President of the General Assembly, Secretary-General of the United Nations, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Twenty-five years ago, the world converged on our shores in Durban, South Africa, for ...
UNGA81 General Debate: South Africa’s National Statement by Minister Ronald Lamola, Head of Delegation on “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations that Delivers for All”, 24 September 2026
President of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Mr Khalilur Rahman, Secretary-General, Mr Antonio Guterres, Excellencies, Heads of State and Government, Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr President, This day the 24th of September is a ...
Speaking Notes by Ronald Lamola, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, during the UNGA81 Side Event on the “Implementation of the Pact for the Future in Africa”, UN Conference Room 2, 22 September 2026
Excellencies, Distinguished Ministers, Excellencies, Permanent Representatives, Ladies and Gentlemen, At the outset, allow me to commend the conveners for bringing us together to reflect on the implementation of the Pact for the Future and what it m ...
Remarks by Hon. Ronald Lamola, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, at the Global Leaders Network for Women’s, Children’s, and Adolescents’ Health (GLN) High-Level Event on the occasion of UNGA81, on “Financing for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health in a Time of Austerity”, 22 September 2026
Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, On behalf of the President of the Republic of South Africa and the chair of the Global Leaders Network for Women’s, Children’s, and Adolescents’ Health, His Excellency President Cyril Ramapho ...
South Africa participates in the 11th Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty at the UN
South Africa is participating in the 11th Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) taking place at the United Nations (UN) in New York, from 27 April to 22 May 2026. The NPT is key to global efforts to prevent t ...
Speech delivered by Mr Alvin Botes, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, at the United Nations Country Team (UNCT), Annual Retreat, Greenhouse Café, Rosemary Hill Farm, 17 March 2026
Theme: The Global Moment and Its Implications for Country-Level Multilateralism Excellencies, United Nations Resident Coordinator, Mr Nelson Muffuh, Members of the United Nations Country Team, Distinguished delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, Thank ...
South African Statement in explanation of Vote during the resumed Eleventh Emergency Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly on the draft Resolution on Support for lasting peace in Ukraine, 24 February 2026
President, Thank you for convening the Eleventh Emergency Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly to consider the draft resolution on the “Support for lasting peace in Ukraine”. It is regrettable that we are meeting on the 4th anniver ...
2026 High-Level Segment of the Conference on Disarmament, delivered by Minister Ronald Lamola, at the Palais des Nations, in Geneva, Switzerland, 24 February 2026
Mr President, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, South Africa congratulates you on assuming the Presidency of the Conference on Disarmament (CD), and we assure you of our full support as you guide the Conference at this critical moment. I am honour ...
National Statement at the 61st Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, delivered by Minister Ronald Lamola, in Geneva, Switzerland, 23 February 2026
Mr President, Your Excellency, Antonio Gutterez, Secretary-General of the United Nations, Your Excellency, Volker Turk, High Commissioner for Human Rights, Excellencies, Heads of State and Government, Distinguished delegates, It is a pleasure for m ...
South Africa promotes human rights and nuclear disarmament at UN Human Rights Council
Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, is leading the South African delegation at the 61st Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) and the high-level segment of the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva from 23 ...
South African National Statement at the 39th Special Session of the Human Rights Council of the deteriorating Human Rights situation in Iran, 23 January 2026
Mr President, South Africa reiterates its commitment to multilateralism and stands for the firm adherence to the international rule of law. South Africa believes that the right to peaceful protest, freedom of expression, and freedom of association are ...
Statement by the Republic of South Africa to the United Nations Security Council Meeting on the situation in Venezuela, 5 January 2026
Mr President, We wish to congratulate the Federal Republic of Somalia for assuming the rotating Presidency of the United Nations Security Council for the month of January and wish you and your delegation all the best in the execution of your responsibi ...
South Africa urges UN Security Council Session following unilateral military action in Venezuela
The Government of the Republic of South Africa notes with grave concern the recent developments, which were confirmed by the United States that the USA has conducted “a large-scale military strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicholas Madur ...
Keynote Address by President Cyril Ramaphosa during the SA-USA Trade and Investment Dialogue, UN General Assembly, New York, USA, 24 September 2025
Ms Kendra Gaither, President of the US-Africa Business Centre of the United States Chamber of Commerce, South African Ministers, Distinguished business leaders, friends, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is an honour to join you this evening under the auspic ...
