Thank
you very much, Chairperson. Chairperson, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, hon members, excellencies, ambassadors, high commissioners - I'm so grateful for your presence here today - all members of the diplomatic corps and representatives of
international organisations attending this debate, dear colleagues and distinguished guests, I am pleased to have the opportunity to report to this House on our progress and activities in the 2018-19 financial year and to indicate our plans for 2019-20.
Last year our department was allocated R6 552 billion to be utilised to advance our agenda for global co-operation. The development of our region and continent was to be supported by this funding. This year we are allocated less - R6 508 billion. As with all departments, we are confronted by the limitations of our low economic growth and thus, reduced budget allocations. As a department we also unusually face the impact of currency fluctuations and rather inadequate provision for our compensation budget. Given these challenges, we have to use our resources wisely and strategically. The reduced budget severely impacts on our ability to support government in reaching our national priorities. Fortunately, we have an excellent team in the Department of International Relations and Co- operation, Dirco, and we shall do our best to execute our tasks.
Debates on the International Relations budget and programme are incomplete if they are not associated with the tremendous role the international community played in supporting us to achieve our freedom. We have in many ways sought to honour these solidarity-based contributions through reciprocating in creating a just world order that has a human face - a face of empowered women and girls, of men and boys free from war, living with human security. I have been pleased that our statements and voting patterns in Geneva and New York reflect our support for a more just world. Our work must always reflect this commitment to return the privilege of international solidarity with attention to the plight of those who seek refuge, democracy, freedom and peace.
Fortunately, this world has improved vastly from the world in which racial domination could thrive, and yet Palestine is still occupied and not free; South Sudan has internal conflict; Western Sahara is still occupied and not free; Cuba remains blockaded; and extremism and terrorism destabilises the world. Powerful forces of economic bullying seek to alter the established multilateral world order.
Africa too continues to have many development challenges that must be addressed. We have to promote our relations in this challenging context. We have to use our extensive network and limited resources to support the emergence of a world where all enjoy freedom and democracy, increased human security and peace. Our relationships with the world will be centred on achieving these outcomes.
As South Africa, this year we celebrate 25 years of freedom. Even though we are young adults in democracy, we can, as President Ramaphosa said in his state of the nation address, "move forward together towards achieving a stronger, greater, more compassionate, more united and harmonious South Africa", and might we add Africa.
We recall too that this year Rwanda commemorates 25 years since the genocide of 1994. We reaffirm our friendship and solidarity with the people and government of Rwanda, and salute them for their determined efforts to achieve reconciliation and a nation at peace with itself. The search for social cohesion and
reconciliation has been put to good effect in both our countries and we should use this common experience to forge greater links.
The work we do will advance such links and also actively contribute to the seven priorities announced by President Ramaphosa. These priorities are global. They are in our National Development Plan - our vision 2030; they are in the Sustainable Development Goals - Agenda 2030; and they are in our African Agenda 2063 - describing the Africa we want. We will promote action to realise them for our country and our continent. We pursue the priorities in a period in which Africa has entered a phase that holds much promise for genuine sustainable development. We plan to use our diplomacy to build stronger links with Nigeria, Egypt and Kenya as anchor countries that should advance these goals.
Many African countries are achieving positive economic growth and developing social and economic infrastructure that expands the likelihood of national development, higher growth levels and broad social development for all. It is noteworthy that
democracy has also taken hold in much of the continent, with free, fair and regular elections on the rise.
We are very encouraged by the launch of the African Continental Free-Trade Area Agreement, AfCFTA. Now that it has come into force, immense opportunity for trade within Africa has come into being. South Africa must ensure it is ready to take advantage of the potential offered by this expanded market access. Once the agreement is fully operationalised, Africa will be one of the world's largest single markets encompassing 55 countries, a population of 1,2 billion people and a combined gross domestic product, GDP, of US$3,2 trillion. The development of the necessary infrastructure for this expanded trade is going to gather speed and we as South Africa must be ready to play a key role.
In addition, I believe that our capacity for research and innovation could play a critical role in advancing our industrial development ambitions. Minerals beneficiation, the use of advanced manufacturing and the wider use of digital
technologies could place us at the leading edge of economic innovation support in Africa.
