Minister Nkoana-Mashabane to lead the South African delegation to the AU Summit. The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, in her capacity as Special Representative of President Jacob Zuma, will lead South Africa’s delegation to the 29th Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) that will convene in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 03 and 04 July 2017.

Opening Remarks by President JG Zuma, on the occasion of the 10th Session of the Bi-National Commission with the DRC, held in Pretoria, 25 June 2017. I am delighted and honoured to welcome you, Mr President, and your esteemed delegation. Considering the strong and close collaboration between our two countries, it is always a pleasure to receive and meet with our brothers and sisters from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Opening Remarks by Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Republic of South Africa, on the occasion of the 10th Session of the Bi-National Commission with the DRC, 24 June 2017, Pretoria. It is with great honour and privilege that I welcome you all to the 10th Session of the Bi-National Commission between South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo. I particularly extend a special welcome to you, Honourable Minister Leonard She Okitundu and your delegation.

Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane with her counterpart from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mr Léonard She Okitundu, Pretoria, South Africa, 24 June 2017.



Picture: Jacoline Schoonees

Minister Nkoana-Mashabane to host her DRC counterpart

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane will on Saturday, 24 June 2017, host her counterpart from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mr Léonard She Okitundu, on the occasion of the 10th session of Bi-National Commission between South Africa and the DRC. On Sunday, President Jacob Zuma will host President Joseph Kabila Kabange during his official visit to South Africa to attend the BNC.

President Zuma concludes a successful visit to Swaziland for the SACU Summit. President Jacob Zuma has today, 23 June 2017, concluded a successful visit to the Kingdom of Swaziland, where he led the South African delegation at the 5th Southern Africa Customs Union (SACU) Summit Heads of State and Government.

President Zuma sends condolences to Botswana following Former President Masire’s passing. The President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency Mr Jacob Zuma, has conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the President of the Republic of Botswana, His Excellency, Lieutenant General Seretse Khama Ian Khama, as well as the Government of Botswana following the passing away on 22 June 2017 of Former President Sir Ketumile Masire.

President Zuma arrives in Swaziland for the 5th Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Summit. President Jacob Zuma has this evening arrived in the Kingdom of Swaziland ahead of the 5th Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Summit to be held on 23 June 2017.

Statement on the Cabinet Meeting of 21 June 2017. Cabinet met on Wednesday, 21 June 2017, at Tuynhuys, Cape Town. Issues in the environment - Cabinet reflected on the recent announcements by the three major ratings agencies. All three ratings agencies raised similar issues such as the slow pace of growth-enhancing reforms, the performance of state-owned companies (SOCs) and political risks, among other issues.

President Zuma sends condolences to the Federal Republic of Germany following former Chancellor Helmut Kohl’s passing. The President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency Jacob Zuma, has on behalf of the Government and the people of South Africa conveyed a message of condolences to the Government and people of Germany following the passing on of former Chancellor Helmut Kohl.

Media Note of the Meeting of the BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs/International Relations, 18-19 June 2017, Beijing, People's Republic of China. The Ministers of Foreign Affairs/International Relations of the Federative Republic of Brazil, the Russian Federation, the Republic of India, the People's Republic of China and the Republic of South Africa, met on 18-19 June 2017 in Beijing, China.

Opening Remarks by Minister Nkoana-Mashabane at the Meeting of the BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Beijing, People's Republic of China, 19 June 2017. Allow me, first of all, to thank you His Excellency, Minister Wang Yi, for hosting us for this first formal meeting of the BRICS Ministers for Foreign Affairs and International Relations.  We are honoured to be here and look forward to our deliberations.

Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane with the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, during a Bilateral Meeting ahead of the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting, Beijing, People's Republic of China, 18 June 2017.

Picture: Jacoline Schoonees

Minister Nkoana-Mashabane arrives in Beijing for the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting. International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane arrived in Beijing, People's Republic of China, last night, 17 June 2017, where she will participate in the meeting of the BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs/International Relations, hosted by the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Wang Yi.

SA-led June Session of the Board of Governors of the IAEA successfully concludes its deliberations. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors concluded its June week-long session on Thursday, 15 June 2017, under the leadership of Ambassador Tebogo Seokolo, South Africa’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) in Vienna.

Media Accreditation for the 37th SADC Summit in Pretoria. South Africa will assume the role of Chair of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in August 2017, taking over from the Kingdom of Swaziland. The country will host the 37th Ordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government from 09th – 20th August 2017 in Pretoria. The summit will take place under the theme: “Partnering with the private sector in developing industry and regional value-chains”.

South Africa calls for calm in the Kingdom of Lesotho. The South African Government calls for calm in the Kingdom of Lesotho following the killing on the night of 14 June 2017 of Ms Lipolelo Thabane, wife of Prime Mister-elect Tom Thabane. South Africa calls on law enforcement authorities to expeditiously investigate the crime and bring the perpetrator/s to justice.

Joint Statement: 8th South Africa-United States Annual Bilateral Forum, 8 June 2017. The Embassy of the United States of America hosted the South African Government for the 8th Annual Bilateral Forum (ABF), on 8 June 2017, in Pretoria.The ABF takes place under the auspices of the South Africa-United States Strategic Dialogue, which was established in 2010 by the former United States Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, and the South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane.

President Zuma sends condolences to Namibia following the passing away of Mr Toivo ya Toivo. The President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency Jacob Zuma, has on behalf of the Government and the people of South Africa, conveyed a message of condolences to the government and the people of Namibia, following the passing on of the anti-apartheid activist, independence hero and former Minister Herman Andimba Toivo ya Toivo.

