The Meeting of the Political, Diplomatic and Legal Committee of the NamibiaSouth Africa Bi-National Commission to consider the Report of the NamibiaSouth Africa Joint Committee of Experts on the Orange River Boundary was held in Swakopmund, Namibia from 14 to 15 October 2024. The Meeting was co-chaired by Honourable Dr. Peya Mushelenga, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of Namibia and Honourable Ronald Ozzy Lamola, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa.
The delegation of the Republic of Namibia, led by Honourable Dr. Mushelenga, included Honourable Yvonne Dausab, Minister of Justice, Honourable Festus
Mbandeka, Attorney-General, Honourable Benedictus Likando, DirectorGeneral of the Namibia Central Intelligence Service, Honourable Anna Shiweda, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, Honourable Kornelia Shilunga, Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy, Honourable Jenelly Matundu, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ambassador Penda Naanda, Executive Director of the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation and chair of the Joint Committee of Experts on the Orange River Boundary, and H.E. Mr. Veiccoh Nghiwete, High Commissioner of the Republic of Namibia to the Republic of South Africa, as well as other members of the Namibian Committee of Experts on the Orange River Boundary negotiations.
The delegation of the Republic of South Africa, led by Honourable Lamola, included Ambassador Tebogo Seokolo, the Acting Deputy Director-General of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation and co-chair of the Joint Committee of Experts on the Orange River Boundary, Ms. Joyce Mashele Deputy Director-General for Africa, State Security Agency, Mr. Siyabonga Mdubeki, Chief Surveyor-General, Advocate Shireen Said, Deputy Director General, Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and Maj-Gen (Rtd) David Chilembe, Deputy Commissioner: Operations, Border Management Authority, as well as other members of the South African Committee of Experts on the Orange River Boundary.
The Political, Diplomatic and Legal Committee is one of the Committees under the Bi-National Commission between Namibia and South Africa, co-chaired by the Heads of State of the two respective countries, through which bilateral relations and cooperation is pursued for the mutual benefit of the people of both countries.
The Political, Diplomatic and Legal Committee started off with a minute of silence in honour of the late Honourable Tito Mboweni, who amongst other portfolios served as the Minister of Finance of the Republic of South Africa.
Namibia extended heartfelt condolences to the Government and People of the Republic of South Africa for this great loss.
The Ministerial Meeting of the Political, Diplomatic and Legal Committee convened to receive and consider the report of the Joint Committee of Experts on the Orange River Boundary as mandated by the Third Session of the Namibia-South Africa Bi-National Commission, held on 13 October 2023, in Windhoek, Namibia.
The Ministerial Meeting of the Political, Diplomatic and Legal Committee recalled that the Joint Committee of Experts on the Orange River Boundary was established on 07 October 2016 with clear terms of reference to “make recommendations to and advise the Ministers on the Orange River Boundary through a joint report prepared for that purpose”.
The Ministerial Meeting of the Political, Diplomatic and Legal Committee noted with satisfaction that the Namibia-South Africa Joint Committee of Experts produced their Joint Report on the Orange River Boundary in 2017, which was presented to the Political, Diplomatic and Legal Committee.
The Ministerial Meeting of the Political, Diplomatic and Legal Committee welcomed the formal presentation of the Joint Report to the Ministers and commended the Namibia-South Africa Joint Committee of Experts on the Orange River Boundary for the work done.
While commending the Joint Committee of Experts on the Orange River Boundary for the work done, the Ministerial Meeting of the Political, Diplomatic and Legal Committee, reaffirmed the commitment of South Africa and Namibia to work in a collaborative manner, guided by principles of good neighborliness, transparency and mutual trust, for the conclusion of the negotiations on the Orange River Boundary between the two countries for the mutual benefit of the two countries.
The Ministerial Meeting of the Political, Diplomatic and Legal Committee decided to submit the Report of the Joint Committee of Experts, as is to Their Excellencies the Heads of State of the two countries for further consideration.
Over and above the matter concerning the Orange River Boundary, the Ministerial Meeting of the Political, Diplomatic and Legal Committee reviewed the progress of implementation of Decisions of the Agreed Minutes of the Third Session of the Namibia-South Africa Bi-National Commission.
In this regard, the two sides agreed to conduct a Mid-Term Review of all the decisions contained in the Agreed Minutes of the Third Session of the Namibia-South Africa Bi-National Commission, to be hosted by South Africa, by May 2025.
The Ministerial Meeting of the Political, Diplomatic and Legal Committee further exchanged views on multilateral issues of mutual concern and interest, including the peace and security situation in the Middle East, and the prolonged suffering of the people of Western Sahara resulting from the illegal occupation of Western Sahara by Morocco.
With respect to the situation of Western Sahara, the two sides welcomed the ruling of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on 04 October 2024, that the European Commission had breached the right to self-determination of the people in Western Sahara when in 2019 it concluded trade deals with Morocco that also cover products from Western Sahara.
The judgment of the ECJ reaffirms the position of the two countries that only the people of Western Sahara have the right to decide on the utilisation of the resources of Western Sahara in accordance with their right to self-determination.
The two sides expressed solidarity with the people of Cuba and Venezuela who continue to face economic hardships as a result of the economic, financial and commercial blockade imposed on Cuba. The two sides, therefore, called for the removal of the economic, financial and commercial blockade against Cuba.
16. The two sides further called for the immediate and unconditional removal of illegal sanctions against Zimbabwe, which negatively impacts the socioeconomic development of Zimbabwe and the SADC Region.
The Ministerial Meeting of the Political, Diplomatic and Legal Committee also noted the ongoing progress in the Eastern Democratic of Congo conflict as led by H.E. João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola, and called all parties to engage on further to reach a permanent ceasefire and lasting peace.
The two sides noted with concern the ongoing conflict in Sudan which has reached unprecedented humanitarian crisis and called for the African Union to urgently work towards a ceasefire and increase humanitarian aid access.
The Ministerial Meeting of the Political, Diplomatic and Legal Committee condemned Israel’s bombardment of Lebanon as a serious violation of territorial sovereignty and international humanitarian law. Both Minister's called upon international community and the United Nations Security Council to defend international law and international humanitarian law.
The two sides congratulated the Republic of Mozambique for the peaceful conduct of Presidential and Legislative Elections held on 09 October 2024. The Republic of South Africa also noted that the Republic of Namibia is scheduled to hold its National Elections on 27 November 2024, and in this regard, wished Namibia well in the preparations for the forthcoming Elections.
The Ministerial Meeting of the Political, Diplomatic and Legal Committee of the Namibia-South Africa Bi-National Commission further expressed its best wishes to the Republics of Botswana and Mauritius for their forthcoming Elections, respectively.
The South African delegation expressed its appreciation to the Government of the Republic of Namibia for the warm hospitality extended during their stay in Swakopmund.
The Ministers noted the excellent camaraderie which continues to exemplify the strong bonds of friendship, solidarity and cooperation existing between the two sister countries and peoples.
