House Chairperson, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee Honourable Supra Mahumapelo Honourable Members, I have the honour to present Budget Vote 6 of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation on a day that carries the weight and inde ...
Minister Ronald O Lamola’s Opening Remarks at the SAIIA DIRCO Pre-Budget Vote Symposium, Cape Town, 25 May 2026
It is an honour to be with you this afternoon. Tomorrow, we will table the Budget Vote for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation in Parliament. Through that Budget Vote, we will account for how DIRCO has carried out its mandate, ...
DIRCO to host series of events linked to Minister Lamola’s Budget Vote Speech
The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Ronald Lamola, will present the Budget Vote Speech of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) to Parliament on Tuesday, 26 May 2026. The Minister will use the occasio ...
Closing Remarks by Honourable Ronald Lamola, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation on the occasion of the Inter-Departmental Workshop on the RISDP 2020–2030 in the context of South Africa’s Chairship of SADC, Conference 1, O.R. Tambo Building, DIRCO, Friday, 24 April 2026
Programme Director, Ambassador Tebogo Seokolo, DDG: Africa, Senior officials from government departments, Representatives of state-owned enterprises and public entities, Representatives from the SADC Secretariat, Esteemed scholars and experts, Distin ...
Minister Lamola to speak at the closing of the SADC Inter-Departmental Workshop hosted by DIRCO
The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Ronald Lamola, will deliver the closing remarks at the three-day High-Level Inter-Departmental Workshop hosted by DIRCO. Held from 22 to 24 April 2026, the workshop is aimed at developing a strat ...
DIRCO to host inter-departmental workshop on South Africa’s chairship of SADC
On Wednesday, 22 April 2026, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) will convene a three-day High-Level Inter-Departmental Workshop to develop a strategy and identify priorities for South Africa’s Chairship of SADC. The Workshop ...
Remarks by International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Mr Ronald Lamola during the briefing to Media on current geo-political developments, 11 March 2026
Southern Africa Development Community South Africa will host the SADC Council of Ministers in Pretoria, South Africa, from 12 to 13 March 2026. During this Session, in our capacity as Interim Chair of the Council of Ministers will continue to implement ...
Minister Lamola to brief the media on geopolitical developments
The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Ronald Lamola, will brief the media this afternoon on current geo-political developments. The briefing will be held as follows: Date: Wednesday, 11 March 2026 Time: 17:00 (media to arrive ...
Evacuation of South African citizens from the conflict zone in the Middle East
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) notes a significant increase in registrations by South Africans on the Travel Smart system, with over 6,400 South African citizens in the Middle East registering their presence as of 4 Marc ...
Remarks by Minister Ronald Lamola on the occasion of the 2026 DIRCO Strategic Planning Session, 27 February 2026
Deputy Minister, Hon. Mr Alvin Botes, Deputy Minister, Hon. Ms Thandi Moraka, Director General, Mr Zane Dangor, Heads of Branches, Senior Officials, Ladies and Gentlemen. Good Morning. It is an honour to address this Departmental strategic plan ...
Deputy Minister Moraka to host a SADC outreach in Mpumalanga
The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Thandi Moraka, will host a community outreach focussing on South Africa's role as interim and upcoming Chair of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Organised in partnership ...
Minister Lamola to address Strategic Reflection Workshop on South Africa’s role in the SADC
The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Ronald Lamola, will on Thursday, 26 February 2026, address the Strategic Reflection Workshop jointly hosted by the DIRCO and the University of South Africa (UNISA) under the theme: A renewed Sout ...
Israeli Chargé d’Affaires declared Persona Non Grata
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation has informed the Government of the State of Israel of its decision to declare Mr Ariel Seidman, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Israeli Embassy, persona non grata. This decisive measure follows a s ...
DIRCO, UNISA and Rustenburg Municipality to host a G20 Townhall Outreach Programme
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), in collaboration with the University of South Africa (UNISA) and the Rustenburg Municipality, will host a G20 Townhall Outreach Programme on Thursday, 30 October 2025, at the Civic Centre ...
DIRCO to host an online G20 Summit media workshop
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) will conduct a media workshop focussing on preparations for the G20 Leaders’ Summit. The workshop will take place on Thursday, 16 October 2025, from 08h00 to 10h00. The session will f ...
DIRCO to host Official Memorial Service for the late Ambassador Mthethwa
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) will host the Official Memorial Service for the late Ambassador Emmanuel Nkosinathi “Nathi” Mthethwa on Friday, 10 October 2025. Ambassador Mthethwa served as South Africa’s Head of Miss ...
DIRCO and UNISA to host a G20 Townhall Engagement in Durban
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), in collaboration with the University of South Africa (UNISA) and the University of KwaZulu-Natal, will host a G20 Townhall Outreach on 8 October 2025, in Durban. The event will take pla ...
Motion without notice on the “Resolution on SAHUC controversy” adopted by the National Assembly
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation has noted the National Assembly’s adoption of a motion without notice on the “Resolution on SAHUC controversy.” The Department wishes to reiterate the information shared in its previous statemen ...
