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A Tribute to Ambassador Nkosinathi Emmanuel Mthethwa by Minister Ronald Lamola, 10 October 2025

10 October 2025

Mthethwa and Family representatives, Your Excellencies, Deputy Director-General for Europe and the Americas Ambassador VM Dlomo, members of the diplomatic corps, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen. Our gathering here is a sombre reminder that Ambassador Nkosinathi Emmanuel “Nathi” Mthethwa is no more. More than a week ago, our nation received the harrowing news of Ambassador Mthethwa’s passing. With this news, hordes of people who loved and

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Closing Remarks by Minister R O Lamola at the Second G20 Foreign Minsters’ Meeting, New York, USA, 25 September 2025

25 September 2025

Your Excellences, I would like to thank you all for your attendance and constructive participation in this Second G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting under South Africa’s G20 Presidency. We further thank the United Nations Secretary-General, HE Mr Antonio Guterres and his team for the invaluable support and partnership for this event. The meeting was opened by HE President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa who, inter alia, welcomed Foreign

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Statement by Minister R O Lamola at the Second G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, “The United Nations at 80: reaffirming peace as a path to sustainable development”, New York, USA, 25 September 2025

25 September 2025

Honourable Ministers of Foreign Affairs of G20 Members, Honourable Ministers of Foreign Affairs of invited Guest Countries, Honourable Fellow Foreign Ministers of UN Members and permanent observers, G20 Sherpas and Sous-Sherpas, Heads of Invited International Organisations, Distinguished guests, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Allow me once again to welcome you all to the Second G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting under South Africa’s Presidency of the Group. It

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Speech delivered by Minister Ronald Lamola at the International Peace Institute’s (IPI) Annual Event on Africa and the Global Order Reform of the Global Financial Architecture: G20 Imperatives for Sustainable Debt and Inclusive Growth, New York, USA, on 24 September 2025

24 September 2025

Your Excellencies, Ministers of Foreign Affairs, My co-host, Mr Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is an honour and privilege to welcome you all here this evening. South Africa’s Leadership at the G20 South Africa and the International Peace Institute have a long-standing partnership, a relationship built on mutual respect, shared goals, and a collective vision. This collaboration naturally led us

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Statement by Minister Ronald Lamola, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation to the Meeting of the Joint Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation and the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development, Wednesday, 10 September 2025, Cape Town

10 September 2025

South Africa vs Israel case at the ICJ Chairpersons of the Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation and the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development, Honourable members of both Committees, Thank you for providing the Department of International Relations and Cooperation the opportunity to brief you today on the legal proceedings at the International Court of Justice in the South Africa versus Israel

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Speech By Minister Ronald Lamola at the Second Annual Peace and Security Dialogue under the auspices of the Thabo Mbeki Foundation held on 4 September 2025

4 September 2025

Former President, Your Excellencies, Esteemed Delegates, Brothers and Sisters of Africa, We stand today at a crossroads of history. In the current world of heightened uncertainty, and the return of dangerous might-makes-right policies, new possibilities may emerge, with pronounced risks. Yet we come from the vantage point that risks could be turned into both opportunities and promise, if only nations could swap confrontation with co-operation.

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Keynote Address by Minister Roland Lamola on the occasion of the B20 Recommendation Papers Handover, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa, 4 September 2025

4 September 2025

Good afternoon. It is a great honour to be with you today, to represent the President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa. Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, if there is one thing we must take away from the comprehensive recommendations of this B20 platform, it is this: now is not a time for despondency. We cannot afford to be passive

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Speech by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Mr Ronald Lamola (MP), in the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa on the occasion of The Presidency Budget Vote Debate, delivered on 16 July 2025

16 July 2025

A Call for Collective Action in a World Under Strain Mr President, Madam speaker, Honourable members, This budget will enable the Presidency to fulfil its obligations to build a national democratic society and not narrow political interests. South Africa is a constitutional democracy, when there is a challenge of national significance a commission of inquiry becomes relevant. Progress on Reforms Led By President Ramaphosa All

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Budget Vote Speech delivered by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Ronald Lamola, MP, in Parliament, Cape Town, South Africa, 3 July 2025

