President Ramaphosa to deliver a Welcome Address at the SADC Solidarity Conference with Western Sahara

President Cyril Ramaphosa will tomorrow, 26 March 2019, deliver his welcome address at the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Solidarity Conference with the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic or Western Sahara.

Media Arrangements for the SADC Solidarity Conference with Western Sahara

South Africa and Namibia will co-host the SADC Solidarity Conference with Western Sahara, on 25-26 March 2019 in Pretoria. This comes after the 37th Summit of the SADC Heads of State and Government resolved to convene the Solidarity Conference with Western Sahara.

Information on media accreditation for the SADC Solidarity Conference with Western Sahara

Media will be expected to present themselves in person at the Denis Adami Hall (1171 Wren St, Queenswood) in Pretoria for live accreditation. The accreditation centre will be operational on 22 – 26 March 2019 from 08h00 to 17h00.

Minister Sisulu to address Western Cape students on international relations and solidarity

The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Hon Lindiwe Sisulu, will tomorrow, 20 March 2019, deliver a keynote address to Western Cape students on: “the role of the student movement in strengthening international relations and solidarity”.

Minister Sisulu thanks South Africans for responding to the call for humanitarian assistance. The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Lindiwe Sisulu, has expressed her sincere gratitude to all the South African companies, NGOs and individuals who have responded, and are still responding, to the call for humanitarian assistance for victims affected by Cyclone Idai in Malawi, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

United Nations Human Rights Council adopts Resolution to support Caster Semenya, Geneva, UNHRC, 21 March 2019. The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) today adopted a resolution tabled by South Africa to defend Caster Semenya’s rights to participate in sport.

Statement delivered by Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, H.E. Mr Luwellyn Landers, at the Second High Level Meeting on South-South Cooperation, on 20 March 2019. It is an honour and privilege for me to attend and participate in the deliberations of this important conference.

Postponement of the Monthly Media Briefing scheduled for today. Due to urgent events, The Ministry regrets that the Media Briefing scheduled for 10h00 has to be postponed to a later time, we will make further announcement later.

Minister Sisulu to host the DIRCO Monthly Media Briefing

The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Lindiwe Sisulu, will tomorrow, 19 March 2019, hold her Monthly Media Briefing with members of the press.

Statement by Ambassador Jerry Matjila, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations, during the UN Security Council Meeting on the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, New York, 18 March 2019. At the outset let me join others in thanking the Special Representative and Head of the UN Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), Ms Leila Zerrougui, as well as Ms Anny Tenga Modi of the civil society organization AFIA MAMA.

South Africa sends a message of condolences to New Zealand following the Christchurch Mosque massacre. On behalf of the Government and the people of South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa sends a message of condolences to the Government and the people of New Zealand following the massacre that took place at two mosques in Christchurch on 15 March 2019.

South Africa and Vietnam conclude fruitful Bilateral Talks. The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Reginah Mhaule, hosted her Vietnamese counterpart, Deputy Minister Quoc Cuong, on Friday, 15 March 2019, on the occasion of the 4th Meeting of the South Africa-Vietnam Intergovernmental Partnership Forum for Economic, Trade, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Co-operation.

Deputy Minister Mhaule hosts her Vietnamese counterpart for Bilateral Talks

The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Reginah Mhaule, will host her Vietnamese counterpart, Deputy Minister Nguyen Quoc Cuong, on the occasion of the Fourth Partnership Forum between South Africa and Vietnam.

South Africa hands over humanitarian package to Zimbabwe. Following the successful two-day Bi-National Commission between Zimbabwe and South Africa, held in Harare, the Ministers of International Relations and Cooperation and Transport, Hon. Lindiwe Sisulu, and Hon. Blade Nzimande, respectively, handed over a humanitarian package to the people of Zimbabwe on behalf of the NGO, Gift of the Givers.

Joint Communiqué on the Third Session of the Bi-National Commission between Zimbabwe and South Africa, 7 - 12 March 2019, Harare, Zimbabwe. At the invitation of His Excellency, Cde Emmerson Dambudzo MNANGAGWA, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, His Excellency, Cde Matamela Cyril RAMAPHOSA, President of the Republic of South Africa, paid an Official Visit to Zimbabwe from 11 - 12 March 2019, for the Third Session of the Bi-National Commission (BNC) between the two countries.

Minister Sisulu welcomes the progress made in returning the ashes of Ms Bhengu. The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Lindiwe Sisulu, has welcomed progress made in returning the ashes of Ms Buhle Bhengu with the family to South Africa.

Statement by Ambassador Jerry Matjila, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations, during the Security Council Briefing on the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), 11 March 2019. Thank you for convening this briefing on the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) this morning.

South Africa observes Commonwealth Day. Today, 11 March 2019, Commonwealth countries, as a symbol of their solidarity, are observing Commonwealth Day under the theme: “A Connected Commonwealth.”

Statement by the Leader of Government Business and MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Sihle Zikalala, on the repatriation of the mortal remains of Ms Buhle Bhengu and visit to the Bhengu family Umlazi H Section, 11 March 2019. Greetings to the Members of the media, we thank you for coming to this short media briefing. As you all know, over the past week and few days, the Bhengu family has been in mourning following the untimely death of Ms Buhle Bhengu.