As South Africa we have excellent research universities. We train a significant number of African postgraduate students and researchers, and yet we absorb just a small number of them. As a country we also have very competent research councils. Imagine the contribution we could make to our continent if we multiplied this capacity. The development potential of a vibrant Africa- based knowledge economy would become a genuine reality. Our capacity for innovation must become part of our diplomatic interactions and be utilised to advance our continent's ambitions. We should promote the creation of hundreds of research institutes all over Africa and ensure that they are supported to be innovative, productive and responsive. We have the capacity; let us use it strategically.
One of our major co-operation successes is our regional economic community that has established a strong platform for greater integration and growth. We must consolidate and expand trade and
investment in the Southern African Development Community, SADC, and give effect to the President's assertion that:
Within the SADC region, we should prioritise development of cross- border value chains in key sectors such as energy, mining and mineral beneficiation, industrialisation and enhancing manufacturing capacity, infrastructure development as well as agro-processing.
We will therefore intensify several related SADC initiatives. I am pleased with the progress that was achieved during South Africa's tenure as SADC chair. Progress on regional trade has been increased by the operationalisation of the integrated Real Time Gross Settlement, RTGS, system, which is hosted by the SA Reserve Bank. A total of 81 banks are participating in this system. The system aims at establishing a firm platform for increased intra-SADC trade and investment to further strengthen regional financial integration. The SADC-RTGS system has performed impressively since July 2013 when the system went live, with a total of 1,275,591 transactions settled as at the end of 2018, representing R21 trillion ... I beg your pardon,
R5,21 trillion. The benefits of the cross-border payment system are its efficiency and the reduction in transaction costs. We believe this experience is going to be a valuable contribution to the development of the continental payment system announced at the AU summit in Niger just three days ago.
A second example is the completion and adoption of the SADC Energy Foresight and Assessment Study for Renewable Energy Value Chains. Member states are going to use the recommendations to develop SADC's renewable energy capacities. Our Council for Scientific and Industrial Research was tasked to conduct a mapping exercise of potential renewable energy value chains for use by SADC member states. A progress report will be presented to Ministers in June 2020.
Thirdly, the SADC Engineering Needs and Numbers study has been concluded. It will assist in implementing programmes for developing enhanced engineering training at national and regional platforms to enable career development and the sharing of experience and expertise within SADC. Member states have also been urged to introduce Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics at very early stages in SADC education systems to increase the number of students able to take up studies in engineering fields.
We are also going to work hard to promote the tripartite free- trade area, TFTA. The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, Comesa, SADC, as well as the East African Community, EAC, in their summit in 2008 agreed to accelerate the programme to harmonise trade arrangements among the three regional economic communities, with a view to establishing a single free- trade area encompassing all member states of these three regions.
Our country appended its signature to the agreement establishing the TFTA on 7 July 2017 in Kampala, Uganda. To date, the agreement has been signed by 23 member countries. We require 14 ratifications to enter it into force. Thus far we have three and we need more. We will intensify our diplomatic efforts aimed at urging other member countries to sign and ratify this important instrument in order for it to become operational. A summit of the tripartite communities is scheduled to take place
in January 2020. We hope that the ratification threshold would have been achieved by that date when we meet in Kigali, Rwanda.
The recent report of Africa's regional bodies submitted at the AU's extraordinary summit in Niger confirmed the critical role that regional economic bodies are playing in our development programmes and particularly in acting on our programmes linked to Agenda 2063.
I confirm that our commitment to Agenda 2063 remains steadfast. We are honoured to have been selected as the 2020 AU chair. We are cognisant of the huge responsibility ... [Applause.] ... this places on South Africa, particularly the pursuit of the ambitious agenda of silencing the guns on our continent by the end of 2020.
We have a rare opportunity to place this goal on top of the agenda of the UN Security Council when we assume the presidency of the council in October this year. The theme for our council presidency is: Continuing the legacy: Working for a just and peaceful world. It is important to use our tenure at the
security council and as chair of the AU to implement the enhanced co- operation agreement on peace and security as it foregrounds commitment to conflict prevention, and to addressing the root causes of conflict.
This commitment is the embodiment of the legacy of Nelson Mandela who, during his tenure as President of our country, worked tirelessly to advance peace and stability on the continent and globally through mediation and preventative diplomacy.
The continued existence of conflicts diverts us away from our goal of peace and development. In this regard, we repeat our call for a total ceasefire in Libya and the pursuit of an inclusive national dialogue led by the AU. On Sudan, we deplore the recent violence and deaths in that country and welcome the agreement reached by the Transitional Military Council and the Forces of Freedom and Change. This is an opportunity for the people of Sudan to begin entrenching peace and stability. We applaud the mediation efforts of the AU and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, Igad. As South
Africa, we stand ready to assist where we can. Our experience in conflict resolution and in drafting a progressive Constitution makes us a partner genuinely able to resolve complex national problems.
