South Africa will host the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) Plenary in Johannesburg from 19 to 22 November 2013. This follows the Intercessional meeting which took place in Kimberley in June this year.
The Kimberley Process, which was established in South Africa in 2003, brings together 54 participants, representing 81 countries - with the European Union and its Member States counting as a single participant. KP members account for approximately 99.8% of the global production of rough diamonds.
KP participating countries, industry and civil society observers gather twice a year at Intercessional and Plenary meetings, as well as in working groups and committees that meet on a regular basis. The KP is governed by statutes (the KPCS) which stipulate the objectives, definitions, internal controls, and minimum requirements with which every participant must comply.
Ambassador Welile Nhlapho, seconded from the Department of International Relations and Coordination, was nominated to be KP Chair during South Africa’s tenure as Chair.
South Africa will hand over Chairship to current Vice-Chair, China, who will take over the reins in 2014.
Members of the media are invited to the opening and closing sessions of the Plenary.
Details are as follows:
Opening session
Date: 19 November 2013
Time: 9h30
Place: Emperors Palace, Gauteng
Closing session
Date: 22 November
Time: 10h30
Place: Emperors Palace, Gauteng
Please confirm your attendance to Ronald Seroka (Ronald.Seroka@dmr.gov.za) and Solomon Phetla (Solomon.Phetla@dmr.gov.za) by Monday 18 November 2013.
For all media enquiries, as well as requests for interviews with either the Mineral Resources Minister, Ms Susan Shabangu, or the KP Chair for 2013, Ambassador Welile Nhlapho, please contact:
Ayanda Shezi
Cell: 079 880 2059
E-mail: Ayanda.Shezi@dmr.gov.za
