| Government’s Programme of Action - 2005 | |
| International Relations, Peace & Security Cluster | ||
| Updated 01 Feb 2006 | ||
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| Actions | Departments | TimeFrame | Progress update - 04 Apr 2006 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | CONSOLIDATION OF THE AFRICAN AGENDA | ||||
| 1.1 | Strengthen the African Union and its structures | DFA, relevant departments | |||
| 1.1.1 | Support AU and AU Commission | DFA, all departments | Government continues to lobby the public and private sectors to avail and expose staff to take up vacant posts within the AU and SADC institutions in order to support capacity in these organisations | ||
| 1.1.2 | Finalise the AU Budget and Engage on the AU Vision, Mission and Strategy | DFA, NT | In pursuit of AU's vision, a conference on an AU government was held in Nov-05. The need for a phased approach towards a political union was emphasised. | ||
| 1.1.3 | Operationalise the AU Specialised Technical Committees | DFA, relevant departments | The AU Commission initiated a study to facilitate the operationalisation of the STCs for presentation to the AU policy organs in the next Summit and Executive Council in Jan-06 | ||
| 1.1.4 | Implement the AU Gender Declaration | DFA, Presidency | The Chairperson presented progress report on the Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa in Libya, in Jul-05 | ||
| 1.1.5 | Support the Pan-African Parliament | DFA, Parliament | The 4th Ordinary Session of PAP took place from 21 Nov-05 to 02 Dec-05. The PAP Secretariat has raised concerns regarding lack of financial resources to effectively run the Session. The AU Commission has agreed to assist in this regard | ||
| 1.1.6 | Assist in the operationalisation of ECOSOCC | DFA | A Memorandum of Understanding has been entered into between NEDLAC and the SA Chapter of ECOSOCC Secretariat to develop a working relationship, particularly as regards the African Peer Review process for South Africa | ||
| 1.1.7 | Operationalise the African Court of Justice and the African Court on Human and People's Rights | DoJCD, DFA | The meeting of experts on the draft legal instrument for a merged court took place in Nov-05 in Algiers, Algeria | ||
| 1.1.8 | Establish AU Financial Institutions | NT, DFA | Preliminary work on structures is expected to commence in 2006. SA to participate in the process of preparing draft frameworks for these institutions, as well as the foundation rules relating to form and content of the institutions | ||
| 1.1.9 | Support the AU Peace and Security Council | DFA, DOD | SA continues to play an active role in the AU Peace and Security Council. SA police were deployed to the African Mission in Sudan in Jun-05. | ||
| 1.1.10 | Operationalise the Early Warning System | NICOC, DFA, DOD, SANDF | 2008 | In Nov-05, an Officials Workshop on the SADC Early Warning System took place in Pretoria. The Proposed Information Communication Technology (ICT) system and a draft Insecurity and Conflict Indicators document were adopted | |
| 1.1.11 | Finalise the Common African Defence and Security Policy | DOD, DFA, SANDF | The AU adopted the Non-Aggression and Common Defence Pact during its 4th Summit, held in Nigeria at the end of Jan-05. SA examining Pact for ratification | ||
| 1.1.12 | Establish the African Standby Force | DOD, SANDF | Jun-05, Jun-10 | Progress has been made in terms of redeployment of the military component of the SADC Standby Force. A SANDF member who will serve in the Permanent Planning Element from Jan-06 has been appointed | |
| 1.1.13 | Review the White Paper on Peace Missions | DOD, SANDF | Nov-05 | The draft White Paper on SA's Participation in Peace has been finalised and referred to the State Law Advisors, and is to be submitted to Cabinet | |
