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| Department overview | |
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| Formed | 1927 |
| Jurisdiction | Government of South Africa |
| Headquarters | OR Tambo Building, 460 Soutpansberg Road, Rietondale, Pretoria 25°44′03″S28°13′53″E / 25.73417°S 28.23139°E /-25.73417; 28.23139 |
| Employees | 1,993(2022) 1,276 foreigners(2023)[1]: 223–33 |
| Annual budget | R6, 900 million(2023/24) |
| Ministers responsible |
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| Department executive |
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| Website | www.dirco.gov.za |
TheDepartment of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) is theforeign ministry of theSouth African government. It is responsible forSouth Africa's relationships with foreign countries and international organizations, and runsSouth Africa'sdiplomatic missions. The department is headed by theMinister of International Relations and Cooperation, currentlyRonald Lamola.
Prior to 1927, the British government attended to the external affairs of South Africa, though the latter did have its own trade commissioners that were sent to various countries.[2] In November 1926, at theImperial Conference, the various prime ministers of theDominions attended, with conference negotiating what became theBalfour Declaration and an autonomy for the domains within aCommonwealth of Nations.[2] The South Africans could now communicate with the commonwealth countries and others directly without communicating through the countries governors-general.[2] A Department of External Affairs was created inside the prime minister's office on 1 June 1927.[2] In 1931, the Statute of Westminster gave South Africa full sovereignty in regards to external affairs, and confirmed by theStatus of the Union Act, 1934.[2]
In 1955, a separate department was created, the Department of External Affairs with its own minister.[3] Prior to that date, foreign affairs were conducted through the office of the prime minister of South Africa.[3] Later known as the Department of Foreign Affairs, it was renamed the Department of International Relations and Cooperation by PresidentJacob Zuma in May 2009. In the 2010 national budget, it received anappropriation of 4,824.4 millionrand, and had 4,533 employees.[4]
According toOECD estimates, 2019official development assistance fromSouth Africa decreased to US$106 million.[5] In 2022, whenCuba 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 thePortfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation,Supra Mahumapelo, decried the ruling due to its perceived impact on South Africa's solidarity work with countries likeCuba.[6]
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