Deteriorating South African Embassies: A crisis of governance
The South African Embassy in Netherlands
Image: Screenshot
South Africa’s diplomatic missions abroad are rapidly deteriorating due to years of neglect, financial mismanagement and failing oversight, prompting warnings from analysts and political leaders that the crisis is damaging the country’s global reputation and leaving citizens abroad without essential services.
The issue was highlighted when DA spokesperson on International Relations and Cooperation Ryan Smith posted a video outside the South African Embassy in The Hague, Netherlands. In it, Smith explained that the embassy had been closed and relocated temporarily due to severe neglect.
Smith said: “The embassy building has been closed and relocated temporarily for renovations after suffering major maintenance neglect.”
“There are broken windows and much basic infrastructure in the building is in a very sad state of affairs.”
According to Smith, the deterioration was so severe that “Dutch residents reported it to the municipality because of the state of neglect.”
He said the condition of the mission reflects widespread failures across DIRCO.“This corroborates what we found in a report by the Auditor-General, that DIRCO’s asset management is in such a bad state that it caused the department to regress financially.”
Smith warned that The Hague is far from unique.“The Hague is an example of many embassy buildings that are suffering the same fate under severe financial mismanagement.”
He said the situation has caused major difficulties for citizens.
“This has caused significant problems for South Africans living in the Netherlands.”
According to him, services at the mission have become inaccessible.“Few South Africans were able to access consulate services.”
Smith also criticised poor communication from DIRCO.“The information was on the website but it was not made public in a way that South Africans could easily access.”
The Embassy is currently closed and relocated
Image: Screenshot
He revealed long delays.“We have received a number of complaints, with applications outstanding for months — in some cases up to a year.”
Smith said the DA will escalate the issue.“We are taking this to Parliament so that South Africans can have the necessary services abroad like renewing IDs, passports and registering births.”
“It is especially important that citizens abroad have access to their country when living abroad.”
Smith also expressed dismay at the symbolic impact. “I am very dismayed at the state of the building. This is the face of South Africa in the Netherlands.”
He warned that decay is widespread. “The house in Trafalgar Square in London is in a similar state.”
“So we are definitely taking this up in Parliament.”
Governance specialist Siseko Maposa says the decay of South Africa’s embassy buildings represents a deeper collapse within DIRCO.
“It must be unequivocally stated that the deterioration of South Africa’s embassy buildings represents a catastrophic failure of governance that fundamentally undermines our international sovereignty.”
“A sovereign state’s diplomatic missions are extensions of its territory and dignity. Their visible decay broadcasts a message of state collapse and institutional indifference to the global community, directly compromising South Africa’s diplomatic standing and soft power capabilities.”
Maposa highlighted extensive financial discrepancies. “This rot signals a foreign service in a state of advanced decay, where a R983.6 million discrepancy in the asset register and a R44.5 million irregular expenditure coexist with a R1.1 billion underspend on critical infrastructure.”
He said the issue is rooted in failed governance.“The problem is not a lack of funds, but a profound crisis of accountability and strategic foresight.”
He warned of serious consequences for citizens abroad.“For citizens abroad, this managerial collapse constitutes a failure of the state’s duty of care.”
“Dilapidated and understaffed missions leave South Africans abroad vulnerable and effectively stateless in crises.”
Maposa called for urgent intervention.“The solution requires a deep intervention. A forensic audit of DIRCO’s asset register and a permanent parliamentary committee to oversee mission viability and expenditure are non-negotiable.”
“Ultimately, this is less about a shortage of funds and more about a surplus of impunity.”
“Until consequence management is implemented for the officials responsible for this debacle, no plan will stem the decay of both our diplomatic property and our global reputation.”
GOOD Party Secretary-General Brett Herron also weighed in on the matter.
“It is obviously deeply concerning that the South African Embassy in Netherlands in particular, alongside some embassies in Asia such as Indonesia and Malaysia, are facing significant issues.”
He noted the poor condition of missions globally.“This is evidenced by the fact that the Embassy in Netherlands has been closed for renovations, with the deputy director-general of International Relations and Cooperation saying these are required to make them ‘habitable’.
Herron said DIRCO’s spokesperson has also revealed some properties have not been maintained in over 16 years.
He pointed to severe procurement failures.“It appears that there is a lack of funding for these international missions, with embassies in Asia struggling with a lack of visa printers, for instance.”
“The Auditor-General has similarly noted the issues of financial regression at DIRCO.”
Herron warned against skewed priorities.
“While our international relations officials have been placing a significant focus on key priorities such as the G20 and the crucial International Court of Justice case, it should not come at the cost of other areas that are crucial.”
He stressed the strategic importance of functioning missions.“In these times of significant geopolitical uncertainty, and with a key trading partner, the USA seemingly retreating from stable trade agreements, it is arguable that our foreign missions are now even more crucial for supporting our need for trade diversification.”
He emphasised the human impact.“Citizens living abroad also rely on the services provided by these missions.”
Herron warned that DIRCO’s failures are now costly.
“The embassy in Netherlands will now require expensive renovations that could have been avoided, as well as rental of an interim location to operate from.”
“The GOOD Party calls on DIRCO to ensure more frequent oversight of international missions.”
Weekend Argus reached out to DIRCO for comment but by deadline no response was given.
tracy-lynn.ruiters@inl.co.za