ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS
JANUARY - DECEMBER 2004
Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs
Chairperson: Mr D J Sithole
The mission of the Committee is:
To contribute to the effective implementation of foreign policy.
To ensure that foreign policy implementation does not infringe on peoples rights and freedoms as stipulated in the Constitution.
To ensure that the countrys foreign engagements lead to the development of the country and its people.
To effectively conduct an oversight role on the Ministry and Department of Foreign Affairs promote and protect Constitutional values and national interests while working towards the goal of a better world for all.
The vision of the Committee is:
To link the work of the Portfolio Committee to the consolidation of a non-sexist, prosperous, democratic South Africa and to reflect the values of the country to the continent and the world.
The Department of Foreign Affairs
As we all know that 2004 was a year of elections and all of us were not certain as to whether our parties will be returned and on what percentage will voters return us on.
I am sure that what we got is the reflection of our performance as a group and our endeavours to at all times articulate the South Africans Foreign Policy.
The area of Foreign Policy is a difficult one as the events are not predictable and the solutions are not prescribed but they mainly depended on how we understand and articulate our policies.
I must pause here to thank Mr. R Suttner, Mr. Ebrahim Ebrahim, Dr Z P Jordan and Prof K Asmal for leading this committee at the time when each one of us was trying to find his/her foot both in parliament and in this committee.
Since then the committee had very important engagements with the ministry and the Department. We had a discussion on the Departmental Budget Vote, Strategic Plan and political briefing by the Director General, the Minister and the two Deputy Ministers.
As Members are aware that this committee is very unique in the sense that it has two subcommittees that are entrusted to ensure that the parliamentary oversight is done in a more efficiently.
It also be noted that this is the only PC that has 37 members, which makes it the biggest committee of parliament, with the Sub Committee on International Relations chaired Ms F Hajaig, whom we must also thank for her guidance, and therefore the challenge to manage it is also huge. The committee has in its last period engaged scholars on issue of Foreign Policy and we hope to continue that route to expose members to the wider community of International Practitioners.
The decision by the AU to entrust South Africa with the responsibility to host the PAP brings with it a very important responsibility to the committee to ensure that we follow very closely the debates and the developments in the continent to inform ourselves as to how best can we contribute to the development of the PAP and other organs of the AU including Regional Bodies like the SADC and SADC-PF.
We will continue to find means to actively participate and prepare for the next sitting of the PAP. We will be getting briefing from our Parliamentary delegations that went to the SADC PF so as to ensure that we stay informed and focused.
The committee will follow up on outstanding issues that were not completed from the previous year and we will at the same time add new issues on our agenda. We will engage other committees of Parliament on issues that we think we should together attend.
One important event the committee undertook was the Public Hearing on Xenophobia. This hearing was important for the PC FA to undertake not only to understand how permits are granted or not granted but to locate the debate on Xenophobia within the context of how does it effect our Foreign Policy. It must be said that this issue does not only effect South Africa but our interest is to see the SADC as a whole debating the issue so as to have a Regional View as to how we deal with the challenges of Xenophobia.
I am conscious of the fact that a number of people believe that Xenophobia is about the conduct of Police or how Lindela deals with people but I submit that unless the SADC region discuss and understand the movements of its citizens we will not be able to deal with this issue.
We will again look at issue around the World, the restructuring of the UN, Brettenwoods Institutions and the WTO. The unfolding situation in the continent as we continue to work to resolve conflicts and encourage peaceful co-existence among people.
I trust that the committee will take active interest on the upcoming elections in Zimbabwe and other SADC countries to contribute to the development of the principle outlined in NEPAD.
As I conclude I want to draw the attention of the committee that we will be Peer Reviewed soon and we must discuss how we want to contribute to that process and how we will curve our role when the report is made public.
I want to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for the contribution you have made and hope that this committee will continue to draw from your wisdom.
Thanking you
Yours truly,
Mr D J Sithole
Chairperson: Foreign Affairs Committee
The Objectives of the Committee are to perform all the tasks required of a parliamentary committee in a democratic South Africa. The functions here will include: consideration of protocols, treaties and oversight.
