ActionSA calls for fiscal discipline as South Africa spends R3.45 billion on foreign missions
ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has criticised wasteful foreign mission spending, and has called for urgent fiscal discipline in South Africa.
ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has expressed concern over South Africa's wasteful spending on foreign missions, revealing that the country spent R3.45 billion in the 2023/24 financial year on maintaining 115 embassies, high commissions, and consulates worldwide.
Mashaba emphasised the need for urgent fiscal discipline and a comprehensive review of these operations to ensure taxpayer money is being used effectively.
According to a parliamentary reply obtained by ActionSA, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) allocated significant amounts across various regions, with R950 million in Africa, R900 million in Asia and the Middle East, R813 million in Europe, R465 million in the Americas, and R325 million on global governance and multilateral missions.
However, no system is in place to assess the cost effectiveness of these missions, raising concerns about wasteful spending.
Among the most concerning revelations were embassies in countries where South Africa has limited or no strategic or trade relations.
For instance, the South African embassy in Bangui, Central African Republic, cost taxpayers R25.7 million, while missions in Nouakchott (Mauritania) and Malabo (Equatorial Guinea) amounted to R16.1 million and R15.6 million, respectively.
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