Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS)
2 June 1998
MINSTER RADEBE AND COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY-GENERAL OPEN CONFERENCE ON THE COMMONWEALTH AND SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa politicians joined Commonwealth experts in key development areas, and representatives from businesses, professional associations and non-governmental organisations to discuss past and, more importantly, future co-operation between the Commonwealth and South Africa in Pretoria today.
The conference, The Commonwealth and South Africa: Partnership for the New Millennium, was opened by Hon Jeff Radebe, Acting Foreign Minister and Minister for Public Works, and Commonwealth Secretary-General Emeka Anyaoku at the Reserve Bank.
In his speech, Mr Radebe paid tribute to Commonwealth assistance to South Africa, especially in the transition to a multi-racial democracy. He added: "South Africa, drawing on the experience it gained in its transition to a democracy, is well placed to contribute to, and benefit from, the Commonwealth co-operative programmes in the future."
Chief Anyaoku, who yesterday addressed the South African Parliament in Cape Town, said the conference was "an excellent opportunity to share views and build consensus on ways to approach the challenges of the next century when Commonwealth Heads of Government meet in South Africa towards the end of 1999." He described that meeting as the last occasion of the present century "to bring the collective experience and wisdom of this age to bear on the challenges of the next."
He added: "Through partnership, co-operation and consensus-building - the special features which have characterized the Commonwealth and its renewed relationship with South Africa - there is a formidable resolve to meet these challenges."
The conference is providing a forum to develop possible approaches to challenges including the consolidation of democracy, economic development and public sector reform, utilising partnerships within the Commonwealth association between governments, businesses, professional associations and non-governmental organisations
Among today's conference speakers were:
Public Sector Reform:
Hon Dr Zola Skweyiya, Minister for Public Service and Administration for South Africa, and vice-president Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management (CAPAM) Mr Gordon Draper, Commonwealth consultant and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trinidad & Tobago.
Electoral Management:
Justice Johann Kriegler, chairman, Independent Electoral Commission, South Africa, Mrs Georgina Chikoko, Commissioner, Malawi Electoral Commission.
The Private Sector and Civil Society:
Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, executive deputy-chairman, New Africa Investment Ltd (NAIL) and vice-chairman, Commonwealth Business Council Mr John Harker, International consultant, Canada
Commonwealth Co-operation Programmes:
Dr Mohan Kaul, Director, Management and Training Services Division, Commonwealth Secretariat, London Mr Colin Ball, Deputy Director, Commonweatlh Foundation, London.
Tomorrow's speakers will be: Dr A Desai, University Grants Commission, India, Dr Kumi Naidoo, Co-ordinator, South African National NGO Coalition (SANGOCO); Mr Dullah Omar, Minister of Justice, South Africa: Baroness Valerie Amos, Commonweatlh consultant and former CEO Equal Opportunities Commission, UK.