Conclusion of the SADC Ministerial Committee of the Organ held in Tanzania. A South African Government delegation led by International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane has concluded its successful visit to Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania, where the SADC Ministerial Committee of the Organ (MCO) on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation met on 20-21 July 2017.

The SA Government calls for the release of a Palestinian Legislative Council member. The South African Government notes with concern the arrest and subsequent imprisonment of Palestinian Legislative Council member, Ms Khalida Jarrar, who was arrested in Ramallah (Area A and under Control of the Palestinian Authority) on 2 July 2017 by the occupying Israeli military.

Minister Nkoana-Mashabane travels to Tanzania to take part in a SADC Ministerial Meeting. International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane will travel to Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania, on Wednesday, 18 July 2017, where she will lead South Africa’s delegation at the SADC Ministerial Committee of the Organ (MCO) on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.

South Africa sends condolences to the Republic of India following the attack on the Amarnath Pilgrims. South Africa was deeply concerned and saddened to learn about the cowardly attack on the Amarnath Pilgrims in India on 10 July 2017, that has left scores of people dead and others injured.

Joint Communique on the occassion of the Extra Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers Meeting of the Tripartite Mechanism on Dialogue and Cooperation on 13 July 2017, Luanda, Angola. The Extra Ordinary Meeting was attended by Hon Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti, Minister of External Relations of the Republic of Angola, Honourable, Maite Nkoana- Mashabane, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa and Honourable, Leonard She Okitundu Lundula, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Ministers' meeting, was preceded by a Meeting of the Senior Officials of the three countries which was also held on the 13th of July, 2017.

Communique: Fourth Senior Officials Meeting Between South Africa and Bangladesh. The Fourth Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) between the Department of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Peoples' Republic of Bangladesh was held in Pretoria, South Africa, on 12 July 2017.

Minister Nkoana-Mashabane on a Working Visit in Qatar. International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane is on a Working Visit to the State of Qatar aimed at strengthening relations between South Africa and Qatar. The Minister paid a courtesy call on the Emir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani.

South Africa plays an active role in the AU, Daily Maverick, 11 July 2017. The article published in Daily Maverick ahead of the recent African Union Summit (AU Summit: Absence of Zuma and Ramaphosa raises eyebrows, 27 June 2017) argued that "since [Dr Nkosazana] Dlamini-Zuma stepped down from the [the position of] AU Commission chair, South Africa had shied away from occupying other important AU posts". By Clayson Monyela. Source - Daily Maverick.

Remarks by His Excellency President Jacob Zuma on the occasion of the Informal Meeting of BRICS Leaders on the margins of the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany, 07 July 2017. I would like to express our gratitude to President Xi as current chair of BRICS for convening us today, and the excellent arrangements made in this regard. The global economy is expected to register modest but positive growth in 2017.

South Africa notes ICC ruling. The South African government has taken note of the ruling today, 06 July 2017, by the Pre-Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Court relating to the travel by the Sudanese President, His Excellency Omar al-Bashir, to the African Union Summit hosted in South Africa in June 2015.

Opening Remarks by President JG Zuma, on the occasion of the 10th Session of the Bi-National Commission with the DRC, held in Pretoria, 25 June 2017. I am delighted and honoured to welcome you, Mr President, and your esteemed delegation. Considering the strong and close collaboration between our two countries, it is always a pleasure to receive and meet with our brothers and sisters from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Opening Remarks by Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Republic of South Africa, on the occasion of the 10th Session of the Bi-National Commission with the DRC, 24 June 2017, Pretoria. It is with great honour and privilege that I welcome you all to the 10th Session of the Bi-National Commission between South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo. I particularly extend a special welcome to you, Honourable Minister Leonard She Okitundu and your delegation.

Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane with her counterpart from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mr Léonard She Okitundu, Pretoria, South Africa, 24 June 2017.



Picture: Jacoline Schoonees

Minister Nkoana-Mashabane to host her DRC counterpart

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane will on Saturday, 24 June 2017, host her counterpart from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mr Léonard She Okitundu, on the occasion of the 10th session of Bi-National Commission between South Africa and the DRC. On Sunday, President Jacob Zuma will host President Joseph Kabila Kabange during his official visit to South Africa to attend the BNC.

President Zuma concludes a successful visit to Swaziland for the SACU Summit. President Jacob Zuma has today, 23 June 2017, concluded a successful visit to the Kingdom of Swaziland, where he led the South African delegation at the 5th Southern Africa Customs Union (SACU) Summit Heads of State and Government.

President Zuma sends condolences to Botswana following Former President Masire’s passing. The President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency Mr Jacob Zuma, has conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the President of the Republic of Botswana, His Excellency, Lieutenant General Seretse Khama Ian Khama, as well as the Government of Botswana following the passing away on 22 June 2017 of Former President Sir Ketumile Masire.

President Zuma arrives in Swaziland for the 5th Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Summit. President Jacob Zuma has this evening arrived in the Kingdom of Swaziland ahead of the 5th Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Summit to be held on 23 June 2017.

Statement on the Cabinet Meeting of 21 June 2017. Cabinet met on Wednesday, 21 June 2017, at Tuynhuys, Cape Town. Issues in the environment - Cabinet reflected on the recent announcements by the three major ratings agencies. All three ratings agencies raised similar issues such as the slow pace of growth-enhancing reforms, the performance of state-owned companies (SOCs) and political risks, among other issues.

President Zuma sends condolences to the Federal Republic of Germany following former Chancellor Helmut Kohl’s passing. The President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency Jacob Zuma, has on behalf of the Government and the people of South Africa conveyed a message of condolences to the Government and people of Germany following the passing on of former Chancellor Helmut Kohl.

