South Africa and Iran take steps to intensify cooperation. The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Nomaindiya Mfeketo, hosted her Iranian counterpart, Dr Jaberi Ansari, the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in Pretoria on 29 September 2016 for bilateral consultations in accordance with the mandate of the South Africa-Iran Deputy Ministerial Working Group (DMWG), which provides oversight in monitoring and guiding bilateral political and economic relations between the two countries.

Deputy Minister Mfeketo to host the South Africa-Iran Deputy Ministerial Working Group. International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Nomaindiya Mfeketo will host the South Africa - Iran Deputy Ministerial Working Group (DMWG) on Thursday, 29 September 2016 in Pretoria, with her Iranian counterpart, Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Jaber Ansari.

Deputy Minister Mfeketo to deliver a lecture in celebration of Heritage month

The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ms Nomaindiya Mfeketo will deliver a lecture in celebration of Heritage month, under the theme: Celebrating our Human Treasures by Asserting our African Identity.

Minister Nkoana-Mashabane to deliver a public lecture in Limpopo

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane will deliver a public lecture on renowned struggle heroine Charlotte Maxeke in Polokwane, Limpopo Province, under the theme: "Women united in moving South Africa forward".

Statement the Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, Mr Luwellyn Landers, on the occasion of the G77 and China Ministerial Meeting, 23 September 2016, UN Headquarters, New York. We come together at the start of the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly at a time when the world continues to face growing inter-connected global challenges, which include growing instability brought about by, inter-alia, continued conflict, increased cases of terrorism, large-scale movements of refugees and migrants; global health crises, economic stagnation and underdevelopment.

Deputy Minister Landers participates in the High-Level Meeting on the Right to Development at the UN in New York. International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Luwellyn Landers has today, Thursday, 22 September 2016, participated in a High-level Meeting on the sidelines of the General Debate of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, to mark the  30th anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Right to Development.

South Africa expresses concern over the current situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. His Excellency President Jacob Zuma has expressed concern over the violent incidences that took place in the past few days in the Democratic Republic of Congo, resulting in the deaths of people, leaving many injured and causing physical damage to infrastructure in the country. These incidences threaten the hard won democratic gains made by the DRC through the past two elections.

South Africa’s Statement at the High Level Side Event on the Fifth Anniversary of the Open Government Partnership, United Nations, New York, 20 September 2016. It is an honour to join you today as we celebrate five years since the founding of the Open Government Partnership. We have opportunity today to reflect on a remarkable journey the Open Government Partnership has travelled since September 2011.

Intervention by His Excellency, President Zuma, at the Launch Event of the United Nations High-Level Commission on Health Employment and Economic Growth, New York, 20 September 2016. Allow me to start by thanking the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki-moon, for establishing the High-Level Commission on Health Employment and Economic Growth. This I believe is an initiative that could contribute considerably to developing countries’ efforts to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and overcoming the triple challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality.

Statement by President Jacob Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa during the General Debate of the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, New York, 20 September 2016. I wish to congratulate you, Mr President, on your election as the President of the 71st Session of the General Assembly. I assure you of South Africa’s continued support in the implementation of your priorities and responsibilities throughout your term.

Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs, New York, September 20, 2016. The BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs held their regular meeting on 20 September 2016 on the margins of the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly. The Ministers underlined the marked progress achieved since the first Meeting of Foreign Ministers on the margins of the 61st session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2006, in deepening the BRICS strategic partnership based on the principles of openness, solidarity, equality and mutual understanding, inclusiveness and mutually beneficial cooperation.

The United Nations Secretary General, Mr Ban Ki Moon, opens the United Nations (UN) Summit for Refugees and Migrants, New York, USA, 19 September 2016.


Picture: Jacoline Schoonees

Minister Nkoana-Mashabane reiterates calls for Palestinian and Western Saharawi freedom. International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane delivered a statement at the ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Margarita, Venezuela, on 16 September 2016, reiterating South Africa's solidarity with the people of Palestine and Western Sahara as they continue their struggles for independence and freedom.

Statement by Ambassador Ebrahim Saley Deputy Director-General: Global Governance and Continental Agenda at the Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Committee on Palestine, Island of Margarita, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, 15 September 2016. The South African delegation would like to extend our deep appreciation to the government and people of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela for the warm hospitality extended to us since our arrival in your country.

Minister Nkoana-Mashabane arrives in Venezuela to lead the SA delegation at the NAM Summit. International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane arrived in the island of Margarita, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, on 15 September 2016, where she is leading the South African delegation at the 17th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the NAM taking place under the theme “Peace, Sovereignty and Solidarity for Development”.

Media Statement on the reported Nuclear Weapons Test conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). The South African Government has noted with serious concern the reported nuclear weapons test conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). This follows the nuclear weapons test conducted by the DPRK on 6 January 2016 and subsequent missile launches in flagrant violation of the DPRK’s obligations under various UN Security Council resolutions, including the measures adopted by the Council on 2 March 2016 through Resolution 2270 (2016).

Deputy Minister Mfeketo to co-chair the 8th South Africa-China Strategic Dialogue Mechanism. International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Nomaindiya Mfeketo will co-chair the 8th South Africa-China Strategic Dialogue Mechanism with her counterpart, Vice Foreign Minister Mr ZHANG Ming, today, Wednesday, 14 September 2016 in Beijing in the People’s Republic of China.

Public lecture by the Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Luwellyn Landers, at Rhodes University, Eastern Cape, Wednesday, 14 September 2016. Your attendance of this Public Lecture pleases me because it gives us an opportunity to have a detailed discussion on South Africa’s foreign policy endeavours. We have agreed with the University Management and the organisers to base our interaction on the theme “Fostering Democracy and Development through International Cooperation”.