| 1.1.14 | Strengthen bilateral relations and work towards 2002 Cabinet Lekgotla decision to have SA representation in all African countries in five years | DFA, NT | 2007 | Government is on track to meet Cabinet decision to be represented in every African capital despite the human resources and financial constraints. In the current financial year three more Missions have been opened in Chad, Guinea and Congo (Brazzaville) | |
| 1.1.15 | Strengthen relations with the African Diaspora | DFA, Presidency | See 1.1.14 | SA, working with the AU has offered to host the next Diaspora Summit in 2006. The NEPAD Secretariat and African Parliamentarians met with 70 members of the Diaspora to seek and merge efforts to address poverty, good governance and development in Africa | |
| 1.1.16 | Participate in the Caribbean Diaspora Conference leading to a Global Conference | DFA | Apr-05 | Diaspora Conference held in Jamaica in Mar-05, was attended by over 250 delegates from Africa and the Diaspora. Programme of Action adopted to strengthen relations and promote linkages between AU and CARICOM regions | |
| 1.1.17 | Support Haiti | DFA, Presidency | SA continues to support a peaceful and constructive resolution to the problems in Haiti, leading to democratic elections. Government continues to host President Aristide | ||
| 1.1.18 | Implement Secondment policy for SA government officials | DFA, DPSA, DOD | Draft policy finalised and will be presented to Cabinet for approval | ||
| 1.2 | Southern African Development Community (SADC) | DFA, all departments | |||
| 1.2.1 | Engage in completing the restructuring of SADC | DFA | The restructuring of SADC is largely complete. The challenge is to implement the SADC Programme of Action, in particular the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan | ||
| 1.2.2 | Strengthen governance and capacity in SADC, especially Secretariat | DFA | Officials from SA government have been seconded to Gaborone to help strengthen and capacitate Secretariat | ||
| 1.2.3 | Accelerate regional integration and work towards the full implementation of the RISDP | DFA, all departments | The RISDP Progress Report was presented to the SADC Council of Ministers in Aug-05 | ||
| 1.2.4 | Strengthen SA's role as Chair of the SADC Organ on Security | DFA, DOD | SA handed Chairmanship of the Organ to Namibia in Aug-05 but remains member of the Troika | ||
| 1.2.5 | Mobilise support for rationalisation of Regional Economic Communities | DFA, dti | A Draft Protocol on Relations between the AU and RECs was presented to the AU Summit in Jul-05 | ||
| 1.3 | Peace, security, stability and post-conflict reconstruction | DFA, Presidency, DOD, SANDF, NICOC | |||
| 1.3.1 | Democratic Republic of Congo | DFA, Presidency, DOD, SANDF, NICOC | A Constitutional referendum took place on 18-19 Dec-05. South Africa sent its observer team, consisting of three officials from DFA. SA Foreign Minister visited DRC in Nov-05 to review and assess South Africa-DRC bilateral co-operation projects | ||
| 1.3.2 | Burundi | DFA, Presidency, DOD, SANDF, NICOC | SA continues to assist with the post conflict reconstruction process of Burundi. Assistance is being provided with regard to the development of the capacity and functioning of state organs and democratic institutions | ||
| 1.3.3 | Zimbabwe | DFA, Presidency, DOD, SANDF, NICOC | Engagement with the Zimbabwean leadership to ensure political and economic reform is ongoing. SA supported the SACC food-aid initiative to the victims of Operations Murambatsvina. SA Mission in Zimbabwe observed the Senate Elections in Nov-05 | ||
| 1.3.4 | Swaziland | DFA, Presidency, DOD, SANDF, NICOC | In Jul-05 King Mswati III signed the draft constitution as the supreme law of the country. However, the new constitution upholds a ban on political parties and retains the King’s absolute power to dissolve Parliament and the Cabinet | ||
| 1.3.5 | Sudan | DFA, Presidency, DOD, SANDF, NICOC | The 7th Round of the Inter-Sudanese Peace Talks on Darfur took place from 28th Nov-05 to 10 Dec- 05 | ||
| 1.3.6 | Cote d'Ivoire | DFA, Presidency, DOD, SANDF, NICOC | Charles Banny was inaugurated in Dec-05 as Cote d’Ivoire’s new Prime Minister after a process brokered by AU mediators led by Presidents Obasanjo and Mbeki | ||