3 July 2025

House Chairperson, Honourable Members, We’re tabling a budget today, just over a year since the formation of the GNU. We continue to make progress in our international relations work. Honourable Members, I have just returned from Sevilla in Spain, where I represented President Cyril Ramaphosa, where the compromise Sevilla agreement was adopted (the Sevilla Commitments) by members states of the UN. This Financing for Development

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Pre-Budget Department of International Relations and Cooperation Media Briefing by Minister Ronald Lamola, in Parliament, Cape Town, South Africa, 3 July 2025

3 July 2025

Africa: Implementing Agenda 2063 Our foreign policy is an extension of our domestic imperatives on human rights and resolving the triple challenges of inequality, poverty and unemployment. Through attracting Foreign Direct Investment, we intend to help achieve the three percent economic growth objective. Over the past year, South Africa has signed 12 new bilateral agreements with African nations. We have engaged in over 60 high-level

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Speech delivered by Minister Ronald Lamola at the Multi-Stakeholder Round Table, under the theme “Revitalising International Development Cooperation”, in Seville, Spain, 30 June 2025

30 June 2025

President Sanchez, Secretary-General Guterres, Prime Minister Mottley, Distinguished Delegates, Attracting private investment in developing countries remains a significant challenge due to a range of structural and systemic issues. One of the foremost barriers is political and regulatory volatility. Frequent shifts in policy, coupled with weak institutions and inconsistent regulatory frameworks, create a climate of uncertainty that undermines investor confidence. This unpredictability hampers long-term planning and

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Speech by Minister Ronald Lamola at the High-Level Session of the Third G20 Sherpa Meeting, Sun City, 26 June 2025

26 June 2025

Honourable Premier of the North West Province, Mr Lazarus Mokgosi, Mr Zane Dangor, G20 Sherpa and Director-General of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, Sherpas from G20 Members, Invited Guests and International Organisatons, Members of the Economic Committee, North West Provincial Government, the Free State Provincial Government and the Northern Cape Provincial Government, Senior Officials from National Departments and the North

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Remarks by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Roland Lamola, at the Launch of the South Africa-Finland Youth Peace Mediators Programme, in Pretoria, South Africa, 6 June 2025

6 June 2025

Programme Director, Ambassador Dlomo, Honourable Minister Elina Valtonen, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland, Ambassador Pekka Metso, Embassy of Finland, Excellencies, Ambassadors and High Commissioners, Director General of DIRCO, Mr Dangor, Representatives of the United Nations, African Union, SADC and other international and regional organisations, Esteemed colleagues from government, civil society, and academia, including from the Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation, the Martti Ahtisaari Foundation and Interpeace,

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Speech by Minister Mr Ronald Lamola delivered at the Black Business Council at the OR Tambo Conference Centre, Pretoria, South Africa, on 5 June 2025

5 June 2025

The President of the BBC Elias Monage and the entire leadership of the BBC, It is an honour and privilege to address the BBC annual summit under the theme socio economic transformation and inclusive growth in the context of the GNU, G20 Presidency and the changing Geopolitical DYNAMICS. Minister Tau and I have just landed from Paris where we attended the OECD Ministerial Council. The

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Remarks by HE Mr Ronald O. Lamola, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa, during the 12th High-Level Regional Oversight Mechanism of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the Region, 28 May 2025

28 May 2025

Your Excellency, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Chairperson of the PSC Framework, Your Excellencies, Signatory Countries of the PSC Framework, Your Excellencies, Representatives of Guarantors Institutions, Ladies and Gentlemen, On behalf of President Cyril Ramaphosa, first let me bring you an apology of your brother who couldn’t make it, allow me to begin by congratulating his Excellency, President Museveni, for assuming the role of the Chairperson

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Opening Remarks by Honourable Ronald O. Lamola, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa, on the occasion of the Council of Ministers Meeting of the Second Bi-National Commission between South Africa and the Kingdom of Lesotho, Maseru, Lesotho, 22 April 2025

