the
following: Negative audit outcomes, the audit action plan,
irregular fruitless and wasteful expenditure, financial
management and competency assessment work, and the African
Renaissance Fund impact assessment.
It is our call that the department must continue to attend to
this particular matters at the core of the triumph of the
people’s revolution in South Africa where the people
themselves, that is why as the committee we have commenced the
process of a people-centred oversight approach. Among other
things, this would result in us as a committee establishing
what we term people’s international relations oversight forums
in every village, in every township, in every small town and
all then cities of our country South Africa. It also our call
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to the department that there must be intensification of
economic diplomacy as a critical vehicle for our foreign
policy. This will help South Africa triumph over the domestic
challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment.
We are comfortable with the consistent progressive role South
Africa plays in global institutions of governance such as the
United Nations and its ancillary bodies. This has been
demonstrated recently when South Africa adopted a position of
rational mind application to achieve rational win-win outcome
on the matter of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, Nato,
imperial in due conflict between Russia and Ukraine. How South
Africa consistently seeks to make all of us and globally to
understand that coronavirus 2019, Covid-19, emergence and
subsequent responses requires nothing less than global united
and consistent responses, financially, scientifically and
politically. This demonstrates that, indeed, we are the well-
nurtured sons and daughters of the ever-present among
ourselves of Oliver Reginald Tambo.
Hon presiding Chair, our committee moves that we debate and
finally adopt and approve the Budget Vote 6 of the Department
of International Relations and Co-operation including the
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African Renaissance Fund. The essence of today’s debate is not
only about commitments made by the executive and the necessary
ensuing oversight embedded. It is not only about stating the
facts, it is also about our singular and collective capacities
to struggle against our weaknesses. One of such weaknesses,
hon members, it is the inability to master the art of
distilling truth from facts.
Let us just state some of such facts for convenience of the
mind. The ANC is an Anti-Western imperialists organisation,
but at the same time the ANC co-operates with some of the
Western imperialists states because as the ANC we have
mastered the art of distilling truth from facts. The DA is a
strategic political and ideological opponent of the ANC.
Therefore, we must make it clear that no matter how sweetly
sophisticated the DA would want to be in approaching various
matters of this Parliament, we would never be fooled. The
misguided populist cheap publicity sow by hon Steenhuisen on
the behalf of his perpetual anxious DA by self-inviting
himself to Poland and Ukraine recently, reconfirms our
analysis that you are nothing else, but the most pathetic
offspring of Western imperial apartheid colonialism.
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Our recognition and standing globally does not depend on your
perpetual desire to become a relevant global political player.
Whilst in the process of which your actions demonstrate the
extent to which you are actually unpatriotic, while you
pretend to be the best compatriot. We are also in the middle
of a very difficult situation in the Eastern Europe. In this
context, we affirm our support on the diplomatic stuns our
country took in the face of this crisis. Our principle
position is the preference of the negotiations to address
these challenges. We are mindful that the situation in the
eastern part of Europe will impact negatively on the peaceful
stability of the world as well as impact on global energy
supply.
We are hopeful that the negotiation process will, indeed, bear
positive fruits in this regard. The not surprising attack by
the Israeli regime on worshippers in Al-Aqsa Mosque in
Jerusalem which resulted in injuries and the killing of
innocent Palestinian worshippers must be condemned by all
loving people. Closer to home, the situation in Cabo Delgado
in Mozambique continues to be on the agenda of Southern
African Development Community, SADC, in particular the SADC
organ of peace, security and safety. We are confident that
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through this intervention peace will in the end be restored in
Mozambique. We also are concerned about the situation in the
Kingdoms of both Eswatini and Lesotho. Therefore, we fully
support the measures taken by both South Africa in particular
and SADC in general to bring peace and stability to our sister
countries.
The portfolio committee takes note, hon members, of the
outcome of the court in Pretoria yesterday. As the portfolio
committee we respect the outcome of the court on the matter of
Cuban humanitarian intended contribution by South Africa. The
portfolio committee expects that the department in dealing
with this Cuban matter must deal with it in line with the
Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, our foreign
policy principles and objectives and our historical relations
with Cuba. And also, the department must look at the
implications of the court judgement of yesterday.
It is our expectation that the department will report and
account to Parliament on this matter on behalf of the people
of South Africa. We will also ensure that the department in
particular and the government in general focuses their
energies on advancing economic diplomacy through economic
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integration of the continent and encouraging investment. We
will also ensure that the status of South Africa is enhanced
in international relations as the department is doing on
behalf of the rest of us. Once more as the committee, we move
that the budget be approved by Parliament.
Setswana:
Ke a leboga, Modulasetilo. Se se sa feleng se a tlhola.
Mr D BERGMAN: Hon Chairperson, I must say that anybody who
doubt’s the efficacy of the DA Leader, with the fixation of
the members, the chairpersons of the ANC and the Ministers on
our leader, he must be doing the right thing. So, keep on
doing what you are doing, hon Steenhuisen. South Africa has
been well represented through a proud track record in
international relations and in calling out human rights abuses
where ever they may occur. But this proud representation has
unfortunately not been a proud national effort. This
representation comes from an opposition party, the DA, which
has sent its leaders to Zimbabwe, Zambia, Morocco, Somaliland
and the Middle East.
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The DA Leader and his team have condemned the persecution of
the Rohingyans, the ongoing war in Cameroon; warned of the
dangers of Mozambique when it was still a civil war; urged the
AU for more productive action in the Tigray region and, of
late even went to visit the war torn Ukraine after the DA had
been calling since 2016 for South Africa to use its proximity
to President Putin to mediate a peace process between Russia
and Ukraine, when there was no side that was needed to be
taken.
The ANC has tarnished South Africa’s international image by
failing to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine, choosing
instead to remain neutral in the face of gross human rights
violations and loss of lives. The world should know that it is
the ANC, not South Africa, who are supporting Putin’s war in
Ukraine.
Worse still, for a party that claims to fight for Africa, the
ANC is standing by and watching as the war in Ukraine
threatens to send Africa to the brink of a food crisis.
Minister, your government should be pressuring Putin to allow
the opening up of Ukraine’s ports to allow the exports of
grain and wheat that is currently trapped there. For once,
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stand up and fight for Africa before the continent is plunged
into a full-blown hunger crisis.
We have so many missions, yet we are held ransom by the
Department of Home Affairs as to when or how we can deliver
consular services. It is high time that we stop threatening e-
visas. If we cannot get the technology, we must outsource our
consular services to private companies around the world, like
most other countries do.
Not only would we be able to close down many more missions and
economise on our wage bill, but our tight budget will be able
to stretch to more worthy causes such as promoting South
Africa as a destination open for direct foreign investment,
tourism, and we would stabilise our diplomatic ship by sending
career diplomats that actually represents our country
favourably, rather than spending their time being chauffeured
around to look for these exclusive apartments to rent or
sniffing out red carpet opportunities.
It is sad that one of the costliest departments that is
affected by currency fluctuations, which in turn can be made
worse by the behaviour of the ruling party, has a relatively
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small budget and still manages to spectacularly waste it,
without an ounce of respect to the domestic fiscal pressures.
Under the DA, our foreign affairs would be focused on
stimulating trade and not scaring off investment, building
relationships with all mutually beneficial countries and not
being paralysed in historic loyalties, and being consistent in
our human rights lobbying without fear or favour.
