We, the South African community of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), comprising of Government, Civil Society, and Traditional Leaders gathered here in Boksburg (Republic of South Africa), on 29 November 2010 at the National Conference, organised by the National Governing Council.
Noting
- That the Republic of South Africa (RSA) acceded to the African Peer Review Mechanism in the year 2004 and the country went through the process of Peer Review by submitting its Self Assessment Report which was later followed by the Country Review Report (CRR) of 2007 issued by the Heads of State and government of participating countries in the Mechanism (APR Forum),
- That a National Programme of Action (NPoA) was developed as an enforcement mechanism for the implementation of the subsequent CRR recommendations,
- That in terms of the NPoA, the country submitted its first progress report in January 2009,and further committed to respond to the outstandingand identified cross-cutting issues,
- That South Africa’s engagement of the APRM process is an inclusive process characterised by active participation of all sectors of the APRM community making this declaration.
Further Noting that:
- the country is due to submit its Second Implementation of NPoA Report in January 2011,
- the successful hosting of the FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup by South Africa, the first on African soil, is a big story to be shared as part of the Second Implementation Report
Confirming
- That the APRM remains a strategic tool in the promotion of good governance in the African Continent,
- That the RSA regards the APRM as an invaluable instrument forpeer review, self-reflection and self-correction in order to achieve inter/intra-State political stability, economic growth and job creation as well as regional integration.
- That the RSA remains committed to the MoU of the African Union that established the APRM
Declare that:
- this report is submitted as an account of the country’s performance measured against the APRM thematic areas to the effect that:
- Democracy and political governance continue to find expression of stability in the manner in which the country implementsits constitutional obligations for good governance
- Economic governance and management yield favourable conditions for economic growth that create an environment of equal opportunities and participation by all its citizens
- Corporate governance continues to transform the manner in which government, business and other similar entities are managed on behalf of defined stakeholders
- Socio-economic development has thus far advanced to an extent that consensus is developing on contentious issues such as the definition of poverty, integrated and holistic approach to managing HIV and AIDS, and, women and children’s health and nutrition.
- there are still outstanding matters in the implementation of the NPoA,
- we shall submit the 3rd report responding to all outstandingmatters by the year 2013,
- we will assess at that time if the country is ready for the 2nd peer review.