22 April 2025

Co-Chair and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations of the Kingdom of Lesotho, Honourable Lejone Mpotjoana, High Commissioners, Honourable Ministers, Senior Government Officials, Members of the Media, Good Afternoon, I sincerely thank Minister Mpotjoana for the warm words of welcome this afternoon to the plenary of the Council of Ministers. Similarly, I extend our gratitude for the gracious hospitality extended to our Delegation since

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Speech delivered by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, at the Opening of the Aziz Pahad Inaugural Annual Peace, Security and Human Rights Dialogue, in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, 31 March 2025

31 March 2025

Theme: Constitutionalism as the Foundation of Nation Building and Social Cohesion: A Reflection of 30 Years of Freedom, Equity and Justice in a Post Apartheid South Africa. Former President Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki and First Lady Mam Zanele Mbeki, Prof. Angina Parekh-Pahad and the Pahad family, Former Ministers of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, Former Ministers present, Cabinet Colleagues present, Your Excellencies, Ambassadors and

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Speech by Minister Ronald Lamola delivered in Parliament, on the Motion: USA decision to cut USAID funding and the response thereto, on 6 March 2025

6 March 2025

It was the great son of Africa, President Kwame Nkrumah who once said, “We face neither East nor West; we face forward.” This, Honourable Members, is the foreign policy outlook of this Republic. Indeed, we as South Africa face neither East nor West, we face forward, we move forward. We are not the playthings of others. We welcome this pivotal debate called by Honourable Malema.

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Remarks by Mr Ronald Lamola, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa on The Global Geo-Political Situation, Nasrec, Johannesburg, 20 February 2025

20 February 2025

Your Excellences, Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation, G20 Sherpas and Sous Sherpas, Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, Allow me, once again, to reiterate the words of His Excellency, President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa in welcoming you to NASREC, Johannesburg, for the first G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting under South Africa’s presidency. Excellences, Ministers and Heads of Delegation, South Africa has recently emerged from national

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Opening Statement by Mr Ronald Lamola, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa at the South Africa-European Union Ministerial Political Dialogue held in Cape Town, on 19 February 2025

19 February 2025

Your Excellency, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission, Mrs Kaja Kallas Excellencies, Ambassador Kramer of the European Union and Ambassador Xasa, South Africa’s Ambassador to the EU My Colleagues, Members of the South African Cabinet Members of the EU and South African Delegation Good morning, It is my absolute honour and delight to welcome you, Excellency

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Speech by Minister Ronald Lamola (MP), Debate: The recent casualties sustained by the South African National Defence Force in the Democratic Republic of Congo, 10 February 2025

10 February 2025

Honourable Members, I stand shoulder to shoulder with my esteemed parliamentary colleagues, united in our tribute to the fallen heroes of our national Defence Force members, Malawi Defence Force members, Tanzanian Defence force members and Uruguay, under MONUSCO and SAMIDRC it is not a tragedy that has only befallen our defence force, it has befallen both UN mission and the SADC mission. The budget and

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Liberal Democracies and the Rise of the South, Speech delivered at the Oxford Society by Mr Ronald O Lamola, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, Monday, 27 January 2025

27 January 2025

Liberal Democracies and the Rise of the South, Speech delivered at the Oxford Society by Mr Ronald O Lamola, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, Monday, 27 January 2025 Thank you very much for this auspicious invitation to address the world-renowned and deservedly esteemed Oxford Society. I also appreciate your request to speak on a highly relevant topic in global affairs: Liberal

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Statement by Mr Ronald Lamola at the Press Conference: The Jubilee 2025 Pilgrimage to Tackle Debt, End Poverty and Heal Our Planet, 23 December 2024, 16h00 (RSA)

23 December 2024

Programme Director, Mr Eric LeCompte, His Eminence, Cardinal Silvano Tomasi, His Eminence, Cardinal Peter Turkson, Fellow Panellists from Caritas International, Good afternoon from South Africa. It is a very special honour for me to address you at this Press Conference, which is to launch campaigns on debt relief in 160 countries as part of the Catholic Church’s Jubilee 2025, or Holy Year. My address today

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Joint Media Statement by Honourable Ronald Ozzy Lamola Minister of International and Cooperation for the Republic of South Africa and Honourable Pascoal Ronda Minister of Interior for the Republic of Mozambique on the occasion of the South Africa-Mozambique Joint Inter-Ministerial Meeting, held In Malelane, Mpumalanga Province South Africa, 18 December 2024

