Deputy Minster Botes embarks on a Back-to-School campaign

The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Alvin Botes, is embarking on a “back to school” campaign aimed at encouraging learners to focus on their education, which has been identified as one government’s key priorities.

Deadline for Ubuntu Awards 2020 nominations. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) is scheduled to host the 2020 edition of the annual Ubuntu Awards in Cape Town on Saturday, 15 February 2020, under the theme: “Celebrating Excellence in Diplomacy – Working Together to Build a Better Africa and a Better World”.

Joint Communiqué of the 10th Session of the Joint Ministerial Commission between the Republic of India and the Republic of South Africa, New Delhi, 17 January 2020. His Excellency, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, the Honourable Minister of External Affairs of the Republic of India (EAM) and Her Excellency Dr. Naledi Pandor, the Honourable Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa (SAFM), co-chaired the 10th Session of the Joint Ministerial Commission on 17 January 2020 in New Delhi.

President Ramaphosa will not attend Davos and London events. The Presidency can confirm that President Cyril Ramaphosa will not attend the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, from 21 to 24 January 2020, and the UK-Africa Investment Summit in London on Monday 20 January 2020.

Ministerial Address by Minister Naledi Pandor at the Fifth Raisina Dialogue Conference, New Delhi, India 16 January 2020.

Photo: Yandisa Monakali / DIRCO

Address at Raisina Dialogue, India by South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, 16 January 2020: ‘Education as a foundation for democracies, development and Multilateralism'. I wish to thank the foundation for inviting me to speak at and attend the Raisina Dialogues, a critical forum for the exchange of ideas and reflection on innovative solutions to the complex challenges that all leaders are required to respond to.

Minister Pandor to attend the Fifth Raisina Dialogue Conference and co-chair South Africa – India Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) in India, 14-17 January 2020. The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, will participate in the Fifth Raisina Dialogue Conference, as well as co-chair the South Africa - India Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) with her counterpart, the Indian Minister of External Affairs, Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in New Delhi in India.

Joint Communiqué on the occasion of an Official Visit of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali of Ethiopia to South Africa. At the invitation of President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, the Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, H.E. Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali, paid an Official Visit to the Republic of South Africa from 11 to 12 January 2020, which is the first state level exchange of visits between the two countries.

President Ramaphosa to host Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali on an Official Visit

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Sunday, 12 January 2020, host the Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, His Excellency Dr Abiy Ahmed Ali, on an Official Visit at the Union Buildings in Tshwane.

President calls for peaceful resolution of US-Iran tension. President Cyril Ramaphosa has held discussions with President Hassan Rouhani of the Islamic Republic of Iran to express South Africa’s interest in a peaceful and just resolution of the tension between Iran and the United States.

Statement by Ambassador Jerry Matjila, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations, during the Security Council Open Debate on the Maintenance of International Peace and Security: Upholding the Charter of the United Nations, 09 January 2020. As this is the first open debate for the year 2020, South Africa would like to use this opportunity of welcoming the new elected members, Estonia, Niger, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tunisia and Vietnam to the Council.

South Africa conveys its sincere condolences to the Government and People of Ukraine following the tragic aircraft crash near Tehran. The South African Government and the People of South Africa express great sadness and convey their sincere condolences to the Government of Ukraine in the wake of the fatal aircraft crash which claimed the lives of 176 passengers, of various nationalities, and crew near the Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran on Wednesday, 8 January 2020, shortly after take-off.

Statement by Ambassador Xolisa Mabhongo, Deputy Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations, during the Security Council Meeting on UNOWAS, 8 January 2020. I thank SRSG Chambas for his briefing and would like to use this opportunity to commend the efforts of the SRSG and his team in efficiently discharging their mandate amidst an increasingly challenging environment.

South Africa calls for calm in Iraq. The South African Government is alarmed by the escalating tension in Iraq, which has far reaching ramifications not only for the Middle East region, but also for international peace and security.

Deputy Minister Botes to host Bilateral Consultations with his Italian counterpart

The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Alvin Botes, will co- chair the inaugural meeting of the South Africa-Italy Bilateral Consultations with his counterpart, Ms Emanuela Del Re, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in Pretoria on Friday, 13 December 2019.

Deputy Minister Botes to host bilateral consultations with his Italian counterpart. The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Alvin Botes, will co-chair the inaugural meeting of the South Africa-Italy Bilateral Consultations with his counterpart, Ms Emanuela Del Re, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in Pretoria on Friday, 13 December 2019.

President Cyril Ramaphosa meets with the Heads of Mission Designate at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), Pretoria, South Africa, 12 December 2019.

Photo: Jacoline Schoonees / DIRCO

Deputy Minister Botes concludes Working Visit to the Ninth ACP Summit in Kenya. The Deputy Minister of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Alvin Botes, has concluded his Working Visit to Nairobi, Republic of Kenya, where he led a South African delegation to the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Summit held in Nairobi, Kenya, on 09-10 December 2019.

Edward K Ndopu receives an award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to human rights advocacy at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) – United Nations (UN) Seminar on: “South Africa in the Multilateral World”, OR Tambo Building, Pretoria, South Africa, 10 December 2019.

Photo: Jacoline Schoonees / DIRCO

Deputy Minister Mashigo-Dlamini to speak at the launch of the UN Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty

The Deputy Minister of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Candith Mashego-Dlamini, will on Monday, 09 December 2019, deliver remarks at the launch of the Third United Nations (UN) Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty.