Our President has done much to assist the Kingdom of Lesotho as the envoy of SADC. While appreciating the progress reported recently, we implore all the people of the Kingdom of Lesotho to work diligently on the finalisation of the necessary constitutional and security sector reforms. We thank former Deputy Chief Justice Moseneke for his work as the presidential facilitator.
A peaceful and stable, as well as economically integrated Africa, will contribute towards transforming the world to ensure that people of the global South are not marginalised. We have partnered with likeminded countries to improve our condition and that of our partners. Work in Africa's partnership with China in the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation and with Japan in the International Conference on African Development can make a significant contribution to our progress.
The Brics is also a formation which has the potential to change the global political and economic outlook. The work of the New Development Bank, NDB, its Africa Regional Centre, ARC, located in South Africa, and the Contingency Reserve Arrangement, CRA, are concrete examples of the effectiveness possible in Brics.
The regional centre is focussed on providing financial and project preparation support and funding for infrastructure and sustainable development in South Africa, Africa, and we hope in future, to other developing countries.
In April this year, the NDB approved around US$790 million of loans for three projects in South Africa. One half of the funding is for Eskom to stabilise our national electricity grid. The NDB and Eskom signed a separate agreement for a US$180 million loan to implement an integrated renewable energy project. This is all evidence of the use of diplomacy to address national imperatives.
The NDB will also provide infrastructure and sustainable development project funding to countries that are not members of
Brics. It has confirmed that part of the US$790 million will fund the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. The implementation of the second phase of this project is important to both South Africa and Lesotho, and is of immense development value to the two countries.
We also continue to enhance our co-operation with institutions and countries of the North. Our partners continue to play a constructive role in bridging the global development divide. President Ramaphosa has been consistent in using platforms such as the G20 and the G7 to argue for support for Africa and for a fair, inclusive and balanced world trade environment.
As a country we believe in multilateralism and reject attempts at unipolarity and a neglect of the poor and marginalised. We believe much more must be done for shared growth; for the empowerment of women; and for the eradication of poverty as well as the eradication of inequality. Success in pursuing these objectives means leadership, hard work, consistency and commitment. We as Africans must rise and act in our own interest. We need to execute our own agreed agenda.
We have a number of important strategic partners whose support and solidarity we appreciate. One, which we often don't talk of, is the USA, a very important strategic partner in the fight against HIV and Aids. The USA has been instrumental in supporting our national HIV prevention and support programmes, and American businesses continue to invest in South Africa to create employment and reverse the frontiers of poverty. We have excellent trade relationships and are determined to expand them for increased growth and job creation.
We will affirm these links while also working to support measures for peace in South Sudan; freedom and justice for the people of Saharawi; and freedom, security and democracy for the people of Palestine. We will also continue to strive for the end of the unilateral economic blockade against Cuba and continue to strengthen our collaboration with the government and people of Cuba.
We have been closely monitoring developments regarding the UK's planned exit from the EU. South Africa remains strongly committed to our strategic partnership with the EU, which has
created a platform for engagement at a number of levels, not only on bilateral matters but also on matters pertaining to regional, continental and global challenges. As a bloc, the EU is South Africa's largest trading partner, with total trade having increased from R497 billion in 2014 to R620 billion in 2018. While there remains a significant trade deficit, South African exports to the EU have increased from R197 billion in 2014 to R268 billion in 2018. The R1,4 trillion in foreign investment from Europe, representing approximately 77% of total foreign direct investment, FDI, in our country, has made a significant contribution to our economic goals and to industrialisation in our country.
We will work with greater energy to increase our co-operation with India, Russia and Brazil. Our partnership with the People's Republic of China will continue to grow and thrive. The recent conclusion of 90 trade and export contracts will enhance our partnership even further.
In his recent state of the nation address, the President referred to the need for us to increase tourist arrivals to
support our economy. Europe and Africa remain among the leading continents in terms of tourist arrivals in South Africa. I have tasked all our missions with the responsibility to help manage and brand South Africa to attract more tourists. Similarly, they have been given the huge task of assisting us in securing more FDI, while identifying and leveraging trade and cultural diplomacy opportunities in their host countries.
