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In a sitting of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) today to focus on South Africa’s G20 preparations, committee chairperson, Supra Mahumapelo, repeatedly blocked and censored Democratic Alliance (DA) committee members from disputing his non-sanctioned and deeply problematically partial remarks on South African foreign policy.

In sheer abuse of his authority as committee chairperson, Mr Mahumapelo imparted his personal world view onto the committee in a 20-minute-long opening dialogue which he presented as a formal committee position on foreign policy, addressing a wide range of matters and making several formal proposals pertaining to the South African executive which were never tabled, discussed, or sanctioned by the committee itself.

When DA members raised these matters to contest this position and make an alternative proposal, the chairperson, with the help of African National Congress (ANC), and uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) committee members, blocked the DA from disputing the remarks made, including those echoed in a series of press releases supposedly issued in the name of the committee, but which were released unilaterally and without any committee consultation.

This collaboration of radical elements in the portfolio committee goes against the spirit of the Government of National Unity (GNU) which seeks, first and foremost, to undertake foreign policy objectives which are in the interests of all South Africans and underpinned by the constitution of the republic.

The dispute concluded when the chairperson ejected DA members from the committee’s Zoom platform after refusing repeatedly to grant them the right to freedom of speech as outlined in sections 63 (1) and (2) of the rules of the National Assembly. This is a further violation of section 167 (c) which permits members to raise any other matter before a committee as it pertains to parliament’s business.

The DA will be submitting a formal complaint to National Assembly House Chairperson responsible for committees, Mr Cedric Frolick, requesting that Mr Mahumapelo’s conduct as DIRCO committee chairperson be reviewed and that appropriate measures be taken to address his abuse of power and violation of the rules of parliament.

The DA will not allow the Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation to be turned into a rubber-stamping mechanism for radical and reckless foreign policy stances which position our country in stark contrast to the liberal principles enshrined in our constitution. We will also not allow this committee and its chairperson to censor and silence members who have a right to speak freely as elected members of the National Assembly, and who have a constitutional duty to dispute any overreach or abuse which threatens parliament’s integrity and the very foundation of our nation’s relations with foreign powers.

We will continue to fight for transparency, equality, and consultation in this committee to ensure that the voices of all rational South Africans are heard, and we will not allow South Africa’s foreign policy to be influenced by rogue individuals who abuse their authority in the national legislature and see it fit to parade their personal views as a formal committee or executive position on foreign affairs.

Issued by Ryan Smith MP - DA Deputy Spokesperson on International Relations & Cooperation