Parliament defends Russia visit amid concerns raised by political parties
Parliament’s Presiding Officers have reaffirmed their commitment to inclusive parliamentary diplomacy, amid criticism from some political parties over the composition of a delegation currently visiting Russia.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Speaker of the National Assembly (NA), Thoko Didiza, and Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, acknowledged concerns raised about representation in the official bilateral working visit to the Russian Federation.
They emphasised that all political parties have the right to question parliamentary processes.
"Open debate and accountability are essential features of South Africa's constitutional democracy," the Presiding Officers said, adding that Parliament remains committed to engaging such matters through its established processes.
However, they stressed the importance of understanding how such international engagements are structured.
"It is equally important to understand how parliamentary bilateral visits are organised and why they are an important part of Parliament's constitutional responsibilities," they said.
The visit to Russia is being led by Mtshweni-Tsipane in her capacity as Chairperson of the NCOP.
The Presiding Officers noted that while Parliament operates as a single institution, the National Assembly and NCOP are distinct houses with separate mandates, leadership responsibilities and international programmes.
They explained that bilateral parliamentary visits differ from multilateral engagements, where delegations are typically constituted according to proportional party representation.
"Unlike multilateral meetings the Speaker and the Chairperson determine the size and composition of delegations for bilateral meetings," the statement said.
According to the Presiding Officers, such visits are a key part of Parliament’s constitutional role.
"They provide an opportunity for Parliament to strengthen relations with counterpart institutions, exchange experiences on law-making and oversight, promote dialogue on issues of mutual interest and deepen cooperation in support of South Africa's foreign policy objectives."
They added that the engagements also contribute to broader global goals.
"Such visits also strengthen relationships between democratically elected legislatures and contribute to, among others, global peace and security, as well as economic development through parliamentary diplomacy."
The Presiding Officers highlighted that the current visit forms part of a long-standing relationship between South Africa and Russia, established through a Memorandum of Cooperation signed in 2014.
Meanwhile, Didiza confirmed she has received an invitation from Russian State Duma Chairperson Vyacheslav Volodin to undertake an official visit to Russia in 2027.
"The visit will build on the existing parliamentary relationship and will provide an opportunity to deepen cooperation while advancing dialogue in support of the global development agenda."
Parliament added that concerns raised by political parties and reflected in media reports will be addressed internally.
"The concerns will be dealt with through the appropriate parliamentary processes," the Presiding Officers said.
