Special Official Funeral for Ambassador Billy Modise

The President of the Republic of South Africa, H.E. Mr CM Ramaphosa has declared a Special Official Funeral for Ambassador Billy Modise, who sadly passed away on Wednesday, 20 June 2018.

IMC on State Funerals to brief media on preparations for the Official Memorial and Funeral Services for Ambassador Billy Modise

The Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on State Funerals, led by Minister in the Presidency, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, will on Monday, 25 June 2018 brief media on the preparations for the Official Memorial and Funeral Services for the late Ambassador Billy Modise, who passed away at the age of 87.

South Africa condemns the attack at a peaceful rally in Ethiopia. H.E. President Cyril Ramaphosa has, on behalf of the Government and people of South Africa, extended the country’s deepest condolences to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the people of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia following an attack against civilians at a rally in Addis Ababa on Saturday, 23 June 2018, which was held in support of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's reform agenda.

President Ramaphosa condemns bomb blast in Zimbabwe. The President of the Republic of South Africa and Chair of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), His Excellency Cyril Ramaphosa, has condemned the bomb blast at a stadium in Bulawayo, Republic of Zimbabwe, where the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, His Excellency Emmerson Mnangagwa, was addressing an election rally.

Passports of South Africans stranded in China to be handed over on Monday. The Chinese authorities confirmed today that the passports of the group of 51 South Africans stranded in Changchun, China, will be released as from Monday, 25 June 2018. The individuals in the group will then return to South Africa.

Minister Lindiwe Sisulu attends the 20th Meeting of the SADC Ministerial Committee of the Organ (MCO) on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, Luanda, Republic of Angola, 22 June 2018.

Minister Sisulu to lead South Africa's delegation at the SADC ministerial meeting in Angola. The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Lindiwe Sisulu, will lead a South African delegation to the 20th Meeting of the SADC Ministerial Committee of the Organ (MCO) on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, scheduled for 22 June 2018 in Luanda, Republic of Angola.

BRICS Summit media accreditation deadline approaching

Ahead of the deadline on Friday, 22 June 2018, the South African Government invites those members of the media who have not done so to apply to be accredited to the 10th BRICS Summit, which will be hosted at the Sandton International Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa, from 25 to 27 July 2018.

Keynote Address by Deputy Minister Mhaule occasion of the Stakeholder Engagement Dinner on the 10th BRICS Summit in Ekhureleni, 22 June 2018. We are honoured to be given this opportunity to be here with you today, to share and deliberate with yourselves on our preparations towards the upcoming BRICS summit. We are indeed seized with a unique opportunity as we usher our country into a new dawn of shared prosperity for all.

Deputy Minister Mhaule to address BRICS Business Stakeholders

The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Reginah Mhaule, will on Friday, 22 June 2018, address business stakeholders in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, as part of a series of activities linked to South Africa’s role as Chair of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa).

DIRCO is working with Chinese authorities on stranded young South Africans in China due to visa scam. The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Lindiwe Sisulu is aware of  South African citizens who are stranded in China as a result of a visa scam and she has instructed the department to work with the Chinese authorities to have their passports released so that they can come back to South Africa as soon as possible.

Withdrawal of the USA from the UN Human Rights Council. The South African Government regrets the decision by the government of the United States of America (US) to withdraw its membership of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

President Ramaphosa mourns the passing of Ambassador Billy Modise. President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his deepest condolences on the sad passing of South Africa’s former Chief of State Protocol and recipient of the National Order of Luthuli, Ambassador Billy Modise, who passed away last night in hospital after a long illness.

Media Statement on the Meeting of BRICS Deputy Ministers/Special Envoys on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Pretoria, South Africa, 20 June 2018. The BRICS Deputy Ministers/Special Envoys on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) met on 20 June 2018 in Pretoria, South Africa to exchange views on the current situation in the Middle East and North African regions.

Deputy Minister Landers to host the Fourth Meeting of the BRICS Deputy Ministers on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)

International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Luwellyn Landers will on Wednesday, 20 June 2018, host the Fourth Meeting of the BRICS Deputy Ministers on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), scheduled to take place in Pretoria.

President Ramaphosa welcomes the participation of Dr Riek Machar Teny in the High Level Revitalisation Talks facilitated by IGAD in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. President Cyril Ramaphosa welcomes the participation of Dr Riek Machar Teny, Chairperson of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/A-In-Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) in the High Level Revitalisation talks facilitated by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Statement on the Cabinet Meeting of 20 June 2018. Cabinet met on Wednesday, 20 June 2018, at the Union Buildings, Pretoria. Issues in the environment - United Nations Security Council (UNSC) - Cabinet extends appreciation to the members of the United Nations (UN) that overwhelmingly supported South Africa to serve as a non-permanent member on the UNSC for the term 2019 until 2020.

Deputy Minister Luwellyn Landers at the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) Speaker's Meeting, SAIIA Head Office, East Campus, Wits University, Johannesburg, 18 June 2018.

Speech by Deputy Minister L. Landers - BRICS in Africa - Working Towards the Realisation of the African Aspirations - In partnership with the South African Institute for International Affairs (SAIIA) - University of Witwatersrand - Johannesburg, 18 June 2018. I am humbled to be afforded an opportunity to be with you today to reflect on South Africa’s membership of BRICS and our continued role within the formation for mutual benefit. We will take this opportunity to further demonstrate tangible achievements and benefits which we derived as a country and the African continent.