Deputy Minister Landers to host a public lecture at the Rhodes University

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation together with Rhodes University, will host a public lecture under the theme: Fostering Democracy and Development through International Cooperation.  The engagement is expected to reflect on how the department is implementing South Africa’s foreign policy objectives to realize domestic priorities through international cooperation.

Statement on the Cabinet Meeting of 14 September 2016. Implementation of key government programmes - Cabinet is encouraged by the growth in the gross domestic product (GDP) of 3.3% in the second quarter of 2016; released by Statistics South Africa. The 8.1% increase in manufacturing and 11.8% in mining and quarrying demonstrates the resilience of the economy in this tough economic environment. The GDP grew by R25 billion more than the first quarter of 2016 to an estimated R1 068 billion.

Transcript: Comments by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and South Sudanese First Vice President Taban Deng Gai, Tuynhuys Cape Town, 13 September 2016. Comments by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa - We have just concluded very good discussions between ourselves and the First Vice- President Taban Deng of South Sudan. We invited the Vice President Taban Deng and his delegation to come, so that we can be briefed about what has been happening in South Sudan.

Remarks by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Hon Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, on the occasion of the media briefing on international developments, 13 September 2016, DIRCO, Pretoria. We have called this briefing to update you on the recent engagements as well as upcoming activities in the implementation of our international programme. I will therefore focus on the following five issues namely: outcomes of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit held in Swaziland, outcomes of the G20 leaders’ Summit held in Hangzhou, China, XVII (17th) Non-Aligned Summit (NAM) Summit in Venezuela, upcoming 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to be held at the UN Headquarters in New York, and the recent earthquake in Tanzania.

President Zuma sends condolences to the United Republic of Tanzania following a deadly earthquake. President Jacob Zuma, has today, Sunday, 11 September 2016, on behalf of the Government and the people of South Africa, extended the country’s deepest condolences to the United Republic of Tanzania following a 5.7 magnitude earthquake that struck northwest Tanzania, close to Lake Victoria and the borders of Uganda and Rwanda, resulting in the deaths and injuries of scores of people.

South Africa condemns mass killings in Syria. The South African Government has learnt with dismay of the brutal mass murder of forty Syrian civilians in separate bombings in Tartous, Homs, Damascus countryside, and Hasaka, by the ISIS terror group on Monday, 05 September 2016.

The Acting Group CEO of Prasa, Mr Collins Letsoalo, and the Vice President of CCC, Mr Zhen Shaohua, sign the MOU between Prasa and the China Communications Construction (CCC) on the Moloto Rail Corridor, The Second Investing in Africa Forum, Gungzhou, People's Republic of China, 7 September 2016.

Picture: Jacoline Schoonees

G20 Leaders’ Summit advances interests of the South. President Jacob Zuma has concluded his working visit to Hangzhou in the People’s Republic of China, where he successfully participated in the Group of 20 (G20) Leaders’ Summit held from 3-5 September 2016 under the theme: “Towards An Innovative, Invigorated, Interconnected and Inclusive World Economy.”

BRICS Leaders' Informal Meeting on the margins of the G20 Summit, Hangzhou, China, 4 September 2016. The BRICS Leaders met on the margins of the G20 Summit in Hangzhou, China on 4 September 2016. The Leaders exchanged views on a wide range of global political, security, economic and global governance issues of importance and mutual concern.

Deputy Minister Landers to Co-chair the 6th Session of the SA-Chile Joint Consultative Mechanism

Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Luwellyn Landers will co-chair the 6th session of the SA-Chile Joint Consultative Mechanism with Mr Edgardo Riveros, the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Chile. The 6th JCM will focus on a number of issues including multilateral cooperation and regional developments. Cooperation in trade and investment will be central to the discussions as South Africa is a major foreign investor in Chile.

South Africa to co-host the 2016 United Nations International Media Seminar on Peace in the Middle East

The South African Government in partnership with the United Nations Department of Public Information and with the support of the Embassy of Sweden in Pretoria, will co-host the United Nations International Media Seminar on Peace in the Middle East. The purpose of the seminar is to sensitise public opinion, prevailing media coverage on the peace processes and to enhance dialogue between the Israelis and Palestinians.

Revised Programme for the Media Seminar on Peace in the Middle East

Deputy Minister Mfeketo to host PPP to commemorate the Women's Month

International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Nomaindiya Mfeketo will host a stakeholder engagement to commemorate the Women’s Month. The event will be held under the theme “Acknowledging Past Gains & Crafting Brighter Futures”. The engagement is expected to reflect on the role women play locally and internationally in promoting South Africa’s national interests as well as its importance to disadvantaged communities.

Statement on the Cabinet Meeting of 31 August 2016. Implementation of Key Government Programmes - President Jacob Zuma led a South African Government delegation to the 36th Ordinary Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit of Heads of State which took place from 30 to 31 August 2016 under the theme: “Resource Mobilisation for Investment in Sustainable Energy Infrastructure for an Inclusive SADC Industrialisation and for the Prosperity of the Region”.

Deputy Minister Mfeketo to deliver a Public Lecture and co-host an exhibition to mark 90th birthday of former Cuban President Fidel Castro and the end of Women’s Month

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) and the Cuban Embassy in South Africa will co-host a public lecture and exhibition entitled “Fidel Castro at 90.” The event aims to mark the 90th birthday of Fidel Castro and the end of Women's Month.