Minister Pandor to meet with members of the African Diaspora

The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, will on Friday, 20 September 2019, meet with members of the African Diaspora.

Attack on Saudi Arabian oil refineries. The South African Government has noted, with concern, the escalation of conflict in the Middle East, as has again been demonstrated by an attack on two key Saudi Arabian oil facilities on Saturday, 14 September 2019, emanating from Yemeni territory.

Remarks by Minister Naledi Pandor on the occasion of the Media Briefing on South Africa's participation in the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York from 24 – 30 September 2019, 16 September 2019. In our last media briefing, ahead of the SADC Summit in Tanzania, we promised to regularly brief you on our international relations and cooperation work. This media briefing serves to fulfil that purpose.

Minister Pandor to brief media on South Africa's participation in 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York from 24 – 30 September 2019

Members of the media are invited to a media briefing, which will be led by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, on South Africa's participation in the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), which will take place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 24 – 30 September 2019.

Presidential Special Envoys to deliver messages to several countries. A team of Special Envoys appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa have begun their assignment yesterday, 14 September 2019, and departed South Africa to deliver messages of solidarity to several Heads of State and Government across Africa.

Minister Pandor leads delegation to UNGA74. President Cyril Ramaphosa has delegated Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Dr Naledi Pandor to lead South Africa’s delegation to the United Nations General Assembly later this month to allow the President to concentrate on critical issues in the country.

Statement by Ambassador Jerry Matjila, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations, during the Security Council Debate on the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), 10 September 2019. Please allow me to begin by thanking the Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Mr Tadamichi Yamamoto, the Executive Director of the UNODC, Mr Yuri Fedotov and Ambassador Djani, as Chair of the 1988 Committee for their insightful briefings.

Minister Naledi Pandor addresses the Heads of Mission Meeting, Pretoria, OR Tambo Building, Pretoria, South Africa, 9 September 2019.

Minister Naledi Pandor addresses the media after the Heads of Mission Meeting, Pretoria, OR Tambo Building, Pretoria, South Africa, 9 September 2019.

Photos: Katlholo Maifadi / DIRCO

Minister Pandor to address the media after meeting with Heads of Mission

The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, will address the media after her meeting with diplomats accredited to Pretoria.

Meeting between Minister Naledi Pandor and Foreign Minister, Denis Moncada Colindres, of Nicaragua, Pretoria, South Africa, 9 September 2019.

Photo: Jacoline Schoonees / DIRCO

DIRCO, DHET and NYDA to host Career Symposium

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation, together with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), will host a career symposium at Westbury Secondary School on Monday, 09 September 2019.

Interview of Minister Naledi Pandor with the SABC, eNCA, AP, CNBC and Newsroomafrika news agencies on the death of former President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Cape Town, South Africa, 6 September 2019.

Photo: GCIS

President Ramaphosa mourns passing of President Mugabe. President Cyril Ramaphosa has on behalf of the government and people of South Africa expressed his sincere condolences to the people and government of the Republic of Zimbabwe following the passing of Founding President Robert Gabriel Mugabe.

Deputy Minister Alvin Botes and First Deputy Minister, Medina González, of Cuba during the 15th Session of the Joint Consultative Mechanism between South Africa and Cuba, in Pretoria, South Africa, 5 September 2019.

Photos: Jacoline Schoonees / DIRCO

Joint Communiqué of the 15th Session of the Joint Consultative Mechanism between South Africa and Cuba. South Africa and Cuba held the 15th Joint Consultative Mechanism (JCM) Meeting in Pretoria on 5 September 2019.

Minister Naledi Pandor meets with the Senior Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman, of Singapore, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Africa, Cape Town, South Africa, 5 September 2019.

Photos: GCIS

Bilateral Meeting between Deputy Minister Candith Mashego-Dlamini and the Senior Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman, of Singapore, Table Bay Hotel, Cape Town, South Africa, 5 September 2019.

Photos: Yandisa Monakali / DIRCO

Welcome Remarks delivered by Finance Minister, Mr Tito Mboweni on behalf of President Cyril Ramaphosa during a Plenary Session entitled: Shaping Inclusive Growth and Shared Futures in the Fourth Industrial Revolution World Economic Forum on Africa, Cape Town, 05 September 2019. It is my privilege to address this first plenary session of WEF Africa 2019 at a time when we are all confronted with the same question: how to harness the potential of the 4th Industrial Revolution in pursuit of development and economic growth.

Keynote Address by President Cyril Ramaphosa during the Ease of Doing Business Seminar, World Economic Forum on Africa, Cape Town, 04 September 2019. Allow me to begin by thanking Brand South Africa for organising this seminar. This is a valuable platform to share insights on what is being done and what can still be done to improve South Africa’s position as a global investment destination.

Attendance of high-level delegates at WEF Africa. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has noted with concern media reports alleging that several Heads of State and Government have decided not to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) Africa event taking place in Cape Town as a result of acts of public violence witnessed mainly in the Gauteng Province.

Statement by Ambassador Jerry Matjila, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations, during the Security Council Briefing on the situation in Libya, 04 September 2019. I would like to thank Mr. Ghassan Salamé for his briefing on the situation in Libya. I also thank the Chair of the 1970 Committee, Ambassador Jürgen Schulz for his briefing on the work of the Committee and Ms Marwa Mohamed as the Head of Advocacy and Outreach of Lawyers for Justice in Libya.