The Committee does not normally deal with legislation and none was dealt with during the current business year:
4.1.1Matters other than mandated legislation:
The Committee, together with the South African Human Rights Commission, held Public Hearings on Xenophobia in Johannesburg, from the 02nd to the 04th November 2004.
4.1.1.1 International Agreements and Protocols: None.
Oversight was conducted in a form of briefings, by the Department, the Deputy Minister (Ms S Van der Merwe) and the Minister (Dr N Dlamini-Zuma), to the Committee.
The Committee was briefed on the Budget Vote of the department that reports to it.
4.2.2 International / National Visits:
No National or International visits were undertaken during the current business year, due to 2004 being
An election year, this made the year very short, and also due to the long time it took to constitute
Committees. This would also be reflected in the financial statements of the last six months of 2004,
However the international visits are still under consideration.
5.1 Committee Meetings
AGENDA |
PRESENTER |
DATE & TIME |
VENUE |
|
Discussions on the Rules of the Pan-African Parliament (The meeting will also agree on the process of documents) |
Dr L Gabriel: Manager of Information Services and Research Section |
04th August 2004 11h00 13h00 |
M46 |
|
Discussions on the Rules of the Pan-African Parliament (a follow-up from the meeting of the 04 August 2004) |
Dr L Gabriel: Manager of Information Services and Research Section |
11th August 2004 11h00 to 13h00 |
V475 |
|
Discussions on the transformation of the SADC Parliamentary Forum into the SADC Parliament. |
Ms. D Lenzi: Parliamentary Legal Adviser. |
18th August 2004 09h00 to 13h00 |
G26 |
|
Briefing on Developments at the World Trade Organization
Briefing on the South African Customs Union (SACU) negotiations with the European Union (EU), United States and the Mercosur. Briefing on effects of the European Union (EU) enlargement on SACU and the rest of Africa.
Agreed Joint meeting with the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry. |
Mr. Xavier Carim Director: International Trade and Economic Development Division (ITEDD) Dept. of Foreign Affairs Dept. of Trade and Industry |
25th August 2004 09h00 to 13h00 |
M46 |
SEPTEMBER 2004
AGENDA |
PRESENTER |
DATE & TIME |
VENUE |
||
|
Briefing on India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA); dialogue with special focus on economic diplomacy and South South cooperation. Preparations by the Department of Foreign Affairs for the Pan African Parliament session (Mid Rand). Consideration of the report on the PAP (not done, no quorum). Agreed Joint meeting with the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry. |
|
08 September 2004 09h00 to 13h00 |
OAC |
||
|
Presentation and Adoption of the Report on the rules of the Pan African Parliament. (Quorum needed) |
Chairperson |
(Tuesday) 14th September 2004 09:00 to 13:00 |
GH42 |
||
|
Debate on the situation in Dafur |
15th September 2004 |
National Assembly Chamber |
|||
OCTOBER 2004
AGENDA |
PRESENTER |
DATE & TIME |
VENUE |
|
Briefing on the Situation in Iraq: Legal and Geo-Political aspects |
Mr. C Lansberg (Director): Center for Policy Studies Department of Foreign Affairs |
(Tuesday) 12th October 2004 09:00 to 13:00 |
V227 |
|
Briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs on SA Foreign Policy Actors and Policy Makers |
Tim Hughes |
(Friday) 15th October 2004 09:30 to 11:00 |
S12A |
|
Direction-General or his representative Director-General or his representative |
20th October 2004 |
Room 1324, 13th floor, 120 Plein Street. |
|
Briefings on Xenophobia. . |
Department Officials The Departments of Foreign Affairs, Justice and Home Affairs |
27th October 2004 |
GH41, Good Hope Building. |
NOVEMBER 2004
AGENDA |
PRESENTER |
DATE & TIME |
|
|
Public hearings on Xenophobia |
Institutions dealing with the issues of refugees and immigrants: Government Departments, NGOs, CBOs and the Public |
2nd, 3rd, and 4th November 2004 09:00 to 17:30 |
Offices of the SAHRC (Johannesburg) |
|
Briefing by the High Commissioner of Zimbabwe on: The political situation in Zimbabwe and the coming elections. |
H.E. Mr. S K Moyo The High Commissioner of Zimbabwe. |
03rd November 2004 09:00 to 11:00
|
GH42 |
|
Debate on the Pan-African Parliament |
|
04th November 2004 |
National Assembly Chamber |
|
Debate on the Restructuring of the United Nations Organization and its Agencies |
|
04th November 2004 |
National Assembly Chamber |
|
Briefing by the Deputy-Minister on the State of the South African Foreign Policy (Overview) |
Dr N Dlamini Zuma Minister of Foreign Affairs |
10th November 2004 09:00 to 13:00 |
V454 |
Budget allocated to Committee: R 970,863.00
Expenditure: R105, 232.69
Catering: R13, 392.00
Provincial Visits: R00, 000.00
Overseas Trips: R00, 000.00 (see page 4, Item 4.2.2)
Conferences, R25, 134.72
Public Hearings, R66, 705.97
Workshops R00, 000.00
Total Expenditure: R105, 232.69
Balance: R865, 630.31
Due to reasons mentioned under Item 4.2.2, page 4, the below-mentioned activities could not be undertaken and this lead to the enormous balance in the Committee budget:
The Committee considered the following matters to be ongoing and expressed the wish for them to be taken up in the
Next business year.
