By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
International Relations minister Dr Naledi Pandor, says her department’s budget allocation, which has increased from R6.8 billion to R6.9 billion for 2023/24 financial year, will allow for the filling of critical vacant posts.
Pandor, who delivered her department’s 2023/24 budget speech in Parliament on Wednesday, welcomed the 1% increase, which will be largely used for employee compensation.
According to the Minister, the department’s staff component went up 5% from R3 billion in the past financial year to R3.2 billion in 2023/24.
“The increase will allow the department to fill critical vacant positions. The goods and services budget increased by 4% to R2.5 billion in 2023/24. This welcome support will enhance our ability to implement our key programmes and improve the work of all our missions,” she told Parliament.
The Minister described the past financial year as “tumultuous” for international relations.
“We had thought COVID-19 had put us through the most difficult time, but the conflict in Europe has introduced more difficulties for all of us who work in international relations.”
However, despite challenges, she said the department continued its focus on core tasks.
These include strengthening bilateral relations, playing an influential role in multilateral institutions, providing services to citizens abroad and supporting government in achieving the objectives of inclusive growth, peace, and development in South Africa, Africa and the world.
“The past year has seen a significant expansion in the bilateral work of the Minister, the Deputy Ministers, and officials, as well as a very active international diary for President [Cyril] Ramaphosa.”
Pandor told Members of Parliament (MPs) that in the past year, the department mainly focused on economic diplomacy and missions.
“Our missions have been playing a leading role in assisting our government in all spheres in their international cooperation efforts. A specific area of progress has been to provide government and the presidency economic diplomacy assistance for growing foreign direct investment into South Africa.”
“We have made economic diplomacy a critical aspect of our mission work, and we are very pleased with the continuing interest many companies have shown in South Africa as an investment destination.”
She also held meetings with businesspeople in various countries and said many want to know more about South Africa and plan to establish new interests locally.
“The work all our teams have done has produced very positive results and will continue to do so. I wish to thank our embassy teams for some excellent work.”
Pandor also said, the world has become increasingly fractured and complex while relations among some countries are strained and worryingly divided.
“There is armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and there are insufficient voices calling for peace or working to create a stable peaceful environment.
“The poor and marginalised are facing the greatest threat in that their plight is forgotten while the mighty fight.
“The result has been increased economic risks for the most vulnerable, low growth levels in much of the globe, and neglect of those in greatest need,” she said.
According to Pandor, food inflation and high energy prices have strained incomes and resulted in high debt costs and persistent uncertainty.
“This is not the world many hoped for when the Cold War ended. As Dirco [Department of International Relations and Cooperation], we have urged a return to peace, multilateralism, and partnerships for development.
“Our department has maintained its core focus on our goals, we have strengthened partnerships, and promoted peace and security in the region, the continent, and globally,” she said.
Pandor reiterated South Africa remained concerned about the war between Russia and Ukraine and encouraged all parties involved to find a route to peace.
“We will be serving in the AU Peace and Security Council for the next two years, and hope that intensified efforts will be given to finding peace in Sudan, Mali, Libya, Chad, and Burkina Faso.”
Regarding peace and security on the African continent, she said South Africa led the efforts to activate and support the mission against terrorism in Mozambique.
Pandor added there were engagements with authorities in Eswatini to encourage efforts to establish national unity in that country.
“President [Cyril] Ramaphosa also concluded the SADC facilitation process in Lesotho and tabled his final report to the SADC Summit last August.
“Lesotho held successful elections last year and is actively implementing the reform agenda adopted by the National Reforms Authority,” she said.