SA Government confirms the release of South African National abducted in Nigeria. The South African Government, through High Commissioner Kingsley Mamabolo, confirmed last night, 08 March 2010, the release of the abducted South African national Nick Greyling. In this regard, on behalf of President Jacob G Zuma and Government, the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane extended gratitude and appreciation to the Nigerian Government for the support rendered in securing Mr Greyling’s release.

Statement by Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane on the occasion of the International Women’s Day, Gala Dinner, 7 March 2010. It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to this auspicious event which is hosted jointly by the DIRCO and the Progressive Women’s Movement of South Africa, as part of our two-day programme to celebrate the International Women’s Day and highlight the plight of women in this Year of Peace and Security in Africa (as declared by the last Summit of the African Union). 

Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane to hold a Bilateral Meeting with Sierra Leone Minister Zainab H Bangura. International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane will hold a bilateral meeting with her counterpart, Sierra Leone Foreign Affairs Minister, Ms Zainab H Bangura on Sunday, 07 March 2010 in Pretoria.

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Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane to co-chair South African-Ghana Permanet Joint Commission for Cooperation (PJCC) to be held in Accra, Ghana from 9-11 March 2010. The International Relations and Cooperation Minister H.E. Maite Nkoana-Mashabane will co-chair the Second Session of South Africa - Ghana Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation (PJCC) with Ghanain Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, HE Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, scheduled for 09-11 March 2010 in Accra, Ghana.

Joint Declaration by Gordon Brown, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and President Jacob Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa, 4 March 2010. As part of his State Visit to the UK, President Zuma and Prime Minister Brown discussed a wide range of bilateral issues and shared international priorities.  Talks between UK Ministers and their South African counterparts accompanying President Zuma also took forward joint work on a number of issues.

Keynote Address by His Excellency Jacob Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa, to British Parliamentarians; Palace of Westminster, London, 4 March 2010. I feel greatly privileged to address members of Parliament during our State visit to the United Kingdom. This special honour speaks to the extent and the warmth of the relations between our two peoples. Our visit provides a valuable opportunity for South Africa and the United Kingdom to deepen bilateral relations and advance common positions on the broader challenge of building a peaceful, stable and more equitable world.

President Jacob Zuma extends Condolences to Uganda following disastrous Mudslide. South African President Jacob Zuma has joined other world leaders in extending condolences to President Yoweri Museveni and the people of Uganda following the disastrous mudslide that struck Uganda on Tuesday, 02 March 2010 and left tens of people dead and scores displaced.

Address by His Excellency President Jacob Zuma at the reception hosted by High Commissioner DR Zola Skweyiya on the occasion of the State visit to the United Kingdom, also marking the 100 Day FIFA World Cup kick off and launch of the International Marketing Council logo; London, England 2 March 2010. It is wonderful to spend the first day of our visit with compatriots and friends. Though we may be a long way from South Africa, we feel very much at home here. For many decades, during the difficult days of our struggle, the United Kingdom provided refuge to many of our people.

South Africa confirms the abduction of a South African citizen in Nigeria. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation wishes to confirm that a South African national was abducted yesterday in Nigeria by unknown persons.

Statement by Minister Nkoana-Mashabane South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation at the High Level Segment of the 13th session of the Human Rights Council, Monday, 01 March 2010, Geneva. I have the honour, on behalf of the Government and people of South Africa, to convey to you, Mr President, and members of your Bureau our collective gratitude for your excellent stewardship over the business of this Council in the last nine months. Similarly our appreciation goes to the Ambassadors of Nigeria, Romania and Mexico including members of their bureaus for their unwavering commitment towards the successful conclusion of the Council’s Institution-Building mechanisms.

Statement of Condolence by President Jacob Zuma following an Earthquake in Chile. President Jacob G. Zuma, today 27 February 2010, said in a statement: “The Government and the people of the Republic of South Africa wish to convey to Her Excellency Ms Michelle Bachelet, President of Chile, the Government and the people of Chile our deepest sympathy and condolences following the disastrous earthquake that struck Chile on Saturday, 27 February 2010.

Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO)’s response to a newspaper article on alleged wasteful expenditure. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) wishes to confirm that an amount of R426 million was spent on travelling, accommodation and catering from March 2008 to September 2009 as reported by Business Day of 19 Friday 2010.

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane rounds off her Beijing leg of her trip to the people’s Republic of China. The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, H.E. Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, rounded off her visit to the Beijing leg of her ministerial two-city trip to the People’s Republic of China today, 26 February 2010 after having met the Vice President of the PRC, H.E. Mr Xi Jinping, who reaffirmed the commitments to the Republic of South Africa (RSA) that were made by PRC’s Foreign Affairs Minister, H.E. Mr Yang Jiechi in his earlier meeting with South Africa’s minister. Both the RSA and PRC expressed fraternal greetings and described their relationships as “good and personal” and are aimed at strengthening resolve to, and strategic cohesion on, affairs of international and regional cooperation.

Lecture by Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Westin Hotel, Beijing, China, 26 February 2010. I want to thank our hosts for the warm reception they extended to me and the entire South African delegation since our arrival in China. We converge here today as South Africans alongside our Chinese friends in the spirit of mutual co-existence and a common agenda that speaks to improving the lives of our peoples.

Press Conference on “The Role of the Hague child protection Conventions in the practical implementation of the UN Convention on the rights of the child and the African Charter on the rights and welfare of the child”. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation in conjunction with the Hague Conference on Private International Law and UNICEF will hold a Press conference following a successful seminar held on the 23-24 February 2010.