1

CONSOLIDATION OF THE AFRICAN AGENDA

1.1

Strengthen the African Union and its Structures

,

1.1.1

Mobilise support for the harmonisation and rationalisation of Regional Economic Communities, as well as for the regional integration process

DFA, DME, DTI, DWAF, Housing, NT, Health

Ongoing

The rationalisation and strengthening of the RECs is included in the TOR of the Ministerial Committee on the Union Government and the High Level Panel for the audit of the AU. Final reports will be submitted to the Executive Council at the Jan-08 Summit

1.1.2

Strengthen governance and capacity in the AU

DFA, DPSA, DTI , NT

Ongoing

Nominations for Commissioners ended on 25 Nov-07. Southern African Region to name one nominee for the position of Chair of the Commission. The final report of the audit of the AU Commission will the submitted to the Executive Council at the Jan-08 Summit

1.1.3

Support the Pan-African Parliament (PAP)

DFA, DPW, Sector Depts

Ongoing

The 8th Session of the PAP held from the 15-26Oct-07. The 9th Session is scheduled for May-08. A Durban-based South African company won the design competition for the new Parliament. Construction is expected to begin early in 2008

1.1.4

Establish AU Financial Institutions

NT, Sector Depts

Ongoing

The AU Commission is negotiating MOUs with the three host countries, Libya , Cameroon & Nigeria . NT prepared a discussion document on operationalisation of the AU financial institutions. Inter-departmental consultations are ongoing

1.1.5

Engage African Diaspora

DFA, DAC

2007

The Ministerial Meeting of the Diaspora took place on 16-18 Nov-07. The meeting discussed in detail the Programme of Action to be presented at the 2008 Summit

1.1.6

Facilitate implementation of the AU Gender Declaration

DFA, Presidency

Ongoing

SA instrumental in the development of the Draft SADC Protocol on Gender and Development. Member States requested more time for national consultations on the Draft Protocol, which is to be considered at the 2008 Summit .

1.1.7

Monitor migration issues

DHA, DFA

Ongoing

An Integrated Refugee System was approved by DHA, which will avoid duplication in the asylum application process. A Refugee and Asylum turn-Around Action Team including private and public sector experts, will better serve asylum seekers and refugees.

1.2

Support the implementation of NEPAD

,

1.2.1

Facilitate the implementation of NEPAD priority sectors (infrastructure, agriculture, environment, tourism, ICT, health, human resources, and science and technology) and their integration with AU and SADC processes

DFA, DEAT, DME, DTI, DWAF, Housing, NT, Health

Ongoing

The NEPAD Projects Conference held from 8 to 9 October 2007 served as a valuable opportunity for an engagement between government and the private sector to outline the role of business in the rollout of NEPAD

1.2.2

Operationalisation of the African Peer Review Mechanism

DPSA, DFA

2007

Work in progress

1.3

Southern African Development Community (SADC)

,

1.3.1

Contribute towards the SADC Common Agenda (integrated multi/bilateral implementation of RISDP and SIPO action programmes, aimed at Socio-economic development and integration and Political, peace and security cooperation)

DFA, DTI , NT

2007-2016

The SADC Ministerial Task Force on Regional Economic Integration met on 7 Nov-07 to assess national responses to the final Report of the Audit Study on the Trade Protocol implementation. A technical working group was established to take the work forward

1.3.2

Strengthen governance, capacity and technical decision-making processes in SADC, in particular the Integrated Committee of Ministers (ICM) and the SADC Secretariat.

DFA, DPSA , NT

2007

The Extraordinary Session of the SADC Council of Ministers held on 9 Nov-07 approved changes to the Secretariat structure and approved to increase the budgetary allocation towards the FTA, CU and infrastructure support priority areas

1.4

Contribute towards Post Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD) in Africa

,

1.4.1

Democratic Republic of Congo

DFA, Sector Depts

2007-2008

A Cabinet reshuffle was announced on 26 Nov-07. The BNC between SA & DRC emphasises the importance of forward-looking policies and sustainable mechanisms of promoting development and strengthening the foundations of democracy in the DRC

1.4.2

Sudan

DFA, Sector Depts

Ongoing

SA committed to send an extra 100 peacekeepers by end of Dec-07, increasing its troops in Darfur to 800, creating a full UN size battalion. Peace talks are set to continue early in 2008

1.5

Contribute towards Peace, Security, and Stability in Africa

,

1.5.1

Establish the African Standby Force

DFA, DOD, SAPS

Ongoing

Phase 2 of the ASF, which includes the consolidation of existing policy documents, the development of the concept of operation in line with ASF mission scenarios and development, and the enhancing of cooperation with the UNDPKO, continues.

1.5.2

Review of the White Paper on Peace Missions

DFA, DOD, SAPS

2007

A draft review of the White Paper is to be submitted by Jan-08. An inter-departmental committee plans to consolidate all in-puts into a final draft during 2-5 Dec-07

1.5.3

Support stabilisation efforts in Western Sahara

DFA,

Ongoing

The UN Security Council on 31 Oct-07 extended the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara for six months, until 30 April 2008

1.5.4

Support Peace efforts in Cote d'Ivoire

DFA,

Ongoing

Cote d'Ivoire 's leadership accepted the appointment of Mr Choi Yougn-Jin, a South Korean diplomat as the special representative of the UN Secretary General. Elections are scheduled for Oct-08

1.6

Strengthen Bilateral Relations

DFA, Sector Depts

Ongoing

President Mbeki and his Namibian counterpart co-chaired the SA/Namibia Heads of State Economic Bilateral Meeting on 11 Oct-07. The Heads of State of SA, Botswana & Namibia officially opened the Mata-Mata Border Post on 12 Oct-07