DA public representatives wake up every morning with a clear
objective in mind and that is to see an open opportunity
society whereby we promote true reconciliation, we redress the
injustices of the past, we acknowledge and embrace cultural
diversity and protect everyone’s rights and guarantee delivery
and results.
As Richard Haass once said: “Diplomacy can and will matter.
little is inevitable in international relations.” That is why
the DA Leader and his party are still flying our flag and not
an insulting disgraceful tender of a R22 million flag, I might
add. Proudly we fly our flag on the international stage.
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I thank hon Steenhuisen for putting himself on the frontline
and for putting South Africa first. I thank you.
Ms T P MSANE: Hon Chairperson, the EFF rejects Budget Vote 6
on International Relations and Co-operation. We do so firstly,
because we fundamental disagree with the ideological
negligence that seems to be guiding this department in its
approach to the question of international relations.
Secondly, we reject the budget for the simple reason that it
is led by extremely lazy and visionless people, who cannot do
the bare minimum. Our approach to international relations is
deeply rooted in the timeless goal of Pan-African unity, which
itself must be premised on the ultimate objective of delinking
former exploitative forms of international relations to those
based on the principle of equality amongst people and nations.
It is for this reason that in the founding manifesto of the
EFF, we said: The EFF’s internationalism is premised on
building solidarity and working relationships with all
movements in the world that identify ideologically with
anticapitalism and anti-imperialism. In this regard, the EFF
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will ideologically and politically support movements that seek
the economic decolonisation of the African continent.
Commonly, the EFF will also advocate for free trade across the
entire African continent, with common terrace for goods and
services from country to country. The EFF will also advocate
for the ultimate integration of the African continent through
the erosion and eventual elimination of unnecessary borders.
At the core of our foreign policy posture, is the censoring of
the African continent and African people in almost everything
we do.
We therefore reject South Africa’s dramatic retreat from
active involvement in the advancement of the interest of
continent. The African Union, the Pan-African Parliament, the
African Court of Human and People’s Rights are all shallow,
falling far short of unifying the African continent. These
institutions are failing to perform because there is no
leadership amongst member states.
South Africa, as one of the biggest economies in the continent
has dropped the ball and has no idea whatsoever of what a Pan-
African future ought to look like. Under your watch, we have
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seen the intensification of armed conflict sponsored by
Western powers in the continent. The conflict in Tigray in
Ethiopia is going on unabated and South Africa and the African
Union are dead silent. The destabilisation of West Africa by
France has been going on for years, but there is still no co-
ordinated effort by the continent to remove France out of the
affairs of the continent.
It is for this reason that the EFF will march against
involvement of France in African affairs. Africa must no
longer be treated like a colony and France must stop thinking
of itself as a colonial master. There must be no foreign
military basis in the continent, because these military bases
are used to train rebels who then topple legitimate
governments in the continent.
There must be a stable government in the Democratic Republic
of Congo for that country and whole continent to benefit from
the riches of this continent. We need to be more persistent in
our push for a representative United Nations and do away with
the veto power enjoyed by just six nations in the UN Security
Council.
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We must be more vocal in our opposition to the genocide of
Palestinian men and women and children by the apartheid state
of Israel. We must publically and privately call out the
hypocrisy of the war alliance that is Nato, which is basically
a military tool that the United States uses to suppress other
nations. The conflict in Eastern Europe is primarily sponsored
by the United States through the unjustifiable expansion of
Nato towards Russian territory.
There will be no resolution of the conflict in Ukraine until
the US stops its greedy incursions into Russia. If you want to
see a new world order based on fairness and neutral respect,
it is then our responsibility to make our voices heard on this
and other matters.
At a pragmatic level, this government is corrupt and
visionless to the core. Millions of rands have been spent and
yet, no one can account what the money has been spent on.
Instead of holding officials to account, the department allows
them to resign without even accounting.
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It is time for Ms Pandor to go on retirement and allow a new
and vibrant leadership to take over the affairs of this
department. We therefore reject this Budget Vote. Thank you.
Mr M HLENGWA: Thank very much, hon House Chair, we can spend
the whole day today and any other day debating the politics,
the ideology and every other narrative that’s not playing out
on the international stage. Rightly so, South Africa must
continue being present and must make its position known. We
will continue disagreeing with the government.
Today, we are here to deal with the budget. Maybe, let us zoom
in on the financial management of the Department of
International Relations and Co-operation.
According to the Auditor-General, AG, in her consideration of
DIRCO’s 2020-21 annual report, I quote: “The department
incurred unauthorised expenditure of R150 million, as well as
irregular expenditure of R187 million”. When reporting on
expenditure management, the AG reported: “Effective and
appropriate steps were not taken to prevent irregular
expenditure amounting to R19 million,” and that the majority
of the irregular expenditure was caused by payments made
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without approval at the appropriate level as per the
delegation of authority.” In addition: “Effective steps were
not taken to prevent fruitless and wasteful expenditure
amounting to R12 516 000”. This is only the beginning. The AG
again says, she was unable to obtain sufficient appropriate
audit evidence that disciplinary steps were taken against
officials who had incurred irregular expenditure. The reason
is that investigations into irregular expenditure were not
performed. No investigations were performed into fruitless and
wasteful expenditure either. She goes on: “Internal financial
controls at DIRCO are repeatedly described as being not
effective”.
Further, blame is laid squarely at the feet of management, who
did not take accountability. The AG further cited a lack of
implementation of consequence management. If the findings of
the AG are to be believed, as we believe them, there are
serious questions to be asked and grave concerns to be raised
about how DIRCO manages its finances.
As a department responsible for managing an annual budget of
in excess of R6,5 billion, this complete lack of internal
control and consequence management is unacceptable. With the
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budget set to increase to R6,9 billion over the medium-term,
concerted efforts must be made to stem the tide of irregular,
and fruitless and wasteful expenditure.
In addition, mention must be made of DIRCO’s campus. It was
built in 2009, as a public-private partnership, on a design,
finance, build, operate and transfer basis. This partnership
carries a heavy cost, coming in at over R268 million for 2020-
21 alone.
As the IFP, we are curious as to why official DIRCO
documentation list this PPP’S 25-year contract coming to an
end in 2030, when Treasury states the PPP’s date of close as
January 2005, with 25 years taking us to 2030. Something does
not add up, and the department must explain. It is our concern
that the taxpayer will end up footing the very large bill for
these additional four years.
Whatever our international endeavours, hopes might be, and
whatever international programmes we want to roll out, the
fundamental basis is that the department must manage its
finances and its budget in a manner that is consistent with
the PFMA, and must make sure that officials are held
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accountable. They cannot have a free pass. The situation, as
things stand now, is of serious concern.
The Minister has her work cut out. We hope that the new
director-general understands the gravity of the situation –
that things are not well.
We must continue championing the national peace and economic
diplomacy to attract international investors and to ensure the
creation of jobs and the alleviation of poverty.
We fully agree with the notion that government does not create
business but creates a conducive and enabling environment for
that to happen. This means that the Department of
International Relations and Co-operation must be able to
advocate for a South Africa which has its ducks in a row.
Ensuring certainty in our energy supply, the crisis at Eskom
doesn’t inspire confidence. Our human rights track record must
be revisited to ensure that we continue to conduct ourselves
in a manner consistent with the Constitution and international
law.
