Intolerance towards foreigners: The debate was thought to provide an opportunity and benefit of varying views on how intolerance in its various forms, but particularly towards foreigners of African origin, could be managed in the long term in order to maintain good relations with neighbouring countries. The forum would assist identify some of the causes of xenophobia and propose short and long term ways of handling the situation. The Committee also expected to obtain feedback from the public on the following questions: . Whether the Department was fulfilling its mandate of aligning foreign policy to domestic priorities and whether there is a link between national interest, domestic priorities and foreign policy;