Deputy Minister Botes leads South Africa’s delegation to the Ministerial Meeting of the NAM in Venezuela. The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Alvin Botes, will lead the South African delegation to the Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Coordinating Bureau (CoB) to be held in Caracas, Venezuela, on 20-21 July 2019 under the theme: “Promotion and Consolidation of Peace through Respect for International Law.”

Minister Pandor to attend the SADC Ministerial Committee of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation in Lusaka, Zambia, on 19 July 2019. The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, will lead a South African delegation to the 21st Meeting of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Ministerial Committee of the Organ (MCO) on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, in Lusaka, Republic of Zambia, on 19 July 2019.

Statement by Ambassador Jerry Matjila, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations, during the Security Council Briefing on Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace: Strengthening Partnerships for Nationally-Owned Transitions”, 18 July 2019. My delegation would like to thank you for convening this meeting on peacebuilding and sustaining peace: strengthening partnerships for nationally-owned transitions.

Statement by Ambassador Xolisa Mabhongo, Deputy Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations, during the Council Briefing on the situation in Yemen, Thursday, 18 July 2019. At the outset, my delegation would like to thank all the briefers for their detailed and informative briefings.

Bilateral Meeting between Minister Naledi Pandor and her Korean counterpart, Ms Kang Kyung-wha, OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, South Africa, 15 July 2019.

Minister Pandor holds fruitful discussions with her Republic of Korea counterpart, Dr Kang Kyung-wha. The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, had fruitful discussions earlier today with the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea (ROK), Dr Kang Kyung-wha, who has concluded a two-day Working Visit to South Africa as part of her tour of three African countries, including Ethiopia and Ghana.

Minister Pandor to hold a Bilateral Meeting with her Korean counterpart, Ms Kang Kyung-wha, on Monday, 15 July 2019, at 13h00 at the OR Tambo International Airport

Pretoria – The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, will hold a bilateral meeting with the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea (ROK), Ms Kang Kyung-wha, on Monday, 15 July 2019, at the OR Tambo International Airport.

Address by Dr GNM Pandor, Budget Vote Speech, Department of International Relations and Cooperation, on 11 July 2019 at 14h00 at the National Assembly, Parliament. Accelerating Economic Diplomacy towards a better South Africa, Africa and world. I am pleased to have the opportunity to report to this House on our progress and activities in the 2018/19 financial year and to indicate our plans for 2019/20.

Budget Vote Speech of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation delivered by Deputy Minister Alvin Botes, Cape Town, 11 July 2019. We are Proud of our Past, and Confident about the Future! We are proud of our freedom fighters, who did not flinch, who did not submit, and who prosecuted our freedom struggle for a just South Africa and a noble world order.

Minister Naledi Pandor addresses the Pre-Budget Vote Media Briefing, Cape Town, South Africa, 11 July 2019.

Photo: Yandisa Monakali / DIRCO

Media Statement by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, on the occasion of the Budget Vote Speech, 11 July 2019, Imbizo Media Centre, Parliament, Cape Town. This afternoon at 14h00, I will present the Budget Vote of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) in the National Assembly.

Minister Pandor to address Pre-Budget Vote Media Briefing

The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, will address a media briefing ahead of her presentation of the Budget Vote Speech of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), scheduled for 11 July 2019.

Deputy Minister Mashego-Dlamini to attend the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers’ Meeting. The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Candith Mashego-Dlamini, will attend the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers’ Meeting scheduled for 10 July 2019 in London, United Kingdom (UK).

President lauds launch Africa Free Trade Area Agreement. President Cyril Ramaphosa says the coming into effect of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) is a milestone that fulfils a dream crafted by the founders of the Organisation of African Union (OAU) 60 years ago when they conceptualised an integrated Africa.

Statement by Ambassador Xolisa Mabhongo, Deputy Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations, on the occasion of an Open Debate of the Security Council on the issue of “Linkages between International Terrorism and Organised Crime”, 9 July 2019. We congratulate Peru on its Presidency of the Security Council, and welcome today’s important discussion. We also thank the briefers for their insightful views on this subject.

President Ramaphosa departs South Africa for Niger to attend AU Summit. President Cyril Ramaphosa has today, 06 July 2019, departed for the Republic of Niger to participate in the 12th Extraordinary Summit of the African Union (AU) on Sunday, 07 July 2019.

Deputy Ministers/Special Envoys on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Brasilia, 5 July 2019. The BRICS Deputy Ministers/Special Envoys on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) met on 5 July 2019 in Brasília, Brazil, to exchange views on the current situation in the Middle East and North African regions.

President concludes Working Visit to Kingdom of Lesotho. President Cyril Ramaphosa has commended political parties in Lesotho on the signing of an agreement to establish a statutory National Legislative Reform Authority that will coordinate the national reforms process in the Kingdom.

Minister Pandor sends condolences following the passing away of Ambassador Ginwala. The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, has expressed her sadness at the recent passing away of the former ambassador, Dr Khorshed Ginwala. Dr Ginwala passed away on Friday, 28 June 2019, at the age of 90.

President undertakes Working Visit to Kingdom of Lesotho. President Cyril Ramaphosa will undertake a Working Visit to the Kingdom of Lesotho on Thursday 04 July 2019 during which the President and the Right Honourable Prime Minister Thomas Thabane will discuss bilateral, regional and continental issues, as well as international developments.

Air strikes on detention centre in Tripoli. South Africa has learnt with deep regret about the tragic loss of life following an airstrike on a migrant centre in Tripoli, Libya, that killed dozens of people, mainly migrants.

