Budget Vote Overview by Thulas Nxesi MP, Chairperson of the IR & C Portfolio Committee, April 2010

I thank the Honourable Minister for her very informative and engaging presentation on her Budget Vote. I noted Honourable members that the Department has a huge mandate, though their allocated budget of R4.8 billion for 2010/11 has decreased by nearly a billion rand from the R5.6 billion which was allocated for the 2009/10 financial year. We trust, Honourable Minister, that your department will be creative enough to manage and execute its mandate within the existing allocation.

From the onset, I must hasten to raise an issue which is very important in the execution of the mandate of the Portfolio Committee. While we strive to monitor and oversee the Department’s activities, the current oversight model in parliament poses some challenges to the work of the committee. Although the Committee has formal access to the Department and query it where necessary, the committee has not been able to conduct effective inspection in loco or oversight visits, in all the areas under the Department including South African missions abroad and project areas where South Africa is involved in pursuance of the African Agenda. However, it brings me a great sense of comfort to mention that this challenge is being actively addressed, before it becomes an impediment, by relevant authorities in Parliament. The Committee will be able to reach all responsible for the execution of South African international relations policy and measure the Department’s service delivery on the basis of the impact it exerts internationally.

Despite the challenges I alluded to, the committee continues to execute its mandate and consequently I am aware Madame Minister, that your Department is faced with two major capacity-building challenges:

• Firstly, in property and asset management, because of the huge property portfolio your Department has to manage in the missions abroad. 

• Secondly, there is a need for training in the new skills of economic diplomacy to address current developments in international relations. The global shift towards closer cooperation in economic development requires highly trained and experienced men and women who can effectively represent this country in global economic engagements. This is all the more urgent in the wake of the global economic meltdown, and the tentative moves by the international community to restructure international financial institutions and economic relations.

Honourable Minister,

I am convinced that the creation of the South African Development Partnerships Agency (SADPA) will fill the existing gap around effective coordination of economic engagements with the outside world. However, the real relationship with the African Renaissance and International Cooperation Fund (ARF) or demise thereof, must be explored further, in order to have continuation with regard to the consolidation of the African Agenda as a matter of urgency.

Madame Minister,

I wholeheartedly support the principle of deepening relations with countries in Africa through opening diplomatic missions in all African countries. However, the Department should probably identify and prioritise countries in Africa with which South Africa can foster strategic partnerships for development. Zimbabwe should be one of such countries.

Honourable Members, at this juncture, I would like to commend all diplomatic efforts undertaken by DIRCO under the able leadership of President Zuma, on behalf of SADC, to ensure compliance with the Global Political Agreement (GPA) in Zimbabwe. Since these interventions, a number of positives have emerged both politically and economically including; creation of democratic space, polarization of political parties has been abated, there are signs of economic recovery including stable prices of commodities, added value to the currency, increasing levels of investments from the SADC, Asia, South Africa has injected R300million, and international community’s involvement through trilateral arrangements.

I call upon all South Africans in unison, to rally behind the efforts by the President of South Africa on behalf of SADC at this critical and sensitive stage of mediation in Zimbabwe.

Honourable Minister,

The struggle for self-determination by the people of the Saharawi Republic remains a sore thumb in the history of liberation in Africa. All necessary measures have to be taken to put back into the global agenda, the resolution of this conflict and actively engage the international community on the plight of the Saharawi people.

Honourable Minister,

The development and streamlining of public diplomacy strategies cannot be overemphasized. The Department must be more visible and less elitist in its conduct of South African international relations policy. The Minister must ensure the strengthening of democratic accountability of foreign policy nationally, and ensure there is a national dialogue internally on the policies South Africa pursues individually or jointly with the international community in pursuit of effective global governance.

Clearly the Portfolio Committee and this Parliament have a crucial role to play in democratizing international relations. I hope the House will not think of me as arrogant if I quote from my response to last year’s international affairs budget to make the point. I suggested then that we need to discus the following propositions:

• “That the legislature and the Portfolio Committee need to play a role in facilitating debate on IR&C issues, to foster public understanding and awareness, and to provide a platform for solidarity and civil society to raise issues of concern.
  
  
• That our understanding of IR&C will be enriched by greater knowledge of the social structures of the countries we interact with, so that we do not simply deal with ruling elites, but also see all sides of the picture.”

I believe that our ability as a nation to wield ‘soft power’ in international relations is greatly strengthened to the degree that our own people are able to understand and support policies which not only advance our national interests, but contribute to global peace and sustainable development. I might also add that success in this area would also start to address the xenophobic fears that have regrettably manifested themselves in recent years.

Turning to South-South relations: these are fast developing into bigger strategic partnerships of emerging powers to promote mutual economic development, at the same time leveraging their growing influence to challenge unfair trade relations with the rich industrialized economies of the world. South Africa’s participation in IBSA is remarkably visible, and IBSA’s programmes are aimed at addressing domestic priorities.  In the past (IBSA) Summit, it was agreed that the parliamentary sector should exercise oversight over all IBSA Agreements and ensure implementation takes place. It is important that as soon as possible South Africa also assesses opportunities in BRIC, and eventually joins this grouping as the two organizations’ mandates are highly complimentary.

Honourable Members,

Hosting and participation in international conferences should not be the only yardstick for the work of the Department. Money should be spent on conferences where South Africa will impact on shaping the agenda and will accrue benefits for our population and that of the Continent as a whole. The measure of performance here should be tangible results and not mere presence only.

Honourable Minister,

South Africa must stand ready to take advantage of the current realignment of forces taking place in world politics and international relations. As we participate in global power structures like the G8 and the G20, we must be ready to advance strategic interventions to influence the agenda. South Africa should continue to act internationally as a facilitator and moderator, deploying soft power with clear objectives and goals, including:

• to consolidate and elaborate our role as an emerging power;
  
  
• to maintain momentum for the promotion of the African Agenda; whilst
  
  
• participating fully in the process to develop a more equitable system of global governance.

The campaign for the release of the Cuban Five should be intensified to ensure adherence by the international community to a universal application of human rights principles.

One final note of caution is that this House must be concerned about the manner in which international engagements and visits are conducted without proper consultation with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation. We would like to see the Department strengthening its hand in the coordination of international engagements and visits by sister Government Departments, provincial and local governments, as well as Parliament and the Provincial Legislatures. This is necessary to prevent wasteful duplication, possible competition and conflict of interest and to ensure that as a country we speak with one voice. We need to remind the Department that it has been given such a mandate by the Cabinet meeting of 19 November 2008 when it approved the document on Measures and Guidelines for the Enhanced Coordination of South Africa’s International Engagements.

I thank you.