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We must condemn war wherever it manifests itself and uphold
the principles of dialogue and peaceful resolution to
conflict.
All these factors combined and more, are at the heart of the
mandate of this department. It cannot be okay if the financial
management is inconsistent the law. I thank you.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms M L D NTOMBELA): Thank you very
much, hon Hlengwa. Hon members ...
IsiZulu:
... onenkinga ngoba ...
English:
Sorry about that.
Dr C P MULDER: Thank you, hon House Chairperson, hon Minister
and colleagues, during this debate, last year, I referred to
the issue dealing with Mr David Nkosi. Colleagues will
remember that Mr Nkosi was a South African diplomat stationed
in Vienna, Austria. He succeeded in causing a damage of
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R750 000 in the apartment that was allocated to him, which the
department leased from a private owner.
At the time, the spokesperson for the department, Mr Lunga
Ngqengelele, said that the matter was receiving urgent
attention and investigations are underway which will determine
liability.
I want to ask the Minister, today, if she could indicate what
action was taken in this case, if the gentleman was adequately
sued in court, and whether money was repaid to the department
for the loss that he incurred? I would also like to know if
this gentleman has any connection in any way with the
Department of International Relations and Co-operation?
Our foreign policy is based on the White Paper on Foreign
Policy that was agreed upon by Cabinet in 2011. It says:
“Building a Better World: The Diplomacy of Ubuntu, the White
Paper of South Africa, 2011”. When it gets to the Middle East,
it says the following: “South Africa’s foreign policy on the
Middle East will have to take cognisance of the changing and
complex regional dynamics”. My view is that our foreign policy
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is not doing that. It is not taking cognisance of the changing
and complex regional dynamics.
There was a time during the government of President Mandela
when a discussion document on foreign policy and international
neutral policy for South Africa was advocated. Slowly but
surely, the ideological stranglehold of the ANC policy changed
all that. We moved away from a policy driven by human rights
to the one where former allies from the cold war would be the
driving force, and thus, we became the advocate for Castro,
Gaddafi, Arafat, Maduro, Omar al-Bashir, and Kimi Yankumi, and
we had that again today.
South Africa, with a one-eyed pro-Palestine approach in our
foreign policy solutions for the Middle East has become
irrelevant. The world has moved on from a simplistic two-state
solution with an emphasis of Palestine being the victim and
Israel being the aggressor. The Abraham Accords signed on 13
August 2020 between Israel, United Arab Emirates, the United
States, and Bahrain indicates this new approach.
The Arab world has moved on beyond Palestine. They are no
longer going to be victims of the Palestinian internal
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conflict between Hamas and Fatah themselves. That agreement
was signed. How did South Africa react to that breakthrough
agreement of the Abraham Accords? South Africa issued a press
statement on 14 August saying the following: “The South
African government has noted with concern the development
regarding the normalisation of relations between Israel and
the United Arab Emirates”. We are concerned about that
breakthrough.
The current idea about by some that South Africa might be
asked to mediate major international disputes is a fantasy
that still dreams of the past when the ANC was thought to
occupy the moral high ground, and when South Africa was
thought of having achieved a miraculous compromise. South
Africa squandered all of its diplomatic capital.
During November, 2021, we witnessed the extraordinary site of
our foreign affairs establishment getting into a rage of the
Miss South Africa attending an event in Israel and being
successfully defied by the young woman; well done, Lalela
Mswane. Which other country’s foreign office would get into a
public squabble with a beauty queen and lose?
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Meanwhile, Israel has been hosting a meeting of Arab League
foreign Ministers an event important enough to attract
attendance of the US Secretary of State. The Palestinian
foreign Minister said the meeting was harsh attack against the
Palestinian people but nobody listened. The foreign Ministers
resolved to turn that meeting ... [Inaudible.] ... new era ...
[Inaudible.] ... European Union, by some margin, the strongest
and most successful state in the Middle East. Does our
Department of International Relations and Co-operation even
notice that?
The ANC government has made a huge mistake by allowing the
Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions, BDS, to dictate its
foreign policy. A mistake which has already put it at odds
with the African Union, which has granted Israel observer
status despite South Africa’s protests. That would just leave
South Africa further behind the slipstream of others.
Luckily, in two years’ time from now, with a multiparty
coalition government, South Africa will once again return to a
normal and acceptable foreign policy. We can’t wait to get to
that point. Thank you, Chairperson.
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Rev K J R MESHOE: Hon House Chairperson, the hon Minister of
International Relations and Co-operation, DIRCO, was
passionate this afternoon as she defended her department’s
decision to donate R50 million to Cuba while not highlighting
the urgency of assisting displaced families who were
devastated by the recent floods in KZN. Has DIRCO made any
meaningful contribution to assist displaced families in their
own country, or do they care or not? We know that the ANC and
Cuba are ideological friends, and that Cuba supported the ANC
during the arm struggle, but still, we have to remember that
charity begins at home.
Economist, Dawie Roodt, noted that the donation to Cuba was
irrational and unaffordable, and said there was no rational
reason for South Africa to donate R50 million to Cuba because
Cuba’s per capita income was double that of South Africa. The
average Cuban’s wealth, he reportedly said, is twice that of a
South African’s. He also said, “How on earth does a poor
country give money to a richer country?” This respected
economist stated further, that if the amount of R50 million
was invested, it would generate R10 million in interest
annually.
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We are surprised how the ANC do their calculations. Do they
care for their own suffering people in our country? In a bid
to halt the donation to Cuba, AfriForum took the matter to the
Pretoria High Court. An urgent interdict to halt the donation
was granted, and now government – in what seems to be a
desperate move – have lodged leave to appeal the decision at
the Supreme Court of Appeal and Constitutional Court. Does
DIRCO expect taxpayers who are given bad service by
municipalities to pay for these court cases, and at what cost?
The ACDP does not support this irrational decision of the
department that will result in wasted expenditure because they
will not win these cases.
Facts confirm that the Cuban government does not believe in
freedoms that the ANC-led government claims to promote and
defend, neither does the Cuban government believe in democracy
for its people. According to the Human Rights Watch 2022
report on Cuba, I quote,
The Cuban government continues to repress and punish
virtually all forms of dissent and public criticism. At the
same time, Cubans continue to endure a dire economic crisis,
which impacts their social and economic rights. In July,
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thousands of Cubans took to the streets in landmark
demonstrations protesting long-standing restrictions on
rights, scarcity of food and medicines, and the government’s
response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The government responded
with brutal repression.
House Chair, if the ANC loved their own people, more than they
hate Israel, then this country would be having a much better
and stronger economy and peaceful coexistence than we have.
It is hypocritical for the Minister to condemn Israel while
she failed to stand in solidarity with the International
Community when they disapproved the invasion of Russia into
Ukraine. Why did they refuse to stand with the International
Community? We believe that ... [Time Expired.]
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND CO-
OPERATION (Mr A Botes): Hon chair of Parliament’s portfolio
committee, hon Mahumapelo, hon Minister of DIRCO, Dr Pandor,
hon Deputy Minister, Mashego Dlamini and hon members present,
this speech today is dedicated to the foresight and fortitude
of one of the penholders of the South African Freedom Charter,
Professor Z K Matthews.
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South Africa like all countries face a range of conflicting
pressures when making and implementing foreign policy.
