(1) Given that the United States of America (USA) is one of the largest trade partners of the Republic and has ongoing and upcoming funding initiatives targeting the vulnerable communities, research and academic communities, in what way has he found will the executive order issued by the President of USA, Mr D J Trump, which halts aid and promotes resettlement, impact the current and future economic, humanitarian and research collaborations between the two nations;
(2) what steps is the Government taking to mitigate potential consequences on the country’s economy and international partnerships, especially regarding the suspension of aid and assistance? NW328E
Whether, given a recent social media post (name and details furnished) regarding etiquette training from his department’s account, he will furnish Ms L M Ngobeni with the relevant details on the (a) total number of ministerial and deputy ministerial spouses who have undergone the specified training or similar training, (b) total cost of the training or similar training, including any associated expenses, (c) rationale for the specified expenditure, particularly given the severe fiscal constraints and urgent service delivery challenges in the Republic and (d) total cost incurred by his department for all activities related to the training or similar training, including (i) facilitators, (ii) venues, (iii) travel and (iv) accommodation; if not, why not, in each case; if so, what are the relevant details in each case?
Considering that the Republic’s trade deficit with the United States has widened to about US$2.8 billion in 2024, and that imports from China remain three times higher than exports, what (a) specific trade and economic diplomacy strategies has his department implemented to reverse the specified imbalances, (b) measurable results has his department achieved in expanding market opportunities for the small businesses and emerging entrepreneurs in the Republic and (c) diplomatic agreements and/or partnerships have been secured to ensure that the Republic’s black-owned small, medium and micro enterprises have direct access to these markets?
a) It is important to underscore that the Department of International Relations and Cooperation’s (DIRCO) trade and economic diplomacy strategies are not merely reactive measures to address trade imbalances but are instead pursued as strategic imperatives to enhance South Africa’s global economic position. Through the proactive attraction of foreign direct investment and the deepening of economic partnerships with key strategic markets, we seek to ...
With the Republic’s trade with the Southern African Development Community countries accounting for approximately 13% of total exports and regional non-tariff barriers (NTBs) costing the Southern African economy an estimated US$4.8 billion annually, what specific interventions has his department undertaken in the past 12 months to (a) reduce red tape for the Republic’s informal traders and black-owned small, medium and micro enterprises at key border posts such as Beitbridge, (b) ensure the implementation of commitments made in regional summits to eliminate NTBs and (c) monitor and hold regional trade partners accountable for reducing trade inefficiencies that hurt small businesses?
a) The SADC Trade Facilitation Programme was initially approved in March 2016, and later revised to be in line with the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020-2030. The Programme is meant to advance and consolidate the SADC Free Trade Area (FTA) to increase SADC intra-regional trade flows by supporting trade facilitation, strengthening capacities for streamlining border processes and monitoring and resolving non-tariff and ...
Given that the African Renaissance and International Cooperation Fund (ARF) reported a surplus of R583 million for the 2024-25 financial year, while several African countries face severe socio-economic and humanitarian crises, what (a) are the reasons that (i) his department has underutilised the funds instead of actively deploying them for African socio-economic development and humanitarian aid and (ii) the ARF is failing to fund projects aimed at accelerating the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area and (b) contingency plans does his department have in place to retain the surplus funds, given the National Treasury’s authority to deny a request by the ARF to retain surplus under section 53(3) of the Public Finance Management Act, Act 1 of 1999?
a) (i) The surplus of R 583 million is as a result of the following reasons per balance:
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Reasons
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Total Amount
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The balance is the surplus declared at National Treasury and the ARF was waiting for approval in terms of section 53 (3) of the PFMA, funds to be spend only if approval is granted
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R 493 790 000
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Amount still to be disbursed on ... |
(a) What total number of (i) official residences and (ii) embassies are currently leased his department, (b) where are the properties located, (c) what is the monthly rental paid by Government for each property and (d) on what date does each lease expire?
(a) The number of leased (i) Official Residences as at 31/01/2025 was fifty-nine (59) and the number of leased (ii) Chanceries as at 31/01/2025 was eighty-eight (88).
(b) Please refer to Annexure A for details.
c) Please refer to Annexure A for details.
(d) Please refer to Annexure A for details.
1. How does the Republic plan to leverage its role in the United Nations and the African Union to ensure the implementation of sustainable solutions for the ongoing conflict and humanitarian challenges in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC);
(2) What mechanisms are in place to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the contributions made by the Republic to regional peacekeeping and conflict resolution efforts in the Eastern DRC?
1. As an active member of SADC, the African Union and the United Nations, South Africa has a responsibility to support all efforts to bring peace and stability to our fellow African nation, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which has been racked by war for more than three decades. South Africa contributes troops to the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the DRC ...
Whether, considering that the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr António Guterres, has come out very clearly in support of the two-state solution between Israel and Palestine, and pointed out that Israel is not in support of that idea, there are any attempts on the side of the Government to persuade Israel to accept the suggested solution in order to end the violence between the two states; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
The long-standing illegal occupation of Palestine remains a significant source of tension and contention. South Africa has continuously called for an immediate ceasefire and the resumption of peace talks between the parties and affirms that the only way to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East is through reaching a lasting peace between Palestinians and Israelis themselves, and restoring all legitimate rights of ...
What is the detailed breakdown of (a) all costs or expenditure on (i) travel expenses, (ii) accommodation and (iii) subsistence allowances associated with all official state visits undertaken by (aa) him and (bb) each official in his department since the start of the 7th Administration on 14 June 2024 to the latest specified date for which information is available and (b) the (i) countries visited and (ii) dates of each trip?
The following schedule reflects (a) all the international trips undertaken by the (i) Minister of International Relations and Cooperation and (ii) officials in his department from 1 June 2024 until 30 September 2024 inclusive of (b) the total expenditure for each international trip.
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Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
Spokesperson of the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
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London and Ghana
Purpose of the ... |
(a) What is the (i) total cost incurred by his department on litigation at the International Court of Justice from January 2023 to date and (ii) breakdown thereof in terms of (aa) legal fees, (bb) travel, (cc) accommodation and (dd) sundries and (b) from which approved budget line item or cost centre was each expenditure expropriated?
a) (i) Total costs to date for which information is available: R 38 381 031.63
(ii)(aa) Legal fees (counsel, experts, advisers, law firm): R 34 796 313.59.
(bb) Travel (flights and ground transport): R 2 462 509.10
(cc) Accommodation (hotel and conference facilities): R 899 607.72
(dd) Sundries (Daily allowances): R 222 601.22
b) The costs incurred were settled from the budget of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation awaiting ...
