Lamola Announces Mandatory Disclosure Requirements Following Controversial Zuma Visit to India
By Frans Sello waga Machate I Pretoria, South Africa
PRETORIA — South Africa has recalled High Commissioner to India, Anil Sooklal to Headquarters for consultations, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola confirmed during a media briefing earlier today, as the Department announced a new framework for protocol and diplomatic support to former Presidents and former Deputy Presidents during international travel.
The move comes amid controversy surrounding a visit by former President Jacob Zuma to India, which has raised questions about the adequacy of existing protocols governing travel by former heads of state.
"As part of this framework, The Presidency and DIRCO jointly establish a mandatory disclosure mechanism requiring former Presidents and Deputy Presidents seeking protocol and diplomatic support to provide full details of the purpose of travel, programme of activities, sources of funding, principal hosts, key engagements and the capacity in which they will be travelling," Minister Lamola announced. This will enable "an informed assessment of the appropriate level of support required and any associated reputational, political, diplomatic or security risks."
DIRCO Director-General Zane Dangor clarified the circumstances surrounding High Commissioner Sooklal's recall. "Whether Ambassador High Commissioner Sooklal knew about the visit or not, obviously he would have known because we would be getting communication from The Presidency that the former President would be visiting a country, in this case India; but what we don't get is details about what the visit will be about," Dangor explained.
"We always get a letter and the letter is standard that indicates that we must provide protocol to any of the Presidents that do travel. But what we do ask for now is increased guidance and increased transparency about what these visits would be to safeguard not only DIRCO but to safeguard the country's national interest and reputation."
The new protocol framework follows questions raised about former President Zuma's recent visit to India. When asked whether High Commissioner Sooklal was being disciplined and what he did wrong, particularly given that he appeared to have complied with existing protocols, Dangor responded that the issue is not about whether DIRCO knew about the visit, but about the lack of details regarding the purpose and nature of the engagements.
Minister Lamola also confirmed that South Africa has begun engagements with the United Kingdom following the change in government, with a telephone call scheduled with his new UK counterpart. South Africa is ready to collaborate with the UK on its G20 Presidency next year.
Regarding the G20, DIRCO DG Dangor noted that the African Union has placed South Africa's "irregular" exclusion from certain G20 documentation on the agenda, with almost every G20 member supporting this position. "The argument is, it cannot be consensus based given that we are actively excluded. We did not exclude ourselves," Dangor stated.
On ambassadorial vacancies, Dangor confirmed there is no vacancy in London, and that vacancies are being dealt with through the appropriate processes.
