The period under review saw DFA driving vigorous preparations to celebrate ten years of freedom and democracy that would showcase South Africa internationally

DFA partnered with other government departments, the IMC (International Marketing Council) and SA Tourism

It was also seized with the successful bid to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup Despite significant changes and developments in the global environment, South Africa's foreign policy principles remained consistent and enduring, and took on an even greater significance given current international developments

Commitment to:

• Promotion of human rights and democracy
• Justice and international law in the conduct of international relations
• International peace and internationally agreed mechanisms to resolve conflicts
• Africa in world affairs
• Economic development through regional and international cooperation

Promote security and the quality of life of all South Africans and safeguard South Africa's territorial integrity and sovereignty

Interact with African partners as equals and pursue friendly relations with all peoples and nations.

Commit to:

• Obligations as a member of the United Nations
• African Renaissance through the AU and NEPAD
• Economic development through regional integration/development in SADC and SACU
• Eradication of poverty through attainment of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015 and implementation of such agreements as the WIO Doha Development Agenda, the Monterrey Finance for Development, WCAR and WSSD

Prioritise peace making and conflict prevention:

• Engage in efforts to secure international peace and security (disarmament and non-proliferation of arms)
• Secure new world security compact through the United Nations, NAM, the AU, SADC, the Commonwealth and other multilateral forums

Promote:

• Multilateralism to secure rules-based international system
• Democratisation and reform of the UN system and Bretton Woods institutions
• Rules-based international trading regime through the WTO
• Combating of racism, sexism, xenophobia and other related intolerances Agenda of the South through South-South cooperation and North-South partnerships
• Sustainable and people-centred development
• Efforts to alleviate plight of refugees and children in Africa and elsewhere through support to the UNHCR
• Positive image of South Africa

Three broad strategic priority areas:

• Strengthening solidarity within the developing world and building partnerships with the developed world to foster sustainable development
• Promoting good governance, sustainable socio-economic development and poverty eradication in Africa
• Participating in international efforts to seek lasting peace and stability in conflict-ridden areas

1. CONSOLIDATION/ IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AFRICAN AGENDA

• Chaired the AU and continued thereafter as part of the AU Troika
• Facilitated the establishment of the AU Commission, the Pan-African
• Parliament and the Peace and Security Council (PSC)
• South Africa's election to the PSC for a 3-year term
• Ratification of the Pan-African Parliament Protocol
• DFA assisted in the launch of SA's chapter of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC)
• AU Constitutive Act: SA's ratification of the Protocol
• DFA closely involved in the process of operationalisation of the AU organs

• DFA support to President Mbeki as member of the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee and the APRM Forum and in coordinating the engagement of SA
• Recognition / acceptance of NEPAD at all major international / regional institutions
• Establishment of an African Renaissance Committee (ARC) in the IRPS Cluster to ensure inter-departmental cooperation in the consolidation of the African Agenda, chaired by the Department and providing the Secretariat for ARC
• DFA partnered with DTI in supporting the NEPAD Business Group Instrumental role in the development of generic action plans and projects for NEPAD
• Full-time secondment of DFA officials to NEPAD Secretariat
• SA accession to the APRM
• DFA's active support to NEPAD's peace and security element Continued promotion of NEPAD in all international forums, including progress made in this regard with the G8, EU, UN, World Bank, IMF and the OECD
• Expanded cooperation in the South in support of NEPAD - AASROC Ministerial, Sino-Africa Ministerial, IBSA, credit line for NEPAD from the Indian government for US$ 200 million

• Continued coordination of SA's SADC participation through the Department's SADC National Contact Point.
• Good progress with the establishment of the Trade and Industry, Finance and Investment sector of SADC and concluding the Finance and Investment Protocol
• DFAI representation on the SADC Review Committee, tasked with the institutional restructuring of SADC
• DFA contribution towards the development of the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP)
• Facilitation of SA's ratification of 7 SADC Protocols

• Supported political and peacekeeping efforts in the DRC and Burundi Hosted the Inter-Congolese Dialogue and facilitated the DRC's transitional government
• Most significant achievements regarding peace processes in Africa in which SA was involved: Burundi, DRC, Comoros peace processes, Rwandan and Kenyan presidential and parliamentary elections, democratic elections in Madagascar and the Sudan peace process
• Establishment of the National Office for the Coordination of Peace Missions (NOCPM) within DFA to meet various challenges presented by the White Paper on SA's participation in international peace missions
• SA listed as 11th largest Troop Contributing Country to the UN
• A total of 1431 SANDF members are deployed with UN peacekeeping missions in the DRC (1418), Ethiopia and Eritrea (10), and Liberia (3)
• SANDF members are also deployed with the Africa Mission in Burundi (1500) and four are seconded to the Organisation for African Union Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea

