2024-w166 - 01 March 2024

Emma Louise Powell to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation

(1)What is the position of her department regarding the request by the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation, Mr S O R Mahumapelo, to the Director-General of her department that all senior members of all official royal and traditional households throughout the Republic must be issued with diplomatic passports; (2) whether her department will accede to the request and issue the specified passports according to the request; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether any members of official royal and/or traditional households in the Republic have diplomatic passports issued by her department; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details of all the diplomatic passport holders from official royal and/or traditional households? NW172E

Reply from the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation on 1 Mar 2024

1. Diplomatic Passports are issued to the 13 recognised Kings, Queens and Principal Traditional Leaders as well as the spouse and the Personal Assistant when accompanying in terms of the South African Diplomatic Passport Policy.

2. Diplomatic Passports will only be issued to those who qualify in terms of the South African Diplomatic Passport Policy.

3. The details of any members of official royal an/ ...

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2024-w111 - 23 February 2024

Michael Steven Bond to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation

Whether (a) the President and/or (b) any member of the Cabinet met with any member of Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya (Hamas) to discuss any strategy whereby South Africa could assist Hamas or any other country in waging a diplomatic and/or legal offensive against the State of Israel at any time in (i) 2022, (ii) 2023 and (iii) during the period 1 January 2024 up to the latest specified date; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply from the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation on 23 Feb 2024

The President (a) and or any member of the Cabinet (b) did not meet with any member of Harakat al-Mugawama al-Islamiya (Hamas) to discuss any strategy whereby South Africa could assist Hamas or any other country in waging a diplomatic and/or legal offensive against the State of Israel at any time in (i) 2022, (ii) 2023 and (iii) during the period 1 January 2024 ...

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2024-w112 - 23 February 2024

Michael Steven Bond to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation

Whether (a) the President and/or (b) any member of the Cabinet had discussions with any member of the government or the executive of (i) the Islamic Republic of Iran and/or (ii) the State of Qatar regarding any strategy whereby South Africa could assist the Islamic Republic of Iran or any other country in waging a diplomatic and/or legal offensive against the State of Israel at any time in (aa) 2022, (bb) 2023 and (cc) during the period 1 January 2024 up to the latest specified date; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply from the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation on 23 Feb 2024

Neither the President (a) and/or (b) any member of the Cabinet had discussions with any member of the government or the executive of (i) the Islamic Republic of Iran and/or (ii) the State of Qatar regarding any strategy whereby South Africa could assist the Islamic Republic of Iran or any other country in waging a diplomatic and/or legal offensive against the State of Israel ...

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2024-w110 - 23 February 2024

Michael Steven Bond to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation

Whether (a) the President and/or (b) any member of the Cabinet met with or had a telephone discussion with (i) Mr Ismail Haniyeh and/or (ii) any other members of the Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya (Hamas) in (aa) 2022, (bb) 2023 and (cc) during the period 1 January 2024 up to the latest specified date; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the full details of the (aaa) discussions and (bbb) concrete agreements reached?

Reply from the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation on 23 Feb 2024

The President (a) did not meet with or had a telephone discussion with (i) Mr Ismail Haniyeh and/or (ii) any other members of the Harakat al- Muqawama al-Islamiya (Hamas) in (aa) 2022, (bb) 2023 and (cc) during the period 1 January 2024 up to the latest specified date.

Regarding contact with any member of Cabinet (b), it should be recalled that DIRCO issued a ...

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2024-w117 - 23 February 2024

Willem Frederik Faber to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation

With reference to the South African delegation for state visits to the (a) Islamic Republic of Iran and (b) State of Qatar (i) in 2023 and (ii) from 1 January 2024 to date, what are the full details of the (a) names of the members of the delegation and (b)(i) schedule of meetings held and (ii) minutes of the specified meetings?

Reply from the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation on 23 Feb 2024

There was no state visit to the (a) Islamic Republic of Iran (i) in 2023 and (ii) from 1 January 2024 to date.

A state visit was undertaken to the State of Qatar from 14 to 15 November 2023. The South African Delegation (a) consisted of:

1. H.E. Mr MC Ramaphosa President of the Republic of South Africa

2. Dr GNM Pandor: Minister of ...

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2023-w4087 - 21 December 2023

Emma Louise Powell to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation

Whether he met with Mr Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas leader based in Qatar and/or any other members of Hamas whilst in Qatar during November 2023; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the full details of their discussions?

Reply from the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation on 21 Dec 2023

The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) did not meet with Mr Ismail Haniyeh or any member of Hamas during her visit to Qatar in November 2023. It is worth noting that Hamas is headquartered in Qatar and that the organisation is funded by the Government of Qatar. The presence of Hamas has historically been supported by the Government of the United States ...

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2023-w4151 - 14 December 2023

Mkhuleko Hlengwa to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation

(a) On what date will her department table the promised Bill to operationalise the SA Development Partnership Agency (SADPA) which has taken almost 15 years, and has contributed to underspending by her department and (b) what is the projected timeline for operationalising the SADPA?

Reply from the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation on 14 Dec 2023

a) The Department is currently ensuring compliance with the below processes required for the introduction of the draft Bill into Parliament:

  • Submission of the draft Bill to the Speaker and the Chairperson of the council in terms of Joint Rule 159 and thereafter the Bill is referred to committees;
  • Gazetting the notice of intention to introduce in terms of National Assembly Rule 276/ NCOP ...
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2023-w4205 - 14 December 2023

Willem Frederik Faber to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation

Whether she will furnish Mr W F Faber with a comprehensive list of all South African embassies and consulates worldwide, including their contact details and addresses; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply from the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation on 14 Dec 2023

A comprehensive list of all South African Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates with contact details and addresses are available online through the website of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation at www.dirco.gov.za/south-african-representation-abroad/. The contact details and addresses are updated on a regular basis when new Heads of Mission and officials assume their duties at these missions or when the location of the ...

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2023-w4194 - 14 December 2023

Emma Louise Powell to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation

(a) What total amount has the Africa Renaissance Fund paid out in aid to African countries since 2019 up to the latest specified date for which information is available, (b) which countries benefited from the financial aid and (c) what total amount did each of the countries receive?

Reply from the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation on 14 Dec 2023

Since 2019, the African Renaissance and International Cooperation Fund has provided aid to the following African countries:

a) Total aid provided by the ARF since 2019 to date is R406 439 351,32.

b) and c) The below table provides the information requested.

Name of the Country

Project Description

Value of the project

South Sudan

Humanitarian Assistance

R74 750 898,00

Republic of Zimbabwe

Humanitarian ...

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2023-w4153 - 14 December 2023

Mkhuleko Hlengwa to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation

What (a) number of employees of her department have faced disciplinary proceedings in the past year, (b) are the details of each specified employee, (c) are the reasons that each specified person was facing disciplinary proceedings, (d) is the period taken to resolve the disciplinary proceedings in each case, (e) number of employees were suspended, (f) were the charges that led to each suspension, (g) number of employees were dismissed, (h1) were the reasons for each such dismissal, (h2) number of employees were suspended with full pay and (i) for how long were the specified employees suspended with full pay?

Reply from the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation on 14 Dec 2023

a) The number of employees of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation that faced disciplinary proceedings was 34.

b) The details of the employees that faced disciplinary hearings were as follows:

(i) Chief Directors: 4;

  1. Directors: 7;
  2. Deputy Directors: 3;
  3. Assistant Directors:15;
  4. Senior Administrator: 1; and
  5. Level 7: 4

c) The reasons for the disciplinary proceedings were as follows:

(i) 25 employees were ...

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