Parliament, Tuesday, 25 March 2025 – The Portfolio Committee on International Relations has today held a successful launch of the people-centred oversight mechanism for international relations at Ridge Hotel in Witbank, Mpumalanga.
Expressing words of support, the Chairperson of the Mpumalanga House of Traditional Leaders and President of Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (CONTRALESA), Kgoshi Lameck Mokoena, said they appreciate the opportunity that the Portfolio Committee on International Relations opens to all South Africans to participate on international relations.
He said the participation of traditional leaders used to be restricted to law-making, in Bills specifically and their contributions never translated into the final legislation. He said traditional leaders derive a great deal of hope and optimism from the people-centred oversight mechanism for the emergence of an organic platform of meaningful participation the historically marginalised people in the traditional communities.
Also given an opportunity to express a word of support, a representative of COSATU appreciated the invitation of the labour federation to the historic launch of the people-centre oversight mechanism by the committee. In welcoming the invitation the representative assured the committee about the support of the Mpumalanga branch of COSATU to the initiative he described as progressive and open access of the mandate of Parliament on international relations to the people on the ground.
He said: “This platform will certainly take us somewhere. We are looking forward with certainty that the historical walls of alienation and exclusion of ordinary people, the workers who constitute the majority, will fall forever and the new dawn at the international sphere is beginning to shine.”
The committee emphasised that the aim of the people-centred mechanism of oversight is to create a platform of participation in international relations policies for ordinary South Africans. “Historically, international relations has been regarded as a terrain exclusively ring-fenced for elites and policy analysts. As the committee, we seek to ensure that this new mechanism will become a practical means for ordinary South Africans to join their Parliament for meaningful and valuable engagement on international issues,” Committee Chairperson Mr Supra Mahumapelo said.
The mechanism will provide a platform for ordinary South Africans to engage with the committee on international relations issues related to trade, economic opportunities in general and involvement on the international relations department’s programmes, Mr Mahumapelo said.
The committee took a decision to enhance its oversight mechanisms on international relations policy and related activities to ensure that they involve the people, “… because democracy, without continuous, sustained, deepened involvement of the people, is not only elusive, but meaningless,” the Chairperson said.
The committee will establish this new oversight mechanism in all the nine provinces. The mechanism will drive matters relating to the experiences of ordinary people and how they would like the committee’s mandate to respond to their situation. The committee will tomorrow, 26 March 2025, launch the people-centred oversight mechanism for international relations in North West:
The details of the launch are as follows:
Date: Wednesday, 26 March 2025
Time: 10 am
Venue: Vila Paradiso Hotel in Madibeng, North West
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION, MR SUPRA MAHUMAPELO.
For media inquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Malentsoe Magwagwa (Ms)
Cell: 081 7165824
E-mail: mmagwagwa@parliament.gov.za
Arrange a tour