Opening Remarks by President Cyril Ramaphosa during the High-Level GLN Event on Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health, UN General Assembly, New York, USA, 24 September 2025
Programme Director, The Right Honourable Helen Clark, Chair of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance, President Duma Boko, Your Excellencies Heads of State and Government of the Global Leaders Network and of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance, Chair o ...
Remarks by President Cyril Ramaphosa during the Biennial Summit for a Sustainable, Resilient and Inclusive Global Economy, UN General Assembly, New York, 24 September 2025
Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, It is an honour to address this Biennial Summit. We gather at a moment when the 2030 Agenda is in peril. It is estimated that we need to close a financing gap of $4 trillion annually if we are to meeting th ...
Statement by President Cyril Ramaphosa on the occasion of the General Debate of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, United Nations, New York, 23 September 2025
President of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly, Ms Annalena Baerbock, United Nations Secretary-General, Mr António Guterres, Excellencies, Heads of State and Government, Ladies and Gentlemen, Eighty years ago, the United Nations was establ ...
President Ramaphosa to address the UNGA80 High Level Segment
His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa will today, 23 September 2025, join Heads of State and Government, at the General Debate of the High-Level Segment of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80). The proceedings will commen ...
Statement by His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa during the High-Level on Two-State Solution, UN General Assembly, New York, USA, 22 September 2025
Co-Chairs, Excellencies, Thank you for convening this crucial meeting. This is a matter of great significance, not only for the people of Palestine, not only for the people of Israel, but for all people who cherish the ideals of freedom and self-de ...
President Ramaphosa arrives in New York for the UNGA80 High Level Segment
His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa has arrived in New York in the United States of America to lead a South African delegation during High-Level Segment of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80). The high-level segment wi ...
United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Week Media Programme
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is the premier multilateral platform for addressing pressing global issues, including peace and security, sustainable development, climate change, and international cooperation. South Africa has a longstanding tr ...
President Ramaphosa to champion global solutions and UN reform at 80th UN General Assembly
His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa will lead a South African delegation to the High-Level Segment of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80), in New York, from 23 to 29 September 2025. Under the theme Better together: 80 ...
President Ramaphosa declares Special Official Funeral Category 2 in honour of the late Ambassador Mninwa Johannes Mahlangu
President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared that the late Ambassador Mninwa Johannes Mahlangu, former Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces and a long-serving diplomat, will be honoured with a Special Official Funeral Category 2 on Saturday, 6 Septe ...
Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation mourns High Commissioner to the Republic of Kenya, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Federal Republic of Somalia, and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Nairobi (UNON)
It is with profound sadness and a heavy heart that the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Mr Ronald Lamola, announces the untimely passing of a dedicated family man and public servant, Mr Mninwa Johannes Mahlangu, who passed away on 24 Au ...
The UN’s 80-year Struggle with Nuclear Weapons Hypocrisy, Independent Online (IOL), by Alvin Botes, 22 August 2025
The United Nations (UN) was born 80 years ago this month. Its main purpose was to ensure peace through cooperation. The UN’s very first General Assembly resolution —Resolution 1(1) of 1946 — called for the elimination of nuclear weapons. Eighty years l ...
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 ...
South Africa condemns Israeli attacks on Damascus and its announcement that it will continue to occupy Southern Syria
South Africa strongly condemns Israel’s latest attacks on the Syrian capital Damascus, on 16 July 2025, on the Syrian Ministry of Defence and air strikes near the Presidential Palace, which are a flagrant violation of the country’s territorial integrity a ...
South Africa participates in a General Assembly Meeting commemorating the third anniversary of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine
The United Nations General Assembly is meeting today in New York on the third anniversary of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. South Africa voted in favour of a General Assembly resolution presented by the United States of America with amendment ...
Remarks by the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Mr António Guterres, to the media, in Pretoria, South Africa, 11 December 2024
Honourable Minister and ladies and gentlemen of the media, It is wonderful to be back in South Africa. I thank President Ramaphosa and Minister Lamola for receiving me today. As we speak, we are witnessing the reshaping of the Middle East, with t ...