Speech by Deputy Director-General Ambassador Sooklal commemorating 25 Years of bilateral relations between South Africa and Bangladesh at the Bangladesh Institute of International Strategic Studies (BIISS), 04 September 2019. I am honored to be afforded this opportunity to be with you today to commemorate an historic event in our shared history. It was almost exactly 25 years ago, on 10 September 1994 that Bangladesh and South Africa formalised diplomatic relations.

President Ramaphosa departs TICAD VII after successful Working Visit to Japan. President Cyril Ramaphosa has today, 29 August 2019, successfully concluded a working visit to Japan where he participated in the 7th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VII) in Yokohama.

Minister Naledi Pandor being interviewed after the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VII) Summit, in Yokohama, Japan, 30 August 2019.

Photo: Jacoline Schoonees / DIRCO

President Cyril Ramaphosa Address at the Science and Technology in Society Forum at Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development, Yokohama, Japan, 28 August 2019. It is a great honour and a privilege to address this workshop dedicated to strengthening cooperation between Japan and Africa on science, technology and innovation.

Minister Naledi Pandor being interviewed ahead of the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VII) Summit, in Yokohama, Japan, 27 August 2019.

Photos: Jacoline Schoonees / DIRCO

President Ramaphosa arrives in Japan for TICAD VII. President Cyril Ramaphosa has arrived in the State of Japan today, Tuesday 27 August 2019, to participate in the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VII) Summit that is expected to expand partnership between Japan and African states.

Statement by Ambassador Jerry Matjila, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations, during the UN Security Council Meeting on “the Situation in the Middle East”, Tuesday, 27 August 2019. We thank you for convening this meeting. My delegation also thanks the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Mr Nickolay Mladenov for his briefing.

Statement by Ambassador Jerry Matjila, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations, during the Security Council Meeting on the United Nations and African Union Hybrid Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), 26 August 2019. My delegation would like to thank you for convening this meeting. We would also like to thank Under-Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, and African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ambassador Smail Chergui for their comprehensive briefing.

Remarks by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the G7 and Africa Partnership, Biarritz, France, 25 August 2019. This Summit’s focus on reducing inequality is particularly relevant for the G7 and Africa Partnership, because of the severe inequality between the countries of Africa and developed nations, and also because of the levels of inequality within Africa.

President Ramaphosa arrives in France for G7 Summit. President Cyril Ramaphosa has arrived in Biarritz, France, today, Sunday, 25 August 2019, to participate in a G7 Summit that is focused on the elimination of inequalities of various kinds globally.

President Ramaphosa undertakes Working Visits to France, Japan. President Cyril Ramaphosa will undertake working visits to France and Japan from 24 to 30 August 2019 to participate in a G7 Summit that will focus on eliminating inequalities globally, and the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VII) Summit that will strengthen partnership between Japan and African states.

Deputy Minister Botes to meet family of SA citizen detained in Oman

The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Alvin Botes, will meet the family of Ms Chloe Collins, who is in detention in Oman to brief them on the role that the Department of International Relations and Cooperation is playing, through the South African Embassy in Muscat, to have the matter resolved amicably and speedily.

Statement on the Cabinet Meeting of 21 August 2019. Cabinet met on Wednesday, 21 August 2019 at Tuynhuys in Cape Town. Issues in the environment - National Health Insurance (NHI) - Cabinet calls on members of the public to engage with the NHI Bill, which is now before Parliament.

Deputy Minister Botes to host his Mexican counterpart

The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Alvin Botes, will on Tuesday, 20 August 2019, host the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Mexican States, Mr Julián Ventura, for a bilateral meeting.

Statement by Ambassador Jerry Matjila, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations, during the Security Council Briefing on Yemen, 20 August 2019. We thank the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General, Mr Martin Griffiths, and the Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Ms Ursula Mueller for their briefings. South Africa wishes to express our support for the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Yemen, Mr Martin Griffiths and congratulate him on all the efforts he is undertaking to find a peaceful solution to the situation in Yemen.

Developments in Jammu and Kashmir. South Africa notes with concern the escalation of tensions surrounding developments in Jammu and Kashmir. The issue of Jammu and Kashmir should be resolved bilaterally, and South Africa urges India and Pakistan to resolve their differences through peaceful means.

Remarks by President Cyril Ramaphosa during his visit to SOMAFCO in Morogoro, State Visit to the United Republic of Tanzania, 16 August 2019. Let me first express my heartfelt condolences to the people of Morogoro and Tanzania for the tragedy that took the lives of over 76 people almost a week ago. We wish those still in hospital a speedy recovery.

President Ramaphosa undertakes a State Visit and leads delegation to SADC Summit. President Cyril Ramaphosa will undertake his first State Visit since being elected President in May 2019, to Dar es Salaam in the United Republic of Tanzania on 14-15 August 2019.

Minister Naledi Pandor and the Minister of Tourism, Ms M Kubayi-Ngubane, attend the official closing of 39th Ordinary Summit of Southern African Development Community (SADC) Council of Ministers Meeting, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 14 August 2019.

Photo: Yandisa Monakali / DIRCO

Minister Naledi Pandor attends the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Council of Ministers Meeting ahead of the 39th Southern African Development Community (SADC) Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 13 August 2019.

Photos: Yandisa Monakali / DIRCO

Minister Pandor arrives in Tanzania to lead SA’s delegation at the meeting of the SADC Council of Ministers. The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, has arrived in Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania, were she is leading a South African delegation to the meeting of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Council of Ministers scheduled for 13 to 14 August 2019.

Deputy Minister Botes to address the International Youth Day Symposium

Deputy Minister Alvin Botes will on Monday, 12 August 2019, address the International Youth Symposium at the Sol Plaatje University in Kimberley, Northern Cape. The symposium will be held under the theme “Transforming education”.