The third annual consultations between South Africa and Norway were held in Pretoria on 3 June 1998. Agreed Minutes were signed the following day in Union Buildings by the heads of the two delegations, Mr Shaheed Rajie, Chief Director in the Department of Finance and Mrs Tove Strand Gerhardsen, the Director-General of the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD).
The consultations were concentrated on the implementation of the present programme of cooperation for the years 1998 - 2000. However, Mrs Strand Gerhardsen announced that her Government is going to propose to the Norwegian Parliament, that development cooperation between the two countries should be allowed to continue for another five year period, beyond the year 2000.
Norwegian assistance to South Africa in 1997 amounted to NOK 140 million, corresponding to ZAR 93 million. The Norwegian delegation pledged continued support at a level of NOK 160 million in 1998 and NOK 100 million in 1999. Next year, Norway shall have gone beyond the initial commitment of spending NOK 600 million to a transitional 5 year programme of development cooperation, which started in 1995.
The main partners in the government-to-government cooperation are the National Departments responsible for environmental Affairs, Constitutional Development, Small-Scale Industries, Energy, Education, Housing and Labour. In the areas of local government and school building, direct assistance will be given to the Mpumalanga Provincial Government and the Town of Nelspruit. Norwegian personnel are seconded to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), and financial support is given to the SABC/TRC Broadcasting Project. Funding of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in South Africa includes among others; The Institute for a Democratic Alternative for South Africa (IDSAS), The Institute for Advancement of Journalism (IAJ), The Electoral Institute of South Africa (EISA), Open Learning Systems Education Trust (OLSET) and Teacher Inservice Project (TIP).
In early May the Norwegian Embassy in Pretoria convened a seminar on organisational sustainability, with more than 40 participant, mainly representatives of NGOs supported by Norway.
The process of establishing the framework and priorities for the next phase of cooperation, beyond the year 2000, is an important task for both governments. A basic common goal will be to establish a long lasting and self-sustained cooperation, where mutual interests and benefits are the main driving force.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PRETORIA 4 JUNE 1998