DA pushes for overhaul of SA’s foreign policy

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has challenged the African National Congress (ANC), its partner in the Government of National Unity (GNU), on its right to dictate international affairs policy or for the president to appoint ambassadors unilaterally.

In the wake of the expulsion of Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool from the United States (US), the DA called for a “formal review of foreign policy at Cabinet level”, which included the adoption of a consensus-based approach to the appointment of ambassadors. This is according to a statement issued on 19 March by Emma Louise Powell, DA spokesperson on international relations and cooperation.

“The ANC, a 39% party, no longer enjoys an outright majority and is no longer at liberty to single-handedly determine South Africa’s foreign policy agenda without consulting its partners in government,” read Powell’s statement. “South Africa’s foreign policy must now be driven by an unwavering commitment to our country’s domestic growth, rather than being dictated by the ANC’s historical and fraternal allegiances.”

The ANC is likely to protect its dominance of external affairs fiercely. The minister, both deputy ministers, the director general, and most senior members of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) are from the ANC.

“Given the importance of the matter,” said analyst Terence Corrigan, “it’s an entirely reasonable demand, though one that the ANC will resist. Foreign affairs lets the ANC be what it ultimately sees itself as, a liberation movement. Will it agree? I think it will fight every inch of this, and I don’t see the ANC conceding. On broader foreign policy: no change envisaged – it’s too important to the ANC.”

Powell said the presidency “doubled down” in a press conference on 20 March in response to the DA.

Journalist and analyst Stephen Grootes said the DA saw Rasool’s expulsion as a chance to try to increase its influence and voice in the GNU. Said Grootes, “The ANC might not really pay this too much heed, essentially because support for Palestinians is a major part of the ANC’s self-identity. However, the ANC might find it difficult to find one of its members to go to the US. So Ramaphosa could, if he wanted, make a ‘magnanimous gesture’ in ‘giving’ this position to the DA. Certainly, that would be an option he could consider.”

He noted that that Harry Schwartz of the Democratic Party was ambassador to the US in the early 1990s. Grootes said that former ambassador to Argentina and former DA leader, Tony Leon, might be a good choice as the next ambassador to the US, citing his experience, professionalism, and integrity, even if he disagreed on certain policies.

“The DA’s real problem hasn’t changed. It has supporters of both the Palestinians and Israel in its caucus, and its constituency. So it may not want to get too involved,” Grootes said.

He said he would be surprised if foreign policy destroyed the national coalition. “I don’t think the DA wants to be seen as too close to the Trump administration anyway; that would cost it votes in the future.”

Dr Frans Cronje, the head of the Yorktown Foundation for Freedom said, “You are seeing a reset of the terms under which the GNU will be conducted relative to its first 200 days. The DA is learning to use its political power. Given the numbers in the GNU, it is perfectly reasonable that the DA might have an influence on foreign policy. I expect we will see more of this in other areas of policy. A lot of the foreign policy questions will, of course, revolve around the US. And both sides – ANC and DA – would like to claim credit for a reset.”

Zev Krengel, the president of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD), said, “Despite its poor performance in the last elections and the fact it must now govern in coalition with parties that don’t share its obsessively anti-Western world view, the ANC has persisted in following a foreign policy that favours the agendas of rogue players on the global stage over and above the interests and values of other democratic nations.

“Coalition politics means adopting policies that reflect the views of all parties concerned, and that needs to include the all-important area of international relations. The SAJBD would like to see the GNU have more say in foreign policy, thereby making it more representative of the beliefs and needs of the broader population, and steering South Africa back on course in terms of building global partnerships to further what is in the best interests of the country as a whole.”

Said Corrigan, “The essence of shared power is that no party gets everything it wants. The ANC has yet to learn this. It has carried on for some time trying to continue with business as usual. Nothing has been more ideological and core to the ANC’s identity than foreign policy. We are in a rare moment where foreign affairs is determinative for our politics, and the DA is quite understandably using it to demand a proper co-governmental say on the issue. Call it a combination of opportunism and principle.”

DIRCO spokesman Chrispin Phiri said, “To characterise South Africa’s foreign policy as that of a political party is not only fallacious, it completely fails to distinguish between the state and party.”

“It should not be forgotten why so many South Africans identify with the Palestinians,” Grootes said. “For them, the overlap between apartheid and how the Israeli government has treated Palestinians is almost complete. And until this changes, they will continue to support the Palestinians. Any discussion about our foreign policy must accept this simple fact.”

The ANC hadn’t responded to a request for comment at the time of going to press.