Mme modulasetulo, letona le batlatsi ba hae ba babedi, baeti le baemedi ba matjhabatjhaba, ke a leboha. [Chairperson, Minister and your two Deputies, guests and international representatives, I thank you.]
We have guests here from the Department for International Development, which is assisting us in working towards achieving the very best in regard to the South African Development Partnership Agency, Sadpa, as we have already heard. I would also like to greet you, hon members ...
... Ditho tsa Palamente tse hlomphehileng. Ke romilwe mona ke Mokgatlo wa ANC hore ke tle ke bue ka mokgwa ona, ha ke qala ke tla qotsa puo yaka ka sekgowa. [... hon Members of Parliament, I have been sent here by the ANC to talk on this manner. When I start, I will make my speech in English.]
The situation in the world has changed radically over recent years. More and more people than ever before live in democratic societies. In many of the African countries the guns are silent, mechanisms towards the peaceful resolution of conflicts are in place and peace is being realised. This situation gives us confidence and hope that we are on the right path towards a possible "just world and a better Africa" for humankind. We can today proclaim that a "just world and a better Africa" is a possibility.
These sentiments were expressed by delegates at the ANC's 52nd national conference in 2007 at Polokwane. In the Department of International Relations and Co-operation's Strategic Plan 2010 - 2013, it is indicated that Africa participates in the global system of governance to enhance the developmental objectives of the developing world, including the attainment of an equitable global order. The change in the politics of the world provides the necessary space for all emerging nations to progress through the formation of bilateral and multilateral relations.
The vision of the Department of International Relations and Co-operation, Dirco, as indicated in the strategic plan already mentioned, is of an African continent that is prosperous, peaceful, democratic, nonracial, nonsexist and united; one that contributes to a world that is just and equitable.
Maloko a hlomphehang le baeti ... [Hon members and guests ...] ... the notion of a unified African continent is derived from the ANC's conference resolutions, as the ANC's strategic orientation regarding foreign position is driven by the collective vision of all South Africans to live in a peaceful and friendly world, based on respect for human rights and peaceful coexistence. It is in order to achieve this progressive internationalism that we seek to deepen bilateral cooperation with African continents by engaging in sustainable partnerships for development. The mandate of Dirco, for which it is allocated this budget, is to work for the realisation of South Africa's foreign policy objectives. In the department's budget, this mandate falls under Programme 2, which is International Relations and Co-operation.
The department does this by co-ordinating and aligning South Africa's international relations abroad; monitoring developments in the international environment and advising government on foreign policy and on related domestic matters; communicating government's policy positions; contributing towards the formulation of international law; promoting multilateralism; and providing consular services to South Africans abroad. Hon Eloff does not understand how we do oversight in the department. All these things are the responsibility of a particular member, who attends the committees and takes the department to task on how everything we are doing abroad will impact on domestic policy. [Interjections.]
The department has these strategic priorities, among others: strengthening South-South relations, strengthening relations with the strategic formations of the North and forming partnerships in the global system of governance. Indeed, those of us who are always in the committee - I cannot speak for the hon Eloff - agree 100% with these priorities, particularly because we cannot put enough resources towards furthering the interests of the African continent. This is in view of the history and the extent of poverty and inequality that the continent is still subjected to
We are convinced that the status quo ante requires that the mandate of, for example, the World Bank and the International Monatory Fund, IMF, be redefined to focus on fighting poverty and assisting in building the economies of developing countries like China and Brazil, of which we are partners and allies. That was directed at you, hon Eloff.
Bilateral and multilateral political and economic relations with Africa and the world are the vehicle by which South African foreign policy expands co- operation in the political, security, social and, most importantly, economic sphere with other nations. Hence we agree that they are what constitute the core of foreign policy because without these agreements one cannot profess to have established legal and binding relations. The budget allocated will enable the department to meet this commitment. It should be noted that from 2008-09 the department had aligned 59 bilateral agreements. In 2010, this stood at 73.
South Africa occupies a nonpermanent seat in the UN Security Council, which it should use to demonstrate its commitment to multilateralism as a tactic to deal with international peace and security. Equally, as indicated by President Jacob Zuma in his address to the 66th UN General Assembly, South Africa should also use its membership to defend the independence and impartiality of the UN and to promote the principles of the Charter of the UN during conflicts and crisis. This necessitates reforms to the composition of the UN Security Council or all the UN bodies.
The headmaster from the DA, the hon Ian Davidson, came here with a list. [Interjections.] You are a headmaster and you think you still are. He came here with a list, starting with the Myanmar story. I want to tell you, hon headmaster, that the Myanmar story is no longer news. It has reached its sell-by date. To listen to what I want to say, you will have to keep quiet. It is this: The reason we are advocating for the total reform of the UN Security Council is that there are other bodies, like the Human Rights Council, where issues of human rights have to be discussed and resolved - not at the UN Security Council. We have explained this so many times. I'm not sure how many times we need to explain this before you will understand it. Anyway, we still support the department on the work it is doing in the UN, regardless of comments from you. [Interjections.] [Applause.] The UN must be representative and transparent, hon headmaster. This also relates to members who have veto powers. You know them - they are mostly your friends, I believe. [Laughter.]
The inequality in membership is evident in the fact that the power relations of the member states are somehow not adequately addressed. Therefore, we want to encourage and support the South African government to continue advocating for a representative, transparent and equal UN, especially its Security Council. Through its foreign policy and in discussions, South Africa has made it clear that the membership in the UN still needs a lot of change. Minister, with your team, we plead that you continue to advocate for that.
In addition to the changes in the UN, there should be changes in the World Trade Organisation. The world trade system must favour the developing countries, not the status quo. In the Delhi Declaration the Brics leaders indicated that:
We envision a future marked by global peace, economic and social progress and enlightened scientific temper. We stand ready to work with others, developed and developing countries together, on the basis of universally recognised norms of international law and multilateral decision-making, to deal with the challenges and the opportunities before the world today.
In his address to the Nuclear Summit in Seoul, President Jacob Zuma indicated that South Africa was positive about the potential to further consolidate the upward trend and expand the quantity and quality of trade between South Africa and China. He further noted that government's massive infrastructure build will further add impetus to such relations.
South Africa has recently been criticised in the media for its relations with China. We have nothing to be apologetic about. We are going to work with the Chinese. Also, to respond to the hon Eloff, the infrastructure investment announced this year is specifically intended to close the gaps that are there in Africa. I'm not sure whether you've been to countries in Africa, but it is very difficult to move from South Africa to any other destination on the continent because of a lack of infrastructure. So, if we can address such challenges, we will achieve our objective.
South Africa's world view is oriented by the struggle against inequality, injustice, oppression and crimes against humanity. As such we envisage a new world order based on the principles of equality, justice, freedom, peace, democracy and human rights.
In conclusion, South Africa's foreign policy is based on building relations, but such relations are anchored by principles. We will never move away from our principles, which have been aligned ever since the inception of the ANC. These principles include a commitment to the promotion of human rights, which are not limited to political rights but include economic, social and environmental rights; constitutional democracy; equitable power relations; and a commitment to the interests of Africa. South Africa's membership of the UN Security Council is a resounding endorsement of the positive role that our young democracy has played since re-entering the international community in 1994.
May we champion on for an African continent that is prosperous, peaceful, democratic, nonracial, nonsexist and united; one that contributes to a world that is just and equitable. We will work with all partners whom we believe will assist us in reaching our objective. [Applause.]