Lamola: Political parties have a duty not to distort govt policy when they're abroad

CAPE TOWN - International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola said that while political parties had the right to meet with whomever they wanted abroad, they had a duty not to distort government policy.

He said that Government of National Unity (GNU) partners also did not have the right to pass off their individual party's foreign policy stance as that of the government. 

Lamola made the remarks at a media briefing at Parliament on Thursday, ahead of delivering the budget vote for his department to the National Assembly.

Last week, the Freedom Front Plus was the latest political party to travel to the United States with agriculture and labour partners following tensions that began at the start of President Donald Trump's administration.

In March, the Democratic Alliance (DA) did the same, a trip that ultimately cost MP Andrew Whitfield his job as deputy minister. 

In April, two GNU partners, the DA and Patriotic Alliance (PA), along with the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), were sponsored a trip to Israel on what was termed a fact-finding mission.

Minister Lamola said that only he and mandated ministers could represent government abroad.

"There's nothing wrong with them engaging outside, but it becomes wrong when they go there, and they distort our policies. We have to clarify, and sometimes they misrepresent that they are representing the GNU."

Lamola said even if political parties were representing their own constituencies while on international business, they had a duty towards the country, too.

"It helps no one for them to go and distort issues that will harm the national interest of South Africa."

Lamola said that all government's international visitors to South Africa represented their countries with aplomb, irrespective of their political affiliation.