Balancing these diverse factors is, inevitably, a difficult
task. The White Paper on Foreign Policy is instructive in this
regard by stating, and I quote:
The business of national interest cannot be the purview
of the state alone, but it can encourage an enabling
environment of dialogue and discourse among all
stakeholders to interrogate policies and strategies, and
their application in the best interests of the people.
The best interest of the South African people is international
peace, and where this breaks down, internationally agreed
peaceful mechanisms to solve conflict should be resorted to.
The numerous conflicts between the big powers over the last
few decades are also an indicator of the myth of the end of
the cold war. These conflicts, however, took place in the
territories of others, with competing former cold war
adversaries exploiting discontent in mostly developing
countries, through arming and often instigating violent
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conflict as they sought to cement government’s support for
their respective agendas.
The war in Ukraine is the latest instalment of big powers
contesting for hegemony. This why it is called a proxy war.
Like the war in Ukraine, much of the recent wars were illegal.
This includes the invasion of Iraq, Afghanistan and
Yugoslavia, which was unilaterally done, without the decision
of the UN Security Council.
Over the last few weeks some of the most disturbing statements
we have heard, included suggestions by European diplomats,
that the war in Ukraine was worse than any other wars as it
was an autocratic country invading a democratic country. The
inference was that other countries were perhaps deserving of
being bombed and their people suffering because their
governments were not democratic. These diplomats hardly
noticed the racism implicit in these statements, as most of
these so-called undemocratic countries were either in Asia,
the Middle East or Africa.
We need to unequivocally restate SA Foreign Policy
Imperatives, particularly multilateralism and the centrality
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of the transformation of global governance institutions, with
specific reference the UN Security Council, that has the
pertinent and express mandate on peace and security. The
Africa Common Position, as encapsulated by the Sirte
Declaration and Ezulweni Consensus is an essential reference
as South Africa seek to enrich UN Secretary-General’s Guterres
Common Agenda entitled the “UN We Want”.
We must therefore continue to be firm on our foreign policy
principles. We must also be mindful that we are born out of a
nation which was beholden to conflict, and we must be the
vanguard of our Freedom Charter, which states that there must
be peace and friendship.
We must remain non-aligned in conflicts, urging the
application of Peace Diplomacy as the most potent instrument
in conflict resolution. Ukraine’s bilateral relationship with
South Africa is 30 years old and we value this significant
member of the United Nations community of states, including
appreciating her rights to territorial integrity as a
sovereign state.
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Russia is an esteemed member of the UNSC’s P5 and has a
special responsibility to maintain the world peace and
security. It is for this reason that President Ramaphosa has
called for the return to mediation and negotiations. We
equally value the views express by French President, Emmanuel
Macron, who also holds the EU Presidency, who have pointed to
the 2015 Minsk Agreement between Kyiv and Moscow is the
blueprint for a breakthrough in the Ukraine crisis.
However, there are also domestic issues that have
international implications and demand that we use our foreign
relations in order to address domestic issues. An important
responsibility, as the PC chair has earlier pointed out, is to
have a systematic focus on Economic diplomacy. The fourth
South African Presidential Investment Conference took place on
24 March 2022 with announcements of R366 billion in new
investments.
Our strategic bilateral relationship with the United States of
America is being fortified through the US’ improved foreign
direct investment in South African stock, which stood at
R116 billion in 2019, a 6,8% increase from 2018. We therefore
look forward to the formal announcement of the Biden
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Administration’s Africa Strategy, including information on the
US support for the African Continental Free Trade Area and the
anticipated US-Africa Summit to be hosted by President Biden.
The current investment stock from Europe is estimated at
R1,4 trillion, which represents approximately 77% of total
foreign investment in the country. It has made a significant
contribution towards job creation and industrialisation in
South Africa, through more than 2 000 European companies
operating in South Africa, creating significant employment
opportunities for our people.
The EU is indeed South Africa’s biggest trading partner,
constituting 21% of our entire trade. South Africa is the only
country in Africa, and only one out of 10 in the world, which
has its strategic partnership with the EU.
Our relationship with the Nordic region continues to deliver
excellent results, in particular with the heightened and
renewed focus on the green economy. We have equally noted with
elation more than R20 billion of new investments announced
from the Nordic region during the period 2021-22.
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We are committed to a strengthened and comprehensive
engagement with Latin America and the Caribbean. This includes
our ethos to recalibrate our south-south co-operation in
pursuit of our national priorities, including standing in
steadfast solidarity with the people of Cuba and Venezuela.
Nelson Mandela once reminded us, and I quote: “We must always
admire the sacrifices of the Cuban people in maintaining their
independence and sovereignty”. We thus urge the US to
reconsider the extra territorial sanctions levelled against
the people of Fidel Castro. We further urge the US to support
the Oslo dialogue process, which is aimed to bring about unity
between the government of Venezuela and opposition groups.
Hon Chairperson, I wish to express a deep appreciation for the
stewardship role, which Dr Pandor has played as Minister of
DIRCO, and for the cordial working relationship between myself
and Deputy Minister, Mashego-Dlamini.
On the occasion of the 54th Commemoration of the death of
Zachariah Keodirelang, Z K Matthews, we pledge to firmly
remain non-aligned and that we will continue to be the
vanguard of the Freedom Charter’s peace and friendship ideals.
I thank you.
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The DEPUTY MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND CO-
OPERATION (Ms K C Mashego-Dlamini): Thank you very much, House
Chairperson, chairperson of the portfolio committee, hon
Mahumapelo, Minister of the Department of International
Relations and Co-operation, Minister Pandor, hon Botes, the
Deputy Minister of the Department of International Relations
and Co-operation, members of the executive, hon members, and
guests joining us today, as the world continues to grapple
with the scourge of the COVID-19 pandemic, governments around
the world have had to confront dwindling budgets and do more
with less. South Africa is no exception, as we have had to
divert significant financial resources to combatting the
pandemic, which has translated into slashed budgets across the
board. This has made it particularly difficult to deliver on
our mandate.
The work expected of the Department of International Relations
and Co-operation has increased substantially over the past
year as economic diplomacy has become a critical priority if
we are to achieve our domestic objectives and stimulate
economic growth in our country. Our missions abroad have been
expected to undertake a substantial increase in trade and
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economic activities, at the same time as their budget
allocations have been decreasing.
There are limited budgets for hosting trade or tourism
seminars or events at our missions abroad, and our diplomats
are having to come up with innovative ways of selling South
Africa and our brand. What we need to do given the current
constraints, is to further develop digital diplomacy to
implement budgetary savings and raise the effectiveness of
South Africa in the international arena at a reduced cost. We
commend our diplomats for their fortitude and commitment
despite these challenging circumstances, and we hope that over
time our budget allocation will improve so that we can more
effectively carry out our mandate.
One of the most serious consequences of our severe budgetary
constraints has been the inability to fill senior management
positions at head office, and there are unfilled positions at
the chief director and deputy director-general level, which
places inordinate pressure on the ... [Interjections.] ...
remaining senior managers ... [Interjections.] ...
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The MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATION: On a
point of order. House Chairperson, Lesoma,
Ms E N NTLANGWINI: House Chair, the Chairperson of the whole
session is disruptive. [Interjections.] ...
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND CO-
OPERATIONS (Ms K C Mashego-Dlamini): House Chairperson, you
have taken my time. I think you’ll have to add something
there.
