Pretoria - A series of events have been lined up to celebrate the journey of 54 years of African Unity.
On Thursday, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) announced its partnership with various institutions of higher education to mark Africa Month through a series of activities, including symposia, exhibitions and public lectures.
The theme for Africa Month 2017 is ‘The Year of OR Tambo: Building a Better Africa and a Better World’.
By establishing the Organisation of Africa Unity (OAU) on 25 May 1963, now known as the African Union, Africa became a pioneer by being the first continent to focus on and encourage nation building through unity and freedom from oppression.
Event schedule
According to the department, the first lecture will be presented by South African Ambassador to Belgium, Mxolisi Nkosi, at the University of Venda in the Vhembe District on 12 May.
The lecture will give the department and students studying Political and International Relations a platform to articulate South Africa’s foreign policy in line with international developments.
On 19 - 20 May, DIRCO and the University of the North West will host various activities, starting with a public lecture to be delivered by Deputy Minister Luwellyn Landers on the 19th.
The second day will be dedicated to exhibitions of different African cuisine; presentations of career opportunities by DIRCO and other government departments and exhibitions by African designers and book publishers.
The symposium is expected to bring together a diverse audience comprising students, heads of foreign Diplomatic Missions accredited to South Africa, university alumni, provincial government departments and community leaders.
The last lectures on 26 May 2017 in Cape Town will be presented by Deputy Ministers Landers and Nomaindiya Mfeketo under the theme ‘Rich Africa, Poor Africans’.
It will target members of the Diplomatic Corps, Portfolio Committee and Select Committee of International Relations, Associations of African Countries, youth and student formations, political parties and civil society. - SAnews.gov.za
