South Africa Yearbook 2015/16 International Relations

International Relations South Africa Yearbook 2015/16 International Relations South Africa Yearbook 2015/16 271 International Relations International Relations According to the South African Constitution, Legislation the President is ultimately responsible for the The DIRCO derives its mandate from the foreign policy and international relations. It is following legislation: the President’s prerogative to appoint heads • The Foreign States Immunities Act, 1981 of mission, receive foreign heads of mission, (Act 87 of 1981), regulates the extent of the conduct state-to-state relations, and negotiate immunity of foreign states from the jurisdiction and sign all international agreements. of the South African courts and provides for International agreements that are not of a matters connected therewith. technical, administrative or executive nature • The Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges will only bind the country after being approved Act, 2001 (Act 37 of 2001), provides for by Parliament. Parliament also approves the the immunities and privileges of diplomatic country’s ratification of or accession to multilateral missions and consular posts and their agreements. All international agreements must members, heads of state, special envoys and be tabled in Parliament for information purposes. certain representatives of the United Nations The Minister of International Relations and (UN) and its specialised agencies, and other Cooperation is entrusted with the formulation, international organisations and certain people. promotion, execution and daily conduct of South • The African Renaissance and International Africa’s foreign policy. Cooperation Fund Act, 2001 (Act 51 of 2001), The Department of International Relations and establishes an African Renaissance and Cooperation’s (DIRCO) overall mandate is to International Cooperation Fund to enhance work for the realisation of South Africa’s foreign cooperation between South Africa and other policy objectives. This is done by: countries, in particular African countries, • coordinating and aligning South Africa’s through the promotion of democracy, good international relations abroad governance, the prevention and resolution • monitoring developments in the international of conflict, socio-economic development and environment integration, humanitarian assistance and • communicating government’s policy positions human resource development. • developing and advising government on policy • International agreements (multilateral and options, creating mechanisms and avenues bilateral): International agreements concluded for achieving objectives by South Africa in terms of sections 231(2) and • protecting South Africa’s sovereignty and 231(3) of the Constitution. territorial integrity • contributing to the creation of an enabling Budget, funding and trade international environment for South African DIRCO’s national budget allocation for 2015/16 business was R6,5 billion. • sourcing developmental assistance Medium-term expenditures, according to the • assisting South African citizens abroad. National Budget 2015/16, was R5 698,6 million DIRCO’s strategic objectives are to: in 2015/16, R5 943,6 million in 2016/17 and • protect and promote South African national R6 543,3 million in 2017/18. interests and values through bilateral and multilateral interactions President Jacob Zuma led the South African delegation • conduct and coordinate South Africa’s interna- to the 7th BRICS Summit held in Ufa, Russia from 8 to 9 July 2015. The theme for the 7th Summit was “BRICS tional relations and promote its foreign policy i Partnership – a Powerful Factor of Global Development”. objectives A number of meetings was held in the run-up to the • monitor international developments and advise summit. These included: government on foreign policy and related • The BRICS Ministers of Finance and Central Bank domestic matters Governors met in Moscow prior to the summit on 7 July • contribute to the formulation of international 2015. law and enhance respect for its provisions • The first meeting of the BRICS Board of Governors of • promote multilateralism to secure a the New Development Bank took place in Moscow on rules-based international system 7 July 2015. • The BRICS Ministers of Trade and Industry met in • maintain a modern, effective department Moscow on 7 July 2015. driven to pursue excellence • The BRICS Business Council and its Working Groups • provide a world-class and uniquely South met in Moscow on 6 July 2015 and then proceeded African state protocol service. to Ufa for a meeting with the BRICS leaders on 9 July 2015. South Africa Yearbook 2015/16 271 South Africa Yearbook 2015/16 272 International Relations Expenditure increased from R485,1 million Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light in 2014/15 to R523,1 million in 2015/16 at a Weapons and efforts aimed at establishing an nominal growth rate of 8%. The increase in arms trade treaty. expenditure is mainly due to the depreciation of the rand against foreign currencies. Role players South Africa increased its presence on the South Africa has key partnerships such as the continent from seven diplomatic and consular Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, Africa’s missions in 1994 to 47 in 2015. Consequently, comprehensive partnership with India, and the the country’s trade on the continent increased 39 Korea-Africa Forum. South Africa’s Government times from R11,4 billion in 1994 to R385 billion spares no effort in strengthening the progressive in 2015. The target is half a trillion rand trade forums of the South such as the Non-Aligned with Africa by 2019. As at the end of 2015, 20% Movement (NAM), G77+China, Africa-South of the country’s trade was conducted within the America Summit and the New Asian-African African continent. Strategic Partnership (NAASP). These forums With regard to Asia and the Middle East, South have demonstrated that they are trusted allies Africa’s trade and investment in these regions and partners in South Africa’s aim for a better have grown considerably and continue to do world and Africa. so. In 1994, trade with Asia and the Middle East combined was approximately R45 billion and has African Union (AU) increased to approximately R760 billion for Asia The AU emerged from the Organisation of and R116 billion with the Middle East. Working African Unity (OAU), which was established in together with other government departments, 1963 with a charter signed by 32 countries in DIRCO can achieve a trillion rand trade with this Addis Ababa. The OAU, which was officially region by 2019. disbanded in July 2002, was replaced by the AU with 54 members who pledged to work for closer Foreign policy political integration and unity among African By prioritising Africa and promoting its renewal, countries. development and reconstruction, South Africa Africa will never again tolerate change is contributing to building a better Africa, which of governments through undemocratic and is the central foreign policy goal of the South unconstitutional means. Africa is on a growth African Government. trajectory, which must be maintained to ensure After the democratic elections in 1994, South that the people of African are truly emancipated Africa ceased to be the pariah of the world; it from the wrath of underdevelopment, poverty regained its rightful place in Africa, in the UN and and hunger. The strengthened African Union in the family of nations. South Africa emerged Commission (AUC) is central in driving the as a democratic country into a fundamentally African Agenda. South Africa contributed transformed world with a visionary foreign policy towards the goal of having a strong AUC and its that promotes relations with other countries. structure. Resources were also contributed to hosting the Pan African Parliament. Disarmament, non-proliferation and The continent is engaged in extensive consul- arms control tations on its vision known as Agenda 2063, A primary goal of South Africa’s policy on under the theme “The Africa We Want”. This disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control vision spells out the aspirations of African includes reinforcing and promoting the country people across all sectors and the pledges of as a responsible producer, possessor and trader leaders, which are translated into a “Call to of defence-related products and advanced Action” comprised of a 10-year action plan that technologies. In this regard, the department will contain flagship projects. continues to promote the benefits The heads of state and governments of the that disarmament, non-proliferation and arms AU adopted Agenda 2063 at the 24th Ordinary control hold for international peace and security, Assembly External link held in Addis Ababa, particularly to countries in Africa. Ethiopia, from 30 to 31 January 2015. Regarding conventional weapons, including Each AU member state, including South small arms and light weapons, South Africa Africa, was expected to contribute to this vision actively participates in UN efforts related to through inclusive national consultations by the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, the October 2015. With the adoption of the vision, Convention on Cluster Munitions, the Certain member states will have to align their national Conventional Weapons Convention, the UN policies with it through a process of domesti- South Africa Yearbook 2015/16 273 International Relations International Relations cation, which, in South Africa’s case, entails AU regional economic communities (RECs) harmonising Agenda 2063 with the National The AU is the

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