ANC calls on Dirco to reconsider Msimanga's passport
Updated | By JacarandaFM News
The ANC is calling on the Department of International Relations (Dirco) to consider withdrawing the diplomatic passport issued to Tshwane Mayor Solly Msimanga.
This comes after Msimanga visited Taiwan, despite a warning from the department that this is in breach of government's official One China Policy.
Dirco spokesperson Clayson Monyela says in a statement Taiwan is not recognized as a sovereign state by South Africa.
"South Africa maintains a Liaison office in Taipei as does the Taiwanese in Pretoria. The Liaison Office does not enjoy the status of an Embassy. The Liaison offices arrangement was agreed upon to facilitate people to people contact. It has no political mandate and therefore interaction between political office bearers is not allowed," says Monyela.
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ANC spokesperson Zizi Kodwa says the party's primary concern is that the DA is intent on running a parallel government with its own foreign policy to the detriment of existing government policy, the country's international image and national security.
"Dirco must consider taking away official passports to those renegade officials who continue to put the name of South Africa into disrepute," says Zizi Kodwa.
Kodwa says government should take this matter very seriously.
"If this precedence is started by an executive mayor it will be difficult to stop, because South Africa has no diplomatic relations with Taiwan," says Kodwa.
Msimanga's office says a statement will be issued later today.
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