• Strengthened SA's representation in Africa with 6 new missions: Burundi, Cameroon, Comoros, DRC/Lubumbashi, Madagascar and the Sudan, bringing the total number of missions in Africa to 34 by the end of March 2004
• Peace and reconstruction efforts in Angola
• Bilateral cooperation mechanisms with several countries
• R1OO million contribution to World Food Programme activities in six southern African countries
• Monitoring successful implementation of macro-economic projects in Mozambique
• Consultations on establishing a Presidential Economic Commission with Tanzania towards bilateral projects and SDI programme
• Donor Briefing to solicit international funding for projects in Lesotho
• President Mbeki as first foreign president to address the Botswana Parliament
• Involvement in the stabilization of post-coup Sao Tome & Principe
• Supported initiatives on conflict resolution in Cote d'Ivoire and Liberia and post-conflict reconstruction in Guinea-Bissau, making a contribution to the UNDP Trust Fund for Guinea-Bissau
• SA initiative regarding the Lockerbie impasse leading to lifting of UN sanctions against Libya

1. SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION

Continued participation at NAM Ministerial meetings through the year

Participation in mid-term review in Morocco where SA delivered a statement highlighting SA's current contribution to the promotion of South-South cooperation

Brasilia Declaration established I BSA (India Brazil-South-Africa Dialogue Forum) - areas of cooperation include UN reform, trade negotiations and attainment of the MDGs. Agreed areas for project implementation include poverty reduction, hunger alleviation and improved access to education, health and sanitation

Successful participation in 1st trilateral meeting in New Delhi

Established AASROC in partnership with Indonesia. Primary focus on the promotion of interregional trade

AASROC aims to establish a new strategic partnership based on coordination among the secretariats of the African and Asian sub-regional organisations

Participation in the Meeting of the Council of Ministers in Sri Lanka Free Trade Negotiations

Continued discussions to develop a SACU/China framework agreement

Continued discussions to develop a SACU/India framework agreement

New impetus was given to the SACU/MERCOSUR free trade negotiations

Strengthened SA's representation with new missions in Shanghai, Hanoi, Muscat, Doha and Damascus

Significant increase in trade some 27% of SA's total trade currently conducted with the Asian region

Continued involvement in the Persian Gulf region - valued trade partner and source of Foreign Direct Investment

Trade between SA and the Gulf States exceeded R25 billion

Continued cooperation with Iran through the South Africa-Iran Business Forum

Consolidation of SA relations with CARICOM - address of President Mbeki to its Summit in Jamaica

Prominent activity towards the enhancement of the African Diaspora solidarity initiative

Support to the Haitian Bicentennial celebrations

Improvement in relations with MERCOSUR member countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Chile as observer), where SA was represented at the mid-year Summit

Participation of President Mbeki in the Enlarged Dialogue of Heads of State and Government on the margins of the G8 Summit in Evian-les-Bains, France that included a special working session on NEPAD

Participation of President Mbeki in discussions in New York between Heads of State of the NEPAD Steering Committee, the Chair of the AU, the Heads of State and Government of the G8 countries, and the Heads of appropriate international organisations

Like-minded partners found in Europe on UN reform, multilateralism, MDGs, reform of the global financial systems and addressing the challenges of the South

Relations with eastern and central Europe gained importance, especially with regard to EU expansion with concerted DFA efforts to understand and keep abreast of the process

Appointment by some European countries as well as the EU of Special Representatives to work with NEPAD Secretariat and identify areas of cooperation in NEPAD projects

Continued interaction with the EU as a qualified member of the ACP participating in dialogue on peace-building, conflict prevention, human rights, democracy and the rule of law, good governance and related issues of mutual interest

The Trade, Development and Cooperation Agreement (TDCA) with the EU remained the most important instrument to facilitate EU engagement - ratified by both Parties. Tariff adjustments made by the ten newly-acceded countries to the EU in accordance with the FTA component of the TDCA

The Joint Inter-Governmental Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) with the Russian Federation showed that it was the most important instrument in facilitating relations

US Millennium Challenge Account - US$ 15 billion - as contribution to support NEPAD - but the USA has not yet announced beneficiary African states because it was still developing its eligibility criteria

US support for SA's ongoing regional role in attempting to secure peace and stability in the DRC, Burundi, Cote d'Ivoire and the Comoros

DFA facilitated inclusion of NEPAD focus in the Corporate Council on Africa's first Capital Flows to Africa Conference in New York