Our foreign policy principles remain centred on promoting peace, human rights and dignity for all throughout the world. We continue to be guided by our apex mandate, which is our Constitution. I am currently studying the ministerial review panel's report on foreign policy and hope to report very soon to our portfolio committee and Parliament on our response. We also hope that Parliament will assist us by finally processing the Foreign Service Bill.
I would like to conclude by thanking the two Deputy Ministers for their guidance and support in preparing for the Budget Vote. Deputy Minister Botes will outline further details of our work in his contribution. Deputy Minister Mashego-Dlamini is away on
official duties attending a Commonwealth governing council meeting. I thank our director-general and the management of the department, my special advisors and the staff in the Ministry. I also thank my family, especially my daughter who rather late at night had to listen to my draft of this speech and was falling asleep poor thing, but kept up. [Applause.] I thank her for that. Sorry to have put you through that pain. Let me also thank the Dirco team for their role in ensuring that we were ready to provide an overview of our work in this debate. Thank you very much, hon Chairperson. [Applause.]
Hon Speaker; Minister and Deputy Ministers of International Relations and Co-Operation; Hon Members of the Portfolio Committee Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.
We meet here on a historical day, the 11th of July. The very same day on which our revered Rivionia trialists were rounded up at Lillies leaf farm. As we come to learn from the annuls of history these great heroes were incarcerated for making the world a better place.
So today, I start from the premise that the world we live in can be a better place. And I say this with great certainty. We need a paradigm shift. Africa should be peaceful, united, and prosperous. After all it is a continent blessed with all the raw materials from oil to any other natural resource you can think of. It has been said many times that the African is the poorest continent. Is it really poor? Is it not high time we confront the truth in its entirety, and that is some amongst us are stealing from the continent with assistance of former colonial masters? Or some are simply the conduits of former colonialist.
Collectively we must continue to celebrate the victories won for our liberation; we must dedicate ourselves to rise together whilst we ensure that we defend our liberty and unity. In the words of the Kwame Nkrumah: "We face neither east nor west. We face forward."
Hon Members, whilst we celebrate and deepen the liberation of our fellow African states we cannot for one moment forget about the rest of the world. Our own sovereignty is strengthened by our ability to influence the world's outlook on humanities
development in economic terms and the advance of human rights. South Africa in itself is a great testament to the world that if you ignore the human rights of certain groupings or humans in your society, in the long run, you cripple the economic growth of the country. This is one obvious lesson that apartheid thought the world.
Perhaps, our greatest diplomat, liberation stalwart and former President of the ANC Oliver Reginald Tambo coined it best when he said, "We who are free to eat and sleep at will, to write, to speak, to travel as please, we who are free to make or break a revolution, let us use our comparative freedom not perpetuate the misery of those who suffer, nor to give indirect aid to the enemy they fight by withholding our own contribution."
Hon Chairperson, indeed we cannot stand aside and watch whilst our sisters and brothers in Western Sahara continue to be deprived of statehood and complete independence. We must take tangible and decisive steps to ensure that after this 6" Administration we speak of a liberated Western Sahara.
Hon Members, we may think that we no longer live in an era of colonization and imperialism but recent events in Venezuela and Libya to some extent show us a completely different picture. It is no coincidence that Oil rich countries experience similar levels of unrest and disenfranchisement albeit at different times. We cannot be at ease whilst history repeats itself in any part of the world. For the simple reason that when a regime is changed outside of the country's own violation almost always results in a human rights crisis.
We cannot ignore the plight of Libyans today, especially because it was not of their own doing. The crude colonization, of that country has had a profound effect on how the worlds take on immigration, especially in Europe, we now live in an era where thousands of migrants die whilst fleeing states which used be to functional before. If we do not take decisive steps against the resurgence of an imperialist agenda, we run this risks of seeing a relatively progressive human rights agenda deteriorating.
There are few countries in the world who have resisted the cajoles of capitalism and imperialism like Cuba. For ?fty years
the people have suffered as a result of an unjust economic, commercial and ?nancial blockade by the U.S.A, this has been a major hindrance to Cuba's development.
Despite this the Cuban nation has maintained its independence and sovereignty in the face of the vicious imperialist- orchestrated campaign to destroy the impressive gains made by the Cuban revolution. We must continue to assist the Cubans to be the masters of their destiny.
In many ways the internationalist character of the Cubans has aided many revolutions on the continent; it is this internationalist's character that we should continue to embody in our approach to peace and security in the world.
