Committee says International Relations and Cooperation COO needs to be empowered to stand in when Director-General is on overseas business
The Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation has recommended strengthening of the internal controls within the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco).
The Chairperson of the Committee Mr Siphosezwe Masango said Members were unanimous on the need for an extra pair of hands to assist when the Director-General (Ambassador Jerry Matjila) is attending to his international commitments.
“The Committee is of the view that the Chief Operations Officer (COO), within the office of the Director-General, should be mandated to attend to the responsibilities of the DG when he is abroad so that the work of the department is not compromised,” Mr Masango said. Mr Masango added the COO should be empowered to expeditiously deal with the recurring issue of lack of consequences management.
“The Committee is happy with Dirco’s performance and the work it does abroad of marketing South Africa. The number of bilateral and multi-laterals we enter into are an indication and a measure of this work,” he said.
The Committee met on Tuesday as part of Parliament’s budgetary review process where Committees consider performance of the departments with a view to making recommendations and inputs into the medium term budget review process.
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Sibongile Maputi (Mr)
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