DIRCO embarks on pre-BRICS events

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) is embarking on a number of activities in the run-up to the 10th BRICS Summit. These include the Speaker's Meeting at the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), to be addressed by Deputy Minister Luwellyn Landers, and the BRICS Roundtable Discussion in Durban, to be addressed by Prof. Anil Sooklal, BRICS Sous-Sherpa and Deputy Director-General for Asia and Middle East in DIRCO.

Deputy Minister Landers to address the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) Speaker’s Meeting

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) and the South African Institute of International Affairs invite the media to a Speaker's Meeting to be addressed by Deputy Minister Luwellyn Landers. The meeting will focus on “BRICS in Africa: Working towards the realisation of the African Aspirations”.

Minister Sisulu to celebrate Youth Month at the Grace Bible Church

The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Lindiwe Sisulu will on Sunday, 17 June 2018, celebrate Youth Day with the youth of the Grace Bible Church in Soweto, Gauteng.

Former Deputy Chief Justice Moseneke to lead Mediation Team in Lesotho. President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed the Former Deputy Chief Justice of the Republic of South Africa, Dikgang Ernest Moseneke, as the Leader of the Mediation Team of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Facilitation in the Kingdom of Lesotho, which will assist the President as he continues to facilitate the political national dialogue and reform processes in the Kingdom of Lesotho.

Address by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the South Africa-Canada Investor Engagement in Toronto, Canada, 8 June 2018. It is a great pleasure to have the opportunity to engage with you as we head to the G7 Outreach meeting in Charlevoix over the weekend. This is a welcome opportunity to talk about South Africa’s economic renewal and the opportunities it presents for investors from across the world.

Minister Lindiwe Sisulu hosts a celebratory lunch with SADC Group, SA Delegation and Mission Staff, New York, USA, 8 June 2018.

DIRCO News Agency/Katlholo Maifadi

Minister Lindiwe Sisulu at the United Nations General Assembly Elections for the non-permanent seats in the Security Council, New York, USA, 8 June 2018.

DIRCO News Agency/Katlholo Maifadi

Media Remarks following South Africa's election to the Non-Permanent Seat in the UN Security Council, 8 June 2018. We wish to express our sincere appreciation to the Member States of the UN General Assembly for supporting South Africa's candidacy for the non-permanent seat on the Security Council for the period 2019-2020. We are honoured and humbled by this gesture of confidence.

South Africa sends condolence message to Guatemala following volcanic eruption. The President of the Republic of South Africa, H.E. Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, has, on behalf of the Government and the people of South Africa, offered his deepest condolences to the President of the Republic of Guatemala, HE Mr Jimmy Morales, his Government and the people of Guatemala following the recent volcanic eruption which occurred in that country.

President Ramaphosa departs South Africa for Canada to participate in the G7 Leaders' Summit Outreach. Pretoria - President Cyril Ramaphosa has today, Thursday, 07 June 2018, departed South Africa for Canada, to participate in the G7 Leaders’ Summit Outreach to be held in Québec City under the theme “Healthy, Productive and Resilient Oceans and Seas, Coasts and Communities”.

Minister Sisulu arrives in New York ahead of the UNSC elections. The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Lindiwe Sisulu, has today, 07 June 2018 arrived in New York, ahead of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) elections scheduled for tomorrow, 08 June 2018.

President Ramaphosa to participate in the G7 Leaders’ Summit Outreach in Quebec, Canada. President Cyril Ramaphosa will participate in the G7 Leaders’ Summit Outreach to be held on Saturday, 9 June 2018, in Quebec, Canada, under the theme Healthy, Productive and Resilient Oceans and Seas, Coasts and Communities.

Joint Communiqué on the occasion of the Working Visit by H.E Mr Brahim Ghali, President of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic to the South African Republic, 5 June 2018. On 5 June 2018, President Ramaphosa received the President of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, H.E. Mr Brahim Ghali, on his Working Visit to South Africa.

Remarks to the Media by President Cyril Ramaphosa following Talks with President Brahim Ghali of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, Union Buildings, Pretoria, 5 June 2018. Allow me, Your Excellency, to once again welcome you to South Africa. Even though our respective countries are located on the extreme ends of our Continent, we are brought together by an unbreakable bond that were forged during our common fight against colonialism and apartheid.

Opening Remarks by President Cyril Ramaphosa during the Working Visit of President Brahim Ghali of The Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, Union Buildings, Pretoria, 5 June 2018. It is with great pleasure that I welcome you, Mr President, and your delegation on the occasion of your working visit to South Africa. We believe that through this visit, the historical and fraternal relations that happily exist between our two governments and peoples will be further strengthened.

Joint Press Release: IBSA Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Pretoria, 4th June, 2018. The External Affairs Minister of the Republic of India, Smt. Sushma Swaraj, The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa, Ms. Lindiwe Sisulu and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Mr. Marcos Bezerra Abbott Galvão, met in Pretoria on 4th June, 2018 for the informal meeting of IBSA Foreign Ministers.

BRICS Ministers attending: State Councillor and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Li, of China; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergey Lavrov, of Russia, Minister Lindiwe Sisulu of South Africa; Minister of External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj, of India; and Deputy Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marcos Galvão of Brazil, Pretoria, South Africa, 4 June 2018.

Meeting of the BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs / International Relations, 4 June 2018, Pretoria, South Africa. 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 4 June 2018 in Pretoria, South Africa.

Opening Remarks by Minister Lindiwe Sisulu at the Meeting of the BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs/ International Relations, DIRCO, Pretoria, 04 June 2018. It is my sincere honour to welcome you to South Africa on the eve of the Second Formal Meeting of the BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs/International Relations. Honourable Ministers, your presence here re-affirms and strengthens the long-standing bonds of friendship and cooperation we have built in the decade of our strategic partnership.