Mineral Resources Minister, Ms Susan Shabangu (MP) will on Tuesday, 4 June 2013 deliver the keynote address at the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) intersessional meeting in the Northern Cape Town of Kimberley.
The intersessional meeting is the first of the two constitutional KPCS meetings hosted by a chairing participant country and will take place from 4 to 7 June.
On 1 January this year, South Africa took over the chairship of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme from the United States of America, making it the first participant country ever to chair the KPCS for a second time.
This year also marks its 10 anniversary which will be symbolically celebrated in its birth town of Kimberley during the course of the intersessional meeting. The Kimberley Process currently has 54 participants that represent 80 countries on the globe. Its members account for approximately 99.8% of the global production of rough diamonds.
The organisation has amongst other things been instrumental in liberating nations from deliberate conflicts, aimed at undermining and overthrowing legitimate governments with the use of diamonds resources.
Members of the media are thus invited to attend the intersessional meeting as follows:
Day 1 – Tuesday, 4 June
from 07h30 to 11h00 for delivery of speeches by key role players, keynote address and one-on-one interviews during the morning tea-break
Day 2 – Wednesday, 5 June
from 11h30 to 14h30 for symbolic tour to the Tabernacle Church and the 10th anniversary celebratory lunch
Day 3 – Thursday, 6 June
from 10h00 to 12h00 for scheduled one-on-one interviews
Day 4 – Friday, 7 June
from 11h00 to 12h00 for a press conference
For accreditation and enquiries please contact:
Mr Trevor Hattingh
Cell: 072 616 00 76
E-mail: Trevor.Hattingh@dmr.gov.za
