The Department has been operating on a shoe-string budget year after year. Its main operations abroad have been affected by currency fluctuations. The Department has to carry out its mandate within unpredictable, at times turbulent, external environment to advance South Africa's national interest. The National Development Plan dictates that the Department should position itself to assume greater leadership role in Africa, leading development and growth in the continent. The interplay between foreign policy and national interest continue to be the baseline of their success in the conduct South Africa's foreign policy. Following from the above conclusions, it has, therefore, become important to have continued clear and focus driven plans which remain aligned to the budget allocated.