Chairperson, at the outset I would like to say that the IFP supports this Budget Vote. [Applause.] However, in doing so I would like to share the following observations. There are some situational analyses that our own analysts on foreign relations have often chosen to ignore before the Members of Parliament, either out of complacency or simply because they do not want to stretch our imagination to a painful point on issues that may seem to have implications that are remote. Be that as it may, it does not prepare Members of Parliament to handle and manage the fortunes of South Africa in contributing towards a better world.
The world economic order, whether influenced by the Bretton Woods institutions, the Marshall Plan, the International Monetary Fund, IMF, the World Bank, or their socioeconomic doctrines, always expressed itself in strong competition between strong and weak economies. International economic interdependence never economically benefited the weak, the less vigilant and the less aggressive.
First, the African agenda should select and prioritise its strategic objectives in such a manner that the protection of the economic and political sovereignty of the African countries takes precedence. This could be realised through the resilient pursuance of regional economic development and integration, and not the continual pumping of massive aid, as has been the case thus far with the postwar development policies of the rich nations of the world.
We must not allow a backsliding of the African agenda. This agenda must be aggressively pursued and supported by all African nations if this continent is ever going to stand sovereign and independent of both Western and Eastern influences. The recent turmoil on the continent has seen a reversal of the gains made in previous years. The various coups d'tat, the advent of the so-called "Arab Spring" and the prodemocracy uprisings currently sweeping the Middle East and North Africa must be taken heed of as they are geopolitical trends that are sweeping the continent at the moment.
We commend the work done through the African Renaissance Fund, established in 2000 to pursue African foreign policy objectives, as well as Africa's developmental agenda. We all also support the strategic purpose of the new partnership fund in the form of the South African Development Partnership Agency, Sadpa, dedicated to supporting all Africa's ongoing development projects.
For Africa, the international system is becoming increasingly complex and fearful, perhaps reminiscent of the forceful machinations employed by regional and superpowers of yesteryear - only this time the geopolitical, regional and national hegemony is pursued through both the hard power of weapons and the soft power of commerce. Some analysts say the world is now divided into two spheres: the Euro-Atlantic sphere, dominated by the United States, and the Asian sphere, dominated by China. Both spheres are converging uncompromisingly on the African continent. The intelligence of the Department of International Relations and Co-operation, Dirco, should secure critical and vital information for the President, the Minister and government to formulate short-term and long-term responses to this convergence. The assessment of international agreements should be centralised to make sure that they are in accord with the strategic objectives of the African agenda and the South-South relations.
Dirco should adopt a barometer of consistent guidelines to rationalise support, nonalignment or punitive diplomatic interventions. The guidelines should be based on human rights, good governance, the rule of law, peace and stability. We support the Budget Vote. [Applause.]