DIRCO to host a sequence of activities

DIRCO to host the 2018 Heads of Missions Conference

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) will host the 2018 Heads of Missions (HOM) conference from 21 to 25 October 2018 under the theme: “A new dawn: Inclusiveness of South Africa’s foreign policy which aims to promote a better South Africa, Africa and the world.”

Deputy Minister Landers to undertake a working visit to Tunisia. The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Luwellyn Landers will undertake a Working Visit to Tunis, Tunisia, from 17 to 18 October 2018.

Media accreditation for the Meeting of the IORA Council of Ministers. South Africa is scheduled to host the 18th Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Council of Ministers Meetings from 31 October-02 November 2018 in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal Province. The Council of Ministers will take place under the theme: “IORA – Uniting the Peoples of Africa, Asia, Australasia and the Middle East through Enhanced Co-operation for Peace, Stability and Sustainable Development.”

President Ramaphosa to lead South African delegation to DRC for SA/DRC BNC. Pretoria - President Cyril Ramaphosa will tomorrow, Monday 15 October 2018, lead a South African delegation to the 11th Session of the Bi-National Commission (BNC) between the Republic of South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Minister Sisulu attends Ministerial Meeting for the BNC between South Africa and DRC. Minister of International Relations and Cooperation will today, 14 October 2018, travel to Kinshasa for the Ministerial Meeting in preparation for the 11th Session of the Bi-National Commission (BNC) between South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) scheduled for Tuesday, 16 October 2018.

Deputy Minister Luwellyn Landers to undertake a Working Visit to the Saharawi Refugee Camps in Tindouf, South West Algeria. Deputy Minister Luwellyn Landers will undertake a Working Visit to the Saharawi Refugee Camps in Tindouf, South West Algeria, from 12-15 October 2018.

President Ramaphosa on the passing of former Minister Roelof "Pik" Botha. President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his condolences at the passing away of former Minister of Mineral and Energy Affairs Mr Roelof “Pik” Botha. Mr Botha, 86, passed away in Pretoria after an illness. President Ramaphosa’s thoughts are with the family, friends and former colleagues of Mr Botha who served as Minister of Mineral and Energy Affairs for two years under the leadership of President Nelson Mandela.

Remarks by Minister Lindiwe Sisulu on the occasion of the DIRCO monthly media briefing, Media Briefing Room, OR Tambo Building, Pretoria, 11 October 2018. Welcome members of the press. In our midst we have Deputy Ministers of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Landers and Ms Mhaule, our Director-General Mr Mahoai and DIRCO senior officials.

Minister Sisulu to hold scheduled monthly media briefing

The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Hon Lindiwe Sisulu, will on Thursday, 11 October 2018, hold a monthly media engagement with members of the press.

Postponement of the DIRCO monthly media briefing. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) regrets to inform members of the media that the monthly media engagement, which was to be addressed by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Hon Lindiwe Sisulu, on Tuesday, 09 October 2018, has been postponed to Thursday, 11 October 2018.

Minister Sisulu to hold scheduled monthly media briefing. The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Hon Lindiwe Sisulu, will on Tuesday, 09 October 2018, hold a monthly media engagement with members of the press.

South Africa sends condolences to the Democratic Republic and Congo (DRC) following a road disaster. The South African Government, on behalf of the people of South Africa, has conveyed a message of condolences to the government and people of the DRC, and particularly to the families of all the victims of an oil tanker that collided with a vehicle on an arterial highway in the west of the DRC on Saturday, 06 October 2018.

South Africa supports the relief and rescue initiative by the SA NGO, Gift of the Givers, offered to Indonesia. The Government and people of South Africa wish to extend its sincere condolences to the Government and people of Indonesia as they are still battling the aftermath of the deadly earthquake and tsunami in the Central Sulawesi Island.

Minister Sisulu to hold scheduled monthly media briefing. The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Hon Lindiwe Sisulu, will on Tuesday, 09 October 2018, hold a monthly media engagement with members of the press.