Canada made available CS$ 500 million for the Canada Fund for Africa and coordinated the G8 response to NEPAD

US/SACU free trade negotiations led by DTI and including DFA - central to SA-US bilateral economic relationship as well as to the regional customs union

US Congress extension of AGOA

President Mbeki's participation in the Tokyo International Conference on African

Development (TI CAD III) - major Japanese-led initiative for engagement with Africa

TICAD Ill Regional Conference for Southern Africa held in SA

Reaffirmation of Japanese commitment to and continued support for NEPAD

Committed US$ 1 billion in assistance to Africa over the next five years

SA led initiative to prepare a Declaration on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development, requested by the OECD

SA hosted the OECD Global Forum on International Investment - providing a forum for policy dialogue and exchange of expertise and experience regarding international investment

OECD-Africa Investment Roundtable

DFA leading discussion on OECD enlargement in context of SA's relations with the organization

SA High-level participation at WEF extraordinary meeting in Jordan focusing on the Middle East and Iraq

WEF Africa Summit held in Durban, stimulating private sector interest in implementing NEPAD

SA high-level participation in CHOGM, held in Nigeria

Focus on political issues as well as economic development

4. MULTILATERAL DIPLOMACY

SA strongly supported the need for immediate implementation of the 'Road Map'

Discussions were held with the Swiss Foreign Minister on the Geneva Accord

SA statement to the International Court of Justice on the legality of the Separation Wall

Continued as a principle focus in the Middle East region

SA played integral part in international efforts to find a peaceful, diplomatic solution to the Iraqi crisis within the framework of the UN

Several visits to Iraq undertaken by Deputy Minister Pahad as SA's Special

Envoy

DFA coordinated a humanitarian relief mission - Gift of the Givers

SA attended as observer the Madrid International Donors Conference on Iraq

Renewed urgency for reform and revitalization of the UN and its Security Council

Appointment of High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change - SA made a deliberate effort to ensure SA's national interests and objectives and those of the Continent and developing countries were addressed by the Panel

Panel thus expanded its mandate to include socio-economic issues especially poverty, communicable diseases and environmental degradation

SA, as one of the 'Friends of the Chair, played a leading role in developing various options to revitalize the General Assembly and its organs, ECOSOC and the UN Secretariat

In this regard, DFA continued to actively pursue SA's commitments and participated in the Open Debates of the UNSC

SA called for focus on the root causes of terrorism and called for worldwide joint commitment to eradicate poverty and underdevelopment, and respect for human rights and international law while combating terrorism

DFA chaired the Inter-departmental Counter-Terrorism Working Group, coordinating SA's implementation of UNSC resolutions on terrorism and national reports

Continued reinforcement of SA's role at all levels as an active and substantive role-player on arms control, non-proliferation and disarmament issues

SA prepared / coordinated draft resolution on the "illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in all its Aspects" and mandated the formation of an open ended General Assembly Working Group to negotiate an international instrument to identify and trace illicit weapons

Active participation in the meetings of the IAEA and its Board of Governors

DFA contributed to and coordinated promotion of SA Positions

Ratification of UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime and its Protocols

SA chaired the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme

DFA coordinated SA participation in international conferences and meetings on human rights issues both nationally and abroad

Address by SA Foreign Minister to the CHR59 on SA's foreign policy objectives in the field of human rights

DFA participation in consultations, resulting in the establishment of the National Forum Against Racism, which relates to SA's National Action Plan arising from the WCAR Durban Declaration and Programme of Action

Ministerial Conference in Cancun - emergence of the G20, playing important role in agricultural negotiations

SA played important role in the agreement on TRIPS and Public Health Bretton Woods Institutions (BWIs)

Continued support to projects linked to the MDGs

Continued support to enhanced HIPC initiative

Continued involvement of SA in the G20 at the BWIs

SA chaired first session of the Commission on Sustainable Development after the Johannesburg Summit

Continued DFA involvement in WSSD-related activities

5. PROJECTING POSITIVE I ACCURATE IMAGE OF SOUTH AFRICA AND AFRICA

Supported and promoted activities in the following areas:

Projected a positive image of SA:

Some activity highlights:

