Statement by HE Ambassador J M Matjila, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations, Open Video Teleconference (VTC) Meeting of the United Nations Security Council titled, “Humanitarian Effects of Environmental Degradation and Peace and Security”, New York, 17 September 2020. Allow me to first congratulate Niger on its Presidency of the Security Council for the month of September 2020 and for convening this meeting to highlight the potential impact of environmental degradation on peace and security situations.

Statement by the Permanent Mission of South Africa to the United Nations, during the United Nations Security Council Briefing on Protecting Civilians affected by Conflict Induced Hunger, 17 September 2020. Thank you for convening this briefing to address conflict induced hunger.

Minister Naledi Pandor participates in the IBSA Joint Ministerial Meeting on Reform of the United Nations (UN) Security Council, Pretoria, South Africa, 16 September 2020.

Photos: Katlholo Maifadi / DIRCO

Online Lecture at the WITS School of Governance on the theme ‘South Africa’s place in the changing Global Order’ delivered by Dr Naledi Pandor, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, 16 September 2020. Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today on the theme of South Africa’s place in the changing global order.

Statement by Ambassador Jerry Matjila, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations, during the Security Council Meeting on Yemen, 15 September 2020. We thank Special Envoy, Martin Griffiths, and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Aid (OCHA) Under Secretary-General, Mark Lowcock, for their briefings.

Speech delivered by Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Alvin Botes (MP), at the handover ceremony of the United Kingdom Government donation to the Solidarity Fund on Monday, 14 September 2020. South Africa’s foreign policy disposition present itself in the form of four concentric circles, with Africa in the inner circle, followed by the Global South; deepen cooperation with the industrialised and developed North and the heightening of Global Multilateralism.

Deputy Minister Botes to receive United Kingdom (UK) Government’s donation to the Solidarity Fund

The Deputy Minister of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Alvin Botes, will on Monday, 14 September 2020, participate in the signing ceremony marking the United Kingdom Government's donation of an amount of money to the Solidarity Fund.

Statement by Ambassador Jerry Matjila, Permanent Representative of South Africa on behalf of Niger, Tunisia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines & South Africa (A3+1), during the Security Council Meeting on Peacekeeping Operations, 14 September 2020. This statement is delivered on behalf of Niger, Tunisia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and South Africa (the A3+1).

Statement by the Permanent Mission of South Africa to the United Nations, during the Security Council Open Video Teleconference (VTC) Meeting on Syria - Chemical Weapons, 10 September 2020. Allow me to thank Ms Izumi Nakamitzu (High Representative for Disarmament Affairs) for her briefing to the Security Council, and the Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (the OPCW) for his 83rd Report.

Statement by Ambassador Jerry Matjila, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations, during the Security Council Meeting on the implementation of Resolution 2532 (COVID-19 Pandemic), 9 September 2020. I thank you for convening this meeting to allow the Security Council to be informed on the implementation of Resolution 2532 (2020).

Statement by Ambassador Jerry Matjila, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations, during the United Nations Security Council Meeting on Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and sub-regional organisations: Role of the International Organisation of the Francophonie, 8 September 2020. I wish to extend our appreciation to HE Mr Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and the Chair of Council of the Ministers of the International Organisation of the Francophonie; Ms Bintou Keita, Assistant Secretary-General for the Department of Political Affairs and Peacebuilding; and the Secretary-General of the OIF, Ms Louise Mushikiwabo for their briefings.

Minister Pandor to lead SA delegation at the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, will lead the South African delegation at the extraordinary G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting scheduled to be held virtually on Thursday, 03 September 2020, from 14h00 to 16h00 (South African time).

Statement by the Permanent Mission of South Africa to the United Nations on the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Thursday, 3 September 2020. I wish to thank Ms Deborah Lyons (Special Representative and Head of UNAMA) and Mr Saad Mohseni (Chief Executive of the MOBY Group) for their insightful briefings.

Minister Pandor to host the 2020 Gertrude Shope Annual Dialogue Forum

The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, is scheduled to host the 2020 Gertrude Shope Annual Dialogue Forum, to be held virtually from 27 – 28 August 2020.

Statement by the Permanent Mission of South Africa to the United Nations, during the United Nations Security Council Meeting on the Humanitarian situation in Syria, 27 August 2020. I would like to thank Acting Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Mr Ramesh Rajasingham, for his frank and insightful briefing on the humanitarian situation in Syria.

Statement by the Permanent Mission of South Africa to the United Nations, during the Security Council Meeting on Iraq, 26 August 2020. We thank the Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), Ms Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, for her briefing. South Africa supports and continues to have confidence in your efforts.

Statement on the virtual Cabinet Meeting of 26 August 2020. Issues in the Environment - Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Alert Level 2 - The move from Alert Level 3 to Alert Level 2 of the national lockdown with effect from 18 August 2020 has resulted in the welcome relaxation of restrictions on some of the socio-economic activities.

