THE Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) has no qualms that non-state actors were invited by the US government.
This after Dirco Minister Naledi Pandor was criticised for questioning journalist Redi Tlhabi and Chris Maroleng’s testimony in the House of Congress.
However, Dirco spokesman Clayson Monyela said his boss did not have a problem with non-state actors being invited but the problem was the blurring of the lines between the ruling party and state.
“I've checked. The boss lady is not questioning the practice of US Congress Committees inviting state and non-state actors to give testimony or presentations on various topics..., she's rather concerned about the approach in this hearing of blurring the lines between the ruling party and state,” he said.
He claimed that a similar practice was used in Mzansi and many people appeared before the SA Parliament Portfolio Committee on international Relations to comment on South African foreign policy.
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“They'd say things that we agree with and some that we don't agree with. My explanation should not be confused to mean that I agree with what Redi and Chris said. I can disagree with them but still defend their right to express those views. I note that they both advocated for PEPFAR (The U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) and SA's continued participation in AGOA (African Growth and Opportunity Act)."
He pointed out that relations between the two countries are solid and mutually beneficial.
Pandor was quoted as saying: “I've been a little perturbed at this hearing in the House of Congress where they invited two South Africans to comment not just on South Africa’s government but on the ANC as well. I thought it was a kind of misplaced approach because the government operates on the basis of the Constitution and the ANC is the governing party but doesn't run the government officers. I thought to the subject matter was rather odd and I think we need to continue to engage our colleagues in the United States of America to correct what I believe are a number of misperceptions about our country.”
Tlhabi and Maroleng testified to the importance of the relationship between South Africa and the US.
