The Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation in parliament said in a statement it was “committed to supporting” the request from Dirco during the mid-term budget process.

Chairperson of the Committee‚ Bheki Radebe‚ said the Committee acknowledged the challenge posed by a depreciating rand on the departmental budget.

“The Committee supports additional funds for Dirco to mitigate risks associated with the rand’s depreciation on the department’s budget. It is important that Dirco’s programmes are not stalled on account of currency fluctuation‚” said Radebe.

Available: http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/2015/09/02/Weakening-rand-hurting-South-African-foreign-affairs