Pretoria: International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana–Mashabane will today, 13 August 2009, host a conference of South African Heads Mission at the Sandton Sun Hotel, in Johannesburg. The conference will be the first such gathering since Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane was appointed to her current portfolio at the International Relations and Cooperation Department.
The conference takes place a few months after the fourth democratic elections as well as at a critical time when the world experiences a myriad of challenges such as the economic and financial crises that have a direct bearing on the work of the South African Diplomatic Corps abroad. Accordingly, the conference will endeavour to sharpen and re-emphasise South Africa's international relations policy approaches to a range of issues of national and international importance in line with the pronouncements made by the President in his State of the Nation address on 3 June 2009.
President Jacob Zuma is expected to address the conference at 10h00 on Friday, 14 August 2009. In addition the Conference will feature a series of high level presentations by, among others, Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Gugile Nkwinti, Finance Minister, Mr Pravin Gordhan and National Planning Commission Minister in the Presidency, Mr Trevor Manuel as well as representatives from the Nelson Mandela Foundation as well as the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee.
Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane will later this evening host a farewell dinner in honour of the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, to which the Diplomatic Corps, as well as other stakeholders will be invited.
Media programme:
Thursday, 13 August 2009
Photo opportunity: Open to the media
19h00 for 19h30: Farewell dinner in honour of Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, hosted by Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane.
Media is invited to cover the event:
Friday, 14 August 2009
09h00: Arrival of media
09h30: Heads of Mission assemble for a group photo with President Jacob Zuma
Photo opportunity
10h00 to 13h00: Introduction of the President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane.
Address by the President
Open to media
For more information contact:
Nomfanelo Kota
Cell: 082 459 3787
Issued by: Department of International Relations and Cooperation
13 August 2009
