House Chair, Mr Deputy President and hon members, the purpose of the oversight visit of the committee to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia was threefold. The committee's mandate to hold the Department of International Relations and Co-operation to account extends to conducting oversight visits on the activities of South African missions abroad, amongst other things. One, the mission's role is to enhance the country's profile; two, to implement government policy abroad; and, three, to serve as strategic mechanisms for the achievement of our national interests in carrying out the mandate of the department.
The committee assessed the department's performance in its mission in Addis Ababa in execution of South Africa's foreign policy, both at a multilateral and bilateral level in terms of country to country. The oversight extended to the African Union to assess South Africa's performance within the continental organisation structures and in furtherance of the African agenda, noting that South Africa is one of the single biggest contributors to the AU budget, this to the tune of 15%, later reduced to 13,5%, which roughly constitutes about 16% of the AU office budget in the amount of about R127 million. It is to be further noted that South Africa has committed itself to strengthening the AU and its subsidiary structures at a head-of-government summit level.
The extent of South Africa's bilateral relations with Ethiopia was also assessed and the committee met with its parliamentary counterpart in Ethiopia to initiate dialogue since both these countries are key regional players involved in various continental engagements. Our counterpart, I might report, clearly stipulated the desire to forge closer relations between the two parliaments. To this end, the committee report contains a number of recommendations, which we present to the House today. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
There was no debate.
Hon House Chairperson, hon Deputy President, I move:
That the Report be adopted.
Motion agreed to.
Report accordingly adopted.