President Ramaphosa sends condolences to Ethiopia following plane crash. President Cyril Ramaphosa has, on behalf of the Government and the people of South Africa, expressed his great sadness and sent a message condolences to affected families following this morning's crash of an Ethiopian Airlines plane.

Update on a South African citizen who died in The Bahamas. The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Lindiwe Sisulu, has received a report from the High Commissioner of South Africa in Kingston, Jamaica, with non-resident accreditation to The Bahamas, High Commissioner Lumka Yengeni, on all circumstances and engagements surrounding the passing of Ms Buhle Bhengu.

Minister Sisulu calls on women to be at the centre of conflict resolution.The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Lindiwe Sisulu, MP, has wished all women a happy International Women’s Day by calling on them to be at the centre of conflict resolution, mediation and peacekeeping. This comes as the international community marks International Women’s Day on 8 March under the theme: “Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change”.

Opening Remarks by Deputy Minister R Mhaule, at the Ninth Deputy Ministerial Working Group Meeting (DMWG) between the Republic of South Africa and the Islamic Republic of Iran, 08 March 2019, Cape Town. It is my pleasure to welcome you to Cape Town today for the 8th Session of the Deputy Ministerial Working Group Meeting.

Deputy Minister Mhaule hosts her Iranian counterpart in Cape Town

The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Reginah Mhaule, will host the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Dr Abbas Araghchi, on the occasion of the Ninth Deputy Ministerial Working Group Meeting (DMWG) on 08 March 2019 in Cape Town.

DIRCO to mark International Women’s Day

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) will on Friday, 08 March 2019, host an event to mark International Women’s Day under the theme: “Think equal, build smart, innovate for change”.

Statement by Ambassador Jerry Matjila, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations, on the Briefing to the Security Council by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), 7 March 2019. Thank you for facilitating today’s briefing by the Chairperson-in-Office of the Organisation for Security and Co-Operation in Europe, Mr Miroslav Lajčák, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic.

Deputy Minister Mhaule hosts her Iranian counterpart in Cape Town. The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Reginah Mhaule, will host the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Dr Abbas Araghchi, on the occasion of the Ninth Deputy Ministerial Working Group Meeting (DMWG) on 08 March 2019 in Cape Town.

Opening Remarks by Deputy Minister Landers during his Working Lunch with the European Union Ambassadors accredited to South Africa, Pretoria, 05 March 2019. I wish to commence by expressing my sincere thanks to the European Union Delegation to South Africa for the invitation to this luncheon and I am grateful for the opportunity to engage with you all today.

Joint Communiqué following the 8th Forum for Political Dialogue between South Africa and France, held in Pretoria on 28 February 2019. The 8th South Africa – France Forum for Political Dialogue, co-chaired by the South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms L N Sisulu and the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Mr Jean-Yves le Drian took place in Pretoria, on 28 February 2019.

Statement by Ambassador Jerry Matjila, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations, during the Security Council Meeting on Myanmar, 28 February 2019. South Africa thanks the Special Envoy, Ms Christine Schraner Burgener, for her informative briefing following her recent visit to the region. We also wish to commend Ms Burgener for her continued efforts in finding solutions to this crisis, including through engagement with all parties.

Statement delivered by the Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations, Ambassador Jerry Matjila, during the United Nations Security Council Briefing on the political situation in Syria, 28 February 2019. The South Africa delegation would like join others in thanking the Special Envoy for Syria, Mr Geir Pedersen, for his insightful and forward-looking briefing.

South Africa reaffirms support for inclusive, political dialogue in Venezuela at the UN Security Council. The UN Security Council voted today, Thursday, 28 February 2019, on two divergent resolutions on the situation in Venezuela presented by the United States of America (USA) and the Russian Federation.

Minister Sisulu to host her French counterpart in Pretoria

The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Lindiwe Sisulu, will co-chair the Eighth Session of the South Africa-France Forum for Political Dialogue (FPD) with the French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Mr Jean-Yves Le Drian, in Pretoria.

President Ramaphosa congratulates President Buhari on his re-election. President Cyril Ramaphosa has congratulated his Nigerian counterpart, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, following his successful re-election to the position of President of the Republic of Nigeria as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Opening Remarks by Mr Luwellyn Landers, MP, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa, at the Western Sahara Side-Event, on 27 February 2019, on the European Union and its Member State’s responsibility for the Decolonisation of Western Sahara. It is a great pleasure and privilege for me to be here today to deliver opening remarks in my capacity as Deputy Minister for International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa.

Statement by Ambassador Jerry Matjila, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations, during the Open Briefing of the United Nations Security Council, 26 February 2019. We are grateful for the informative briefing provided by Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Ms Rosemary DiCarlo.

South Africa deposits its Instrument of Ratification of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Today, 25 February 2019, South Africa will join a growing number of states in submitting its Instrument of Ratification of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) to the United Nations (UN) in New York.