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HE Dr Lindiwe Mabuza, High Commissioner for South Africa to the UK, with Dr Mark Collins, Director of the Commonwealth Foundation

South Africa joins the Commonwealth Foundation

14 November 2006

It becomes the second Commonwealth nation to join the Foundation in less than six months

The Commonwealth Foundation welcomed South Africa as one of its members on 14 November 2006.

The country is now the 46th member of the Foundation and the second nation -- following Antigua and Barbuda -- to join the intergovernmental organisation in less than six months.

"South Africa plays a key role in African and global affairs, not only politically, but also through its cultural achievements and in the work of its civil society organisations. Our members will benefit enormously from South Africa's experience and support," Professor Guido de Marco, Chairperson of the Commonwealth Foundation, said.

The South African Minister for Arts and Culture, Dr Pallo Jordan, stated he was "delighted that we are now able to help in this valuable work".

"The Foundation is now able to support influential events in South Africa such as the 4th Diversity Matters Forum -- a pan-Commonwealth conference on 'Media and Diversity in the Commonwealth' -- that will take place in Johannesburg in February 2007," Dr Mark Collins, Director of the Commonwealth Foundation, said.

The Commonwealth Foundation is an intergovernmental organisation founded by Commonwealth governments in 1965.