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The Democratic Alliance (DA) calls on the Minster of International Relations and Cooperation, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, to use the opportunity presented by the upcoming Heads of Mission Conference to clarify South Africa’s foreign policy objectives, and the values that underpin it. The conference will be held in Pretoria from 12-14 July 2011. The DA believes that the Zuma administration’s track record in using its foreign policy to promote and defend human rights has been worryingly inconsistent. Such inconsistencies damage not only our country’s diplomatic credibility, but raise troubling questions domestically about the values and objectives underpinning the current administration’s foreign policy approach. This needs to change.
On the one hand, South Africa has signed accords promoting peace, tolerance and accountability, while, on the other, it has in the past protected authoritarian regimes- such as those in Myanmar, Libya, Swaziland and Zimbabwe- from censure or reform. While proudly highlighting the comprehensive rights offered in our Constitution, the South African government has remained silent when homosexuals in other countries are denied those same rights.
At the Heads of Mission Conference, Minister Nkoana-Mashabane should show leadership and clarify the contradicting positions assumed by the Zuma administration on matters of foreign policy, and recommit South Africa to a human rights-based foreign policy approach.
Minister Nkoana-Mashabane has asked that provincial governments host – at each province’s expense – conference delegates in their provinces for a brief period after the conference has concluded, ostensibly to explore how the different provinces can have better direct relations with other countries. The DA-led Western Cape Provincial Government has invited member states with whom is has existing bilateral relations to have discussions with the relevant bodies in the Province, but will not be covering the accommodation and transport costs of these visits. The National Department will need to address these costs as there is insufficient evidence that the costs involved would generate sufficient benefit to Western Cape residents.
To make sure that this conference resulted in meaningful outcomes for our country, I will be asking a series of parliamentary questions to the Minister about the conference’s aims and outcomes, the costs incurred, and whether the South African government has reaffirmed its commitment to a foreign policy based on the promotion and protection of human rights.