Hon Minister, as the African National Congress, we have been unanimous on the plight of the Palestine people. In the Palestinian people we see ourselves. We see the rightful owners of the land being oppressed, killed and degraded as human beings. It is an inescapable sense of djavu. It is for this reason at the 54th National Conference the African National
Congress came to the conclusion that boycotting Israel is a justi?ed as boycotting Apartheid. We cannot speak in moderation in matters of manifest injustice.
As former President Mandela put it, "The temptation in our situation is to speak in muffled tones about an issue such as the rights of the people of Palestine... we can easily be enticed to read reconciliation and fairness as meaning parity between justice and injustice. Having reached our freedom, we can fall into the trap of washing our hands of the difficulties that others face... yet we would be less human if we did so."
The implementation of all Nasrec resolutions in so far as this question is concerned, is undoubtedly framed around this logic. The Gaza strip has become war zone, a sight of injustice and the de?nition of human rights violation. To this end we look forward to a concise plan on the full implementation, of Israel's downgrading. And if need be we must be willing to go the route of economic embargos against Israel.
Hon Chairperson, As I conclude, with a profound but simple quote by Che Guevara, "Words that do not match deeds are unimportant."
In other words house Chair the efficacy of Better Africa, Better World Approach will not be judged by what we say but rather by what we do.
International Solidarity is meaningless without any real tangible actions. I have no doubt that this budget vote supports an action-based plan. As the ANC, we support budget vote 6. I wish to thank the officials of Parliament, the department of International Relations and Co-operations and the members of the portfolio for assisting us have a robust debate in all the issues that we have taken as a collective. Thank you very much Chairperson.
Thank you. Hon Members, the time has come to ask ourselves some tough questions. Are we the masters of our destiny or are we doomed to repeat the same mistakes as the dark past that we came from? Have you ever asked you about the value we are getting as a country from our BRICS membership? Has South
Africa not been reduced to playing second fiddle to countries such as China and Russia? South Africa is trying so hard to move away from its colonial past, would it not be fatal for the country to land in the same trap as before?
The problem is that we send off mixed signals, to the extent that there is communication discord between the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, DIRCO, and the Executive. South Africa has come out of a devastating Zuma administration, which our current President rightfully described as wasted years. We watched in dismay as international fugitives wanted by the International Criminal Court, such as the Sudan's deposed dictator, Omar al-Bashir, were assisted by organs of state to exit the country in violation of our international obligations.
We witnessed the assault of a South African citizen on our soil, but the state bent over backwards to protect the perpetrator instead of the victim. We were constantly bombarded with reports about allegations of smuggling by our diplomatic staff. Hon members, we cannot allow this assault on our image as a country
to continue. Our inconsistency in defending human rights abroad is unacceptable. We only seem to raise our voice on human rights abuse when the offending country is not one of our so-called 'friends'.
We enter the UN Security Council with a string of illogical voting patterns that seem to be more about an appeasement to our allies than a ?rm stand for a cause. Hope Hon Minister, I appeal through the Chair, to you to allow DIRCO to do its job without undue interference from other arms of government. Oftentimes, DIRCO has been called upon time and again to clean up the mess caused by politicians. It is time that the DIRCO committee is given space to conduct its oversight role unhindered on all the Department's functions. What South Africa needs is a predictable and logical international engagement framework that will guide our diplomatic personnel on what is expected of them.
Diplomatic staff must know that there are consequences for deviating from the set code of conduct. Members of the executive must be made to understand that message discipline is a key requirement to successful engagement with our international
partners. The era of burdening DIRCO staff with cleaning up the mess caused by motor mouths in the Executive should be a thing of the past. Just as we need stability in the country, we also need stability in our interaction with our international partners and allies.
A DA government would review all current missions with a view to measure their contribution to South Africa's development, whether in increasing bilateral trade or increasing tourism receipts to our shores. Any mission that does not measure up will either be closed or downgraded. South Africa's interests, and not political considerations, will inform our approach to diplomatic engagements with the rest of the world. We must be careful that when we shout for downgrades, that those very same actions that we call for, do not cause own-goals in our own country in terms of loss of jobs, loss of trade and loss of technology and enhancements.
Our role in the AU will be to facilitate the deepening of democratic practice, consolidation of the recently signed inter- Africa free trade agreement, infrastructure development and
value addition of our natural resources. Gone should be the days where we have to mine a resource, send it abroad for manufacturing and then buy that very resource back from another country.
