Programme Director,
Ambassador Mirko Manzoni of Switzerland,
Ambassador Anne Beathe Kristiansen of Norway,
Ambassador Pekka Metso of Finland,
Excellences,
DIRCO officials,
The youth,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good morning.
The themes that bring us together today could not be more relevant. Democracy, governance and diplomacy are not abstract concepts. They shape the quality of our lives, determine how societies manage differences, and influence our ability to build peaceful, prosperous and inclusive futures.
This conference takes place during a particularly significant year for South Africa. In 2026, we commemorate two defining milestones in our democratic journey: the 50th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising of 16 June 1976 and the 30th anniversary of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.
Both milestones remind us that democracy is neither inevitable nor self-sustaining. It is built through sacrifice, protected through active citizenship, and strengthened through each generation’s commitment to freedom, justice and equality.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
This month, South Africans commemorate Youth Month and pay tribute to the courageous young people who participated in the Soweto Uprising of 1976.
The events of 16 June 1976 remain one of the defining moments in our country’s history. Young people took to the streets to peacefully protest against the imposition of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction. Their actions were met with violence, but their courage awakened the conscience of the world and reinvigorated the struggle against apartheid.
The sacrifices of the youth of 1976 contributed immensely to the broader movement for freedom, justice and equality. They demonstrated that young people are not merely beneficiaries of change but are often its most powerful drivers.
This year marks the Golden Jubilee of that historic moment.
The 2026 commemoration is being observed under the theme:
RESET@50 – The Future Calls
with the slogan:
Our National Commitment to the Future, for Freedom Lives in Every Generation.
Importantly, this commemoration is not only about remembering the past. It is about connecting the aspirations of 1976 to the realities of 2026.
The youth of 1976 fought for equal access to education and human dignity. The challenge before us today is to ensure that young people have meaningful access to economic opportunities, quality education, skills development, entrepreneurship and participation in society.
This year’s focus, “Mapping the Barriers: Auditing Access for Economic Inclusion”, calls on all sectors of society to identify and remove the obstacles that continue to prevent young people from realising their full potential.
The greatest tribute we can pay to the class of 1976 is not simply to honour their memory. It is to ensure that today’s generation is empowered to lead, innovate and thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
This year also marks the 30th anniversary of our Constitution.
Adopted on 10 December 1996 and entering into force on 4 February 1997, the Constitution stands as the cornerstone of our democratic order.
It is the product of decades of struggle against oppression and injustice. It reflects the aspirations of a people determined to build a society founded on human dignity, equality, freedom and the rule of law.
For thirty years, the Constitution has guided South Africa’s democratic development. It has provided the framework for democratic governance, constitutional accountability, social transformation and the protection of human rights.
We have much to celebrate.
Over the past three decades, South Africa has established robust democratic institutions, conducted free and fair elections, expanded access to education and healthcare, strengthened constitutional governance and advanced the rights of millions who were historically excluded.
Yet we must also acknowledge that the work of transformation remains unfinished.
Persistent inequality, unemployment, poverty, corruption and social exclusion continue to challenge our democratic project.
The Constitution therefore remains not only a record of what we have achieved, but also a guide to what we must still accomplish.
This anniversary presents an opportunity to honour the framers of our Constitution, celebrate our democratic gains and recommit ourselves to constitutional values.
Most importantly, it provides an opportunity to engage young South Africans as custodians of our constitutional democracy and co-creators of a just, united and prosperous society.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The discussion on democracy and governance cannot be separated from developments in the international environment.
We are living through a period of profound geopolitical change.
The world is experiencing increasing strategic competition, technological disruption, economic uncertainty and growing pressure on multilateral institutions.
Competition over strategic resources, critical minerals, artificial intelligence, technological innovation and global supply chains is reshaping international relations.
In this environment, diplomacy has become more important than ever.
South Africa’s foreign policy continues to be guided by the pursuit of peace, development, multilateralism, solidarity and a rules-based international order.
As the previous Chair of the G20, South Africa consistently advocated for more representative, equitable and inclusive global governance institutions.
The conversation about democracy and governance cannot stop at national borders. It must also extend to the democratisation of global governance structures and the meaningful inclusion of developing countries in decisions that affect the future of humanity.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The increasingly complex nature of international relations also requires broader societal participation in foreign policy discussions.
It was precisely this recognition that informed the revival of the South African Council on International Relations, or SACOIR.
The revival of SACOIR reflects the understanding that diplomacy and foreign policy benefit from diverse perspectives and informed public engagement.
