PC Int: Preparations for Committee's Strategic and Annual Plan workshop

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International Relations

22 March 2011
Chairperson: Ms C September (ANC)(Acting)
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Meeting Summary

The Committee discussed preparations for their strategic planning workshop on 29-30 March 2011. The discussion centred mainly on the presentations and the topics that would be delivered during the workshop. Members concerns included the need to include Committees that belonged to the same cluster because of cross cutting issues. They also felt that foreign policy should not be the exclusive domain of politicians and academics. Foreign Policy should involve ordinary people and it should be explained how it impacted on the South Africans. Members felt that the Committee had to see to it that the Pan African Parliament and the Nepad Secretariat should have oversight bodies to look at their work.



Meeting report

Election of Chairperson
Ms Bulelwa Bottoman, Committee Secretary, opened the meeting by announcing that the Chairperson Mr T Magama (ANC) was in New York on Parliamentary business. She then suggested that the Committee should elect an acting Chairperson.

Mr E Sullimman (ANC) suggested the election of Ms C September (ANC). The Committee unanimously agreed with this motion and Ms September was duly elected.

Preparations for Committee’s Strategic and Annual Plan workshop
The Chairperson informed Members that the purpose of the meeting was to prepare for the Committee’s Strategic Plan Workshop.

Ms l Jacobus (ANC) enquired about the date of the Department’s Budget Vote.

Ms Bottoman replied that it would take place on 24 May 2011.

Mr K Mubu (DA) mentioned that the work of the Committee was interlinked with that of other Committees that belonged to the same cluster. He cited the work of the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs on the Immigration Bill as an example of the overlap. He then suggested that the Committee could also invite a delegation from all Committees within the cluster to participate at the workshop.

Mr B Skosana (IFP) asked whether the issue of international treaties would be discussed at the workshop. According his understanding, it was the prerogative of the President and the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation to sign these treaties. However, he emphasised that Parliament, as the representative of the people, had to play a significant role in this regard. He noted that South Africa would be hosting the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICSA) summit soon and suggested that the Committee should be involved and make a contribution. Parliamentarians never get a chance to explain international relations agreement to the ordinary people. The issue had also been raised at the Speakers Forum.

Ms Jacobus recalled that in 2005, the then Minister of Foreign Affairs set up a Lekgotla at the University of Cape Town and invited the Committee to thrash out issues of common interest. She then suggested that the Committee could initiate a similar Legkotla with the Minister at least once or twice a year in provinces to discuss foreign policy and involve the citizenry.

Mr S Mokgalapa (DA) agreed and Ms Jacobus said that foreign policy was often viewed as an elitist niche. He said that it was important to let the population know the stance of the Committee regarding foreign policy.

The Chairperson felt that the Committee should work together with other committees within the cluster. She then asked the Committee Secretary to provide Members with copies of the previous strategic plan so that the Committee could build on it.

Ms W Niewhoudt-Druchen (ANC) asked for a copy of the draft programme.

Mr Mubu mentioned that South Africa was the host of the Pan African Parliament (PAP) and the Nepad Secretariat. South Africa was spending a lot of money on regional organisations. SA did not have oversight bodies regarding the work of those organisations. He then suggested that Committee could take a study tour to the PAP in order to see how it functioned.

Ms Jacobus suggested the invitation of cluster chairpersons and delegations from those Committees to attend the Strategic Plan workshop.

Mr Skosana asked whether the PAP and the Nepad Secretariat would be making any presentations during the workshop, if yes the Committee could make a suggestion on the brief.

The Chairperson replied that the draft programme was cross referenced to another document that clearly explained what would be the topic of the presentations.

Ms C Dudley (ACDP) enquired about the date and the venue of the workshop.

The Chairperson explained that the workshop would be held on the 29-30 March 2011 in Hout Bay, Western Cape.

Mr Mubu suggested that one of the Deputy Ministers should be invited in the absence of the Minister. He raised his concern regarding Members that were not attending meetings and came only when there were trips to be made, some Members even had permanent apologies.

The Chairperson mentioned that climate change was not included in the draft programme even though South Africa would be hosting a summit on Climate Change in 2011.

Mr Sulliman said that lots of issues were raised in the meeting and the workshop would only last two days, he suggested that other issues could be discussed at the proposed Legkotla.

Ms Jacobus concurred with Mr Sulliman and said that that a delegation from the cluster Committees should be part of the workshop as well. She suggested that the Committee should host a braai for the outgoing Director General, Dr Ayanda Ntsaluba, on the first night of the workshop for his contribution to the Department.

The Chairperson concurred and suggested that an invitation should be sent immediately.

Mr Skosana suggested that the discussion document and the draft programme should be collated, rather than the cross referencing them.

Mr Mokgalapa suggested that the Committee should give Dr Ntsaluba a token of appreciation for his work. The Committee agreed and tasked Ms Jacobus to look for a gift.

The meeting was adjourned



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