Media Statement

9 March 2020

South Africa observes Commonwealth Day

Today, Monday, 9 March 2020, Commonwealth countries are celebrating Commonwealth Day under the theme: “Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming.”

As a member of the Commonwealth, South Africa cooperates with the Commonwealth family of nations to create better life for its citizens through economic transformation and collaboration in the fields of education and skills development, women and youth empowerment, technology and innovation, the blue economy, as well as trade and investment. Therefore, theme speaks directly to South Africa’s National Development Plan, the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations’ Agenda 2063, which aims to create a prosperous world, based on inclusive growth and sustainable development.

Since re-joining the Commonwealth in 1994, South Africa and has worked closely with the Commonwealth, contributing financially, and in terms of capacity and expertise to the work of the Organisation. Recently, South Africa in partnership with the British Council, the United Kingdom’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, implemented the ‘Improving Work Opportunities (I-Work)’ project for young people in the Commonwealth to address the high rate of youth unemployment. Six South African Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges are partnering with their counterparts in Ghana, India, Malaysia and United Kingdom to learn and share best practices on work readiness programmes.

During the past 70 years since the establishment of the Commonwealth on 26 April 1949, the relevance and value of this Organisation has increased as the number of members have grown from 8 countries in 1949 to 54 in 2020 and with a membership of around 2,4 billion people from developed and developing countries in Africa, Asia, the Americas, the Caribbean, Europe and the South Pacific. Members work together to pursue common goals to promote a fairer, prosperous, sustainable and secure future.

On Commonwealth Day, South Africa again renews its pledge to uphold and serve the values and fellowship of the Commonwealth.

Enquiries: Mr Clayson Monyela, Spokesperson for DIRCO, 082 884 5974

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION

OR Tambo Building
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