Committee welcomes simplified document on SA's foreign policy
The Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation has welcomed the initiative by the Institute for Global Dialogue (IGD), and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) for compiling a Parliamentary Handbook on South Africa’s Foreign Policy.
The booklet was launched in Cape Town on Wednesday and the Chairperson of the Committee, Mr Siphosezwe Masango, said the handbook is a simplification of what South Africa’s foreign policy is.
“Parliaments in the world do not operate in a vacuum; they do so in tandem with governments. This makes the role of parliamentary portfolio committees more important as they are responsible for domesticating some of the international treaties, conventions, agreements and policies,” Mr Masango said.
He said the role of Parliament was not to duplicate or compete with governments but to complement them.
The handbook emphasises the need for regular discussions and feedback on the work of government to certain sectors of society, such as women, people living with disabilities, the youth, workers, traditional leaders, traditional healers, religious leaders, and the public in general.
Mr Masango congratulated the IGD and FES for sharing their intellectual genius with fellow South Africans, and noted that this was a patriotic contribution.
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