International Relations
Foreign Service Bill: discussions
31 May 2018
The Committee considered the responses made by Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) to the proposals made by various stakeholders on the Foreign Service Bill.
Members accepted a proposal that ‘accountability’ and ‘professional’ be inserted in the long title of the proposed Bill; set the requirements to appoint Heads ...
International Relations
Foreign Service Bill: Department response to submissions
30 May 2018
The Committee was briefed by the Department on its responses to stakeholders submissions and recommendations arising from the public hearings into the Foreign Service Bill. DIRCO said the Bill was not outside of the Public Service Act, but provided complementary legislation specifically aimed at strengthening the foreign service. It gave ...
International Relations
Foreign Service Bill: motion of desirability postponed
16 May 2018
The Chairperson elaborated on the current crisis in Palestine and opening of the US Embassy in Jerusalem. He explained the action taken by the South African Government to withdraw the ambassador from Israel as a sign of protest. Religious and business-related work would not be hampered due to it.
The ...
International Relations
Foreign Service Bill seminar recommendations; Committee Report on Canada Study Tour; with Minister and Deputy Minister
9 May 2018
The Committee met to discuss several reports on the Foreign Service Bill. The Chairperson suggested that members go home with the reports including the submissions by individuals and institutions. This was to give members the opportunity to engage thoroughly with the reports which will be consolidated in the next meeting. ...
International Relations
International Relations and Cooperation Budget: Committee Report
2 May 2018
In preparation for the debate on the budget that will take place within the next few weeks, the Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation met to consider and adopt the draft Committee report on the Department’s budget vote. The Content Adviser quickly read through the draft report, highlighting the ...
International Relations
DIRCO & African Renaissance Fund 2018/19 Annual Performance Plan; with Deputy Minister
25 Apr 2018
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) would be experiencing substantial cuts for the 2018/19 fiscal year. With the economy currently vulnerable to global fluctuations, the Department was struggling financially to fulfill its mandates. The first reduction would affect locally recruited personnel (LRPs) at the Department’s overseas missions in ...
International Relations
UN Security Council reform: DIRCO briefing, with Deputy Ministers
14 Mar 2018
The Committee received a briefing from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) on reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and South Africa's candidacy for non-permanent membership.
DIRCO felt that it was high time for reform to take place in the UNSC as there was an imbalance ...
International Relations
DRC, Morocco and South Sudan political situation: DIRCO briefing, with Minister
7 Mar 2018
The Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation received a briefing from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) pertaining to the current political situations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Sudan, and Morocco.
Pursuant to the cabinet reshuffle that recently took place, the new Minister of ...
International Relations
DIRCO implementation of Committee recommendations
28 Feb 2018
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation briefed the Committee on progress over the implementation of Committee recommendations as contained in the Budgetary Review Recommendations Report (BRRR) 2016/17
The Committee was presented with the Department’s responses to recommendations made in its Budgetary Review and Recommendation Report 2016/17.
- Recommendation: Deal ...
International Relations
Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges; Diplomatic Mission Structure, with Deputy Minister
21 Feb 2018
The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, companied by DIRCO officials, provided a briefing on the privileges and immunities represented in the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the functional immunities outlined in the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. The exercise sought to observe how these immunities ...