Monday, 14 September 2020, International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister, Mr Alvin Botes participated in the handover of the donation of R50 million from the Government of the United Kingdom. at the British High Commission in Pretoria.

Monday, 14 September 2020, International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister, Mr Alvin Botes participated in the handover of the donation of R50 million from the Government of the United Kingdom. at the British High Commission in Pretoria.

In his remarks, the Deputy Minister said that South Africa’s foreign policy propositions are premised on four core principles including:

1. AfricanSolidarity
2. Advancing Global South #Solidarity;
3. Deepen cooperation between SA and the Global South
4. The heightening of global multilateralism

“The COVID-19 pandemic has emphasised the need for increased international cooperation and enhanced the multilateral approach in solving the world’s biggest problems.”, said the Deputy Minister.

He further highlighted the fact that the African Union, under the stewardship of President Cyril Ramaphosa has identified the next 10 years as the decade of advancing women’s economic empowerment.

Mr Alvin Botes spoke of the significance of the relations between SouthAfrica, the UK, and the Solidarity Fund; “More importantly, this trilateral relationship confirms a shared commitment between both State and Non-State actors to join efforts and energies together in the fight against gender-based violence which evidently is a product of gender inequalities.”

Deputy Minister Botes added that,
“When jobs get lost normally women are the first to face the brunt of unemployed. When households endure the strain of a contracting economy women evidently bear the brunt of social frustrations.”

 “It is always good to make new friends, but it is indeed better to keep old friends.” – Deputy Minister Alvin Botes to UK High Commissioner Nigel Casey and the people and Government of the United Kingdom.