Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya has dismissed the DA's call for an overhaul of South Africa's foreign policies among GNU partners.
This comes as tensions between South Africa and the US escalate former US ambassador Ebrahim Rasool was expelled after making remarks about US President Donald Trump's administration promoting supremacism.
The DA had requested a formal review of foreign policies, including the appointment of ambassadors at cabinet level, arguing that the ANC could not make foreign policy decisions without consulting its partners in the GNU, as the ANC no longer has an outright majority.
“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 ANC’s historical and fraternal allegiances,” DA MP Emma Powell said.
“Under the GNU, 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.”
Briefing the media on Thursday, Magwenya emphasised that foreign policy is the responsibility of President Cyril Ramaphosa and will seek assistance only when necessary.
He said the country had had a “bumpy patch” with the US only and this did not mean an overhaul was needed.
“If you look at the spread of our trade relationships around the world, they demonstrate a country that has a very solid foreign policy, a country that is consistent with how it implements and manages its foreign policy,” Magwenya said.
“If we have a bumpy patch with one country, it cannot be said that our foreign policy requires overhaul. There’s no evidence that says our foreign policy is counterproductive to our national interest. We will not engage over the overhaul of foreign policy because we are going through a diplomatic bumpy patch with one country. We will focus on resolving that diplomatic issue as the president has said, it doesn’t call for a revisit of our foreign policy.”
He expressed confidence in South Africa's relations with other countries, pointing to the eighth EU-South Africa summit in Johannesburg at which several agreements were made, including an investment of more than R90bn.
“A country that could be said to not have a proper foreign policy would not be engaging at that level with Europe.”
**TimesLIVE**