We will be unwavering in our condemnation of human rights abuses, wherever they may be. Even as we try to live in the letter and spirit of our Bill of Rights, at home, we should fight for the same privilege for oppressed people around the world and not just in three countries as was mentioned by the Minister. Our approach to ongoing raging conflicts across the world should be guided by a firm commitment to justice and the defense of human rights.
We should leverage on our internationally acknowledged conflict resolution reputation to advocate for peace and protection of vulnerable people. It is time that South Africa occupies its rightful role as a beacon of hope for the oppressed.
Hon members, a back to basic approach in our engagement with international partners will bring us back on track to fulfill
the vision set by our democracy's greatest statesmen, the late Nelson Mandela. Let us take a deliberate decision today to refocus the role of DIRCO and ensure that it prioritises key drivers of change in South Africa, namely, trade and investment.
Hon Minister, the ball is in your court to ensure that DIRCO becomes a key driver of change both locally and internationally. It is up to you to position South Africa as a key global player and a country that is ready and open for business. I thank you.
Thank you, Chairperson. On behalf of the Economic Freedom Fighters, l would like to take this opportunity to pass our condolences to the family of the late Mam'Nomhle Nkonyeni, who passed away early yesterday morning. Mam'Nkonyeni had a distinguished career spanning close to 60 years and inspired generations of South African actors to aspire for more. May her beautiful soul rest in peace and rise in eternal glory!
Minister Pandor, as a distinguished freedom fighter yourself, you need no one to lecture you about the critical role played by the international community, particularly our siblings in the
African continent, in the Caribbean, our comrades in Latin America, Europe and the Middle East, in the struggle for the liberation of this country. This history ought to underscore the premise of our international relations policy, which must be underpinned by the experience of the international anti- apartheid movement, which was the largest human rights campaign in the world. Where people all over the world responded to the oppression of the people of this country, and committed themselves to our liberation.
They never needed to come here, but they mobilised themselves and held their governments accountable for the diplomatic and economic ties they had with the murderous apartheid regime. Today these historical lessons, should constantly poke our conscience and international relations approach We must ask ourselves if we have remained true to the values that are underpinned our liberation struggle and if we have not betrayed the hopes of millions who sacrificed their own Tanzania, Nigeria Cuba and Angola.
Today, we live in a global community where imperialism is raising its ugly head again through economic manipulation of less developed countries. The US trade embargo on Cuba, the shameless attempt to remove Nicolus Maduro in Venezuela, the constant undermining of the rights of the people of Haiti to choose their leaders, the deliberate destruction of Iraq and yzhaf the unforgivable assassination of Colonel Gaddafi, the destabilisation of the Congo; all these and more, tell us that the forces of imperialism will never rest until they have sucked the last drops of blood from developing countries.
It is for this reason that we need our international relations approach to be embedded on the principle of Pan-Africanism and progressive internationalism. We must be driven by solidarity with the oppressed and the exploited in the world. We must understand that we will never be completely free until there is democracy and peace in the Congo, until the people of Libya and me Sudan have full control of their natural resources, until the people of Palestine are free from the oppression of apartheid Israel.
Above all Minister, we must be unapologetic about the Pan African nature of our international relations approach. We have unfortunately lost our moral and strategic voice in the continent, and are therefore unable to provide leadership for the regeneration of Africa. As we take over our non- permanent seat at the UN Security Council, we must agitate for tangible reforms of the Security Council, and remove the veto powers of the five permanent members of the Security Council.
The world is far bigger and more complex than the 5 countries which have the power to veto any decisions taken by the UN. To foster Pan African development, we must recommit ourselves to the Abuja Treaty, which will remain the only radical plan for African integration and development, with clear, tangible goals for integrating Africa's development, to ensure that Africa benefits from its wealth and its natural resources, and that there is a deeper entrenchment of freedoms across the continent.
To attain this vision, we must strengthen the Pan African parliament, and give it real and exclusive authority to legislate on the elimination of intra-African trade barriers. We
must applaud the bringing into force of African Continental Free Trade Area, which seeks to eliminate trade barriers between African countries. We must however emphasize, that the trade and movement of goods within Africa, must be for African produced goods.
This must emphasize the local production and beneficiation of goods in Africa. African mineral resources must be processed in Africa, to create jobs in Africa. In the midst of all this, President Ramaphosa had nothing about the Pan-African development; he did not even mention anything about Africa in his State of the Nation Address.
The continent looks up to South Africa, because of our relatively advanced capitalist economy, even while the economy serves minorities, with the rest of the people languishing in poverty.
