Department of International Relations and Cooperation

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) is the foreign ministry of the South African government. It is responsible for South Africa's relationships with foreign countries and international organizations, and runs South Africa's diplomatic missions. The department is headed by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, currently Naledi Pandor.

Department of International Relations and Cooperation
List
  • 10 other official names:
  • Departement van Internasionale Betrekkinge en Samewerking (Afrikaans)
  • umNyango wezangaPhandlea (Southern Ndebele)
  • iSebe leMicimbi yezaNgaphandle (Xhosa)
  • uMnyango Wezindaba Zangaphandle (Zulu)
  • Litiko Letangaphandle (Swazi)
  • Kgoro ya Merero ya ka Ntle (Northern Sotho)
  • Lefapha la Merero ya ka Ntle ho Naha (Sotho)
  • Lefapha la Merero ya Boditšhaba (Tswana)
  • Ndzawulo ya Timhaka ta Matikomambe (Tsonga)
  • Muhasho wa zwa Nnḓa (Venda)
Logo of the department
Department overview
Formed1927
JurisdictionGovernment of South Africa
HeadquartersOR Tambo Building, 460 Soutpansberg Road, Rietondale, Pretoria
25°44′03″S 28°13′53″E
Employees4,533 (2009)
Annual budgetR4,824.4 million (2010/11)
Ministers responsible
Department executive
  • Kgabo Mahoai, Director-General: International Relations and Cooperation
Websitewww.dirco.gov.za

Formerly known as the Department of Foreign Affairs, it was renamed the Department of International Relations and Cooperation by President Jacob Zuma in May 2009. In the 2010 national budget, it received an appropriation of 4,824.4 million rand, and had 4,533 employees.[1]

According to OECD estimates, 2019 official development assistance from South Africa decreased to US$106 million.[2] In 2022, when Cuba asked for humanitarian medical and food aid, AfriForum managed to obtain an interdict against a pending R50 million payout by the department, labelling it "squandering of taxpayers' money". The chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation, Supra Mahumapelo, decried the ruling due to its perceived impact on South Africa's solidarity work with countries like Cuba.[3]

References
  1. "Vote 5: International Relations and Cooperation" (PDF). Estimates of National Expenditure 2010. Pretoria: National Treasury. 17 February 2010. ISBN 978-0-621-39079-7. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
  2. "South Africa | Development Co-operation Profiles – Other official providers | OECD iLibrary".
  3. Patel, Faizel (23 March 2022). "Portfolio Committee 'not happy' after High Court blocks R50m Cuba donation". citizen.co.za. The Citizen. Retrieved 25 March 2022.


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