The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

Minister Rob Davies could be a much better Minister of Trade and Industry if
he stopped acting as if he were also our Minister of Welfare and our
Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Today, in the parliamentary portfolio committee, I asked him why he
proceeded with the controversial notice requiring certain Israeli products
to be labelled as originating from the "Israel Occupied Territories" in
spite of the consultation process having established that such action is
against our national interest and against his mandate to promote trade,
commerce and industrialization for the benefit of South Africans.

I also asked him why he would not contemplate similar action in respect of
the other 72 territories which the UN clarified as having been occupied,
among which is Tibet.

In response Minister Davies said that the labelling was both a matter of
foreign policy and a matter of principle, suggesting that foreign policy
overrides our national interest, which begs questioning whether foreign
policy serves South Africans or the ANC's ruling elite. As per the matter
of principle, he failed to clarify what the principle of the matter would
be.

Minister Davies admitted that ours is the sole and only government to have
taken such an initiative and did not say a word about the other 71 occupied
territories.

In respect of Tibet, he stated the ANC's foreign policy is not to recognize
that Tibet has been occupied and that the matter of principle does not
matter, which suggests that in his mind matters of principle are to be
resolved in terms of policy or politics.

Minister Davies is a man of intellect, but this case does not depose well as
per his principles and intellectual coherence. He does appear that in this
case he has prioritized his party's policies and political debts over the
duties of his job, as he did when he authorized giving R300 million of our
money to Cuban dictators.