SA will be on a diplomatic charm offensive this week at the UN General Assembly’s high-level week in New York where president Cyril Ramaphosa will be leading the delegation.
SA will be on a diplomatic charm offensive this week at the UN General Assembly’s high-level week in New York where president Cyril Ramaphosa will be leading the delegation.
Ramaphosa will address the UN general debate on Tuesday, where he is expected to call for a more equitable world order, deeper multilateralism and reforms to the UN Security Council.
SA will also spotlight its G20 presidency by convening a social summit on the sidelines and hosting a ministerial-level dinner on “Africa and the Global Order.”
Ramaphosa and senior ministers are expected to continue diplomatic and trade discussions in New York, where meetings with senior US officials and business leaders are scheduled. Pretoria is seeking to reset relations with Washington after a period of strain.
Last week, trade, industry and competition minister Parks Tau held meetings with his US counterpart, ambassador Jamieson Greer, and members of congress where the pair agreed to a road map that will inform future engagements towards the conclusion of the process.
“The US remains a key trade and investment partner for SA, with bilateral trade at $15.1bn in 2024. SA’s exports to the US were valued at $8.2bn in 2024; while US imports into SA were $6.9bn. There are more than 600 US companies in SA and more than 22 SA companies in the US,” the DTIC said in a statement.
The Madlanga commission of inquiry also continues this week.
National commissioner Fannie Masemola will be the next witness to testify at the commission on Monday, commission spokesperson Jeremy Michaels said.
This follows the three-day testimony last week by KwaZulu-Natal’s SAPS chief, General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, in which he outlined how the work of the police has been infiltrated by the criminal underworld with help from politicians.
Mkhwanazi will also appear before Parliament’s ad hoc committee investigating allegations of political interference in October.
Seven key witnesses have been invited to appear before the committee, including Mkhwanazi, Masemola, deputy commissioner Shadrack Sibiya, suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu, acting minister Firoz Cachalia, deputy police minister Cassel Mathale and Polly Boshielo.
The DA’s campaign for former Western Cape premier Helen Zille to wear the Joburg mayoral chain kicks off this week after her official announcement as the party’s mayoral candidate.
The justice department will hold a two-day national parole review summit starting on Monday aimed at overhauling SA’s parole and bail system.
“It will provide a national platform to reflect on successes, identify challenges and address gaps in current practices, with the goal of strengthening rehabilitation and restoring public trust,” the department said in a statement.
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