| Government's Programme of Action - 2004 | |
| International Relations, Peace & Security Cluster | ||
| Actions | Departments | Timeframe | Progress - Updated 15 Feb 2005 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1.00 | CONSOLIDATION OF THE AFRICAN AGENDA | ||||
| 1.01 | Strengthen the AU and SADC | DFA, dti, all other departments | South Africa will strengthen the AU and SADC through secondment of officials to capacitate these organisations and contribute as requested to their budgets. DFA has seconded 1 official to SADC AU ECOSOCC will formally be launched in Feb-05 | ||
| 1.01.01 | Working in SADC rationalisation of Regional Economic Communities; institutional reform; fulfillment of the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan preparing for SA to be Chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence & Security Cooperation | dti, DFA, DO, all depts. | SADC restructuring largely complete. Government departments to commence implementing RISDP. SA chairs SADC Organ and an Action Plan has been finalised. SA hosted SADC Organ Troika Ministerial Meeting in Dec-04 | ||
| 1.01.02 | Support AU and AU Commission | DFA, all departments | Policy for secondment of government employees to multilateral organizations finalised. SA will contribute to the reprioritised AU Budget for 2005/2006 approved by the AU Executive Council in Dec-04 | ||
| 1.01.03 | Operationalise the Pan-African Parliament | DFA, Parliament | SA successfully hosted second session of PAP and is assessing staffing and funding requirements. Third session to be held in Mar-05. Preparations underway for provinces to bid to host PAP and for continent-wide design competition for building | ||
| 1.01.04 | Operationalise the Peace and Security Council | DFA, DOD | PSC launched and functioning, considering and addressing situations of conflict, instability and insecurity | ||
| 1.01.05 | Early Warning Systems in AU and SADC to be developed and linked | NICOC, DFA, DOD, SANDF | 2008 | Work in progress. Meeting of experts held in Botswana in Oct-04 to discuss establishment of Regional Early Warning Centre | |
| 1.01.06 | Continue work of Sirte Summit on Common African Defence and Security Policy | DOD,DFA, SANDF | Work in progress. The draft Pact will be discussed at the next Ordinary Session of Council in Mar-05 | ||
| 1.01.07 | Operationalise the African Standby-by Force | DOD, SANDF | Within SADC, a structure for multi-nationality Command and Control has been approved. SADC force named SADC Brigade (SADCBRIG). SADC Police aligning themselves to support SADCBRIG | ||
| 1.01.08 | SACU - work for long-term success of SACU: concluding SACU-US FTA and encouraging all SACU member states to ratify the SA-EU TDCA | dti, DOA | SACU-US Ministerial meeting held on 10 Dec-04. Negotiations progressing but difficulties due to different negotiating positions. SACU and US committed to finding a solution. Namibia still to ratify the SA-EU TDCA | ||
| 1.01.09 | Finalise and implement Secondment policy for SA officials | DFA, DPSA | Finalised | ||
| 1.01.10 | Create budget line to support SA involvement in targeted areas in AU and SADC | NT, DFA | Finalised | ||
| 1.02 | Economic Integration on the basis of Regional Economic Communities (RECs) | DFA, dti, relevant departments | The SADC REC is moving towards better economic integration. A constraint is SADC countries that belong to two customs unions and multiple RECs | ||
| 1.02.1 | Restructuring of SADC, particularly institutional and managerial reform, is critical for further success in integration | DFA , SAMDI | Restructuring process has largely been completed although certain challenges and capacity constraints remain. SADC Troika to address outstanding issues. Process underway to appoint a new Executive Secretary | ||
| 1.03 | Ensure peace and stability on the continent | DFA, Presidency, DOD, SANDF, NICOC | Government continues its mediation efforts and is contributing to AU and UN peace support operations. Government involved in discussions on other conflicts and post-conflict reconstruction and development on the continent | ||
