Statement on the Death of SA’s Deputy Ambassador to Washington DC, USA

Pretoria- South Africa’s Foreign Minister Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma is saddened to announce the death of South Africa’s Deputy Ambassador to Washington DC Derrick Moyo, who passed away on Wednesday 10 September 2008 at Louis Pasteur Hospital in Pretoria.

In this regard, Minister Dlamini Zuma wishes to recall the words of Nikolai Ostrovsky in his book-How Steel was Tempered – “Man's dearest possession is life. It is given to him but once, and he must live it so as to feel no torturing regrets for wasted years, never know the burning shame of a mean and petty past; so live that, dying, he might say: all my life, all my strength were given to the finest cause in all the world — the fight for the Liberation of Mankind."

Derrick Moyo was born on 13 September 1962 and spent years in exile under the aegis of the ANC in search for peace, freedom and justice in South Africa. With the democratisation process in South Africa he was appointed to the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1995. He assumed the position of Deputy Chief of Mission at the South African Embassy in Washington DC in March 2005, having previously served in the South African missions in Canada and Brazil.

During his tenure he also worked directly with the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council. He has participated in the Inter-Departmental Committee which drafted a discussion paper on “South Africa’s Participation in Peace Support Operations

Moyo completed specialised courses in Diplomacy at Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and Howard University in Washington DC in 1994 and India’s Foreign Service Institute in New Delhi India in 1996.

On behalf of President Thabo Mbeki, the Minister and Deputy Ministers of Foreign Affairs, the Director General Dr. Ayanda Ntsaluba, senior managers, staff, our Ambassadors and High Commissioners stationed abroad we extend our heartfelt condolences to his children and the entire Moyo family. In this regard, our thoughts and prayers reach out to the entire Moyo family during these times of bereavement.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853

Department of Foreign Affairs
P/Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

11 September 2008.