DIRCO needs to get its house in order

News reports have revealed diplomatic turbulence between Austria and South Africa after the Department of International Relations and Co-operation (DIRCO) double-booked President Zuma's schedule, leaving the Austrian President high and dry. 

This trip to South Africa by President Heinz Fischer of Austria had been in the works for months, and he was due to meet with President Zuma this Wednesday. Local celebrations for Austria's National Day, which took place on 26 October, were specially moved to coincide with the state visit this week.

But it also happened to coincide with another important event, the G20 summit in France, which President Zuma was obligated to attend on the same date. Instead of rectifying this diary conflict, DIRCO simply let events run their course, with the result that the Austrian delegation had to cancel their visit at the last moment.

I shall be submitting questions to the Minister of International Relations, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, to find out how such a double booking could have occurred and whether there will be consequences for those involved in this oversight. I shall also be enquiring whether this meeting will be rescheduled and whether the damage done to this relationship can be repaired.

This is an extremely embarrassing diplomatic error by DIRCO - almost as bad as refusing to give the Dalai Lama a visa - and has served to alienate a country that has reached out to us in good faith. It is my hope that DIRCO recognises this problem and acts quickly to make amends. It is time that the Department gets its house in order to ensure such bungling does not occur again.

Statement issued by Kenneth Mubu MP, DA Shadow Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, October 31 2011

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