| 1.03.1 | Consolidate peace initiatives in Burundi, DRC, Comoros and Sudan | DFA, Presidency, DOD, SANDF, NICOC | Deputy President paid two-day visit to Burundi in Jan-05 to assess progress towards elections and democracy. DRC elections scheduled for Jul-05. President paid official visit to Sudan in Dec/Jan. Sudan Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in Jan-05 | ||
| 1.03.2 | Pay particular attention to Chad, Equatorial Guinea, CAR, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Ethiopia-Eritrea dispute | DFA, Presidency | Government continues to monitor Ethiopia/Eritrea developments; encourage Zimbabwe to comply with SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections; monitor humanitarian needs in Chad; give ongoing support for Swaziland's democratisation | ||
| 1.03.3 | Monitor developments in Liberia, Sao Tome & Principe, Cote d'Ivoire, Saharawi and Sierra Leone | DFA, Presidency, NICOC | President Mbeki is leading AU mediation in Cote d'Ivoire, and has on several occasions met with the parties to the conflict. | ||
| 1.04 | Strengthen AU-EU cooperation | DFA | 3rd Ministerial AU-EU Troika held in Addis Ababa in Dec-04. Efforts are underway to revive the Cairo Plan of Action in support of NEPAD | ||
| 1.05 | Promote Asia-Africa cooperation | DFA | SA successfully co-hosted, with Indonesia, AASROC II in Aug-04. Preparations for the Bandung Asia-Africa Summit in Apr-05 are well underway. Government is working to identify concrete projects and recommendations for Bandung | ||
| 1.06 | Strengthen bilateral relations | DFA, all departments | Government continues to strengthen bilateral relations for political and economic cooperation through binational commissions and joint ministerial commissions | ||
| 1.06.1 | Realise Cabinet Lekgotla 2002 decision recommending SA representation in all African countries in five years | DFA, NT | 2007 | New missions are being opened. The pace is being determined by availability of resources. | |
| 1.06.2 | Strengthen transport connections with the continent | DOT, DFA, dti, DPE | Transport connections to be strengthened through the Public Works programme to upgrade rail, sea, road and air transportation. Implementing SDIs, Trans-Frontier Parks and NEPAD transport corridors. Building of strategic bridges. | ||
| 1.06.3 | Promote Africa's contribution to tourism | DEAT, DFA | The NEPAD Tourism Action Plan was adopted by the Jul-04 AU Summit. Government is working to ensure that the National Tourism Strategy emphasises Africa and supports the NEPAD Tourism Action Plan | ||
| 1.06.4 | Decision to separate Africa multilateral from Africa bilateral to give focus | DFA | Decision implemented and Deputy Director-General: Africa multilateral appointed | ||
| 1.07 | Strengthen relations with the Diaspora | DFA, Presidency | A Caribbean Diaspora Conference will be held in Jamaica in Mar-05. Possible AU Global Diaspora Conference to be held in South Africa duirng 2005 | ||
| 1.07.1 | Promote SA role in support of Haiti | DFA, Presidency | President Mbeki, former President Aristide and AU Commission Chairman Konare met on 18 Jan-05. Immediate focus is to start national dialogue and negotiations to find a political solution, leading to democratic elections | ||
| 1.08 | Sustainable development and poverty alleviation through NEPAD | DFA, all departments | |||
| 1.08.1 | Continue building capacity and political support for implementation of NEPAD programmes | DFA, SAMDI, all departments | NEPAD Secretariat continuing to promote programmes in all bilateral and multilateral engagements. SA will continue to host and provide financial and logistical support to the NEPAD and APRM Secretariats | ||
| 1.08.2 | Facilitate implementation of five priority areas (infrastructure, agriculture, ICT, health and human resources) | DFA, SAMDI, relevant depts | Various Government departments play leading roles especially in these sectors: agriculture, environment, health, education, ICT, capacity building, science and technology, peace and security, water, energy, transport and tourism s | ||