Minister Pandor to attend the 35th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union. The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, will attend the 35th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union (AU), scheduled to take place in Niamey, Niger, from 4 to 5 July 2019.

G20 Leaders at the 2019 G20 Summit held in Osaka, Japan, 28-29 June 2019.

Photo: GCIS

China-Africa Leaders and the UNSG Meeting ahead of the G20 Leaders’ Summit, Osaka, Japan, 28 June 2019.

Photo: GCIS

President Ramaphosa arrives in Japan for G20 Summit. President Cyril Ramaphosa has arrived in Osaka, Japan for the annual G20 Leaders' Summit taking place from 28 to 29 June 2019.

President Ramaphosa to lead South African delegation to G20 Summit in Japan. President Cyril Ramaphosa will undertake a working visit to Japan from 28 to 29 June 2019 during which the President will lead the South African delegation to the annual G20 Leaders’ Summit.

Minister Pandor concludes Working Visit to the People’s Republic of China. The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, has concluded her Working Visit to the People’s Republic of China, where she led a South African delegation of senior government officials to the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Coordinators’ Meeting, which took place from 24 to 25 June 2019 in Beijing.

Bilateral Meeting between the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, and Yang Jiechi (Member and Foreign Affairs Director of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China). Beijing, People’s Republic of China, 25 June 2019.

Photos: Katlholo Maifadi / DIRCO

Advocate Pansy Tlakula elected to serve on a UN Human Rights body. The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, has congratulated Advocate Pansy Tlakula on her election to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (the CERD).

Address by South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, at the Minister’s Breakfast in honour of the Diplomatic Corps, held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre 1, Ballroom East, Cape Town, on 22 June 2019. I wish to begin by thanking you all for accepting our invitation and attending this breakfast.

Minister Pandor to host a Breakfast Meeting with Members of the Diplomatic Corps

The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), Dr. Naledi Pandor, will host a Breakfast Meeting with Members of the Diplomatic Corps in Cape Town.

Statement by Ambassador Jerry Matjila, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations, during the UN Security Council Briefing on the situation in the Middle East, including the Question of Palestine, Thursday, 20 June 2019. I would like to thank Mr Mladenov for his briefing on the situation in the Middle East, including the question of Palestine.

Statement by Ambassador Jerry Matjila, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations, during the Security Council Briefing on the International Criminal Court and the situation in Sudan, 19 June 2019. At the outset allow me thank the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Ms Fatou Bensouda, for her comprehensive briefing on the situation in Sudan.

Opening Remarks by Ambassador Anil Sooklal, Deputy Director-General: Asia and the Middle East at DIRCO, and Chair of the IORA Committee of Senior Officials (CSO), Durban, 19 June 2019. Colleagues, a warm welcome to the Ninth Bi-annual CSO Meeting.

IORA Committee of Senior Officials to meet in Durban

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) will host the Ninth Bi-annual Meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) from 19 – 20 June 2019 in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal Province.

Address by South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, at the Fifth Annual Meeting of the ID4Africa Movement, held at Emperors Palace Convention Centre, Ekurhuleni, on 18 June 2019. I am pleased to have the honour of addressing the 5th Annual Meeting of the ID4Africa Movement.

Minister Pandor to deliver the keynote address at the Fifth Annual Meeting of the ID4Africa Movement - 18 June 2019 at Emperors Palace in Boksburg

The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, will deliver the keynote address at the opening ceremony of the Fifth Annual Meeting of the ID4Africa Movement at Emperor’s Palace, in Boksburg, on Tuesday, 18 June 2019, at 08h30.

Statement by Ambassador Jerry Matjila, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations, during the Security Council Briefing on Yemen, 17 June 2019. We thank the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General, Mr Martin Griffiths, and the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Mr Mark Lowcock and the Executive Director of the World Food Programme Mr David Beasley for their briefings.

Statement by Ambassador Jerry Matjila, Permanent Representative South Africa to the United Nations, during the Security Council Briefing on the situation in Burundi, 14 June 2019. We thank Assistant Secretary-General Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, AU Peace and Security Commissioner, Ambassador Smail Chergui and Ambassador Jürg Lauber (Switzerland), Chairperson of the Burundi Configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission for their insightful briefings on the evolving situation in Burundi and for their unwavering commitment to the process.

President Ramaphosa announces reconfigured Departments. On the 29th May 2019, President Ramaphosa announced the appointment of a reconfigured national executive following the recently held general elections. Delivering the announcement, the President committed to a process of further reforms to “promote coherence, better coordination and improved efficiency” of government.

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), 14 June 2019. My delegation would like to thank you for convening this meeting.

Statement by Ambassador Jerry Matjila, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations, during the Security Council Meeting on “Cooperation between the United Nations and Regional and Sub-Regional Organisations in maintaining Peace and Security”, 13 June 2019. We thank you once again for your stewardship of today’s Council meeting on “Cooperation between the Security Council and the League of Arab States”.

Statement by Ambassador Jerry Matjila, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations, during the Security Council Briefing on Mali, 12 June 2019. We wish to welcome His Excellency the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mali in the Council today. Minister we are pleased that you could joint us to discuss this important matter.

Statement by Ambassador Jerry Matjila, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations, during the Security Council Briefing on Protection of Civilians: Missing Persons in Armed Conflict, 11 June 2019. I would like to thank the Operations Director Ms Reena Ghelani of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Mr. Peter Maurer, for their insightful briefings.