Deputy Minister Botes leads South African delegation at the Ninth ACP Summit. The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Alvin Botes, is leading a South African delegation at the Ninth Summit of Heads of State and Government of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) taking place in Nairobi, Kenya, from 06 to 10 December 2019.

President pays Working Visits to Guinea Conakry, Ghana and Togo. President Cyril Ramaphosa will today, Tuesday, 03 December 2019, depart from Cape Town to undertake working visits to the Republic of Guinea on 4 December 2019, Republic of Ghana on 5 December 2019 and Republic of Togo on 6 December 2019.

Tribute by Minister Dr Naledi Pandor on the occasion of the Memorial Service in honour of the late Ambassador Radhi-Sghaiar Bachir of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic to South Africa, DIRCO Conference Centre, 2 December 2019. At the very onset, allow me to take this opportunity to thank you all for honouring our invitation to honour our colleague, brother, friend, and most of all comrade - His Excellency Ambassador Radhi-Sgaiar Bachir of Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic to South Africa who passed on 27 November 2019, after a short illness.

Minister Pandor to deliver the eulogy at the Memorial Service of the Saharawi Ambassador to South Africa

The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, will deliver the eulogy at the memorial service of His Excellency Mr. Radhi-Sghaiar Bachir, Ambassador of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic to the Republic of South Africa in Pretoria.

United Nations International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, Pretoria, South Africa, 28 November 2019.

Photo: Katlholo Maifadi / DIRCO

United Nations International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. This year marks 42 years since the United Nations (UN) General Assembly established the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

Minister Pandor sends message of condolences following the passing of the Saharawi Ambassador to South Africa. The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, has learnt with shock and sadness of the passing of His Excellency Mr. Radhi-Sghaiar Bachir, Ambassador of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic to the Republic of South Africa.

Postponement of the Annual Diplomatic Fun Fair. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has taken the decision to postpone indefinitely the 2019 Annual Diplomatic Fun Fair, which was scheduled to take place on Saturday, 30 November 2019, at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

The role of civil society in advancing human security, Opinionista, Daily Maverick, by Naledi Pandor, 27 November 2019. Many researchers and social commentators have increasingly asserted the significant role that civil society organisations can play in addressing human security in South Africa and in many developing countries.

Media Briefing by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) to African journalists on South Africa’s approach to its role as Chair of the African Union (AU), OR Tambo Building, Pretoria, South Africa, 27 November 2019.

Photo: Jacoline Schoonees / DIRCO

DIRCO to brief visiting African journalists on SA’s approach to its role as Chair of the AU

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) will on Wednesday, 27 November 2019, brief a media delegation from several African countries, including Ghana, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, on South Africa’s approach to its role as Chair of the Africa Union (AU) for the year 2020.

South Africa’s Statement on current developments in the State of Palestine. The Government of South Africa reaffirms that in terms of globally accepted international law, the Israeli settlements are illegal.

Statement delivered by Deputy Minister Mashego-Dlamini during the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting in Nagoya, Japan, 23 November 2019. Allow me to congratulate Japan on successfully co-hosting, with the African Union Commission, TICAD-7 in Yokohama in August this year with the successful adoption of the Yokohama Declaration and its priorities of African development premised on people, technology and innovation.

Official Dinner hosted by the Foreign Minister of Japan, Mr MOTEGI Toshimitsu, Nagoya, Japan, 22 November 2019.

Photo: Katlholo Maifadi / DIRCO

Bilateral Meeting between Deputy Minister Candith Mashego-Dlamini and the Secretary for International Trade Economic Affairs and the G20 Sherpa, Ambassador Norberto Moretti, of Brazil, on the margins of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Nagoya, Japan, 22 November 2019.

Photo: Katlholo Maifadi / DIRCO

Deputy Minister Mashego-Dlamini leads South Africa’s delegation to the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting in Japan. The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Candith Mashego-Dlamini, will lead a South African delegation to the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting scheduled for 22-23 November 2019 in Nagoya, Japan.

Conclusion of the Diplomatic Conference on the adoption of the Mining, Agricultural and Construction Equipment (MAC) Protocol. The Government of the Republic of South Africa, in collaboration with the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT), hosted a Diplomatic Conference that adopted an international treaty that facilitates the financing of Mining, Agricultural and Construction (MAC) equipment.

Statement on the Cabinet Meeting of 20 November 2019. Statement on the Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday 20 November 2019. Issues in the environment - South Africa Investment Conference (SAIC) - Cabinet reflected on the positive outcomes of the SAIC and the Africa Investment Forum (AIF) held from 5 to 7 November and from 11 to 13 November, respectively.

Statement by Ambassador Jerry Matjila Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations, during the Security Council Debate on Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace: The Role of Reconciliation in the Maintenance of International Peace and Security, 19 November 2019. Mr President, I wish to begin by thanking the Secretary-General, Professor Alpaslan Özerdem and Ms Ilwad Elman for their briefings on this very important topic on the role and value of reconciliation in the maintenance of international peace and security.

Media Statement by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor on South Africa’s Presidency of the United Nations Security Council, 18 November 2019. Welcome to this briefing in which we will provide an overview of the outcomes of South Africa’s Presidency of the United Nation’s Security Council (UNSC) in October and the progress achieved in our thematic areas.