DA wants all GNU parties to be consulted on ambassador appointments

JOHANNESBURG - The Democratic Alliance (DA) wants all parties in the Government of National Unity (GNU) to be consulted on any ambassador appointments.

South Africa is due to send a new ambassador to the United States of America following the expulsion of Ebrahim Rasool. 

Ambassador appointments are the president's mandate, in consultation with the International Relations minister.

The two people who occupy both those positions are African National Congress (ANC) members.

However, DA spokesperson on International Relations, Emma Powell, said the ANC cannot single-handedly determine the government’s foreign policy.

“In light of increased tensions between the United States of America and South Africa, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has called for a formal review of foreign policy at the Cabinet level. This includes the adoption of a consensus-based approach to the appointment of Ambassadors.

“The ANC, a 39% party, no longer enjoy an outright majority and are no longer at liberty to single-handedly determine South Africa’s foreign policy agenda without consulting their partners in government,” she said.

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