| 1.08.3 | Support development of a NEPAD Tourism Action Plan and support existing sectoral plans (e.g. Agriculture, Science and Technology, Health) | DEAT, Relevant departments | SADC RISDP explicitly aligned to NEPAD objectives, priorities and programmes. See 1.06.3 | ||
| 1.08.4 | Ensure member states support the establishment of a strong NEPAD co-ordination capacity in the SADC Secretariat | DFA | Being addressed | ||
| 1.08.5 | Strengthen SA's NEPAD co-ordination | dti, DFA, Presidency | Ongoing | A co-ordination mechanism has been established and is being operationalised | |
| 1.08.6 | Prepare SA for African Peer Review Mechanism process scheduled for 1st quarter of 2005 | DPSA, Presidency, DFA | Dec-04 | SA preparing for APRM review this year. Consultations with relevant stakeholders have begun | |
2.00 | GLOBAL GOVERNANCE: POLITICAL AND SECURITY | ||||
| 2.01 | UN reform | DFA | AU Summit in Abuja in Jan-05 mandated 15 member ministerial committee to develop an African Common Position on UN reform. Government engaging with findings of the High Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change | ||
| 2.02 | Socio-economic development | Relevant departments | |||
| 2.02.1 | Restart Doha | dti | The July General Council meeting of the WTO agreed on framework for ongoing Doha Development Round negotiations. Negotiations are ongoing and Government continues to advance SA's interests through G20, Africa and Cairns Groups | ||
| 2.02.2 | Prepare for UNCTAD XI | dti, DFA, Presidency, DOA, | Finalised. South Africa participated significantly in the UNCTAD XI through several written and oral interventions | ||
| 2.03 | Security | DFA, DOD, SANDF, SAPS | |||
| 2.03.1 | UN Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change | DFA, DOD, SANDF | See 2.01 | ||
| 2.04 | Implementation of outcomes of international conferences | All departments | SA implementing the outcomes of major international conferences through development of strategies and operationalisation of protocols. Government is preparing a country report on progress in meeting the Millennium Development Goals | ||
| 2.05 | Terrorism | DFA, DOD, SAPS | South Africa still needs to ratify three of the 12 United Nations conventions on terrorism | ||
| 2.06 | Weapons of mass destruction | DFA, DOD | First draft national report on implementation of resolution 1540 on WMD and Non-State Actors finalised | ||
| 2.07 | Post-war Iraq | DFA, Presidency, relevant depts. | Government welcomed the Iraqi elections of 30 Jan-05 and continues to monitor political and economic developments in Iraq. | ||
| 2.08 | Prepare for Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in 2005 | DFA, dti | 2005 | Preparations are underway | |
| 2.09 | Middle East peace process | DFA, Presidency | Government sent observer delegation to monitor Palestinian Presidential Election in Jan-05. SA continues to pledge full support for speedy implementation of the Road Map and encourages Israeli/ Palestinian leadership to revitalise the peace process | ||
| 2.10 | Organised crime | SAPS, DJCD, DSO | National and regional strategies are being developed to effectively address drug, people & vehicle smuggling and money laundering. Pace of implementation within SADC region is of concern | ||
3.00 | GLOBAL GOVERNANCE: SOCIO-ECONOMIC | ||||
| 3.01 | Economic and trade issues | dti, DFA, NT | SA and its SACU partners are negotiating a range of bilateral free trade agreements with strategic partners and supporting a strong and effective rule-based multilateral trading regime. SACU-Mercosur PTA concluded in Dec-04 | ||
| 3.02 | Implement outcomes of major international conferences | All departments | See 2.04 | ||
| 3.03 | North-South Dialogue | DFA | SA continues to promote NEPAD and Africa's interests through interaction with the G8 on the Africa Action Plan and the UK's Commission for Africa. President Mbeki and a senior government and business delegation participated in the WEF in Jan-05 | ||
4.00 | SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION | ||||