18 December 2024

Today, Ministerial delegations from South Africa and Mozambique held a joint Inter-Ministerial Meeting. This important meeting between friendly and fraternal neighbouring countries is reflective of the very good levels of bilateral cooperation between our two countries. The meeting was held in a very constructive, and cordial manner, illustrating the great spirit of collaboration between South Africa and Mozambique. The meeting exchanged views and agreed on

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Media Statement delivered by Minister Lamola post the Meeting with the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Mr António Guterres, Pretoria, South Africa, 11 December 2024

11 December 2024

Secretary General, it’s a great pleasure to welcome you to South Africa once more. You are not a stranger to our beautiful country and its people. And I can say with pride that you are most welcome here; you will always be welcomed with open arms. This is where we remain rooted in the spirit of ubuntu despite our challenges and difficulties. In our language,

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Remarks by HE Minister R O Lamola, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, at the 47th UN International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People: A Call to our Conscience, Freedom Park, Pretoria, 25 November 2024

25 November 2024

Programme Director, Our host, the Chief Executive Officer of Freedom Park, Dr Jane Mufamadi, Former Chairperson of the AU, Your Excellency, Ambassador of The State of Palestine Hanan Jarrar, Your Excellency, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Ambassador Salih Omar Abdu, Your Excellency, Dean of the Council of Arab Ambassadors, Ambassador Mubarak Mahash Saeed Alhameli, Mr Nelson Muffue, United Nations Resident Coordinator in South Africa, Members

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Opening Remarks by Minister Ronald Lamola, during the Bilateral Meeting with the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development of the United Kingdom (UK), Rt. Hon David Lammy, in Cape Town, South Africa, on 5 November 2024

5 November 2024

Foreign Secretary Lammy, Lord Collins of Highbury, High Commissioner Philipson, Director-General Dangor, Senior Officials from the British and South African Delegations, Your Excellency, I am pleased to welcome you to South Africa, and I hope that since your arrival in my country earlier this morning, you have experienced the warmth of South African hospitality. I would like to also welcome the rest of your delegation

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Opening Remarks by Minister Lamola for the Meeting of the South Africa-Namibia Diplomatic, Political and Legal Committee, Swakopmund, 14 to 15 October 2024

14 October 2024

My Dear Brother and Colleague, Minister Dr Peya Mushelenga, Ministers and Deputy Ministers present here today, Our High Commissioners, Senior Officials and Experts from both Countries, Excellency and Dear Brother Minister Mushelenga, thank you for the gracious welcome you have extended to my delegation and I, including the hospitality extended to us since our arrival. I wish to convey the warm greetings of friendship from

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Address by Minister Ronald Lamola, during the Thucydides Trap – Challenges and Opportunities for Africa, held at the MISTRA Head Office on 11 October 2024

11 October 2024

Mr Joel Netshitenzhe (Executive Director – MISTRA), Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Representatives of Government, Representatives of the Research Community, Academia, and Civil Society, Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, I extend my gratitude to the leadership of MISTRA for inviting us to be part of this strategic reflection. The power of reflection is best revealed by an African proverb, “A reflection does not see itself.”

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Statement by Minister Ronald Lamola at the United Nations Security Council High-Level Open Debate under the Agenda Item, Maintenance of International Peace and Security, Leadership for Peace: United in respect of the UN Charter, in search of a Secure Future, 25 September 2024

25 September 2024

We thank Dr Robert Golob, Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, for convening this debate. We also wish to extend our gratitude to the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the briefers, Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Member of The Elders and Former President of Liberia. Mr President, South Africa has just emerged

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Opening Remarks by Minister Ronald Lamola on the occasion of the Working Visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway, Mr Espen Barth Eide, Pretoria, 30 August 2024

30 August 2024

Your Excellency, Mr Espen Barth Eide, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway; it gives me great pleasure to welcome you and your esteemed delegation to South Africa for this meeting. Our engagement today allows us to review the current state of our bilateral political and economic relations and unlock challenges and opportunities where they may exist. Furthermore, it affords us a valuable

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