... chief directors are critical posts in the department, as
they not only manage our missions within a particular region,
but they interface with ambassadors posted to South Africa in
strengthening our bilateral relations. We urgently need to
fill a number of these posts, but we currently do not have the
budget available to do so. These are challenges that need to
be urgently addressed so that DIRCO is given the means to
perform optimally and with the requisite skilled and
experienced personnel.
The filling of vacancies in missions has also been delayed and
done in a staggered manner, with only critical vacancies being
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filled. Unfortunately, the department has also not been able
... [Interjections.] ... I am disrupted, House Chair.
The ACTING HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms R M M Lesoma): My apology,
hon Deputy Minister, I think it was me and I would like to
apologise. You may proceed. Thank you very much.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND CO-
OPERATIONS (Ms K C Mashego-Dlamini): ... to implement cost of
living adjustments for locally recruited personnel in our
missions abroad for the past three years and in some missions
for more than five years, due to the shortfall in the
compensation of employees’ budget. This has negatively
impacted on the morale and service delivery of locally
recruited personnel, many of whom have been working in our
missions for many years and are exceptionally loyal to South
Africa and what we want to achieve in the country.
What is perhaps the most concerning development is that while
the compensation of employees ceiling increased from
R2,852 billion in 2022 to R2,859 million in 2023, representing
a 0,27% increase, it is not sufficient to cover the existing
salary bill and filling of positions in the department, as
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well as vacant critical posts. The department has never faced
such a dire financial situation and we will need to address
this with the Treasury and the Department of Public Service
and Administration in order to chart the way forward. The
projected shortfall on compensation of employees for the 2022-
23 financial year is R128 million. The shortfall obviously
impacts negatively on human resource processes. In an attempt
to manage the shortfall, all posts become unfunded once they
become vacant. This has serious implications in terms of the
capacity in the department, and the ability to maintain a
professional foreign service. Currently only critical and
specialised posts are being identified and advertised in a
staggered manner.
Approximately 58% of DIRCO’s budget is allocated towards
bilateral and multilateral engagements and 12% has been
allocated towards membership fees to international
organisations.
The department’s allocation of R166 million on the payment of
capital assets increased from R156 million, which is an
average of 6,1%. This will allow the department to make more
effort in ensuring that all state-owned properties are
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utilised optimally. To this extent, a plan has been developed
to initiate the processes for feasibility studies and design
for the construction of prioritised state-owned properties. We
have also prioritised the implementation of major
refurbishment projects, for which we will conduct condition
assessments to obtain recommendations for renovations in order
to improve the state of the department’s property portfolio.
Over the medium-term period, the department has been allocated
R796 million for the Foreign Property Management Portfolio,
which consists of 127 state-owned properties abroad. The focus
in 2022-23 will be on accelerated property renovations,
repairs and maintenance. The works will be informed by the
outcomes of the condition assessments on state-owned
properties performed by those in Africa, followed by those in
Europe, and then those in America and Asia. Furthermore, the
department plans to build three properties on state-owned land
over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, period in
Luanda, Angola, New Delhi, India, and in Gaborone, Botswana,
to reduce the rental portfolio. In addition, 18 superfluous
properties have been identified for disposal. In reorganising
the Property and Facility Management Unit, the department has
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employed a chief director and a director with relevant
qualifications and skills.
In terms of the department’s audit action plan, despite the
noticeable progress made in 2021-22 with the implementation of
the plan, the department is continuing to promote the culture
of compliance with relevant financial legislation. In the
2022-23 financial year, the department has developed a roadmap
to a clean audit which we intend to implement. The audit
action plan will focus on addressing the root causes of the
findings as per the recommendations of the Auditor-General.
The monitoring of the adequacy and the effectiveness of the
controls implemented in addressing the root causes will be
done by the Audit Steering Committee, the Audit Committee, and
the National Treasury.
In terms of the other areas of our work, which primarily
focuses on our relations with Asia, the Middle East, and
Africa, our engagement with these regions is focused on
capitalising on the immense opportunities that exist for
growing trade and investment given their significant consumer
markets. We are looking to exploit these opportunities through
structured bilateral mechanisms and joint trade committees.
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South Africa’s total trade with the region amounted to
approximately R1,2 trillion, last year. With some notable
exceptions, our concern is the widening trade deficits with
the region.
Our relations with the Peoples’ Republic of China has reached
new heights, and in a significant development earlier this
year, our two countries signed a new 10-year strategic
programme on co-operation 2020-29, covering a wide range of
bilateral fields with the intention of benefitting both
countries. China remains South Africa’s largest global trade
partner in terms of total volumes of bilateral trade.
Increasing from less than R1 billion of trade in 1998, when
diplomatic relations commenced, to R544 billion in two-way
trade last year, total bilateral trade has grown
exponentially. While the trade balance was heavily skewed in
China’s favour for years, the trend over the last few years
has been that South Africa’s negative trade balance is
shrinking. Last year, it shrank to R49,9 billion, implying
that South Africa’s trade deficit with China decreased by
R4 billion from R53,5 billion.
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It is encouraging that trade between South Africa and India
has continued to grow despite the COVID-19 pandemic, and that
total trade has overtaken prepandemic levels. The growth,
amidst a worldwide pandemic, is evidence of the strategic
value of the bilateral relationship. ... [Time Expired.] ...
Thank you very much, House Chair.
Mr M CHETTY: Hon Acting House Chairperson, Minister and Deputy
Ministers, hon members, and fellow South Africans, in the
absence of the ANC leadership and its vacuum, continue to show
leadership John Steenhuisen. Steenhuisen is alive hon Supra.
Minister Pandor, a year has gone by and still the shenanigans
of the infamous R118 million New York Pilot Project still
haunt us. You came to this very House, grudgingly conceding
that the DA was correct when our investigations revealed that
South Africa was swindled and has nothing to show for the R118
million squandered – no land, no building, no title deed and
not even a piece of paper to say we own anything.
You promised that action will be taken and monies recovered
from those found guilty, with criminal charges to follow.
To date, it’s only the former Director-General Kgabo Mahoai
who was used as a scapegoat and used as a fall guy to protect
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highly connected comrades and the main culprit, former CFO
Caiphus Ramashau, have been fired whilst Mrs Benice Africa, a
senior official responsible for property management, very
conveniently resigned while on suspension.
Minister, can you inform this House whether there are any
plans to recover the R118 million from these officials who
have been found guilty and dismissed? While on the same
subject of accountability, can the Minister also inform this
House if she will ask the President to take action and hold
former Ministers of her Department, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane and
Lindiwe Zulu, together with former Director-General Ambassador
Jerry Matjila, accountable for allowing this R118 million
swindle to take place on their watch?
We are well aware that you have always hidden behind the
excuse that holding the afore-mentioned comrades of yours to
account does not fall within your mandate or even your
paygrade. But surely, in the interest of accountability to all
South Africans, who you claim to represent, you can make this
urgent request to the President to consider taking the
appropriate action against these three errant comrades.
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Minister, a similar scenario is going to play itself out in
Namibia. This time under your watch where we have 20
properties that are earmarked for either refurbishment,
renovations, or even to be sold. I must hastily to add that
the redeployment of High Commissioner Archie Whitehead from
Namibia to the Central African Republic has the signs of
another scandal relating to property misappropriations that
this department can ill afford. The delay in the processing of
the Foreign Service Bill seems to be deliberate, designed to
give an opportunity to the next deployee to Namibia to oversee
this multi-million-rand transaction. Even as some unscrupulous
cadres are already circling like vultures to get their dirty
paws on this transaction. We will be watching the appointment
very closely, to see who heads off to Namibia, as the timing
seems very opportunistic.
