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Press Briefing on the Forthcoming Meeting
Commemorating the Role of the UN in Bringing about Freedom
in South Africa, United Nations, New York, 19 April
2004
The Permanent Representative of South Africa to the
United Nations, Ambassador Dumisani S. Kumalo will brief
the media on the forthcoming meeting commemorating the
role of the United Nations in bringing about freedom
in South Africa.
Date of Press Briefing : 21 April 2004
Time : 11:15am
Venue : Press Briefing Room S226 (United Nations)
South Africa is a Founding Member of the United Nations.
However, beginning in the late 1940s, other Member States,
particularly India, began challenging South Africa because
of practising racial discrimination. For a period of
more than 40 years, South Africa was in issue before
the UN.
A series of UN initiatives were adopted, including
the establishment of the Special Committee against Apartheid
in 1962, the barring of South Africa's participation
in the General Assembly in 1974 and the invitation to
the liberation movements, including the African National
Congress to participate as observers. The UN established
a trust fund to aid political prisoners and their families
and declared 1978 the International Year Against Apartheid.
During the transition to democracy in the early 1990's,
the Security Council mandated a UN Observer Mission
to South Africa (UNOMSA) to build confidence and help
diminish the spread of political violence and monitor
South Africa's first democratic election in 1994.
On April 14, 2004 South African held a third democratic
election and on 27 April, we will celebrate ten years
of freedom and democracy. On the same day, President
Thabo Mbeki will be inaugurated to serve a second term
of his Presidency.
To mark these events, the President of the General
Assembly will chair a meeting commemorating the vital
role that the United Nations has played in assisting
all South Africans achieve their freedom. The Secretary-General,
the President of ECOSOC and the President of the Security
Council are expected to participate in this meeting.
Issued by the Permanent Mission of South
Africa
For more information, please contact Zaheer Laher at
09 1 212 692 2460
United Nations, New York
19 April 2004
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