Lamola plans to demarche Moroccan ambassador over Jacob Zuma's flag controversy

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola has revealed plans to issue a demarche to Morocco’s ambassador at a meeting between MK Party leader Jacob Zuma and Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita in Rabat.

In a written reply to parliamentary questions by EFF MP Ntokozo Mhlongo, Lamola said Zuma’s visit to Morocco in July was not a state-sanctioned engagement but a visit by a South African political party to the Kingdom of Morocco.

“The visit to the Kingdom of Morocco by former president Zuma was not mandated by the government of the Republic of South Africa.

“However, the fact that a South African national flag was displayed during an official meeting between the leader of uMkhonto weSizwe and the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Morocco, seemingly elevating the meeting to resemble a State-to-State interaction, is a clear abuse of a national symbol, in this case in the form of the South African national flag,” he said.

He said he has put in place measures to respond to the Kingdom of Morocco through official diplomatic channels.

“To this effect, the plans are under way to demarche the Chargé d'affaires of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Pretoria to register South Africa’s strong objection to the abuse of South Africa’s national flag and for using this important symbol in a platform wherein a position contrary to South Africa’s official foreign policy position on Western Sahara was articulated,” Lamola said.

Zuma sparked criticism when photographs from his meeting with Nasser showed both South African and Moroccan flags displayed prominently.

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation previously said it viewed the display of the South African flag as a breach of diplomatic norms.

Zuma was accused of showing support for Morocco against the calls for the self-determination of the Western Sahara.

But, he has defended the use of the South African flag during the visit to Morocco, saying it does not belong exclusively to the government but to all citizens.

 “The South African flag does not belong to the government. Is there anyone who doesn’t know that the flag of any country belongs to the citizens of that country? Is there anyone who doesn’t know that?” Zuma said at a recent media briefing.

In his reply to the parliamentary reply, Lamola said his department has consistently reiterated the South African government’s position, which supports the inalienable right of the Saharawi people for self-determination.

“This principled position is aligned with South Africa’s commitment to eradicate all forms of colonialism in Africa and the world. In addition, South Africa continues to recognise the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic as a sovereign member state of the African Union.”

He said Pretoria was host to the Embassy of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.

“South Africa continues to use various bilateral and multilateral forums to dissuade certain countries from de-recognising Western Sahara.”

Lamola clarified that there was no expressed prohibition on the use of the national flag by private citizens, including former public officials.

He said the national flag can only be used in a respectful and proper way in support of South African values and norms, and not as a divisive symbol that may result in complicating bilateral relations.

“All countries are expected to conduct relations with other countries based on mutual respect, respect for sovereignty, and established protocols of good neighbourliness,” added Lamola.

mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za