Minister, despite the current plight of South Africans who are
facing starvation due to rising food prices, your department
saw it fit to challenge the ‘R50 million donation’ to Cuba
ruling. The fact that your department lost this challenge on
Tuesday in court, your ANC cronies in the portfolio committee
still want to pursue this aim, speaks volumes for the respect
of the rule of law by your ANC.
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Believe me, the audacity and arrogance displayed by the
department in the face of the recent floods in KwaZulu-Natal
and the Eastern Cape, is not wasted on those impoverished
citizens. You should advise your department, who miraculously
made a very sober decision to condemn Russia’s invasion of
Ukraine and called on Russia to withdraw its troops, that it
is time for another sober decision. This time to place the
interests of our impoverished citizens ahead of that of Cuba.
For far too long, this ANC-led government has taken our long-
suffering citizens for granted. The chickens have finally come
home to roost and the ANC will pay dearly for the arrogant
abuse of taxpayer money. I thank you.
Mr T P MPANZA: Hon Acting House Chairperson, may I request
that I do not to show my video because of network challenges?
The ACTING HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms R M M Lesoma): Permission
granted.
Mr T P MPANZA: Thanks very much Chair. There are three major
events in the last three years that have disrupted our
national drive to grow the economy ...
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The ACTING HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms R M M Lesoma): Hon Mpanza,
you seem to have a serious network challenge.
Mr T P MPANZA: This was ... [Network connection challenges.]
The ACTING HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms R M M Lesoma): Hon Mpanza can
you just sort yourself for one second?
Mr T P MPANZA: Okay. The world is yet to recover fully on the
economic front, from the impact of the pandemic. The reference
to the pandemic is within the context that our economy is
interconnected and interdependent with the global economy.
The second major event is the July unrest which has resulted
with serious damage to infrastructure, the looting and the
unfortunate and painful loss of lives of our people.
The third is the recent devastating floods experienced in
KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape and parts of the North West
province. We send our heartfelt condolences to the families
that lost their loved ones, and we are confident that
government will lead the recovery measures to return our
people back to normal lives.
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All these events, had a serious impact on our fiscus. The
government had to table more than one Special Appropriations
to respond to these crises. There is a likelihood that another
Special Appropriation may be tabled to respond to the
devastations caused by the floods in KwaZulu-Natal, the
Eastern Cape and parts of the North West provinces.
So, this Budget Vote of the Department of International
Relations and Co-operations, as well as other budget votes,
takes place within the social and economic circumstances we
outlined earlier. The situation of Covid-19, of July unrests
and of floods. The main focus for the department in this
financial year is on economic diplomacy as reflected in the
budget allocations under the programme of International
Relations. There is a slight increase in the budget
allocations for this programme by 1,3% given that economic
diplomacy is one of the focus areas for the financial year.
This is consistent with what we outlined as policy priorities
for the government for this year as the ANC that it is vital
to improve the competitiveness of exports from this continent
and increase intra-country trade. As such, there is a need to
accelerate African industrialisation to enable sustainable and
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inclusive regional trade and investment. This is a continuous
work of the AU Agenda of 2063 which include the economic
integration of the continent through the African Continental
Free Trade Area, AfCFTA.
In her address to the South African Heads of Missions
Conference in April 2022, the Minister of International
Relations and Co-operation said:
If we are to achieve our national priorities of
addressing the triple challenges of poverty,
unemployment, and inequality in South Africa, it is the
job of our Heads of Mission to champion the message that
South Africa is open for business.
Economic diplomacy must drive the work of our Missions,
and it cannot be mere rhetoric, as the outcomes of our
efforts on the ground must result in increased foreign
investment and trade.
The directive by the Minister follows on the injunction made
by the President to the same Conference of Heads of Missions
when he said:
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The ACTING HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms R M M Lesoma): Hon Mpanza,
can’t you get one of your colleagues to finish up your
engagement? You seem to have a hectic connectivity challenge.
Mr T P MPANZA: Okay Chair, can I ask another one to carry on
because I am struggling with connectivity this side.
The ACTING HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms R M M Lesoma): Is there
anyone from the ANC to assist hon Mpanza with the few minutes
that he is left with? If there is no one, then I suggest that
the following member ...
Mr S O R MAHUMAPELO: Hon Chair, I suggest that we give the
last two minutes remaining to hon Bernice Swarts. She is about
to follow.
The ACTING HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms R M M Lesoma): Ooh okay, you
are assisting. Thank you, hon Chairperson of the Portfolio
Committee on International Relations and Co-operation. I was
about to say that.
Mr M G E HENDRICKS: Hon House Chair, Al Jama-ah stands with
the Minister of International Relations, DIRCO, hon Naledi
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Pandor. There is renewed fire from our Minister, her Deputy
Ministers, and the chair of the portfolio committee to make
the sixth Parliament proud. Al Jama-ah supports the Budget
Vote.
DIRCO and the chair of the portfolio committee have come out
strongly against Muslim worshipers being called out of prayer
lines while prostrating to God. And DIRCO has acted swiftly to
condemn the assassination of the American journalist of
Aljazeera, Shireen Abu Akleh. We must remember the Nagpal on
Saturday 15 May 2022, if we want to remember the journalist
that has been mauled down.
DIRCO has led down the Muslim programme over the past 10-years
by giving a nongovernmental organisation, NGO, a mandate to
sign agreements with the Riyadh Minister in Saudi Arabia. Who
is ... [Inaudible] ... the powers the President of South
Africa ... [Interjections.] ...
The ACTING HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms R M M Lesoma): Hon Hendricks,
my apology! Please, hold on. Hon Radebe, I notice on the board
here that your hand is up.
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Mr B A RADEBE: Thank you, hon Chairperson of the session. I
rise on a point of order. I don’t think we are doing farewell
speeches. We are not allowed to wear our hats during a normal
sitting of the House. Please can you look at that. I know hon
Hendricks is going to speak well, but just for the sake of the
decorum of the House.
The ACTING HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms R M M Lesoma): Thank you very
much, hon Radebe. Hon Hendricks, If you may take your hat off
and proceed.
Mr M G E HENDRICKS: ... Thank you, hon House Chair and the
interruption by the ANC. DIRCO has led down the Muslim
pilgrimages over the past 10-years by giving an
nongovernmental organisation, NGO, a mandate to sign
agreements with the Riyadh Ministry in Saudi Arabia. Who is
... [Inaudible] ... the powers the President of South Africa
and in violation of the Constitution ignoring Parliament.
Minister Naledi Pandor has noted that this NGO is out of
favour and looking for new solutions. The appointment of a new
director-general was sensitive to the plight of Muslim women
gives hope for the future. The waiting list has increased to
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40 000. It cannot be that only 1000 South Africans ...
[Inaudible.] ... Nelson Mandela fought for about 10 000 visas.
Muslim women ... [Inaudible.] ... by selling from the kitchen.
Women outside the Muslim community must stand with the Muslim
women. The official opposition can hardly be expected to do
so. Hon House Chair, Al Jama-ah supports this Budget Vote and
we wish the new director–general and the energised Ministerial
team everything of the best to make the 6th Parliament proud.
