CAPE TOWN, Thursday 8 October 2026 — Parliament’s Standing Committee on Appropriations has criticised the Department of International Relations and Cooperation for its inability to recover money owed to South Africa by foreign governments, including approximately R1 billion in outstanding ticket-sale revenue owed by Zimbabwe to South African Airways.
The committee raised the concerns on Wednesday after examining the department’s role in recovering international debts.
Committee chairperson Mmusi Maimane said diplomatic engagement had failed to secure repayment of some longstanding obligations despite repeated interventions by successive ministers.
The committee also expressed dissatisfaction after DIRCO declined to disclose the amounts owed by individual countries.
Department declines to disclose outstanding amounts
DIRCO told the committee that it maintains diplomatic missions across 103 countries.
The department receives approximately R7.2 billion in public funding to support its international responsibilities.
However, officials declined to provide a country-by-country breakdown of money owed to South Africa, citing confidentiality and diplomatic sensitivities.
The committee questioned whether withholding the information was consistent with Parliament’s responsibility to oversee public expenditure.
Maimane said the department should account for the amounts outstanding and explain what steps had been taken to recover them.
Zimbabwe’s SAA debt remains unresolved
The committee singled out Zimbabwe’s outstanding obligations to South African Airways.
According to Parliament, Zimbabwe owes approximately R1 billion in revenue arising from airline ticket sales involving flights to and from the country.
The debt has remained unresolved despite diplomatic engagement between the two governments.
Maimane said the failure to recover the money was particularly concerning given SAA’s financial position.
The committee questioned whether diplomatic engagement alone was sufficient to secure repayment.
It also raised concerns about the absence of effective mechanisms to compel foreign governments to honour financial obligations.
Parliament calls for stronger recovery measures
The committee urged DIRCO to develop mechanisms for dealing with countries that fail to settle outstanding debts.
It said South Africa should not allow diplomatic considerations to prevent the recovery of money owed to state institutions.
The committee also wants DIRCO to work with the Department of Transport to pursue the outstanding SAA revenue.
Maimane said the issue had persisted through several ministerial terms without a satisfactory resolution.
Parliament has not announced a new agreement with Zimbabwe or confirmed that the outstanding debt has been recovered.
Treasury engagement expected
The committee acknowledged DIRCO’s role in maintaining South Africa’s diplomatic relationships and promoting the country’s international interests.
However, it said financial accountability remained an essential part of those responsibilities.
The committee intends engaging further with DIRCO and National Treasury on outstanding international debts.
Those discussions are expected to examine the scale of the obligations, existing recovery arrangements and whether stronger mechanisms are required.