| 1.3.7 | Somalia | DFA, DOD, Presidency, NICOC | Transitional Federal Institutions facing difficulties in restoring functional governance. | ||
| 1.4 | NEPAD | DFA, all departments | |||
| 1.4.1 | Provide capacity and political support for the implementation of NEPAD programmes and priority sectors | DFA, SAMDI, all departments | The Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee called on the African Development Bank to refocus its work and operations in order to support NEPAD implementation | ||
| 1.4.2 | Strengthen NEPAD coordination mechanism in SA | DFA, Presidency, dti | Inter-departmental Task Team held a Workshop in Dec-05 to develop National Strategy for NEPAD | ||
| 1.4.3 | Establish and utilize Continental Development Funds for NEPAD projects | DFA | Public Investment Corporation is leading the process of development of strategy to utilise African national pension funds for African investment projects | ||
| 1.4.4 | Support integration of existing sectoral NEPAD Action Plans into AU and SADC processes | DFA | SA participated in Ministerial meetings to develop Action Plans for the utilisation of African Fisheries and the development of Science and Technology | ||
| 1.4.5 | Operationalise the African Peer Review Mechanism and prepare for South Africa's assessment | DPSA, Presidency, DFA | See G&A 3.6.2 | ||
2 | SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION | ||||
| 2.1 | AASROC and Asia-Africa Summit in Bandung in 2005 | DFA | 2005 | The Asian-African Summit, the Commemoration of the Golden Jubilee and its related meetings were held from 18-24 Apr-05. New Asian- African Strategic Partnership launched | |
| 2.2 | Non-Aligned Movement | DFA | SA participated in the NAM Ministerial meeting on the Advancement of Women, held in Malaysia from 7-10 May-05 | ||
| 2.3 | India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) and hosting of the Ministerial Trilateral Commission | DFA | Mar-05 | In preparation for the IBSA Summit in Brazil this year, SA hosted a Focal Points Meeting on 24-25 Nov-05. The Meeting started the preparations for the envisaged IBSA Summit taking into account the areas of Climate Change; Renewable Energy and Transport | |
| 2.4 | Strengthen bilateral relations with China | DFA | SA continues to strengthen bilateral, political and economic relations with China, including trade and investment relations through the SACU-China FTA negotiations | ||
| 2.5 | G77 South Summit | DFA | 2005 | Workshop held in Dec-05 in preparation for SA's assumption of chairmanship of G77 in 2006 | |
3 | GLOBAL GOVERNANCE: POLITICS AND SECURITY | ||||
| 3.1 | UN reform | DFA | A Leaders’ Network has been established to promote the comprehensive reform of the United Nations. SA invited by President of General Assembly to be part of core group mandated to continue with work in respect of reform of UN | ||
| 3.2 | Terrorism | DFA, DOD, SAPS, NICOC | The Security Council Counter-Terrorism (CTC) reported that SA’s 4th national report on the implementation of resolution 1373 on terrorism had been reviewed by the CTC’s experts. SA to provide a 5th report to the UN | ||
| 3.3 | Weapons of mass destruction | DFA, DOD | |||
| 3.3.1 | Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in 2005 | DFA, dti | 2005 | The 2005 NPT Review Conference took place in New York and ended in deadlock at the end of the 4-week Conference | |
| 3.3.2 | Iran and nuclear technology | DFA | SA continues to consult with concerned governments including NAM members and with members of the IAEA to find concrete workable proposals that can assist in finding a sustainable resolution of the issue | ||
| 3.4 | Iraq | DFA | Iraq held a constitutional referendum in Oct-05. This positive development may expedite the transition process | ||
| 3.5 | Middle East peace process (Israel and Palestine) | DFA, Presidency | PM Sharon’s medical condition has serious implications for the Israeli-Palestinian political landscape as Mr Sharon is considered as key to taking the Middle East Peace Process to a higher level | ||
