ceremony, Berlin, Germany
9 July 2006
Berlin - South African President Thabo Mbeki and Mrs Zanele Mbeki will on
Sunday, 9 July, lead a South African delegation to the FIFA World Cup final and
handing over ceremony, scheduled for the Olympia Stadium, Berlin, Germany.
President Mbeki is leading a high powered government delegation including
Ministers Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Makhenkesi Stofile, Jeff Radebe, Sydney
Mufamadi, Essop Pahad, Deputy Minister Jabu Moleketi, Directors-General Frank
Chikane and Dr Ayanda Ntsaluba as well as the 2010 Local Organising Committee
to Germany.
As part of the programme for Sunday, President Mbeki will also bear witness
at the signing ceremony of the FIFA-European Union (EU) co-operation agreement
aimed at promoting soccer development in the African, Caribbean and Pacific
countries.
Upon conclusion of the signing ceremony, President Mbeki is expected to hold
discussions with the President of the Eropean Union (EU) Commission Mr Barosso
and FIFA President Sepp Blatter separately.
South Africa stands ready to host nations and peoples of the world in 2010
in what President Mbeki committed to making the best organised World Cup event
FIFA has ever witnessed, on behalf of the people of South Africa in particular
and the peoples of Africa in general.
President Mbeki returns to South Africa on Monday, 10 July, following a
successful launch of the 2010 World Cup emblem and bilateral political and
economic discussions with German President Horst Koehler and Chancellor Angela
Merkel.
Contact:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
9 July 2006
Source: SAPA