DIRCO and UNISA to host a G20 Townhall Engagement in Cape Town
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), in collaboration with the University of South Africa (UNISA), will host a G20 Townhall Outreach on 16 September 2025 in Cape Town. The event will take place under the theme: Financial Incl ...
Statement on South Africa’s Foreign Policy Engagements and Diplomatic Achievements
Tribute to Ambassador Mahlangu We would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute the late Ambassador Mahlangu who was serving as South Africa’s High Commissioner to Kenya. The Late Ambassador Mahlangu was also accredited to Somalia. He was born on ...
South African Government sets Record straight on Farm Crime
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) committed to updating its initial statement on the 2024 US Human Rights Report, specifically its commentary on the safety situation in South Africa's rural and farming communities. The Sout ...
Submission of Final Report by the Ministerial Committee on the Efficient Management of the Annual Hajj and Umrah Pilgrimages to DIRCO
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) refers to its previous media statement dated 10 February 2023, titled “Establishment of the Ministerial Committee on the Efficient Management of the Annual Hajj and Umrah Pilgrimages” (atta ...
Clarification on South Africa’s Foreign Policy Authority
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has taken note of recent media reports concerning comments attributed to South African National Defence Force (SANDF) General Rudzani Maphwanya. It is crucial to clarify that the implementa ...
South Africa rejects inaccurate and deeply flawed account of Human Rights Practices
The Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation registers its profound disappointment with the recent report on human rights in South Africa published by the U.S. State Department. We find the report to be an inaccurate and deeply flawed account t ...
Border Management Authority clarifies status of the Russian vessel
The Border Management Authority (BMA) has noted misleading claims made regarding the arrival of a Russian vessel at the Port of Cape Town and wishes to clarify the facts. The vessel in question arrived at Cape Town harbour on Monday, 4 August 2025. Pri ...
South Africa objects to abuse of National Symbol
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has registered its strong objection and concern regarding circumstances around the recent visit of an eminent South African leader, former South African President Mr Jacob Zuma, who is Lead ...
South Africa raises immigration related concerns with Eswatini
South Africa has raised concerns with Kingdom of Eswatini following confirmation by the acting spokesperson of the Government, Mrs Thabile Mdluli, that a group of dangerous criminals of various nationalities landed in Eswatini after being transported from ...
DIRCO and UNISA to host a seminar on “The UN at 80: The post-World War II peace architecture and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty”
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) and the University of South Africa (UNISA) will host a public seminar on Wednesday, 6 August 2025, under the theme: The United Nations (UN) at 80: The post-World War II peace architecture a ...
Joint Media Statement by the Ministers of International Relations and Cooperation and Trade, Industry and Competition, 4 August 2025
South Africa's Response Measures to the US tariffs Since the beginning of the 7th Administration, South Africa embarked on a process to stabilise and enhance mutually beneficial trade and investment relations with the US. The aim has been to address lo ...
DIRCO to commemorate Nelson Mandela through community outreach in Sebokeng
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) will visit Phehello Primary School in Sebokeng, Gauteng, on Thursday, 31 July 2025, as part of its Mandela Month outreach activities. This programme honours the legacy of former Presiden ...
Remarks by Hon. Thandi Moraka, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, on the occasion of the Budget Vote Speech of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), in Parliament, Cape Town, South Africa, 3 July 2025
Honourable Speaker / House Chair, Honourable Minister Lamola and Deputy Minister Botes, Chair of the Portfolio Committee on International Relations, Hon. Mahumapelo, Honourable Members, Senior Officials of DIRCO led by Director-General Zane Dangor, ...
Budget Vote Speech of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), by Deputy Alvin Botes, in Parliament, Cape Town, South Africa, 3 July 2025
Honourable House Chairperson, Honourable Minister Lamola and Deputy Minister Moraka, Chair of the Portfolio Committee on International Relations, Hon. Mahumapelo, Honourable Members, Director-General Zane Dangor and Members of the South African Foreig ...
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
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 ...
Pre-Budget Department of International Relations and Cooperation Media Briefing by Minister Ronald Lamola, in Parliament, Cape Town, South Africa, 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 h ...
Minister Lamola to deliver DIRCO Budget Vote Speech, which is to be preceded by a media briefing
The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Ronald Lamoma, will deliver the Budget Vote Speech of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) on Thursday, 3 July 2025, in Parliament, Cape Town. Minister Lamola will ...
DIRCO and UNISA to host the first G20 Town Hall Engagement
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), in partnership with UNISA, will host a G20 Town Hall Engagement on Wednesday, 14 May 2025, in Pretoria. This G20 Town Hall Outreach aims to engage South Africans on the significance, ob ...
Official Clarification from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) issues the following clarification to address misinformation: False Attributions to Mr Mcebisi Jonas DIRCO categorically denies the claims made by Semafor regarding an interview with ...