By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider

The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola, briefed the media on Thursday to discuss the upcoming Budget Vote which will take place on the 8 July 2025 at Parliament Buildings in Cape Town. Minister Lamola had also taken the time to criticise political parties about acting on their own accord on certain matters.

Minister Lamola expressed that even though political parties have a right to travel abroad to meet with whoever they please, he also expressed that it is the duty of these parties to not distort government policy. He criticised the Government of National Unity (GNU) partners expressing that they do not have the right to implement their own foreign policy stance as that of the government.

Last week the Freedom Front Plus (FFP) was the latest political party to travel abroad to the United States along with agricultural and labour partners due to tensions that began since the beginning of Donald Trump’s administration. In March the Democratic Alliance was among the first to travel which ended up with DA party member Andrew Whitfield being terminated in his post as Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition. The DA and Patriotic Alliance along with African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) members had travelled to Israel in April to embark on a “fact finding” mission.

 Minister Lamola explained that the right to travel under government representation is him and other mandated Ministers. “There’s nothing wrong with them engaging outside, but it becomes wrong when they go there, and then distort our policies. We have to clarify and sometimes they misrepresent that they represent the GNU.” said Minister Lamola at his press briefing.

Minister Lamola also emphasised that if political parties go abroad to further their own agendas, that they have a duty towards South Africa as well. “It helps no one for them to go and distort issues that will harm the national interests of South Africa,” he said.