Chairperson, Minister, Deputy Ministers, other Ministers in the House and hon members, the year 2010 marks 50 years since the attainment of independence by many African countries. The winds of change that blew across the continent saw no fewer than 15 countries attain their independence in the year 1960 alone. That decade was a watershed period for the African continent as country after country shed their colonial yolk to attain a new status of nationhood.
There was euphoria all around as new countries emerged to take their rightful places in the international community. New names of cities, countries, flags, national anthems, currencies and, in some cases, new airlines suddenly emerged. It was an exciting time for the continent. There was a sense of optimism and hope among the people of Africa, but half a century later that hope and optimism has been replaced by disappointment and dismay.
In his book, The State of Africa: A History of Fifty Years of Independence, Martin Meredith said -
... in the last half century of Africa's independence, there has been a litany of incompetent governments, of insatiable greed and exploitation on the part of leaders and their cronies, of unbelievable power lust and the resulting repression ... of millions of ordinary people.
Nearly 30 years after Africa's independence, in 1994, South Africa also claimed its rightful place among the family of liberated nations, thereby having been the last bastion of colonial rule on the continent. The year 2010 is very important in another respect, as it marks 20 years since the release of Nelson Mandela from prison. As a little boy growing up at Katima Mulilo on the banks of the Zambezi River on the Zambian side of the Caprivi Strip, in what was known at the time as South West Africa, now Namibia, we used to sing a short song that we were taught in primary school, which is sung in my language, the language of the Lozi people, Silozi. We used to sing:
Mandela uka zwa mwa tolongo, ato lukulula sichaba sa hae. Mandela uka zwa mwa tolongo, ato lukulula sichaba sa Africa.
Translated, this means that Mandela will come out of prison to liberate his people; he will come to liberate the people of Africa.
In 49 days' time, we will be hosting thousands of foreigners on our soil who will come for the 2010 Fifa World Cup. It is important that during this time we, as South Africans, are on our best behaviour throughout the tournament, lest we damage our reputation and image abroad.
In 1994 we opened diplomatic missions in all manner of countries across the world. I suppose with the euphoria of liberation, we had to please some of those countries that supported the liberation struggle, even when they did not deserve the honour of a full diplomatic presence. But what sort of return on our investment are we getting from some of our diplomatic relations today? Isn't it about time to take stock of some of these relations and to review their usefulness to this country?
The articulation and application of our foreign policy requires that there should not be ambiguity and double standards on the part of our government. As a sovereign nation, we should not be seen to capitulate under pressure from certain quarters because of what the governing party is able to gain out of such relationships. Rather, our national interests must come first.
At the same time, our approach to instances of human rights abuses by some of our diplomatic partners leaves much to be desired. For example, our government's conspicuous silence on the passing of laws banning homosexuality in Uganda and the arrest of two gay men in Malawi cannot go unnoticed. Not far from home, we continue to witness the unabated violation of human rights in Zimbabwe under the dictatorship of Mugabe.
We cannot be proud to be a nation that respects human rights and the rule of law when our diplomatic friends are guilty of doing the opposite. If, as expected, South Africa is admitted for a second term on the UN Security Council in 2011-12, the DA would expect this government to be more vocal on issues of human rights. One is forced to ask the question: Why are we insisting, in fact, on a second term on the Security Council when our first term under President Mbeki was so shambolic because we failed to speak out on issues of human rights abuses in Myanmar and Iran?
Xenophobic attacks on fellow Africans in South Africa need to be condemned with the contempt they deserve. Some of us who are South African citizens, who were born outside the borders of this country, face another form of apartheid in this country from fellow black South Africans. This happens in subtle ways sometimes, but at other times it is open hostility and aggression. Black South Africans have a name for people like me; they call us "makwerekwere". Personally, in this august House, some hon members have questioned my nationality, including a Minister who once said ...
Kodwa wena uvelaphi? [But where do you come from?]
The attraction of skilled and qualified foreigners should be encouraged in view of the shortage of skills in our country to contribute to its development. In the past few months, we have witnessed numerous reports of fellow South African citizens finding themselves in all sorts of difficult situations abroad. In some cases, I have been approached by relatives of victims for intervention.
Madam Minister, each time I contacted your office, you have been more than willing to listen to my interventions. I would personally like to commend you and your deputies for your open-door approach and your willingness to listen. [Applause.]
We all have a responsibility to portray our country in a positive light to the outside world, regardless of our party-political affiliation. In this regard, I am proud to say that some former leaders in my own politically party, the DA, are doing just that. They are ably serving our country as ambassadors abroad.
On the current budget, the portfolio committee is aware that there has been a reduction of about half a billion rand, as compared to the 2008-09 budget. However, we are made to understand that the department will achieve its objectives even with this reduced budget. It's our hope that you will be able to do so.
Finally, Madam Minister, I would like to congratulate you and your staff on your spanking new headquarters building in Pretoria. It's very, very nice. In October last year the portfolio committee took a tour of that facility, and I remember telling your director-general, Dr Ntsaluba, that he really must be the envy of a lot of other departments that do not have a facility like his. But, such a facility can only be useful if good policies come out of that department. I thank you. [Applause.]