National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza has written to International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola asking him to explain when and how parliament’s resolution to suspend the Israeli embassy in South Africa will be implemented.
Israel’s increased aggression against Palestine led to the decision in 2023. South Africa is also fighting Israel at the International Court of Justice.
However, nothing practical has happened to implement the resolution, which also called for diplomatic relations between Pretoria and Jerusalem.
Speaking to Sunday World Engage, Didiza said she had written to Lamola seeking an explanation in this regard.
Didiza said the decision may have been delayed because it was made just before the sixth administration’s term ended.
“The sixth parliament made that decision. Remember that when an administration’s term comes to an end and a new administration comes in, sometimes there are changes in the reconfiguration of the national executive; new ministers come in, and they must familiarise themselves with some of the decisions that have happened,” said Didiza.
Waiting for Lamola to respond
“So, you have to allow space and time for ministers to get familiar with their portfolios. This does not absolve them of responsibility for the decisions made by parliament.
“For instance, with that matter [suspending the Israeli embassy in South Africa], we have written to the minister about that resolution, asking how far the process is, and the minister did respond, saying they are working on the issue.
“So, we are waiting for his communication on how they will deliberate on that matter.”
The resolution followed an EFF-sponsored motion in parliament that was approved with ANC amendments but passed by a landslide vote of 248 to 91 with no abstentions.
The national executive is not bound by resolutions of parliament owing to the doctrine of separation of powers.
However, parliament may want to be seen to be acting after harsh criticism in the State Capture Commission report on how the institution does lacklustre oversight work on the national executive.
