Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation, 26 August 2026

Summary

Key Points

• The committee adopted several recommendations for DIRCO, including submitting comprehensive reports on progress in the Americas, Africa, and Europe, detailing challenges, timelines, and the Department of Home Affairs' role in visa issues. 40:16
• DIRCO is mandated to develop a funded maintenance and property management plan for state-owned and leased properties abroad, focusing on preventative maintenance and addressing backlogs. 40:57
• The committee called for addressing critical vacancies and staffing shortages in missions, prioritizing posts that directly affect economic development, consular services, and corporate governance. 42:17
• Recommendations emphasized strengthening coordination among missions and various economic agencies to ensure trade and investment efforts translate into measurable economic outcomes, including job creation and participation of historically disadvantaged groups. 43:36
• DIRCO is tasked with intensifying economic diplomacy through expanded business matchmaking, market intelligence, and support for South African companies, including small, medium, and microenterprises, in key priority sectors. 44:44
• Missions are required to maintain active risk management measures, including assessing and reporting on the effects of sanctions and unilateral coercive measures on South Africa's diplomatic and economic interests. 49:38
• The committee recommended that the National Assembly review its oversight model to allow more regular physical oversight visits to South African missions abroad, clarifying that these are essential oversight functions, not study tours. 52:17
• It was strongly advocated that the budget for international travel for the Portfolio Committee on International Relations be prioritized and increased to reflect its unique mandate of overseeing 60% of DIRCO's budget spent outside South Africa. 54:33
• The committee will follow up with the Speaker and Chair of Parliament, citing specific examples of past virtual oversight failures (Germany, New York building, ICT issues) to strengthen its argument for physical oversight and increased budget. 63:01
• The committee decided to postpone a planned oversight visit to Singapore until 2027 due to upcoming elections and to potentially combine it with a visit to India, which was previously committed. 69:56