Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane to attend inauguration of Brazil President-Elect

Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane will on 01 January 2011, attend the Inauguration ceremony of Brazil President-elect Ms Dilma Rousseff in Brasilia, Brazil.

The attendance of Minister Nkoana–Mashabane takes place within the context of strengthening South-South cooperation and further strengthening the Strategic Partnership Agreement that was signed by both countries in July 2010 during a State Visit to South Africa.

Strong relations between South Africa and Brazil find expression especially through the IBSA (India, Brazil and South Africa) and the recent admission of South Africa as a full member of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa). Both countries have been able to play a critical role in ensuring that countries of the South maintain strong ties and cooperate on issues of mutual concern.

Minister Nkoana-Mashabane is expected to convey congratulations of behalf of the government and people of South Africa to President-elect Ms Dilma Rousseff.

President-elect, Ms Dilma Rousseff won the second round of the Presidential elections on 31 October 2010. She is the first female President of Brazil.

For more information please contact DIRCO’s Spokesperson, Mr Clayson Monyela on 082 884 5974

Issued by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation

460 Soutpansberg Road
Rietondale
Pretoria

31 December 2010