SACOIR will provide a platform for dialogue and debate involving government, academia, business, civil society and foreign policy practitioners.
It will support policy development, encourage strategic thinking and provide informed perspectives on international developments and their implications for South Africa.
At a time when geopolitics and economic diplomacy are increasingly shaping the global landscape, initiatives such as SACOIR will help ensure that South Africa remains informed, agile and strategically positioned.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
One of the most important discussions taking place globally today concerns the role of young people in peacebuilding, governance and diplomacy.
The adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace and Security was a watershed moment in international policy.
It recognised that young people are not merely victims of conflict or passive observers of political processes. They are partners in peacebuilding, governance and sustainable development.
This vision is echoed in the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the African Youth Charter.
Africa is the youngest continent in the world. By 2050, nearly one in four people globally will be African.
This demographic reality presents a tremendous opportunity.
If properly empowered, Africa’s youth can drive economic growth, innovation, democratic participation and peacebuilding across the continent.
If excluded, however, the consequences will be felt across every sector of society.
South Africa has made important progress through the National Youth Policy and a range of youth development initiatives. However, there is growing recognition that we must continue strengthening the institutionalisation of youth participation across governance, peacebuilding and development processes.
Just as South Africa has developed a National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, there are important lessons to be learned from countries such as Finland and several other states that have developed dedicated Youth, Peace and Security National Action Plans. Such initiatives help ensure that youth participation is not ad hoc, but systematic, meaningful and sustained.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
DIRCO remains committed to investing in the next generation of leaders, diplomats and peacebuilders.
The Cadet Programme of the Diplomatic Academy continues to prepare young South Africans for careers in diplomacy and international relations.
I am particularly pleased that many of our cadets are with us today. They represent the future of South African diplomacy and the future custodians of our foreign policy.
Similarly, this week we welcome participants from across the SADC region attending the Capacity Building Programme on Conflict Resolution, Negotiation and Mediation, hosted in partnership with the Kingdom of Norway.
This programme reflects our shared commitment to strengthening mediation capacity, conflict prevention and peaceful resolution of disputes across our region.
Our partnership with Norway has contributed significantly to advancing the Women, Peace and Security and Youth, Peace and Security agendas, while also supporting practical capacity-building initiatives that equip future leaders with critical mediation and negotiation skills.
We are equally proud of our partnership with Finland.
The South Africa–Finland Youth Peace Mediators’ Mentoring Programme has become one of the flagship international youth peacebuilding initiatives supported by our two countries.
The programme brings together exceptional young leaders from countries either experiencing or emerging from conflict, or with a strong history of contributing to international peace efforts and provides them with sustained mentorship, learning opportunities and exposure to international peace processes.
It is also symbolically rooted in the historic collaboration between President Cyril Ramaphosa and former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, who together helped facilitate peace in Northern Ireland in 2000.
The programme has already concluded three in-person phases in South Africa, at the African Union, and the United Nation. Its concluding in-person engagement in Helsinki later this year in September will mark not an end, but the beginning of a long-term community of practice that will continue to contribute to peacebuilding efforts across regions and continents.
I am particularly pleased that when President Ramaphosa and President Stubb engage later this year, they will have the opportunity to meet participants whose journeys embody the values that underpin this partnership: dialogue, cooperation, inclusion and peace.
We also value our growing partnership with Switzerland.
Through our cooperation on democratic resilience, mediation and governance, Switzerland has become an important partner in supporting dialogue, democratic participation and institutional strengthening.
Together, these partnerships demonstrate the power of diplomacy to build bridges, create opportunities and invest in people.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Before I conclude, allow me one lighter observation.
Like many people around the world, I have been following the FIFA World Cup with great interest.
Football reminds us that success is never achieved by individuals acting alone.
It requires teamwork, discipline, strategy, resilience and a shared sense of purpose.
The same applies to democracy.
The same applies to governance.
And the same applies to diplomacy.
No society succeeds when citizens are spectators.
No democracy thrives when participation is absent.
And no country can navigate today’s challenges in isolation.
As we reflect on the legacy of 1976, celebrate thirty years of constitutional democracy and look toward Agenda 2063 and the future of our continent, let us remain guided by the belief that young people are not merely the leaders of tomorrow.
They are leaders today.
The future is indeed calling.
Let us answer that call by building a democratic, inclusive, peaceful and prosperous South Africa, a thriving continent and a more just world.
I thank you.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION
OR Tambo Building
460 Soutpansberg Road
Rietondale
Pretoria
0084