In conclusion, we need to work towards the African isolation of Botswana, which has been home to an imperialist military base, and fight for progressive internal reforms within Botswana which
should involve the people of Botswana. Fight for democratic political reforms in eSwatini, including the political and economic isolation of the Monarchy, until there are meaningful political changes and tolerance in the country. Protect Zimbabwe from imperialist threats and sanctions; ensuring that Zimbabwe is self-sustainable, and that the land remains in the hands of Zimbabweans Hon Minister, we reject your budget
Hon Chairperson, and hon member at the outset the IFP which to welcome hon Minister Naledi Pandor and her team to DIRCO and we which here well as she carries our hope dreams and aspiration to the world as Tshwane top diplomat.
Hon Minister, I was happy when you spoke about world bullies and world bulling. On Saturday I had the privilege of attending the birthday celebration of His Holiness Dalai Lama in Pretoria which was hosted by his office here in South Africa. The shirt I'm wearing was given to me then as a reminder that we as South Africa the land of the free should be refuge of those who are world oppressed.
So, hon Minister, we must reflect therefore on the decisions we took not to grant Dalai Lama a visa, is a reminder that we should never walk away from human right. [Applause.].
As we speak about Western Sahara which I support you fully Minister; and on the issues of Palestine and Israel insuring lasting solution - the two states solutions we agree with you Minister.
Equally Minister, we must speak about the big bullies China, and it is one China policy and what is doing in wrecking havoc for the people of Tibet in Taiwan, who themselves also want their freedom and democracy and universal suffrage. So, if India was able to stand up and give home to the Dalai Lama, we too as South Africa must be able to trade with China without negating our human rights outlook.
Minister, you speak about Sudan, and whilst we are happy at the developments, the fundamental question becomes where was South Africa when we allowed Omar al Bashir to escape South Africa. We chose not to stand with the people then, and as we choose the
people now, let us not make the mistake of walking away again from human rights. That was the irony of course of what the Minister said.
Hon Minister, we fully understand that yours is not an easy task, given the current political and socioeconomic climate that South Africa finds itself in. We all agree that foreign investment is critical for growth, productivity and competitiveness.
This country remains weak in terms of its integration into global trade systems and value chains, and this reduces the critical access that is required for our domestic enterprises to access foreign markets. It additionally makes imports which include tech-intensive capital goods more expensive.
Chairperson, foreign direct investment is weary of South Africa and in all fairness why shouldn't they be? The land question has not been resolved, infrastructure and public service is poor, bureaucracy is high, corruption is rife, and policies and regulations change on an almost daily basis. There is no
certainty, and this will in no way shape or form inspire foreign investment. One must only look at the volatility of the rand to the effects of policy uncertainty.
International migration although necessary to attract international skills is difficult, and you would only have to walk across the road from this very chamber to our IFP offices and many Home Affairs offices and DIRCO offices in South Africa to see the number of problems with visa applications we are trying to assist with in respect of applications being made at our embassies abroad that are now either lost or languishing in the 'system' or being denied in error. The interphase between this ministry of DIRCO and the Home Affairs must be thoroughly scrutinized and its problems identified and the entire process reengineered. Fast, accurate and efficient must be the mandate in this respect and in all respects if we wish to be competitive and attractive to foreign markets and individuals.
Additionally, to our credit and for the third time in 12 years, we have been elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security council for 2019/2020. In this regard the reforms of
the United Nation Security Council hon Minister, must not be negotiable. These must be celebrated but further we must build upon and strengthened them for South Africa benefit the region and the continent and all the multilateral forums which South Africa is a part of.
In conclusion, we must also prioritise climate change and mitigate, adapt and develop resilience to same and we must stand against human rights abuses wherever they may occur in the world without cheery-picking. South Africa must be a leading light not only on the continent but also upon the global stage in respect of the advancement of human rights and the condemnation of abuse thereof.
Hon Minister, the IFP will support your Budget Vote. In conclusion let me say, we speak of budget cut let us also reduce the high number of foreign mission and the process of rationalisation in that respect must be fast tracked. I thank you.
Hon Chairperson, today is indeed a good day since the FFP yesterday won a ward from the DA with a huge majority. The FFP won that ward with more vote than all the other parties combined and that indicate swing towards the FFP continues. Being that as it may, no, it was not.
