President Jacob Zuma will emphasise South Africa’s commitment to democracy and good governance in Africa at the 16th ordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and government of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The President arrived in Ethiopia on the 28th of January and is accompanied by International Relations and Cooperation, Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Minister in the Presidency, Trevor Manuel, Public Service and Administration Minister, Richard Baloyi and State Security Minister, Siyabonga Cwele.
South Africa joins other member states in promoting the theme of the Summit which is “Towards Greater Unity and Integration through Shared Values”.
The theme puts emphasis on the promotion of democracy and good governance. It emphasises the promotion of human rights through, among others, the development and actualisation of the continental human rights strategy, and the signing and ratification of the AU Convention on the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa. It also stresses the need to ensure effective and efficient public administration by among others, finalising and actualising the principles and values of public service.
South Africa remains committed to the promotion of democracy and good governance on the continent which forms the thrust of African shared values.
Overview of programme
The President is engaged in critical meetings today, 29 January 2011.
He presented a report to the Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee on progress that has been made on the Nepad Infrastructure development project following a meeting that was held by infrastructure experts and Ministers designated to deal with infrastructure on the continent earlier this month, January 2011, in South Africa.
The project will address challenges relating to regional and cross-border infrastructure projects, limited technical capacity, financial resources and political resources at the highest level. Minister Trevor Manuel is the President’s focal Minister on Nepad infrastructure development.
President Zuma will also present South Africa’s Second Report on the country’s African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) programme of action, which showcases progress made in the past two years in the country in social, economic and political spheres.
The report states that South Africa has become a well-functioning democracy in a comparatively short space of time, since the first historic general elections of 1994, that we have consolidated our democracy, which is underpinned by the supremacy of the Constitution, the rule of law and the promotion of human rights.
The APRM report adds that South Africa has since the dawn of freedom and democracy striven to build a State that unites all the people of our country in their diversity, and to take forward the mission of building a united, non-sexist, non-racial, democratic and prosperous South Africa, building on the success of previous administrations. It outlines achievements in several areas of governance as well as the successful hosting of the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup.
Tomorrow, on the 30th of January 2011, President Zuma will on the sidelines of the Summit, host a symposium on the Centenary of the African National Congress, the ruling party, which is the oldest liberation movement on the continent and part of Africa’s heritage.
The celebration is an integral part of the AU Assembly theme which highlights shared values and democratic norms.
Enquiries:
Zizi Kodwa
Cell: 082 330 4910.
Source: The Presidency