Minister Nkoana-Mashabane visits Nigeria for the Nordic-Africa Dialogue. International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane is expected to arrive in the Federal Republic of Nigeria later today, 09 June 2017, where she will take part in the 16th Africa-Nordic Dialogue of Foreign Ministers, scheduled for 10 June 2017 in the capital, Abuja.

South African Government conveys condolences to the Republic of Zimbabwe following a tragic bus accident that killed 43 people and injured 24 passengers. The Government and people of South Africa convey their deepest sympathies and condolences to the Government and people of the Republic of Zimbabwe, following a tragic bus accident on 7 June 2017, along the Harare-Chirundu Highway, which veered off the road and rammed into a tree, leaving 43 people dead and 24 injured.

DIRCO hosts Member of Cuban 5. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), in partnership with the Cuban Embassy, hosted a discussion forum with Mr Fernando González, one of the Cuban 5 and the President of the Cuban Institute for Peoples Friendship (ICAP), on 8 June 2017 at O.R. Tambo Building.

Deputy Minister Mfeketo to host an outreach programme in Port Elizabeth

The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Nomaindiya Mfeketo, will host an outreach programme in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape Province, where she is expected to interact with the community on South Africa’s roles and responsibilities in the world.

Statement on the Cabinet Meeting of 7 June 2017. Issues in the Environment - Cabinet reiterates President Jacob Zuma’s call for South Africans to unite against violence and abuse of women and children, and calls on all South Africans to take urgent steps to eradicate this scourge in our communities.

South Africa condemns latest terrorist attack in the United Kingdom. The South African Government joins the international community in strongly condemning the latest terrorist attack in the United Kingdom. The attack, which took place on the night of 03 June 2017 in the city of London, claimed the lives of several people and left others injured.

South African Government reacts to United States of America’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. The international community regards climate change as the single biggest threat to wellbeing, health and socio-economic development facing humanity this century. Its impacts are widespread, unprecedented and disproportionately burdens to the poorest and most vulnerable.

SA sends condolences to Sri Lanka following mudslide. The Government and people of South Africa convey their deepest sympathies and condolences to the Government and people of the Republic of Sri Lanka following a mudslide that killed at least 200 people and left over half a million Sri Lankans displaced.

Keynote Address by Deputy Minister Nomaindiya Mfeketo at the Workshop in Commemoration of the 30th Anniversary of the 1987 Dakar Conference. Thank you for the opportunity to address you this morning on this occasion in commemoration of the 30th Anniversary of the historic Dakar Conference which took place in 1987.

Deputy Minister Nomaindiya Mfeketo speaks at the Africa Day Publice Lecture, CPUT, Belleville, Cape Town, South Africa.

Picture: Gladwin Komane

Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation to host Africa Day Public Lecture

Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms N Mfeketo will host an Africa Day Public Lecture on Friday, 26 May 2017 in celebration of 54 years since the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was re-launched in 2002 in Durban as African Union (AU).

Deputy Minister Luwellyn Landers with the DIRCO's COO, Ambassador Nkosi, at a post DIRCO Budget Vote Public Lecture, Cape Town, South Africa, 26 May 2017.


Picture: Jacoline Schoonees

Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation to host Post Budget Vote Public Lecture

Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr L Landers will host a Post Budget Vote Lecture on Friday, 26 May 2017.

Budget Vote Speech of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation delivered by Minister Nkoana-Mashabane: 25 May 2017, Cape Town. It is an honour to present this year’s Budget Vote Speech of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation in the year of O R Tambo. The year 2017 has been declared by our government as the year of O R Tambo, one of the most outstanding leaders of the liberation struggle who mobilised international solidarity against apartheid and contributed to shaping the vision of a post-apartheid democratic South Africa.

Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane during a SABC Africa Day Dialogue, Cape Town, South Africa, 25 May 2017.

Picture: Jacoline Schoonees

Minister Nkoana-Mashabane to deliver DIRCO's Budget Vote Speech to Parliament

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane will deliver the Budget Vote Speech of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation to Parliament on Thursday, 25 May 2017.

Statement on the Cabinet Meeting of 24 May 2017. Cabinet met on Wednesday, 24 May 2017, at Tuynhuys, Cape Town. Issues in the environment - Cabinet is concerned with the rising incidences of abuse and violence against women in our society.

Minister Nkoana-Mashabane congratulates former Ethiopian counterpart on his election as Director-General of the World Health Organisation. International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane extends South Africa’s congratulations to the Ethiopian Government, on the election of the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, as the next Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland on 23 May 2017.

South Africa condemns the suspected terrorist attack in the United Kingdom. The South African Government joins the international community in strongly condemning what appears to be a terrorist attack at the Manchester Arena in Manchester on Monday, 22 May 2017, resulting in the unfortunate deaths and injuries of numerous children and youths.

Minister Nkoana-Mashabane on a Working Visit to Oman. International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane is visiting Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, today, 22 May 2017, where she is meeting representatives of the Government of the Sultanate of Oman as part of efforts to strengthen relations.

President Zuma congratulates the President of Iran on his election victory. His Excellency President Jacob Zuma has congratulated the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, His Excellency Hassan Rouhani, who has won the Iranian presidential elections held on Friday, 19 May 2017.

Minister Nkoana-Mashabane to address students in Polokwane

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane will on Friday, 19 May 2017, address the Leadership and Transformation Seminar organised by the Black Management Forum (BMF) Student Chapter of the University of Limpopo in Polokwane.

Remarks by the Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation during the occasion of the NWU Symposium on Internationalisation and Social Cohesion, North West University, Mafikeng, 19 May 2017. I am indeed humbled to be afforded this opportunity to have this focused discussion with you. The agreed theme for our interaction today is “Promoting Social Cohesion and Internationalism”. I am grateful for the North West University for arranging this occasion and the attendance bears testimony to the hard work you have put into preparations thereof.