Hon Minister, allow me to congratulate you on your appointment. You are also a veteran since 1994, and we all know that at the moment there is term used when refer to President Ramaphosa when people talk about Ramaphoria, I would like to suggest that we also look at the term when it comes to our International Relation Department and maybe we speak about Pandorphoria, and what I mean with that is, I think we have a chance, we have got a window; we can continue as we have done in the past couple of years in Parliament or we can turn a new leaf in this department, and I would like to appeal to you to consider that. When Ramaphosa our President refers to nine wasted years, no doubt it must have huge impact on our international image as well. The challenge hon Minister, in front you and the department and I think is a very important challenge is to restore South Africa graphitise and our image in the world in
terms of foreign relations because I have no doubt that the last nine years did have a strong impact on our image internationally, that what a mean. Now hon Minister, you also refer to your speech to the theme for our seat when we occupy the chair of the African Union when you say continuing the legacy working for the just and peaceful world and I understand that.
And I have had in your speech today your twice refer to the Palestinian question and some of the other colleagues as well.
But I did not hear you say that the government is still committed to a two states solution and that you are also committed to respect the self- determination of the people of Israel as well as the right to security, and I think that is very important and I think we should say that and I would like to here that from you.
Hon Minister you said basically when you address the personnel of the Department of Foreign Affairs recently in June you said
you believe in values and ethics, you hate corruption as well as those who abuse other and I understand and support that.
My problem is in South Africa we have become a country without consequences and I want to refer you to two instances, I have to do that. I refer you to the utterance by our ambassador in Demark we all know happened there when hon Ambassador Zinzi Mandela Hlongwane when she basically said - and I'm quoting in Afrikaans, she said ...
Afrikaans:
Wit Suid-Afrikaners is gronddiewe wat soos ongenooide gaste weier om te loop.
Verder het sy aangegaan om wit Suid-Afrikaners uit te kryt as verkragters, afstammelinge van Van Riebeeck.
English:
You reprimanded her and I congratulate you on that. However, since then, she continued, she once again went ahead with further tweets that are extremely offensive to South African
citizens and I really implore you that we cannot act that way. Since then, her appointment has now been extended to the end of the year. Now I understand that is the decision need to be taken in terms of all our ambassadors where there is a change in that regard. But with all due respect I think this a case where we could have done differently and we should act.
The second one deal with our ambassador to Netherland, our ambassador Mr Koloane, we all know the facts, everything in terms of reality points to his involvement in the landing of Waterkloof Air Force Base when the Gupta family came here with the little wedding excursion. What happened to him, he was suspended for two months and then he was promoted and appointed to be an ambassador to Netherland. Currently he is in front of the ZondO Commission but clearly Madam Minster, this is not the situation that we can tolerate and I will implore you to take steps in that regard.
With the few minutes remain, remember, couple of members have mention that already, it is nice to have, there is a difference between nice to have and what we can afford. It's good to have
our representation at across the globe and I understand that. But I'm afraid because of economy reality and in terms of priorities we simply cannot continue in that vein. I know that you will address those issues with the systems of the department as well as the systems of the Treasury, but in the interest of South Africa I implore you to look to that as soon as possible. I thank you very much.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION
(Mr A Botes): Hon Chairperson, our Minister, Dr Pandor, other Ministers and Deputy Ministers present, our portfolio committee chairperson and hon members of the House, our Director General, your excellencies, ambassadors, high commissioners, members of the diplomatic corps and representatives of the international organisations, leaders and members of civil society, distinguished guests, comrades and friends, we are proud of our past and confident about the future. We are proud of our freedom fighters, who did not flinch, who did not submit, and who prosecuted our freedom struggle for a just South Africa and a noble world order.
Today we salute the Rivonia Triaiists, Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki, Raymond Mhlaba, Ahmed Kathrada, Lionel Bernstein, Bob Heppie, Arthur Goidreich, Andrew Mlangeni, James Kantor, Dennis Goldberg, Harold Woipe and Elias Motsoaledi, some of whom were arrested on this exact day 56 years ago, in 1963.
The Rivonia Triaiists made a choice to fight for the achievement of the provisions of the Freedom Charter, which contains a clause stating that, "There shall be peace and friendship". The Freedom Charter argued that South Africa shall be a fully independent state which respects the rights and sovereignty of nations ...
Chairperson, on a point of order.
On what point of order are you rising, hon member?
Chairperson, yesterday we requested that other official languages be covered as well but we only seem to find English.
Is it so?
Yes.
Okay, let me request that they work on it. They will do that, and I am sorry for that but I think it will be rectified. Continue hon Botes.