| 3.6 | Organised crime | SAPS, DJCD, NPA, DSO | SA is actively supporting and participating in regional and international initiatives to combat organised crime | ||
| 3.7 | Amendment of the regulation of the Foreign Military Assistance Act | DoJCD, DFA, DOD, NICOC, JCPS cluster | Cabinet approved the redrafted and renamed Bill which has now been certified by the State Law Advisers and introduced in Parliament | ||
4 | GLOBAL GOVERNANCE: SOCIO-ECONOMIC | ||||
| 4.1 | Multilateral negotiations | DFA, dti, relevant departments | |||
| 4.1.1 | World Trade Organisation | dti, relevant departments | The WTO Ministerial Conference was held in Hong Kong from 13th-18th Dec-05. The focus of the conference was on Agriculture, Non Agricultural Market Access, Services and the development package | ||
| 4.1.2 | UNCTAD | DFA, relevant departments | SA continues to support the work of UNCTAD | ||
| 4.2 | Bilateral negotiations | dti, relevant departments | See Econ 6.1.2 | ||
| 4.2.1 | SACU-US FTA | dti, relevant departments | After encountering an impasse in negotiations last year SACU/USA FTA negotiations on trade in goods resumed in Sept-05 | ||
| 4.2.2 | SACU-India FTA | dti, relevant departments | Since SACU Ministers mandated the negotiations in Jun- 04, preliminary engagements regarding the framework for negotiations with India have taken place. NEDLAC and SACU consultations are underway | ||
| 4.3 | Implement outcomes of major international conferences | All departments | SADC Ministers of Environment met in Maseru on Jul-05 as a follow up to the implementation of the Johannesburg Plan of Action. SA is finalising input to the UN SG report for CSD 14 | ||
| 4.4 | Global Finance | NT | SA continues to engage actively with multilateral institutions and intergovernmental organisations, including the IMF, the World Bank, the G20, and the G24 | ||
| 4.5 | North-South Dialogue | DFA | |||
| 4.5.1 | Cooperation with OECD | DFA, relevant departments | SA’s accession to OECD Bribery Convention has been submitted to Parliament | ||
| 4.5.2 | Group of Eight (G8) Summit, implementation of the G8 Africa Action Plan and engagement with the Africa Commission | DFA, NT, Presidency | Jul-05 | SA participated in Africa Partnership Forum in London Oct-05 to discuss Joint Plan of Action to implement agreed priorities and actions for the development of Africa | |
| 4.5.3 | World Economic Forum | Presidency | The WEF Africa Economic Summit was successfully held in Cape Town in Jun-05. Business leaders signed a declaration endorsing the Commission for Africa's recommendations | ||
5 | CROSS-CUTTING PRIORITIES | ||||
| 5.1 | 2010 FIFA World Cup | SRSA | Preparations are under way | ||
| 5.2 | Square Kilometer Array (SKA) Bid | DST, dti | South Africa’s bid to host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope is progressing satisfactorily. Bid was submitted to the international SKA Steering Committee by Dec- 05 | ||
| 5.3 | Tourism | DEAT, DFA, GCIS | Draft National Tourism Development Plan for 2010 FIFA World Cup is being prepared. A task team on the restructuring of RETOSA submitted a report to its board in May-05. Discussions underway to use TFCA to ensure SADC benefits from SA hosting 2010 FIFA WC | ||
| 5.6 | SA policy for intra-Africa trade | dti, DFA | The scope of this project has been widened to broadly encompass African economic development. An inter-departmental task team, led by the DTI, is finalising a draft strategy | ||
| 5.8 | Host Conference on Progressive Governance | Presidency, DFA | Oct-05 | South Africa will host a Conference on Progressive Governance in February 2006 | |
| 5.9 | HRD: Enhance capacity for economic diplomacy and strengthen FSI | DFA, NT | Repositioning of Foreign Service Institute (FSI) is being implemented in a phased approach. A DDG: FSI has been appointed. Diplomats undergoing trade and investment promotion courses | ||
| Last updated: 2006 April 4 | |||||