Thank you very much.
Mr W F FABER: Hon Chair, the vision and mission of the
Department of International Relations and Co-operation, DIRCO,
in short is and I quote:
Championing an African continent, which is prosperous,
peaceful, democratic, non-racial, non-sexist and united
and which aspires to a world that is just and equitable.
Implement and manage South Africa’s foreign policy and
international relations programmes, promote South
Africa’s national interest and values and the African
Renaissance and create a better world for all.
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DIRCO should play a dynamic role in the improvement of the
South African’s lives by utilisation its bilateral relations
in the global footprint effectively and profitable.
Let’s start with the African Renaissance Funds, ARF. Former
President Mbeki initiated the ARF for economical regeneration
of the African continent by providing humanitarian assistance
to struggling African countries. During the last decade, this
fund became the open wallet for the government to distribute
funds anywhere as per the executive’s decision. Again, I have
to stress first that Cuba is not situated in Africa. But the
only non-African country lucratively supported by the AFR for
many years by the ANC-led government. We see that the African
continent content continues to experience an increase of
natural disasters through climate change as recently happened
in KwaZulu-Natal. Through the ARF, the government should help
restore human dignity to bring relief to people living in
distress when these humanitarian situations arise.
The ARF should be used to create sustainable food production
to enhance food security especially now with the Russian-
Ukraine war eating on already struggling South Africa with
covid. And now, the war in Ukraine that this ANC-led
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government does not want to condemn. South Africans find it
hard to stay afloat.
Minister, charity begins at home. But this ANC-led government
decided to donate to Cuba. Deputy Minister Botes in the
portfolio committee said that South Africa will be donating
R50 from the ARF to Cuba for food security purposes because of
the extra tutorial sanctions being promulgated by the United
States of America, USA, which is absolutely nonsense.
The US embargo does not block food or medicine to Cuba from
the United States. Exports of food products and agricultural
commodities from the US to Cuba increased by 44,5% in 2021 to
$29,8 million. With the South Africa that is already
economically on its knees, please forget about your party
alliances and think of the millions of poor South Africans
looking to this government to make the right calls to help
them in their hour of need.
In conclusion Minister, I would like you to note that if South
Africa is implicitly choosing Russia and its political allies
in an economic war, it will choose R16 billion over $1,
trillion in trade from North Atlantic Treaty Organization,
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NATO, countries. Finally, I want us to be very clear that the
DA leader hon John Steenhuisen does not need the permission of
the ANC to visit any country. I thank you, Chair.
Ms B SWARTS: Hon Chair of the session, hon Minister and Deputy
Minister of International Relations, hon members, the
department’s annual performance plan is underpinned by an
updated situational analysis that presents South Africa’s
foreign policy vision, aimed at achieving an African continent
that is peaceful, democratic, nonracial, nonsexist, united and
prosperous, and which contributes to a world that is just and
equitable.
This taken into consideration, it is a reality that
acknowledges that successful implementation of foreign policy
is, of course, directly impacted by developments in the global
environment, notably, the Covid-19 pandemic, which has been
with us for two years. To date, the pandemic has had a severe
impact on most socioeconomic activities, locally and globally,
characterised by a reduction in global trade, including
manufacturing and transportation, an increase in unemployment,
devastation of the tourism, hospitality, entertainment and
sporting industries, and education on all levels has been
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widely disrupted. Recent studies are showing that it is
estimated that the pandemic has pushed back the attainment of
the 2020 SDGs for less developed economies by almost a decade.
One important realisation of the department is that, while the
Covid-19 pandemic has underscored the need for greater
international co-operation to address global challenges,
especially for developing countries, the economic and social
impact of the pandemic has constrained the ability of many
governments to make greater financial commitments to areas
such as peacekeeping and developmental issues, given that the
domestic recovery plans take priority.
The repercussions have impacted negatively on future funding
for peacekeeping on the continent and also on support for AU
and UN goals, such as the Agenda 2063 and SDGs 2030. Despite
all the odds militating against our country’s mandate of
recharging its foreign policy for a better Africa and a better
world, our government, under the leadership of President
Ramaphosa, and guided by our diplomacy of Ubuntu, has played a
cardinal point in contributing to the resolution of conflict,
especially on the continent.
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On the reform of the UN, South Africa’s engagement with the UN
is based on its commitment to promote an equitable rules-based
multilateral system, and is informed by the recognition that
the UN does not reflect current global, political, economic
realities. A key priority in South Africa’s engagement with
the UN is to advance the reform of the existing global
governance architecture with a view to improve the voice and
representation of Africa and the developing world, as well as
the responsiveness of the UN system to the needs of the
challenges faced by Africa and developing states.
We have no doubt that South Africa will remain relevant in its
endeavour to influence the institutional reform of the UN,
with special attention to the reform of the UN Security
Council. It is our contention that the reform of the UN should
be more prominent during this period when the world body has
proven that it is unable to provide critical intervention in
the conflict in the Eastern Europe.
We have argued for many years that the status quo in the UN
Security Council, UNSC, has not been effective in bringing
peace and stability in the world. The veto right of the
permanent members of the UNSC has been used to advance narrow
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interest in countries in the UNSC, as opposed to advancing
peace for all.
Our country has provided diplomatic support to its sister
people of the Democratic Republic of Congo through the
Congolese dialogue, to find a peaceful resolution to the
conflict that has inflicted the DRC for many years, just to
mention but a few of our country’s registered achievements in
a number of ways in the recent years.
We also had to continue to provide support to the
consolidation of peace efforts in South Sudan and Sudan. We
are part of the SADC mediation process in the Kingdom of
Lesotho and we are hopeful that peace and stability will be
achieved in Lesotho.
We are highlighting these milestones, which our people and the
continent have achieved, not to bask in the glory of the past,
but to look back in order to go forward. We are encouraged
that SADC has extended interventions in Cabo Delgado,
Mozambique. We are confident that peace will be restored in
Mozambique. We support the mediation efforts through SADC in
the Kingdom of Lesotho and are hopeful that the coming
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elections in Lesotho will solidify the peace efforts. In the
same vain, we are glad that our government and SADC are seized
with the matter of the situation in the Kingdom of Eswatini.
In support that the people of Eswatini will find one another
through inclusive dialogue, we affirm our support for the
Budget Vote Speech on the Department of International
Relations and Co-operations, as the chair of the portfolio
committee has presented us.
Think tanks, especially academic and research institutions in
the field of international relations did continue to play
their part, and thus contribute to the shaping and advancement
of our foreign policy. Through our country’s membership and
participation in the African Union and SADC, we should ensure
that, together with the rest of the member states of the AU,
we advance the Agenda 2063 of Africa, to build the Africa that
we want.
We all agree that economic development can only happen in an
environment of peace and stability. This therefore means we
should support all efforts by the AU to resolve conflict on
the continent, to ensure peace and stability.
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We commend the role played by South Africa in leading the
Western Sahara Support group in Geneva, which is very
effective on human rights. This affirms that our solidarity
with Polisario Front and the people of Western Sahara remains
unwavering. The plights of the people of Palestine remain our
plights. We remain firm on the words of President Nelson that
we cannot be free until the people of Palestine are free.
