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PRESIDENT ZUMA PARTICIPATES IN CRUCIAL DRC PEACE AND SECURITY INITIATIVE |
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The African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN) joined hands to facilitate the signing of the framework by the countries of the region, building on a long history of partnership in the Great Lakes Region. |
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President Jacob Zuma, accompanied by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, took part in a signing ceremony for the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Great Lakes Region on 24 February 2013.
The ceremony took place at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Aside from South Africa, other countries that participated in the ceremony were Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, DRC, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. The Secretary-General of the UN and the AU Commission Chairperson signed as witnesses and guarantors along with the chairpersons of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region and the Southern African Development Community.
The framework articulates a set of commitments at the level of the DRC, the region and the international community. It includes an oversight mechanism to facilitate follow-up and implementation of the commitments made. |
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DEPUTY MINISTER EBRAHIM PARTICIPATES IN A HIGH-LEVEL MEETING OF THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL |
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South Africa plays a leadership role in several intergovernmental processes at the United Nations (UN) pertaining to human rights and social development issues. |
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The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ebrahim Ebrahim, delivered a statement to the high-level segment of the 22nd session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) on 25 February 2013 in Geneva, Switzerland. The statement covered contemporary issues facing the international human rights system and the HRC’s agenda.
Over 80 ministers and senior dignitaries addressed the council on human rights matters of national interest and concern during the four-day high-level segment.
South Africa plays a leadership role in several intergovernmental processes at the UN pertaining to human rights and social development issues. South Africa is the current Chair of the Open-Ended Working Group on Private Military and Security Companies (PMSCs), whose objective is to elaborate a legally binding regulatory framework and to ensure that PMSCs are held accountable for their activities.
South Africa is also the current Chair of the Ad-hoc Committee on the Elaboration of Complementary Standards to the International Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination aimed at combatting contemporary forms of racism.
Together with the Irish Foreign Minister, South Africa is the co-facilitator of the President of the UN General Assembly’s High-Level Event on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This event added further momentum and commitment towards the achievement of the MDGs up to 2015 and beyond. |
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SOUTH AFRICA, UN SIGN STRATEGIC COOPERATION FRAMEWORK (UNSCF) |
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The UNSCF is the overall framework for the work of the UN system in South Africa. |
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The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Marius Fransman, and the UN Resident Coordinator and UN Resident Representative in South Africa, Dr Agostihno Zacarias, signed the South Africa-UNSCF in Pretoria on 26 February 2013.
The UNSCF was developed in 2012 through a participatory consultative interdepartmental and provincial process, led by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation in coordination with the UN Country Team in South Africa. |
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GAUTENG PREMIER ADDRESSES BRICS PROVINCIAL ROADSHOW |
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| The roadshows are held in all provinces as part of the public education drive in the run-up to South Africa’s hosting of the BRICS Summit in Durban next month. |
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“With South Africa being a member of the BRICS family, it is important to establish the contribution and role of the Gauteng province.”
Addressing stakeholders during the Gauteng BRICS provincial roadshow at the Sandton Convention Centre on 23 February, Premier Nomvula Mokonyane said the province’s economic credentials qualified its title and reputation as the powerhouse or the nerve centre of business in continental and Sub-Saharan Africa.
The Premier joined Science and Technology Minister Derek Hanekom for the Gauteng-leg of the BRICS roadshow programme, which aims to raise awareness around the importance of South Africa’s membership of the BRICS and the benefits thereof.
Roadshows have already taken place in Limpopo and North West. |
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SOUTH AFRICA, JAPAN SIGN INVESTMENT PACT |
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“The agreement, which will be assessed on an annual basis, is key to taking the relationship between South Africa and Japan to a higher level.” – Lionel October, Director-General, Department of Trade and Industry (dti) |
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The dti and the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd, Japan's largest bank, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on increasing Japanese investment into South Africa.
The agreement also seeks to increase South African-Japanese cooperation in various areas, including platinum beneficiation and transport infrastructure.
The signing follows a visit to Japan by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies, last year, and comes ahead of President Jacob Zuma planned State Visit to Japan in June. |
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