The Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation on Friday said it had begun a clause-by-clause deliberation of the Foreign Service Bill and that it was satisfied with the progress.

The Foreign Service Bill seeks to manage the type of services that are provided at embassies abroad.

The chairperson of the committee Siphosezwe Masango said the committee began its work on the Bill following an oversight visit to Canada last year, where the committee sought to learn best practices.

“The Bill is complex and requires that all stakeholders apply their mind. The committee is committed to seeing the Bill deliberated in the National Assembly around August,” said Masango.

He went on to point out that South Africa’s public service officials deployed abroad were subject to the Head of Mission’s authority and that the champion of South Africa’s national interest in any host nation is the Head of Mission.

“The Head of Mission should ideally be a person who oversees everyone at a mission, irrespective of which department is deploying. We want accountability and clear roles as designated in the framework of this piece of legislation,” he concluded.