Media Advisory
24 October 2023
Unisa and DIRCO to host symposium on South Africa’s non-alignment position during the evolving geographical developments
The University of South Africa (Unisa), in partnership with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), will hold a symposium to reflect on South Africa’s position of non-alignment on the evolving geographical developments, which has been challenged by some in the public discourse. This thought-provoking symposium will take place on Tuesday, 24 October 2023, at the Unisa Muckleneuck Campus in Pretoria.
Ambassador Nozipho Mxakato-Diseko will deliver the keynote address under the theme: “South Africa’s non-alignment position during the evolving geographical developments”. The theme is in relation to the ongoing conflicts between Palestine and Israel, and Russia and Ukraine.
Ambassador Mxakato-Diseko is a South African diplomat. She has served as representative of South Africa at the International Atomic Energy Agency in the mid-1990s. She has also been one of the lead South African negotiators since 2011 and currently serves as Ambassador-at-Large for Peace and Security, Human Rights and Development.
The Objective of the symposium is to:
- reflect on South Africa’s Foreign Policy trajectory, and what influences our policy positions and national interest
- engage non-state actors to reflect on South Africa’s position of non-alignment which has been misinterpreted by some in the public discourse
- hear diverse views on South Africa’s foreign policy, in general, and the position on non-alignment in particular
- develop a program for follow-up seminars and symposiums on SA Foreign policy as it relates to human rights, the African renaissance, the multilateral system of peace and security, South Africa’s mediating conflicts on the continent, and the BRICS context.
The symposium takes place during OR Tambo month, which marks the 106th birthday of Oliver Reginald Tambo (affectionately known as OR Tambo), who was born on 27 October 1917. The event also forms part of the 150 years anniversary celebrations of Unisa. The University was established in June 1873.
The symposium will take place as follows:
Date: Tuesday, 24 October 2022
Time: 10h00
Venue: Unisa Muckleneuck Campus, Senate Hall, 3rd floor, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Building, Preller Street, Muckleneuck, Tshwane
Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the symposium.
For RSVP and interviews requests, please contact Tommy Huma (Unisa Senior Media Officer) on 072 218 6197 / 012 429 3981 / humartm@unisa.ac.za OR Edgar Rathelele (Unisa Senior Media Officer) on 063 731 5456 / 012 429 3981 / ratheme@unisa.ac.za OR Ms Kgopotso Rapakuana (DIRCO – Deputy Director: Media Liaison – Public Diplomacy) on 073 058 3876 / rapakuanak@dirco.gov.za.
ISSUED BY UNISA MEDIA AFFAIRS