IAEA Director General working visit to the Republic of South Africa 

Pretoria- The Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Dr Mohamed ElBaradei is in South Africa for a working visit scheduled from 17 to 21 July 2009. 

Dr ElBaradei will meet with President Jacob Zuma and Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane on Tuesday 21 July 2009 at the Union Buildings. This visit to South Africa is aimed at sharing experiences at the Agency with South Africa and is part of his valedictory tour.

The International Atomic Energy Agency is tasked to assist countries and disseminate information for the use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes, to monitor and verify the peaceful application of nuclear energy through the application of safeguards and to ascertain the non-diversion of nuclear materials for military purposes.

South Africa is a founding member of the IAEA, which was established in 1956 after a long and extensive period of negotiations on the text of a Statute for the envisaged Agency. An Eight-Nation Negotiating Group (Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Portugal, South Africa, United Kingdom and United States) concluded the text of the draft Statute that entered into force on 29 July 1957.

South Africa has received support throughout the years from the IAEA through the Agency’s Technical Assistance and Co-operation Programme.  This support ranges from assistance with crop improvement, human health, and energy and water resources management. 

Media programme for the working visit of the IAEA DG

Issued by Nomfanelo Kota @ 082 459 3787

Department of International Relations and Cooperation
Private Bag x152
Pretoria
0001

18 July 2009