President Ramaphosa reprimands Minister Mboweni for inappropriate comment. The President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency Cyril Ramaphosa, has strongly reprimanded the Minister of Finance, Mr Tito Mboweni, following comments made by the Minister on social media regarding the removal of Zambia’s Central Bank Governor by President Edgar Lungu.

Statement by the Permanent Mission of South Africa to the United Nations, during the UNSC Briefing on threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts - Isil/Da’esh Strategic Report, 24 August 2020. We congratulate Indonesia on its successful Presidency of the Security Council and thank the briefers for their insightful perspectives on the Secretary-General’s Eleventh Strategic-Level Report on the threat posed by ISIL (Da’esh) to international peace and security and the range of United Nations efforts in support of Member States in countering the threat.

Communiqué of the 40th Ordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government, 17 August 2020. The 40th Ordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) was held virtually on the 17th August 2020.

Statement by President Cyril Ramaphosa on progress in the national effort to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, 15 August 2020. It has been five months since we declared a national state of disaster to combat to the coronavirus pandemic. As I said then, and as I repeat now, never before in the history of our democracy has our country been confronted with such a severe threat – a situation that has demanded an extraordinary response and much sacrifice.

Explanation of Vote by the Republic of South Africa on the proposed resolution by the United States of America on Annex B of Resolution 2231 (2015), 14 August 2020. South Africa views the JCPOA as one of most important diplomatic achievements in the area of nuclear non-proliferation since the signing of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).

United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel Peace Agreement. The South African Government has noted with concern, the developments regarding the normalisation of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which took place on Thursday, 13 August 2020.

Minister Pandor hosts webinar with women diplomats on gender equality. The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, will on Friday, 14 August 2020, host a webinar, which forms part of a series of activities marking the Women’s Month.

Minister Pandor to lead a South African delegation to a virtual meeting of the SADC Council of Ministers. The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, MP, will lead a South African delegation to attend the virtual Southern African Development Community (SADC) Council of Ministers, scheduled to take place today, 13 August 2020.

Statement by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, Dr Naledi Pandor, at the United Nations Security Council Debate on the Pandemics and Sustaining Peace. At a time when the world is only beginning to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and efforts are being made in various international forums to deal with the multitude of adverse impacts, we thank Indonesia, through you Minister Marsudi, for convening this Security Council debate prioritising sustaining peace in the midst of pandemics.

Minister Pandor to participate on the United Nations Security Council Debate on the Pandemics and Sustainable Peace – Today, 12 August 2020 – 16h00 – 17h30. The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor will this afternoon, 12 August 2020 at 16h00 – 17h30 participate on the United Nations Security Council Debate on Pandemics and Sustainability Peace, under the Presidency of Indonesia.

Deputy Minister Botes to address virtual dialogue on Silencing the Guns. The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Corporation, Mr Alvin Botes, will on Wednesday, 12 August 2020, address the 2020 International Youth Day virtual dialogue on Silencing the Guns in our lifetime: Peace and Security Agenda.

Minister Pandor saddened by the passing away of Ambassador Nkadimeng. The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, has expressed sadness at the loss of Ambassador John Nkadimeng, who passed away on Thursday, 06 August 2020, at the age of 93.

Statement on the virtual Cabinet Meeting of Wednesday, 5 August 2020. Focus on Corruption - Abuse of resources for Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) interventions - Cabinet reflected with disappointment on recent reports of acts of corruption and theft of the much-needed resources that government has allocated to save lives and livelihoods during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Deputy Minister Botes visits the Karoo and Southern Cape as part of Cabinet deployment to combat Gender-Based Violence and COVID-19. The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Alvin Botes (MP), will visit the Karoo (Prince Albert) and the Southern Cape from 02 – 05 August 2020 in response to the Cabinet Meeting of 27 May 2020, which allocated Ministers and Deputy Ministers to become District Champions for specific Districts and Metros.

Minister Pandor thanks the IAEA for the assistance provided to South Africa in the fight against COVID-19. The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, has on behalf of the South African Government expressed appreciation to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), based in Vienna, Austria, for the assistance that the Agency is providing to South Africa in the form of test kit packages aimed at hastening the country’s detection and testing capabilities for COVID-19.

Statement by Ambassador Jerry Matjila, the Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations, during the United Nations Security Council Video Teleconference Meeting on the Humanitarian situation in Syria, 29 July 2020. Let me begin by thanking, Mr Mark Lowcock (Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs) for his frank briefing on the humanitarian situation in Syria. We also thank Ms Amany Qaddour, Regional Director of Syria Relief and Development, for her briefing.

Statement by Ambassador Jerry Matjila, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations, during the Security Council Meeting on Yemen, 28 July 2020. We thank Special Envoy, Martin Griffiths; Chair of the Redeployment Coordination Committee, Gen. Abhijit Guha; Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Aid (OCHA), Acting Assistant Secretary-General, Ramesh Rajasingham; Chairperson of the Arab Human Rights Foundation, Dr Raja Abdullah Ahmed Almasabi; and General Coordinator (Yemen of Medecins du Monde), Wafa`a Aisaidy, for their briefings.