Deputy Minister Landers attends TICAD ministerial meeting in Japan. Deputy Minister Luwellyn Landers will, on behalf of the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Lindiwe Sisulu, participate in the Ministerial Meeting of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), in Tokyo, Japan, from 06 to 07 October 2018.

Department of International Relations and Cooperation welcomes the International Court of Justice order on Iran. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation welcomes the decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that has ordered the United States of America (USA) to ensure that sanctions against Republic of Iran do not affect humanitarian aid and civil aviation safety.

Minister Sisulu to host workshop on the review of SA’s foreign policy

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu will on 04 to 05 October 2018 address a workshop convened by members of the Ministerial Review Panel. The establishment of the Panel was announced in the Minister’s Budget Vote Speech to Parliament in May 2018.

President Ramaphosa concludes First UN General Assembly Visit. President Cyril Ramaphosa has concluded his working visit to the United States where he participated for the first time in the General Debate of the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA73), under the theme: “Making the United Nations relevant to all people: global leadership and shared responsibilities for peaceful equitable and sustainable societies”.

Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs/International Relations, 27 September 2018, New York. The BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs/International Relations held their annual meeting on the margins of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA73) on 27 September 2018, chaired by Brazil in the country's capacity as the incoming BRICS Chair for 2019.

Joint Communiqué: IBSA Dialogue Forum, New York, 27 September 2018. The Minister of External Affairs of the Republic of India, H.E Ms. Sushma Swaraj, the Minister of External Relations of the Federative Republic of Brazil, H.E Mr. Aloysio Nunes Ferreira, and the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa, Ms. Lindiwe Sisulu, met in New York on 27 September 2018, on the margins of the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Deputy Minister Reginah Mhaule, in partnership with the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) and the Bela-Bela Municipality, host a Public Participation Programme in Bela-Bela, Limpopo, 27 September 2018.

Photo: DNS/Katlholo Maifadi

Deputy Minister Mhaule to host a Public Participation Programme in Bela-Bela

International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Reginah Mhaule will, in partnership with the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) and Bela-Bela Municipality, host a Public Participation Programme in Bela-Bela, Limpopo Province, on Wednesday, 27 September 2018.

Opening Remarks by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Invest in South Africa Private Roundtable, New York, 26 September 2018. I wish to express my sincere gratitude to Michael Bloomberg for hosting this discussion with such an important group of people, and to appreciate his great interest in South Africa’s development as a valued investment destination.

Country Statement by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the United Nations High-Level Meeting on Tuberculosis, 26 September 2018, New York, USA. This first ever UN High-Level Meeting on Tuberculosis is a historic opportunity that we must embrace if we are to effectively respond to a disease that has killed more people than smallpox, malaria, the plague, influenza, HIV and AIDS and Ebola combined.

Opening Remarks by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Business Seminar on Opportunities in South Africa, New York, 26 September 2018. Thank you very much for this opportunity to have a discussion on the South African investment experience.

President Cyril Ramaphosa with Minister Lindiwe Sisulu and the Minister of Finance, Nhlanhla Nene, attend the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA73), New York, USA, 25 September 2018.

Photo: DNS/Yandisa Monakali

Bilateral Meeting between President Cyril Ramaphosa and President Mohammed Buhari of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Millennium Plaza Hotel, New York, USA, 25 September 2018.

Photo: DNS/Yandisa Monakali

South Africa condemns the terrorist attack in Ahvaz, Iran. It was with shock and dismay that South Africa has received news of the recent deadly terrorist attack on 22 September in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Statement on the kidnapping of a South African national in Burkina Faso. The South African Government has been informed of the kidnapping of a South African national in Burkina Faso. The Government through the South African missions in that region is working with law enforcement agencies to attend to the situation.

Statement on South Africa's Ambassador to Israel. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation has noted recent media reports that South Africa's Ambassador to Israel, Mr Sisa Ngombane, has returned to Tel Aviv.

Opening Remarks by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Council on Foreign Relations Meeting Council Offices, 24 September 2018, New York, USA. Thank you for this opportunity to share with you some perspectives on the challenges and opportunities of the current global environment.

