Parliament, Friday, 9 October 2026 – The Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation on Thursday expressed dissatisfaction with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation’s (DIRCO) qualified audit opinion for 2025/26.
The committee, which was briefed by the department on its annual report, was informed that repeat findings on asset management contributed to this audit finding. However, it remained concerned about persistent weaknesses in compliance, internal controls, property maintenance, consequence management and key modernisation initiatives. The committee also commended the African Renaissance and International Cooperation Fund for maintaining its clean audit.
The committee noted the Office of the Auditor-General of South Africa’s (AGSA) findings on controls to detect and correct errors and omissions and delays in addressing irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure, among other things. While acknowledging DIRCO’s property portfolio strategy, the appointment of a director responsible for state-owned properties abroad and efforts to strengthen controls, the committee said these measures must produce lasting improvements in accountability.
The Chairperson of the committee, Mr Supra Mahumapelo, recommended stronger accountability across missions and offices, faster action on audit findings, improved quality assurance of financial statements and closer compliance monitoring. He called for outstanding irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure to be investigated and for consequence management to follow within reasonable timeframes where wrongdoing or negligence is identified.
The committee also called for urgent action on critical vacancies and the maintenance of state-owned properties abroad. It resolved to intensify oversight of the Property Management Strategy and ICT Modernisation Programme, with quarterly ICT reports covering expenditure, implementation, risks, delays and intended outcomes. The executive authority should strengthen its oversight of corrective measures, while DIRCO should provide periodic reports on its audit action plans. The committee further called for a mid-year engagement with the AGSA and the Audit and Risk Committee to assess compliance before the financial year ends.
On a separate matter, the committee noted that the department had demarched the Ambassador of the United States for his public posture, which had gone beyond what is permitted under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. It noted that South Africa has maintained a posture of goodwill and adherence to international law governing diplomacy, and that the government remains responsible for continuing engagement with the United States despite the challenges encountered along the way.
Given DIRCO's strategic responsibility for advancing South Africa's foreign policy objectives and safeguarding the country’s interests in multilateral forums, effective governance and sound financial management remain essential to its ability to execute its mandate efficiently.
The committee further called for South Africa’s legal framework to be reviewed and strengthened, where necessary, to ensure that any person whose conduct lawfully constitutes treason can be effectively investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the Constitution, due process and the rule of law.
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: Sureshinee Govender (Ms)
Cell: 081 704 1109
E-mail: sugovender@parliament.gov.za
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