SA embassy repairs estimated at R831m as DA urges DIRCO spending rethink - IOL

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola has revealed that renovations to South Africa’s embassy buildings and foreign-service properties are estimated to cost R830.98 million over three years.

South Africa’s embassy buildings and other foreign-service properties face an estimated R830.98 million in renovation costs, with the country’s diplomatic assets in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands among those requiring major work.

The figure was disclosed by International Relations and Co-operation Minister Ronald Lamola in response to a parliamentary question from DA MP Ryan Smith.

The estimate is based on condition reports conducted over a three-year period.

The South African High Commission in the UK has several properties requiring renovations, including South Africa House, where R57.44 million is being spent on replacing the heating system.

Renovations to the Chancery building are estimated at R67 million, while work on the Cavendish second official residence is currently estimated at R25.67 million.

In the Netherlands, the Chancery building has estimated renovation costs of R61.13 million, while the official residence and consular building require an estimated R24.37 million and R24.46 million respectively.

Smith, the DA’s spokesperson on International Relations and Co-operation, said the figures highlighted what he described as years of neglect of South Africa’s foreign assets.

“These figures have laid bare the shocking state of maintenance neglect within South Africa’s foreign assets and buildings, which have suffered under decades of mismanagement and warped financial priorities under the African National Congress (ANC).

''Much like the local municipalities run by the ANC here in South Africa, our embassies are now a shell of their former selves,'' Smith said.

He said embassies should be central to South Africa’s economic diplomacy and serve as the country’s outward face to the world.

Smith also raised South Africa’s spending on its relationship with Cuba.

“For context, it is estimated that between 2012 and 2022, the ANC spent R1,4 billion on aid and agreements with Cuba – a diplomatic relationship that has done nothing more than secure some of our country’s tobacco supply,” he said.

“This money could have been spent on building and maintaining our key diplomatic infrastructure, the cost of which has now reached crisis levels.”

Smith said the ANC sought to again renew these agreements with Cuba in Parliament just last month.

“The DA will continue to fight for a reprioritised DIRCO budget that plants our foreign policy and foreign service at the centre of our growth agenda and away from the ANC’s party-political programme.

“Taxpayer money that funds DIRCO’s budget is not meant to keep the ANC’s friends afloat; it is meant to fund a professional and capable foreign service that grows our economy and creates jobs,” he said.

Lamola also revealed that there is currently no prescribed percentage or numerical cap on political appointments to ambassadorial postings.

There are currently 28 career diplomats and 48 political appointees serving as heads of mission, alongside one secondment.

A further 13 positions are reserved for political appointments, while 23 posts are vacant.

The department said ambassadorial appointments could be drawn from career diplomats or suitably qualified individuals from outside the Foreign Service, subject to the applicable appointment processes and the prerogative of the President.