President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers Keynote Remarks at the United Nations Private Sector Forum: Building & Investing in Peace for All, New York, USA 24 September 2018.

Photo: DNS/Yandisa Monakali

Remarks by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the United Nations Private Sector Forum Lunch, UN General Assembly, 24 September 2018, New York, USA. Thank you for inviting me to speak at this important luncheon on the margins of the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit.

Address by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the UN Nelson Mandela Peace Summit, UN General Assembly, 24 September 2018, New York, USA. On behalf of the Mandela family and the people of South Africa, allow me to express our humble appreciation to the United Nations convening this special summit in honor of the founding President of our democracy, Nelson Rolihahla Mandela.

President Cyril Ramaphosa unvails and delivers an address during the Unveiling of the Nelson Mandela Statue at the United Nations Headquarters, New York, USA, 24 September 2018.

Photos: DNS/Yandisa Monakali

Remarks by His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa at the unveiling of Nelson Mandela Statue, UN General Assembly, 24 September 2018, New York, USA. For the government and people of South Africa, the enthusiasm with which the international community has embraced the celebration of the centenary of the birth of Nelson Mandela is truly humbling.

President Ramaphosa arrives in New York, USA for the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly. President Cyril Ramaphosa has today, 23 September 2018, arrived in New York, United States of America, to attend the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA73), scheduled to take place from 25-27 September 2018.

President Cyril Ramaphosa leads South African Delegation to UN General Assembly. President Cyril Ramaphosa will embark tomorrow, Saturday 22 September 2018, on a Working Visit to New York where he will lead the South African delegation to the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Minister Lindiwe Sisulu attends the Opening Session of First Women Foreign Ministers Meeting, Montreal, Canada. 21 September 2018.

Photo: DNS/Yandisa Monakali

South Africa sends condolences to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam following the passing of President Trần Đại Quang. The South African Government learned with shock of the untimely passing away of Mr Trần Đại Quang, the President of the Socialist Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

South African government sends condolence message to Tanzania. The South African Government has sent a message of condolences to the Government of the United Republic of Tanzanian following a boat accident that has claimed the lives of a large number of victims.

Deputy Minister Mhaule to deliver Public Lecture at Sol Plaatje University

The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Regina Mhaule, will deliver a public lecture at the Sol Plaatje University on Wednesday, 19 September 2018. The lecture is aimed at publicising and enhancing dialogue about South Africa’s foreign policy objectives.

Statement on the Cabinet Meeting of 19 September 2018. Cabinet met on Wednesday, 19 September 2018 at the Union Buildings, Pretoria. Issues in the environment – Economy - Cabinet welcomes the offer extended by business for the secondment of private-sector professionals to government.

Dr Motsepe undertakes Official Visit to the United States. Dr Tshepo Motsepe, the spouse of President Cyril Ramaphosa and First Lady of the Republic of South Africa, will on Tuesday, 18 September 2018, embark on an official visit to the United States, ahead of the South African delegation, led by President Ramaphosa, attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Minister Sisulu and Saudi Minister of State for African Affairs affirm importance of enhancing relations. International Relations and Cooperation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu met today, 17 September 2018, with His Excellency Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Kattan, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of State for African Affairs, in Johannesburg.

President Ramaphosa sends condolences to his Zambian Counterpart following bus crash. President Cyril Ramaphosa has sent a message of condolences to his Zambian counterpart, His Excellency Edgar Lungu, following the death of 11 Zambian nationals in a bus accident that took place on Monday, 17 September 2018, outside Mookgopong, Limpopo Province.

President Cyril Ramaphosa interacts with the Diplomatic Corps represented in South Africa, Department of International Relations and Cooperation, OR Tambo Building, Pretoria, South Africa, 14 September 2018.

Address by President Cyril Ramaphosa to Members of the Diplomatic Corps, OR Tambo Building, Pretoria, 14 September 2018. Thank you for joining us for my first interaction with the member of the diplomatic community represented in South Africa. Yesterday, the world paid its final respects to a fallen giant of Africa, the former United Nations Secretary-General Mr Kofi Annan.