Commonwealth Secretary-General to visit South Africa

Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma will arrive in Cape Town, South Africa, on 25 October 2009, for a three-day visit ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, next month.

This will be the Secretary-General’s first official visit to South Africa since taking office in April 2008. Mr Sharma will hold talks with President Jacob Zuma; Foreign Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane; and Minister of Women, Children and People, Mayende-Sibiya. He will also meet Opposition Leader Athol Trollip of the Democratic Alliance.

The meetings will focus on the CHOGM 2009 agenda, particularly the issue of climate change that will be discussed the week before the UN Copenhagen Summit. They are also expected to discuss the many aspects of South Africa’s relationship with the Commonwealth, including regional issues. South Africa has actively promoted the interests of developing countries within the Commonwealth, and is one of the five Commonwealth members of the G20.

‘South Africa and the Commonwealth have a long, deep and very important relationship’, said the Secretary-General. ‘Each has given greatly to the other. In difficult times such as these, this co-operation – for each other, for Africa and for the wider Commonwealth – has never been more important.’

For media enquiries contact Deputy Spokesperson Manoah Esipisu on +44 789 446 2021or m.esipisu@commonwealth.int

Secretariat Links:

• Country Profile: South Africa
• Secretary-General