The KwaZulu-Natal province today hosted a consultative summit of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) is a mutually agreed instrument voluntarily acceded to by African Union member States as an African self-monitoring mechanism.
In his opening address the District Mayor of Umgungundlovu, Councillor Yusuf Bhamjee, said the consultative session is a major event in the Africa Peer Review Mechanism’s (APRM’s) 10th anniversary and emphasised its importance stating that “the APRM is an important tool to reach Africa”.
He said discussions would centre around issues related to HIV and AIDS, TB, unemployment and inequality adding that these are holding Africa as a whole back from a better life for all. The mayor pledged that the province of KwaZulu-Natal will throw its weight behind the implementation of the National Programme of Action (NPoA) to ensure the success of the APRM.
Speaking on the purpose of the session, Mrs Dudu Mhlongo-Ngidi from the National Governing Council (NGC), said the session would be “a tool to assess service delivery” in preparation for the third country progress report.
Adopted by African Heads of State and Government as a systematic peer learning and self-assessment mechanism based on the NEPAD Declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance adopted at the inaugural Summit of the African Union in Durban, South Africa in July 2002, the mandate of the APRM is to ensure that the policies and practices of participating states conform to the agreed political, economic and corporate governance values, codes and standards on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance.
The primary purpose of the APRM is to foster the adoption of policies, standards and practices that lead to political stability, high economic growth, sustainable development and accelerated sub-regional and continental economic integration through sharing of experiences and reinforcement of successful and best practices.
The country will present its third progress report on the implementation of the NPoA at the African Union Summit of Heads of States and Government (HOSG) of APRM participating countries in May 2013.
Feedback from the KwaZulu-Natal provincial consultative summit will input to South Africa’s third progress report on the implementation of the NPoA.
For more information contact:
Olebogeng Kgasi
Cell: 076 793 4229
Tel: 012 336 1206
E-mail: olebogengk@dpsa.gov.za
