Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe leaves for New Zealand on a working visit

Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe on Thursday, 08 September 2011, left for New Zealand on a working visit. 

The Deputy President’s visit is in honour of an invitation extended to President Jacob Zuma by the Prime Minister of New Zealand, John Key, to visit New Zealand at the start of the Rugby World Cup.
The purpose of the Deputy President’s visit is to boost bilateral political, cultural and economic relations between South Africa and New Zealand.

Deputy President Motlanthe will hold discussions with Prime Minister John Key on bilateral and multilateral issues.  He will also meet with the leader of New Zealand‘s Labour Party, Phillip Bruce Goff.

Deputy President Motlanthe will attend the opening ceremony of the Rugby World Cup on Friday 09 September before proceeding to Wellington where he will visit the Springbok team at their camp to give them moral support ahead of their opening World Cup game against Wales.
The Deputy President will return to South Africa on Monday 12 September 2011.
For inquiries contact Thabo Masebe at +27824108087

ISSUED BY THE PRESIDENCY ON 08 SEPTEMBER 2011