Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane welcomes Mr Marius Fransman as the new Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation.

Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, has on behalf of management and staff of the department, welcomed Mr Marius Llewellyn Fransman as the new Deputy Minister of the International Relations and Cooperation.

The newly-appointed Deputy Minister joins the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation after having served as the Chairperson for the Portfolio Committee Higher Education and Training in Parliament since May 2009.

With his strong record of delivery and innovation in the portfolios that he has served in, coupled with a deep-rooted understanding of communities and the country’s priorities, Mr Fransman will indeed become an asset to both the ministry and the department.

Accordingly, Minister Nkoana-Mashabane said: “We stand ready to work together with Mr Fransman in the execution of our country’s foreign policy mandate.”

Mr Fransman will be one of the two Deputy Ministers of International Relations and Cooperation. The other is Mr Ebrahim I. Ebrahim.

Minister Nkoana-Mashabane thanked the outgoing Deputy Minister Susan van der Merwe for her outstanding contribution and dedication since her appointment in April 2004 as Deputy Minister.

For more information, please contact Chief Director for Public Diplomacy, Mr Saul Kgomotso Molobi, on +27 351 0083, +27 82 940 1647 or email him at molobisk@dirco.gov.za.

Issued by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation

OR Tambo Building
460 Soutpansberg Road
Rietondale
0184

4 November 2010