Chairperson,
The P20 plays a crucial role in injecting a parliamentary perspective into global governance.
In this regard, the ACDP posits that International parliamentary diplomacy holds the potential to foster cooperation, fairness, and sustainable development across nations. However, South Africa’s ability to contribute meaningfully to this effort has been significantly undermined by the declining credibility of its Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO).
Several missteps have cast doubt on DIRCO’s effectiveness in managing diplomatic narratives and maintaining key international relationships. Its recent embarrassment, trying to claw back credibility with the U.S. President and recent misinformation incidents, have forced DIRCO into multiple clarifications, including its denial of statements falsely attributed to Special Envoy to the U.S., Mr Mcebisi Jonas. In an attempt to salvage its standing, DIRCO arranged meetings with U.S. officials to counter misconceptions surrounding policies on the Expropriation Bill and equity laws. This approach signals poor anticipation of international scrutiny.
The P20 must utilise its parliamentary influence to sound the strong call that Africa is not a consumerist continent of exporters of raw material and consumers of finished products. It must assert that Africa will no longer subscribe to being called the dark continent, but Africa is rising as an equal, proactive and prominent player in global governance and public discourse.
The ACDP believes that before going global with the P20 topic, we need to look internally. Our parliamentary social cohesion projects have largely failed to bring about the necessary solidarity in our nation, exacerbated by parties that peddle destructive ideologies of racial division. The last 30 years have failed to bring about equality in South Africa, evident by our Gini coefficient, making us one of the most unequal nations on the planet. The lofty goals of sustainable development in South Africa remain out of reach as we teeter towards a failed state with our crumbling SOEs and bankrupt municipalities.
South Africa deserves better and as Kingdom builders with a biblical blueprint, praying for the peace of Jerusalem, the ACDP commits to building a better Parliament, a better South Africa and indeed a better world.
I thank you.
