Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe has changed travel plans for his official visit to the Nordic countries: Finland, Sweden and Denmark, due to technical problems with the aircraft that he was meant to travel on to Helsinki, Finland.
The South African Air force operated-aircraft, which was to transport the Deputy President encountered problems on Monday, 17 October 2011 shortly before its scheduled departure from the Waterkloof Airforce Base.
The delay resulted in the cancellation of the Finland leg of Deputy President Motlanthe's mission to the Nordic countries.
The Deputy President will now leave South Africa on Tuesday 18 October on a commercial airline to proceed with the Sweden and Denmark legs of his mission. He is expected to arrive in Stockholm, Sweden on Wednesday 19 October 2011.
The objectives of the visit are to further strengthen political and economic relations with the Nordic countries, to promote the African Agenda to share views on the reform of global governance institutions and to exchange notes on preparations for COP17.
The visit takes place within the framework of the Declaration of Intent signed in 2008 between the Republic of South Africa and Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden concerning partnerships in Africa.
As a result of South Africa's growing regional and international stature, the Nordic countries have been keen to explore ways to expand the existing relationship. The Nordic countries also see South Africa as playing a key role in the development of relations with Sub-Saharan Africa.
Deputy President Motlanthe is accompanied by the Minister of Basic Education Ms A Motshekga, the Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Mr M Fransman, the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Ms T Tobias Pokolo, and the Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Professor H Mkhize.
Enquiries:
Thabo Masebe
Cell: 082 410 8087
Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe changes travel plans to the Nordic countries due to technical problems