• Appointment of Deputy Chief of State Protocol
• Additional appointments that have strengthened the management and execution of protocol functions
• Support provided to 66 ceremonial functions
• Processing of 37 foreign diplomatic appointments of Heads of Mission, 38 foreign consular appointments and 17 SA consular appointments
• Assistance provided to facilitate 15 521 dignitaries through the State Protocol lounge at Johannesburg International Airport
• Diplomatic Guesthouse received 4 811 guests
• Presidential Guesthouse received 9 022 guests
• Organisation and support at conferences and summits: Executive Council of the AU in Sun City and Sandton, Africa Day celebrations, Second Summit of the AU in Mozambique, AASROC II Ministerial Working Group and African Consultative Meeting in Durban
• Outgoing visits: President (30), Deputy President (19), First Lady (6), former Presidents Mandela and De Klerk (29)
• Incoming visits: (85)
• Protocol support provided to second and third tiers of government
• Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges provided services to approx. 8 500 members of the diplomatic community in SA

• Annual financial statements compiled and submitted to the Auditor-General
• Strategic plan aligned to the National Strategic Objectives of Government and developed
• Upgraded the Internal Audit Unit to a Chief Directorate
• Well-established Audit Committee - further enhancement of skills mix of the Audit Committee through new appointments under way
• Targeted selection of skilled personnel in financial management under way
• Initiated process to install IT system to improve reconciliation of mission accounts
• Internal Audit and Audit Committee continued to give effect to international good corporate governance practices
• Qualified Auditor's Report received

2. RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION

Recruitment of new officers to address vacancies and enhance DFA capacity:

194 posts advertised

108 posts filled successfully

Interviewing conducted by dedicated panels with cross-functional representation and trained in targeted selection methodology.

Inclusion of competency assessments in selection process.

Employment equity:

Of 108 external appointments, 95 were black

Gender equity lagging behind

Continued under-representation of people with disabilities

Employment and vacancies:

Number of posts : 2 801

Number of posts filled : 1 618

Vacancy rate : 42.33%

(Despite the fact that the Department has a vacancy rate of 42.33%, 24.84% of the posts are regarded as vacant unfunded. The true vacancy rate is 17.49%)

3. HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT

Performance management and development:

Training of officials in missions remains a challenge

Workplace Skills Plan was implemented. One innovative initiate was the implementation of the generic training module/framework. This identifies all the necessary training all employees of the Department must complete, focusing on both generic and core competencies comprising a phased, modular training programme encompassing all the necessary competencies at a basic level

The Department has fully complied with Resolution No.7

Establishment of the proactive Employee Wellbeing Centre, focusing on health and well-being. HIV/AIDS remains a key area of attention

1. FOREIGN SERVICE INSTITUTE

• Repositioning of the FSI
• Visits of the FSI Task Team to five countries to benchmark best practices internationally
• Restructuring of staffing, type and duration of courses, and course content
• Following qualifications registered on the NQF and in the process of being fully concerted into Learnership programmes:

• Draft Learnership programmes designed in conjunction with DIDTETA and provisionally registered with the Department of Labour
• Following training courses were offered:
• Heads of Mission orientation programme
• Diplomatic Training programme
• Mission Administration programme
• Mission Foreign Affairs Assistants programme
• English and foreign language training
• Spouses' orientation programme
• Protocol with Egypt that includes FSI cooperation with the Egyptian Diplomatic Training Institute

5. STRENGTHENING MANAGEMENT

Decentralised teams of Corporate Services staff to Branch level to enhance management efficiency, coordination and oversight, especially between Branches and the work of their respective missions abroad

• Addressed backlog in vetting process
• Security Committee established
• Approval received for the implementation of new computerized ID card system
• Security policy was drafted

• Master Systems Plan investigation completed; final draft report submitted to SITA for certification
• ICT support to AU Ministerial at Sun City and Sandton City
• Supported presidential / ministerial visits abroad
• Upgraded data network to Ethernet
• Conversion to National Treasury BAS financial system

8. CONSULAR I AGENCY SERVICES

• Assisted 809 SA citizens detained / imprisoned abroad
• Assisted 144 distressed citizens abroad
• Determined whereabouts of 73 citizens abroad and 29 foreign nationals in SA
• Assisted in 290 cases of scams / other fraudulent activities
• Coordinated voting activities abroad for national elections

9. REPRESENTATION AND PROPERTIES ABROAD

• Representation in 93 countries through 105 missions
• Strategic initiative to reduce expenditure on rental of properties, especially abroad
• Projects finalized: Berlin Chancery, Kinshasa Chancery and Diplomatic Village
• Projects under way: DFA new Head Office building (Public Private Partnership), appointment of Transaction Advisor
• DFA maintenance backlog of 40% on state-owned properties abroad, which has been addressed in both the MTEF and DFA's long-term expenditure planning programme
• Maintenance/structural work undertaken on official residences in 7 countries, chanceries in 3 countries and other housing in 2 countries
• Acquisition of land for the construction of chanceries and residences in Addis Ababa, Abuja and Dar es Salaam