| 4.01 | SA to host Afro-Asian Sub-Regional Organisations Conference (AASROC) Ministerial meeting in August 2004 | DFA | 2004 | Finalised. South Africa co-hosted, together with Indonesia, a Ministerial meeting of AASROC II, in Aug-04. AASROC II will culminate in the Asia-Africa Summit in Bandung during 2005 | |
| 4.02 | Participation in Bandung Summit in 2005 | DFA | 2005 | Preparations are well underway | |
| 4.03 | SA to host Non Aligned Movement | DFA | Aug-04 | Finalised. XIV Ministerial Conference of the NAM successfully held in Durban in Aug-04. Durban Declaration on Multilateralism adopted | |
| 4.04 | India Brazil South Africa (IBSA) - SA to host next Trilateral Commission in 1st quarter of 2005; looking at implication of engagement between IBSA and other countries; strengthening ties with Caribbean | DFA, dti, NT, DOD | 2005 | The IBSA Focal Points met in New Delhi in Nov-04. Progress in implementing the New Delhi Plan of Action was assessed. Sectoral Working Groups are convening to prepare for the IBSA Ministerial Trilateral Commission meeting in SA during 2005 | |
5.00 | POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC RELATIONS | ||||
| 5.01 | Strengthen relations with industrialised countries | DFA, all departments | |||
| 5.01.1 | Report to Cabinet assessing implications of EU expansion for South Africa, taking opportunity of 5 year review of TDCA to shape our engagement with the EU. President's address to European Parliament in November an opportunity to project the partnership | DFA, dti, IRPS Economic Depts | Nov-04 | Finalised. The report was submitted to cabinet. Interactions with EU Foreign Ministers included issues pertaining to the TDCA. The President addressed the EU Parliament in Nov-04 | |
6.00 | CROSS-CUTTING PRIORITIES | ||||
| 6.01 | Consolidate SA's successful bid for the 2010 World Cup | DSR, relevant department | Government in consultation with stakeholders for consolidation of South Africa's successful bid. Government addressing the legislative requirements to accommodate the FIFA guarantees | ||
| 6.02 | Implement the international programme for the 10-year celebrations | Presidency, DFA | Missions have hosted events marking the 10-year celebration. Various kinds of support were received from the international community | ||
| 6.03 | Support the bid for the Square Kilometer Array | DST, dti | SKA Research and Technology Cooperation Centre established. Astronomy Geographical Advantage Programme launched. SA participating in EU-funded SKA design study. SKA regional workshop was held in Oct-04. | ||
| 6.04 | Department of Foreign Affairs and International Marketing Council to work much more closely in enhancing capacity of missions to project SA accurately and positively | DFA, GCIS | Ongoing | Opportunities created by missions for trade and investment conferences to be attended by IMC and prominent SA personalities for accurate and positive projection of SA have been well used. This is intensifying with a new phase of the IMC strategy | |
| 6.05 | Focus on Department of Foreign Affairs Human Resource Development, with strategy including repositioning of our Diplomatic Training Facility | DFA, NT | Framework for repositioning of Foreign Service Institute being implemented | ||
| 6.06 | Better co-ordination of Cluster programmes and responsibilities | DFA, SANDF (co-chairs) | Work in progress | ||
| 6.07 | Bid for hosting the Pan-African Parliament | DFA, Parliament, NT | Finalised. Bid successful. SA is now the host of the Pan African Parliament. | ||
| 6.08 | Finalise immigration regulations and attend to issue of immigration in the continent | DHA, DFA | Amendment Bill signed by the President | ||
| 6.09 | Rekindle solidarity movement abroad, building on 10th anniversary celebrations and promoting engagement with reconstruction | DFA, Presidency, IMC | As the celebrations draw to a close with a some international events early in 2005, consolidation of alliances strengthened or created during the celebrations will be a focus of joint work of Foreign Affairs, Presidency and IMC | ||
| Last updated: 2005 March 7 | |||||