.
COMMITTEE SECRETARY DATE
.
CONTROL COMMITTEE SECRETARY DATE
.
COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON DATE
APPENDIX I
COMPOSITION OF COMMITTEE:
|
MEMBER |
APPOINTMENT DATE |
DISCHARGE DATE |
|
African National Congress: Ms F Hajaig Mr. D J Sithole Ms S D Motubatse-Hounkpatin Ms M A A Njobe Mr K O Bapela Mr B Martins Prof B Turok Mrs N B Gxowa* Dr S B Huang Ms L Jacobus Ms K R Magau Ms H M Mpaka Ms M M Maunye Mr. M R Mohlaloga Mr. M Ramgobin Ms C Nkuna* Mr. M P Sibande* |
23 June 2004 23 June 2004 23 June 2004 23 June 2004 23 June 2004 23 June 2004 23 June 2004 23 June 2004 23 June 2004 23 June 2004 23 June 2004 23 June 2004 23 June 2004 23 June 2004 23 June 2004 23 June 2004 23 June 2004 |
|
|
Democratic Party Mr. D H M Gibson Mr L B Labuschagne Mr. S F Haasbroek Mr W J Seremane Ms S Camerer |
23 June 2004 23 June 2004 23 June 2004 23 June 2004 17 August 2004 |
|
|
Inkatha Freedom Party Mr L K Joubert Mr. M B Sikhosana |
23 June 2004 23 June 2004 |
|
|
Independent Democrats Mrs P De Lille Mr. Y Wang* Mr L W Greyling* |
23 June 2004 24 June 2004 23 June 2004 |
|
|
United Democratic Movement Gen B H Holomisa |
23 June 2004 |
|
|
African Christian Democratic Party Adv Z L Madasa |
23 June 2004 |
|
|
United Christian Democratic Party Mr. P H K Ditshetelo* |
23 June 2004 |
|
|
Pan Africanist Congress of Azania Dr S E M Pheko |
23 June 2004 |
|
|
Minority Front Ms S Rajbally |
23 June 2004 |
|
|
Azanian Peoples Organisation Mr. P J Nefolovhodwe |
23 June 2004 |
|
|
Freedom Front Plus Dr P W A Mulder |
23 June 2004 |
|
SUPPORT STAFF:
Control Committee Secretary: Mr. N Lala
Period: from May 2003 to date.
Committee Secretary: Mr. E Kgopa
Period: from August 2004 to date.
Committee Assistant: Ms N Mahlanyana
Period: from Jan 2001 to date.
Secretary to Chairperson (Mr. D J Sithole): Ms V Williams
Period: from September 2004 to date.
Secretary to Chairperson (Ms F Hajaig): Ms J Merckel
Period: from November 2004 to date.
Researcher (Research Unit): Mr. M Parks
Period: from Jan 2002 to date.
APPENDIX II
REPORTS TABLED:
|
Report on the Rules of the Pan-African Parliament |
To have South Africas position on the Rules of the PAP. |
ATC 16/09/04. Debated 03/10/04.
|