DA insists ANC, as a '39% party', cannot maintain monopoly on SA foreign policy

THE DEMOCRATIC Alliance (DA) says in light of increased tensions between the United States and South Africa, a formal review of Pretoria’s foreign policy must be held at Cabinet level. 

DA’s Member of Parliament and spokesperson on international relations and cooperation, Emma Louise Powell said this includes the adoption of a consensus-based approach to the appointment of ambassadors.

“The ANC, a 39% party, no longer enjoys an outright majority and are no longer at liberty to single-handedly determine South Africa’s foreign policy agenda without consulting their partners in government,” said Powell.

“Section 231 (1) of the Constitution is clear that the negotiation and signing of all international agreements is the responsibility of the National Executive, in other words - the multiparty Cabinet, established and regulated in terms of the Government of National Unity’s founding Statement of Intent.”

Powell reiterated that sections of the GNU’s Statement of Intent specify that decisions taken by the national executive (Cabinet) must be taken on the basis of “sufficient consensus”.

“In light of the critical need to grow our economy and create jobs, South Africa’s foreign policy must now be driven by an unwavering commitment to our country’s domestic growth, rather than being dictated by the African National Congress’s historical and fraternal allegiances,” she said.

“Under the Government of National Unity, South Africa’s embassies across the world must now be staffed by suitably qualified and appropriately trained professionals, capable of appropriately and impartially representing our miracle democracy.”

It was reported on Tuesday that as South Africa prepares to receive former Ambassador to the United States Ebrahim Rasool who was expelled by the State Department in Washington last week, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation in Pretoria says efforts are underway to replace him.

Rasool was expelled from the USA on Friday, after sharing his opinion on Donald Trump’s presidency during a webinar.

Rasool previously served as SA ambassador to the US during the Barack Obama administration between 2010 and 2015. He was re-appointed in January 2025, as ambassador during the Joe Biden and then Donald Trump administration.

Chrispin Phiri, spokesperson for Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola told broadcaster Newzroom Afrika that Dirco will make a recommendation to President Cyril Ramaphosa before the president applies his mind.

“The process has started to some extent so that we can make a recommendation to the president (Ramaphosa), internally so the department will attend to the internal issues once the person has been duly nominated. This person will be presented, the name, to the president and of course the president will decide,” he said.