By Johnathan Paoli
Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola presented the department’s R7.09 billion Budget Vote for 2025/26 to Parliament on Thursday.
The department’s budget rises from R7 billion in 2024/25 to R7.09 billion in 2025/26, reaching R7.5 billion by 2027/28.
Broadly speaking, Lamola introduced a budget aimed at realigning diplomacy with inclusive economic growth and advancing the continent’s long-term prosperity.
Grounded in ‘Ubuntu’ and South Africa’s constitutional values, Lamola’s budget also emphasised a strategic vision that positions diplomacy as crucial for national development, peacebuilding, and advancing global justice efforts.
“We continue to make progress in our international relations work. This budget enables diplomacy that delivers, because just peace is the non-negotiable foundation for humanity’s future,” he said.
Central to Lamola’s speech was a renewed focus on economic diplomacy as a lever for job creation, industrialisation, and regional integration.
South Africa aims to align foreign missions with trade
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