2

STRENGTHEN SOUTH-SOUTH CO-OPERATION

2.1

Strengthen India , Brazil , South Africa Dialogue Forum (IBSA)

DFA , NT

2007

The 2nd IBSA Summit took place from 14-17 Oct-07 in SA. The Summit concluded with the Tshwane IBSA Declaration on global, multilateral and political issues of importance and signed seven new trilateral MOUs/ Agreements in sectoral areas of cooperation

2.2

Active engagement in the New Africa Asia Strategic Partnership (NAASP)

DFA,

2007-2008

South Africa proposed to host the 2nd Co-Chairs meeting from 27-30 Nov-07 in SA. The NAASP Co-Chairs, Indonesia and SA to invite other African countries to host the Ministerial Meeting on the African continent in 2008

2.3

Active engagement in the Non- Aligned Movement (NAM):

DFA,

Ongoing

South Africa actively participated in the NAM Security Council Caucus and the NAM Coordinating Bureau in New York , with Minister Dlamini Zuma participating in the Ministerial Meeting of the Co-ordinating Bureau held on the fringes of the UNGA

3

STRENGTHEN NORTH-SOUTH CO-OPERATION

3.1

Strengthen relations with Group of 8 ( G8) and EU to advance African Agenda

DFA, Sector Depts

2007

Minister Dlamini Zuma participated on behalf of South Africa , along with other outreach partners invited by the German Chair in a meeting addressing the role of foreign policy in securing energy supply and protecting the global climate, held on 3 Dec-07

3.2

Work towards consolidation of engagement with OECD

DFA , NT

Ongoing

Work is ongoing

4

PARTICIPATE IN THE GLOBAL SYSTEM OF GOVERNANCE

4.1

Active participation as non permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (2007-2008)

DFA,

2007-2008

SA participated in a number of debates on country specific situations, like the deployment of UN/AU hybrid operation in Darfur and the extension of the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara for a further six months (April 2008).

4.2

Chairing of the G20

NT, DFA

2007

SA held its final meeting as Chair of the G20 on 18-19 Nov-07 in Kleinmond, which brought to a close the programme of the year. Foreign Ministers and Central Bank Governors from G20 countries participated

4.3

Contribution to debates on Terrorism and Weapons of Mass Destruction

DFA, DME, SAPS

Ongoing

The Director-General of the IAEA delivered an updated report to the November 2007 Board of Governors meeting indicating that Iran continues to implement the work plan

4.4

Chairing of the Nuclear Suppliers Group

DFA, DME

2007

SA reported to the November 2007 Consultative Group meeting on the outcome of the various outreach meetings held with the countries as mandated by the Cape Town Plenary

4.5

Contribution towards the Middle East Peace process

DFA,

Ongoing

During the 62nd Session of the UN General Assembly, President Mbeki & Minister Dlamini Zuma held bilateral discussions on the Peace Process with President Mahmoud Abbas, Israeli Foreign Minister, Iranian President and the Syrian Foreign Minister

4.6

Follow up to the Implementation of outcomes of major international conferences, i.e. WSSD, CSD15, Millennium Summit and World Summit of Information Society

DFA, DEAT, DSD

Ongoing

The 5th meeting of the African Committee on Sustainable Development held from 22 - 25 Oct-07 focussed on "Transforming African Agriculture and Rural Economy for Sustainable Development". They also adopted the African Regional Statement to CSD16

4.7

Work towards the resumption & a developmental outcome of WTO negotiations

DTI, DFA , NT

Ongoing

Chairs are consulting to revise the draft modalities by Dec-07 on issues of consensus. Members need to agree on modalities, capturing interests of developing countries and ensure balance between Agriculture and NAMA, to conclude successful round in 2008

4.8

SKA Bid

DST,

Ongoing

A 2008 cohort of postgraduate students for the South African SKA initiative was finalised. The KAT telescope construction in the NC is to start in the last quarter of 2008, and an environmental impact assessment for the meerKAT site was completed

4.9

2010 FIFA World Cup

SRSA, DFA

Ongoing

Work in progress

5

STRENGTHEN POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC RELATIONS

5.1

Advance SA-EU TDCA

DTI, DFA, Sector Depts

Ongoing

The 4th round of negotiations took place in Oct-07. Progress was made on some chapters of the EPA text. The 5th round of negotiations will be held during Nov-07

5.2

Align TDCA with SADC- EU EPA negotiations

DTI, DFA, Sector Depts

Ongoing

Refer to activity 5.1 - Project Completed

5.3

Work towards launch of SACU- India FTA negotiations

DTI, DFA

Ongoing

SACU and India met on 5-6 Oct-07 for the 1st Round of negotiations for a Preferential Trade Arrangement, modalities for negotiations and 'housekeeping' issues were discussed. Next round scheduled for Feb-08

5.4

Work towards launch of SACU- China FTA negotiations

DTI, DFA

Ongoing

The launch stalled due to the surge in clothing and textile imports from China , and MOU setting import limits. Cabinet approved process to establish a Partnership for Growth & Development, which could also include preferential access elements

5.5

Strengthen Economic Diplomacy

DTI, DFA , NT

Ongoing

Work in progress in implementing the Framework for a co-ordinated approach to Market SA as per July Cabinet Lekgotla decisions. The 1st meeting of the IRPS Clearing House on the co-ordination of SA's international work is planned for early 2008

5.6

Market SA Abroad

DFA, Sector Depts

Ongoing

Work in progress

Report Created: 18 Jan 2008