INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION MINISTER, MS MAITE NKOANA-MASHABANE has urged the southern African region and the rest of the continent to stand united in support of the incoming AUC Commission chairperson, Dr Nkosazana Dlaimini-Zuma.

“We carry a burden of responsibility to our citizens and the continent of Africa to establish a strong and viable regional political landscape that is underpinned by principles of democratic governance and political stability able to reap the potential social and economic dividend that will flow from inter-regional trade and effective regional economic integration,’ the Minister said.

Ministers from the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, chaired by South Africa, convened in Pretoria for their 14th meeting on 30 and 31 July to chart a way forward for the region and the upcoming Summit in August in Mozambique.

Minister Nkoana-Mashabane thanked the committee on their support, hard work and campaigning that saw Dr Dlamini Zuma winning the tightly contested election.

“We stood united in our view that the principle of rotation in the AU and its Organs should be respected. Most importantly, we argued successfully that the Southern Region is long overdue in having its chance to lead this august continental body.”

The Ministerial Committee of the Organ (MCO) also considered reports on the mediation process in Madagascar, elections in the region, the security situation in the region, including an update on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and progress reports. All of these were handed over to the incoming chair of the Organ, Tanzania.

THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY’S (SADC) ORGAN TROIKA has agreed that the political leaders of Madagascar should reconvene to conclude the outstanding issues stemming from the implementation of the roadmap.

This was the outcome of the SADC Troika Summit aimed at resolving the Malagasy political crisis which was presided over by President Jacob Zuma in Seychelles. The President was accompanied by International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister, Mr Marius Fransman, who serves as President Zuma’s Special Envoy on Madagascar. South Africa is the current chair of the SADC Organ Troika on Politics and it is in this capacity that Deputy Minister Fransman facilitated the meeting between the Malagasy political leaders. The meeting took place under the auspices of the SADC Roadmap on Madagascar. The Seychelles hosted the meeting in its capacity as chair of the Indian Ocean Commission and as a SADC member state.

The meeting saw President Andry Rajoelina and the man he toppled in 2009, Mr Marc Ravalomanana, meeting face-to-face for the first time. The Indian Island has been in crisis since 2009.

PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA WILL ON 4 AUGUST 2012 DEPART FOR KINGSTON, Commonwealth of Jamaica, for a working visit at the invitation of the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Jamaica, Ms Portia Simpson Miller. The President will be accompanied by International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Marius Fransman.

The visit will further enhance the strong bilateral and multilateral relations between the two countries; recognise the role played by Jamaica in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa; and celebrate Jamaica’s achievements as an independent, stable and constitutional parliamentary democracy.

South Africa and Jamaica have agreed to celebrate the African National Congress’ Centenary and Jamaica’s Golden Jubilee jointly in 2012.

President Zuma is expected to hold bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Simpson Miller and will exchange views on strengthening relations between the two countries, as well as on issues of mutual concern, both in the bilateral and multilateral spheres.

Jamaica and South Africa signed an Agreement for Cooperation in the Fields of Arts and Culture in 2009.