Parly requests DIRCO to facilitate meeting with US to clear the air

Parliament’s international relations committee has requested the department to help facilitate a meeting with its United States (US) counterparts to iron out matters related to its position on South Africa.

This comes after the US excluded South Africa from a G20 sherpa meeting on Sunday, the first of the meetings under its presidency.

ALSO READ: DIRCO considers SA’s non-invitation to first G20 sherpas' meeting 'a breach of protocol'

Committee chairperson Supra Mahumapelo said Parliament must also set the record straight with US lawmakers on the disinformation regarding claims of a white genocide, frequently touted by US President Donald Trump.

At a meeting on foreign diplomacy matters, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)’s Nqobile Mhlongo wanted to know what the department’s position is on accepting the US ambassador nominee to South Africa, Leo Bozell, if his appointment is confirmed by the US Senate.

“Will we allow a racist like Leo Bozell to enter and have credence in South Africa and represent and use South African soil to undermine us?”

But director general Zane Dangor said this will have to be a strategic consideration, given that South Africa is also still to appoint a new ambassador to the US, following Ebrahim Rasool’s expulsion in February.

“We will have to weigh in all of the factors about his past, his stance, and engage with that.”

Mahumapelo said it’s time for members of Parliament (MPs) to engage openly with US lawmakers so that issues of foreign relations and diplomacy are not only left to the department and the Presidency to handle.