Media Note of the Meeting of the BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs/International Relations, 18-19 June 2017, Beijing, People's Republic of China. The Ministers of Foreign Affairs/International Relations of the Federative Republic of Brazil, the Russian Federation, the Republic of India, the People's Republic of China and the Republic of South Africa, met on 18-19 June 2017 in Beijing, China.

Opening Remarks by Minister Nkoana-Mashabane at the Meeting of the BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Beijing, People's Republic of China, 19 June 2017. Allow me, first of all, to thank you His Excellency, Minister Wang Yi, for hosting us for this first formal meeting of the BRICS Ministers for Foreign Affairs and International Relations.  We are honoured to be here and look forward to our deliberations.

Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane with the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, during a Bilateral Meeting ahead of the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting, Beijing, People's Republic of China, 18 June 2017.

Picture: Jacoline Schoonees

Minister Nkoana-Mashabane arrives in Beijing for the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting. International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane arrived in Beijing, People's Republic of China, last night, 17 June 2017, where she will participate in the meeting of the BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs/International Relations, hosted by the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Wang Yi.

SA-led June Session of the Board of Governors of the IAEA successfully concludes its deliberations. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors concluded its June week-long session on Thursday, 15 June 2017, under the leadership of Ambassador Tebogo Seokolo, South Africa’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) in Vienna.

Media Accreditation for the 37th SADC Summit in Pretoria. South Africa will assume the role of Chair of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in August 2017, taking over from the Kingdom of Swaziland. The country will host the 37th Ordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government from 09th – 20th August 2017 in Pretoria. The summit will take place under the theme: “Partnering with the private sector in developing industry and regional value-chains”.

South Africa calls for calm in the Kingdom of Lesotho. The South African Government calls for calm in the Kingdom of Lesotho following the killing on the night of 14 June 2017 of Ms Lipolelo Thabane, wife of Prime Mister-elect Tom Thabane. South Africa calls on law enforcement authorities to expeditiously investigate the crime and bring the perpetrator/s to justice.

Joint Statement: 8th South Africa-United States Annual Bilateral Forum, 8 June 2017. The Embassy of the United States of America hosted the South African Government for the 8th Annual Bilateral Forum (ABF), on 8 June 2017, in Pretoria.The ABF takes place under the auspices of the South Africa-United States Strategic Dialogue, which was established in 2010 by the former United States Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, and the South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane.

President Zuma sends condolences to Namibia following the passing away of Mr Toivo ya Toivo. The President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency Jacob Zuma, has on behalf of the Government and the people of South Africa, conveyed a message of condolences to the government and the people of Namibia, following the passing on of the anti-apartheid activist, independence hero and former Minister Herman Andimba Toivo ya Toivo.

Minister Nkoana-Mashabane visits Nigeria for the Nordic-Africa Dialogue. International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane is expected to arrive in the Federal Republic of Nigeria later today, 09 June 2017, where she will take part in the 16th Africa-Nordic Dialogue of Foreign Ministers, scheduled for 10 June 2017 in the capital, Abuja.

South African Government conveys condolences to the Republic of Zimbabwe following a tragic bus accident that killed 43 people and injured 24 passengers. The Government and people of South Africa convey their deepest sympathies and condolences to the Government and people of the Republic of Zimbabwe, following a tragic bus accident on 7 June 2017, along the Harare-Chirundu Highway, which veered off the road and rammed into a tree, leaving 43 people dead and 24 injured.

DIRCO hosts Member of Cuban 5. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), in partnership with the Cuban Embassy, hosted a discussion forum with Mr Fernando González, one of the Cuban 5 and the President of the Cuban Institute for Peoples Friendship (ICAP), on 8 June 2017 at O.R. Tambo Building.

Deputy Minister Mfeketo to host an outreach programme in Port Elizabeth

The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Nomaindiya Mfeketo, will host an outreach programme in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape Province, where she is expected to interact with the community on South Africa’s roles and responsibilities in the world.

Statement on the Cabinet Meeting of 7 June 2017. Issues in the Environment - Cabinet reiterates President Jacob Zuma’s call for South Africans to unite against violence and abuse of women and children, and calls on all South Africans to take urgent steps to eradicate this scourge in our communities.

South Africa condemns latest terrorist attack in the United Kingdom. The South African Government joins the international community in strongly condemning the latest terrorist attack in the United Kingdom. The attack, which took place on the night of 03 June 2017 in the city of London, claimed the lives of several people and left others injured.

South African Government reacts to United States of America’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. The international community regards climate change as the single biggest threat to wellbeing, health and socio-economic development facing humanity this century. Its impacts are widespread, unprecedented and disproportionately burdens to the poorest and most vulnerable.

SA sends condolences to Sri Lanka following mudslide. The Government and people of South Africa convey their deepest sympathies and condolences to the Government and people of the Republic of Sri Lanka following a mudslide that killed at least 200 people and left over half a million Sri Lankans displaced.

Keynote Address by Deputy Minister Nomaindiya Mfeketo at the Workshop in Commemoration of the 30th Anniversary of the 1987 Dakar Conference. Thank you for the opportunity to address you this morning on this occasion in commemoration of the 30th Anniversary of the historic Dakar Conference which took place in 1987.

Deputy Minister Nomaindiya Mfeketo speaks at the Africa Day Publice Lecture, CPUT, Belleville, Cape Town, South Africa, 26 May 2017.

Picture: Gladwin Komane