Statement by Ambassador Xolisa Mabhongo, Deputy Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations, during the United Nations Security Council Video Teleconference Meeting on the Maintenance of International Peace and Security: Climate and Security, 24 July 2020. We thank the Secretary-General as well as the briefers for their contribution on this matter.

Statement by President Cyril Ramaphosa on progress in the national effort to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, Union Buildings, Tshwane, 23 July 2020. I wish to address you this evening on two matters that are of great interest and concern to South Africans as we struggle to overcome the Coronavirus pandemic. The first issue is the re-opening of schools and the second is the management of the resources that we have dedicated towards the fight against COVID-19.

Message of Condolence by Dr Naledi Pandor, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, on the Passing of Tata Andrew Mlangeni. The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, has learnt with sadness the passing of the last Rivonia Trialist, struggle icon and Isithwalandwe Seaparankwe, Tata Andrew Mlangeni.

Let’s work together to create a just global order that radiates the values of Nelson Mandela, Daily Maverick, by Naledi Pandor, 21 July 2020. The pandemic has caused mass destruction of an already brittle global socio-economic landscape. At this moment of re-imagining President Mandela, we should be re-emboldened to create a new vision, based on a moral and ethical foundation of our current international system.

Statement by Ambassador Jerry Matjila, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations, during the Security Council Open Video Teleconference Meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the question of Palestine, 21 July 2020. We wish to welcome the participation of Mr Miguel Berger, the State Secretary of the Federal Foreign Office of Germany, in today’s meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the question of Palestine and for presiding over our deliberations here today.

Minister Pandor to participate in a Virtual Meeting of the UN General Assembly to observe the annual Nelson Mandela International Day. The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, will participate in a virtual meeting of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to observe the annual Nelson Mandela International Day. The virtual meeting is planned for Monday, 20 July 2020, from 16h00-17h30 (South African time) and can be viewed via webcast on UN WebTV (http://webtv.un.org).

Minister Pandor congratulates Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng following her appointment to a UN role. The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, has congratulated Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng following her appointment to an important position at the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

Advert for the AU Commission positions. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) wishes to invite applications from the public and private sector employees and civil society with the requisite seniority, experience and rich background knowledge of African politics for consideration as nominee for the following positions at the African Union (AU) – Deputy Chairperson of the AU Commission; Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security; and Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation.

Joint Press Release: 14th European Union - South Africa Ministerial Political Dialogue, July 2020 (by Video Conference). The European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission, Mr Josep Borrell Fontelles; and the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, Dr Naledi Pandor, co-chaired the 14th Session of the Ministerial Political Dialogue in the context of the Strategic Partnership on 14 July 2020, by video-conference.

Remarks by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the launch of the 2020 Report of the UN Secretary-General’s Independent Accountability Panel for every Woman, Every Child, 13 July 2020. Thank you for the opportunity to participate in this event, which addresses some of the most important issues facing humanity today. The Coronavirus pandemic is testing the social, economic and political resilience of many countries around the world but more especially developing countries.

Minister Pandor expresses her condolences on the passing of Zindzi Mandela, South Africa’s Ambassador to Denmark. The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, has learnt with shock of the news of the passing of South Africa’s Ambassador to Denmark, Ms Zindzi Mandela.

Statement by President Cyril Ramaphosa on progress in the national effort to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, Union Buildings, Tshwane, 12 July 2020. This evening, as I stand here before you, our nation is confronted by the gravest crisis in the history of our democracy. For more than 120 days, we have succeeded in delaying the spread of a virus that is causing devastation across the globe. We delayed the spread of the virus by working together and by maintaining our resolve.

Statement on the Virtual Cabinet Meeting of Friday, 10 July and 12 July 2020. Update on Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) - Cabinet received a status report from the National Coronavirus Command Council.

Middle East peace plan must guarantee sovereign equality between Palestine and Israel Daily Maverick, by Alvin Botes, 10 July 2020. South Africa, as a member of the United Nations Security Council, will continue to support all efforts aimed at the establishment of a viable, contiguous Palestinian state, existing side-by-side and in peace with Israel, within internationally recognised borders.

Statement by Ambassador Jerry Matjila, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations, during the Video Teleconference (VTC) Security Council Meeting on Peace Operations and Human Rights, 7 July 2020. The Minister of Defence of Germany, HE Ms Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, it is an honour to have you, your Excellency Chair this debate.

Statement by Ambassador Jerry Matjila, Permanent Representative of the Republic of South Africa, during the Security Council Video Teleconference (VTC) Meeting on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Peace and Security, 2 July 2020. I thank the President, Minister Heiko Maas, for convening this briefing on the maintenance of peace and security focusing on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic.

South Africa condemns Israel's planned annexation of Palestinian territories. The South African Government remains gravely concerned at the intention of Israel to proceed with its unilateral action to annex strategic areas of the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) in the West Bank and Jordan Valley, from 1 July 2020.

Deputy Minister Alvin Botes visits the COVID-19 Humanitarian Staging Area, OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA), Kempton Park, South Africa, 1 July 2020.

Photos: Jacoline Schoonees / DIRCO