The terror that continues to be visited upon the people of
Palestine by the brutal regime of Israel requires that we
should double our efforts in solidarity with Palestine. South
Africa should strengthen its work in advancing South-South co-
operation, its trade relations with various countries,
especially in regions of east Asia, South America and Latin
America.
Hon Bergman, you have missed an opportunity in that you
misunderstood the dynamic of diplomacies, in the sense that
South Africa can only use its soft power to bring peace rather
than what you think South Africa should have done.
I know that every one of us understands hard power and to
educate you, hon Bergman, for us, it is appropriate to deploy
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soft power, because soft power is a panatela ... [Inaudible.]
because we cannot use hard power in relation to the current
military conflict between Russia and Ukraine. We cannot add
fuel by ignoring the root causes of conflict.
Hon Fani of the EFF, it is regrettable that the EFF has once
again failed to use the opportunity to contribute to the
robust oversight and instead, what you decided to do ...
Ms E N NTLWANGWINI: ... [Interjections.] ... had the
opportunity to read your speech.
Ms J TSHABALALA: You are out of order. On a Point of order.
You cannot just open your mic. [Interjections.]
The ACTING HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms R M M Lesoma): IT, front
Table, can you just remove all the members that are having
their mics on without having been recognised, otherwise, we
will have drama here. [interjections.]
Ms B SWARTS: It is regrettable that the EFF has once again
failed to use the opportunity to contribute to the robust
oversight, and instead, what it had done, it is again not in
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support of the Vote. At the same time, they are not supporting
the Vote, but they want to fix the world. Also hon Msane,
there is no old lady that must resign; there is the hon
Minister of International Relations who is hon Dr Naledi
Pandor and not an old lay that must resign.
Ms E N NTLANGWINI: Chairperson, on a Point of order. Just to
alert you, the hon Naledi Pandor is of old age. So, to say
that she is old ... She is old. [Interjections.] It is not
going to change. If she is old, then she is old. She is over
60. So, she is old.
The ACTING HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms R M M Lesoma): Hon
Ntlangwini, that is a point of debate. That is not a point of
order; that is a point of debate. [Interjections.]
An HON MEMBER: What are you debating? She is old.
Mr B A RADEBE: Chairperson, I think that hon Ntlangwini is
moving or skating on thin ice here. Our Constitution is very
clear that we cannot have discrimination in this country. So,
we cannot have discrimination because age. There is law in
this country that provide that you must be in Parliament to a
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certain age. [Interjections.] I think it is wrong and that you
must rule against that.
Secondly, you made a ruling that people that are disruptive
must be removed from the platform, but they are still
participating. I think you must respect the decisions that you
have taken. Thank you.
The ACTING HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms R M M Lesoma): We will make a
ruling at the end with regard to hon Ntlangwini’s statement.
Ms B SWARTS: Acting House Chair, the recent litigation by
AfriForum against our country’s humanitarian assistance to
Cuba is a clear indication that some in our society have no
appreciation of the importance of the ethos of the diplomacy
of Ubuntu that South Africa is known for.
We need to educate our citizens about the importance of
international solidarity and how that can contribute to global
peace. I thank you.
The MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND CO-OPERATION: Hon
Chairperson, I wish to begin by thanking those hon members
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that have made a useful contribution to the debate. As for the
rest, let us leave it where it is.
Chairperson, I wish to reiterate that as Africa’s Department
of International Relations we remain committed to promotion of
human rights and justice for all people, and to the creation
of a better South Africa, Africa and the world. Examining the
role that we play in the global community, one would be able
to clearly identify our contribution to each of these three
goals in the work that we do.
We also affirm our international solidarity with all the
oppressed and marginalised of this world, such as the people
of Palestine, Western Sahara, the people suffering as victims
of terrorism in the Sahara region and all people who suffer
under oppression. We believe that it is absolutely correct for
the people of South Africa to hold up the rights of all who
are oppressed because we, ourselves, benefitted from
significant international support and solidarity and enjoy
today’s freedom because others stood shoulder to shoulder with
us throughout the global community. Thus, unlike Rev Meshoe,
we cannot desert those who are suffering. We cannot desert
those who are oppressed. And of course, we will refer to
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Palestine because those are the people that need our support.
Those are the people who are held down. Those are the people
who do not enjoy human rights. So, it is vital that as South
Africans we do acknowledge the need to support them and to
call for an end to their status of oppression.
With respect to the queries about Vienna, a settlement was
reached with the landlord in Vienna and payment was made by
the department to the landlord. Efforts are underway to
recover the funding from the official who caused this
expenditure.
With respect to the New York debacle court action, as the hon
Chetty is well aware, is underway to recover the funds.
The publicity seeking efforts of the DA, the desperate
alliance, with a visit of their leader to Ukraine, funded by
the very rich Brenthurst Foundation, will not bring an end to
the war. Our call for diplomacy and negotiations, we believe
is the only likely route to peace, and in the end, this will
be settled through diplomacy and negotiations.
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Chairperson, our country has supported significant peace and
development efforts throughout the African continent, and we
continue to play a role in South Sudan, in the DRC, Sudan,
Mozambique, Lesotho and many other areas where we bring our
experience of securing a peaceful outcome to play in helping
our fellow brothers and sisters on the continent to achieve
similar settlements. We will also focus on UN reform, as I
have indicated, and I hope our Parliament will work closely
with other parliaments to insist on reform of the United
Nations and to add its voice to ensuring that the UN is
reformed.
We are committed to hosting of the Pan African Parliament and
have called on the African Union to oversee a plenary sitting
where a proper election of its office bearers will take place
at the Pan-African Parliament headquarters in South Africa,
and we hope that will happen soon.
We agree with the hon Faber of the DA that we should improve
the lives of the people of Africa, and we are working hard to
do this, including the implementation of the African
Continental Free Trade Area. We do not use the African
Renaissance and International Cooperation Fund, ARF, as an
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open wallet – this is totally not true; there is no
R50 million that will be given or donated to Cuba. We plan to
provide humanitarian aid to Cuba of food and medical supplies
which will be purchased from South African companies and
shipped to Cuba to support that nation in its suffering.
Finally, I believe that it is critical to say to the hon Al
Jama ah leader that we did not select the body that currently
administers programmes; it was an agreement between various
Muslim organisations which met at what was then foreign
affairs several years ago. I know that various members of that
organisation have fallen out and there is now a conflict
between them, but this is not as a result of DIRCO; it is a
result of them falling out and not being able to manage the
role that they had previously agreed to undertake.
We, Chairperson, call for an end to the war in Ukraine because
war does not benefit anyone, and of course we are worried
about the impact on all our economies, but we believe that
what we must do as South Africa is choose peace, advocate for
peace, draw all the parties together to have a settlement that
brings peace and security for both Ukraine and Russia. I thank
you, hon Chairperson.
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The ACTING HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms R M M Lesoma): Thank you hon
Minister, Dr Pandor. Hon members, I would like to caution all
of us that when we engage or we interject a member or we raise
points of order, whatever point we are raising shouldn’t then
amount to discrimination based on age. We must avoid that one
by all means. Hon members, we are all reminded that the debate
on Agriculture, Land and Rural Development Budget Vote, Office
of the Chief Justice Budget Vote and Public Service and
Administration National School of Government and Public
Service Commission Budget Vote will take place at 16:30 on the
virtual platform, which is already open now as we speak.
Debate concluded.
The mini-plenary session rose at 16:09.
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