Radio DIRCO: we cannot use public money for a vanity project 

The Department of International Relations and Co-operation (DIRCO) is reportedly ready to launch its own online radio station early in 2013 to promote South Africa's foreign policy. The DA questions the need for this station when Channel Africa already exists and asks that the Department provide justification from a cost perspective of the need for an additional online radio station.

This station will be a waste of public money and is likely to distract the department from its core mandate of promoting South Africa's national interests and fostering its international relations. The rationale behind the Radio DIRCO project is especially murky given the fact that another state-funded broadcaster, Channel Africa, already exists to  "support South Africa's Foreign Policy enshrined in the Department of International Relations and Cooperation's - Vision and Mission". 

Radio DIRCO is the brainchild of DIRCO spokesperson, Clayson Monyela, a former SABC journalist and radio show host himself. Monyela defends the move to establish Radio DIRCO saying that the Department feels that it does not get enough airtime on normal broadcast media to explain its position on certain contentious issues and decisions.

In September this year, the Department issued a tender for a service provider to establish a 24-hour online radio station to produce and present the radio programming and to pass on skills to the DIRCO radio staff - who will apparently be DIRCO communications staff and volunteers. 

The need for this station is questionable when Channel Africa already exists. Channel Africa, which is run by the SABC, clearly has a virtually identical mandate and is available both online and as a normal radio transmission.

The DIRCO station appears to be nothing more than a vanity project for Mr Monyela. He already has a radio station at his disposal should he wish to promote South Africa's foreign policy. Did Mr Monyela find Channel Africa an unwilling mouthpiece for government propaganda? If Mr Monyela would like to return to radio, why does he not simply ask Channel Africa for his own show?

We will be submitting parliamentary questions to determine: 

• the cost of setting up Radio DIRCO;
• the running costs of Channel Africa; and
• the differences in the mandate and objectives of the two stations.

The Department should focus on improving South Africa's foreign policy rather than spending money on a mouthpiece to promote it. In a time when all government departments are being asked to tighten their belts, this project is a waste of money.

Statement issued by Ian Davidson MP, DA Shadow Minister of International Relations and Co-operation, November 26 2012

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