Pretoria – As countries all over the continent celebrate Africa Month, Cabinet has encouraged South African to participate in events that seek to build a better Africa.
The month is being celebrated under the theme ‘Building a Better Africa and a Better World’. All activities emphasise the centrality of local communities and comprise various disciplines including music, poetry, dance, film, cuisine, fashion, crafts and design, intellectual engagements and some collaborative work from South African artists and their counterparts in the continent and the diaspora.
The month of May also plays host to International Day for Families on the 15th. The day will be marked under the theme ‘Families, healthy lives and Sustainable Future’, which relates to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (adopted in 2015).
The International Day for Families was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly and focuses on families; child and youth health and well-being, work/family balance, health and better quality of life for older persons.
Still in the spirit of Africa Month, South Africa’s Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, as the Special Envoy of President Jacob Zuma to South Sudan, will visit Juba on 16 May. This day is significant to the South Sudanese as they mark the Sudan People's Liberation Army Day.
During his visit, the Deputy President will monitor the implementation of the peace agreement. South Sudan reached a milestone at the end of April 2016 with the swearing in of the transitional government of national unity.
Qatar State visit
Meanwhile, President Jacob Zuma will take the African Agenda forward when he undertakes a State visit to Doha, Qatar, on 19 May to strengthen political and economic relations.
Diplomatic relations between South Africa and Qatar were established on 10 May 1994. – SAnews.gov.za
