South Africa was one of the 51 founding member of the United Nations in 1945. Since its inception in 1945, UN membership has grown to 193 States. The United Nations General Assembly on 12 November 1974 suspended South Africa from participating in its work, due to international opposition to the policy of apartheid. South Africa was re-admitted to the UN in 1994 following its transition into a democracy. Since 1994 the democratically elected government has pursued a foreign policy based on the centrality of the UN in the multilateral system.
Twelve years after re-admittance to the UN, South Africa was honoured to be endorsed by the African Union (AU) and subsequently elected with an overwhelming majority to serve as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during the period 2007-2008 and 2011-2012. During its tenure as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), South Africa promoted the African Agenda namely peace, security and development.
Media Statement
Minister Pandor clarifies the content of her discussion with the leader of Hamas
17 October 2023
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) wishes to confirm that Minister Naledi Pandor received a request to call the Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh to discuss getting Humanitarian Aid to Palestine. 
Read more
20 July 2023
Internal & External Advertisement for a Vacant Position: Driver
The Permanent Mission of the Republic of South Africa to the United Nations in New York hereby invites applications from suitably qualified individuals with the necessary and adequate qualifications and experience. More information at https://tinyurl.com/mw5a67es.
Nelson Mandela International Day 2022
“Continuing the Legacy: Working for Peace”
South Africa presented its candidature to fill the non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the term 2019 – 2020. The election for this seat was held during the 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly on 8 June 2018.
Following a global campaign to garner the widest possible support for our candidacy, South Africa received overwhelming support from UN member states and was elected. The President of South Africa, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, as well as the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Lindiwe Sisulu, expressed their unreserved gratitude and appreciation to all the UN Member States that voted, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) for the nomination and the continental body, the African Union (AU), that endorsed South Africa’s candidature.
This will be South Africa's third term on the UNSC, having previously served in 2007 – 2008 and 2011 – 2012. The country’s tenure on the Security Council will be dedicated to the legacy of President Nelson Mandela and his commitment to peace.
South Africa is faithful to the Purposes and Principles of the United Nations Charter. It strongly advocates rules-based multilateralism. In pursuance of this objective, South Africa is an active participant in the main deliberative and subsidiary bodies of the United Nations, i.e. the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Security Council, Peace Building Commission (PBC) as well as the Human Rights Council.
South Africa is committed to promoting and achieving its vision of an African Continent, which is prosperous, peaceful, democratic, non-racial, non-sexist and united, and which contributes to a world that is just and equitable through effective multilateralism at the sub-regional (SADC), regional (AU) and global level (UN).
Emergency United Nations General Assemby Special Session
On 1 March 2022 South Africa’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Mathu Joyini addressed the Emergency United Nations General Assemby Special session on #Ukraine expressing South Africa’s deep concern at the conflict, support for a diplomatic solution and the importance of upholding international law, including human rights and humanitarian law.
49th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council
The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr. Naledi Pandor, is today, Monday, 28 February 2022, participating in the High-Level Segment of the 49th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.
Commission on the Status of Women
Ambassador Mathu Joyini has been elected as the Chairperson of the Commission on the Status of Women for the 66th and 67th session, 2022 and 2023. Ms. Joyini, who has worked extensively on women empowerment, peace and security projects is the first woman to serve as South Africa's Permanent Representative to the UN in New York. #CSW65 #GenerationEquality
Ambassador Mathu Joyini presented her credentials to the UN Secretary-General Mr Antonio Guterres
On Wednesday, 3 February 2021, Ambassador Mathu Joyini presented her credentials as the Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations in New York to Mr António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations. Ambassador Joyini is the first woman to serve as South Africa's Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
Vacant Post at the Permanent Mission of South Africa to the United Nations in New York City
| Post Title | : | Domestic Worker |
| Requirements | : | A minimum of 10 years schooling PLUS 3 years’ experience as a domestic worker. Candidates must be computer literate and must be client service focused. |
| Core Functions | : | • General Cleaning of the Official Residence |
| • Meal preparation | ||
| • Assisting during official functions | ||
| • General duties e.g. answering the phone, receiving guests and receiving and overseeing service providers who will be doing work at the Official residence | ||
| Salary Range: | : | US$ 25 649-00 - US$ 29 416 -00 per annum |
| All applications MUST include a cover letter, contactable references, appropriate qualifications (eg. hospitality, cooking and cleaning etc.) and the attached application form. | ||
| Applications with no cover letter and references will not be considered. | ||
| Applicants must have a good command of the English language. | ||
| Applications must be hand-delivered or mailed to: | ||
| FAO: Ms K Motsemme Permanent Mission of South Africa to the United Nations 333 East 38th Street, 9th Floor New York, NY 10016. |
||
| Electronically submitted applications may be sent to motsemmek@dirco.gov.za. | ||
| Successful applicants will be required to obtain a police clearance. | ||
| Closing Date | : | 15 February 2021 |
Download Requirements and Application form at bit.ly/36n7g1U
Ambassador Mathu Joyini, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations, delivers her maiden statement on Security Council Reform
25 January 2021
Ambassador Mathu Joyini, who presented her credentials on 22 January 2021, delivered her maiden address in the UN General Assembly Hall during the opening session of the Intergovernmental Negotiations on ‘the Question of Equitable Representation on and Increase in the Membership of the Security Council and other Matters Related to the Security Council’. Read more.
H.E. Ambassador Mathu Joyini presents credentials to the United Nations Secretariat
The new Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations, Mathu Joyini, presented her credentials to the United Nations Secretariat on 22 January 2021.
Media Statement
South Africa completes its two-year term as an elected member of the United Nations Security Council
01 January 2021
Yesterday, 31 December 2020, marked the conclusion of South Africa’s two-year term as an elected member of the United Nations Security Council for the period 2019-2020. It was also the final day of South Africa’s Presidency of the Security Council for the month of December.
South Africa’s tenure in the Security Council was dedicated to the legacy of President Nelson Mandela whose values and commitment to peace were commemorated in 2018, the centenary of his birth and the year that the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly elected South Africa to serve as an elected member of the Security Council.
Marking the end of South Africa’s term on the Security Council, the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor stated: “South Africa is proud to have served the interests of the international community in the global body dedicated to ensure international peace and security. Our term on the Security Council provided us with an opportunity to contribute to silencing the guns on the African Continent. We also used our term to promote the peaceful settlement of conflicts through preventive diplomacy, inclusive dialogue and post-conflict reconstruction and development. South Africa continued to advocate for strengthened partnership and closer cooperation between the UN Security Council and the African Union, and we consistently expressed our solidarity with the peoples of Palestine and Western Sahara in their quest to achieve self-determination, fundamental freedom, equality, justice and dignity. We further advanced the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security and the Youth, Peace and Security agendas”.
Minister Pandor concluded, “The world continues to face unprecedented challenges impacting on our peace, security and development. The COVID-19 pandemic has compounded these challenges and has necessitated us to work together as a collective, with all countries across the globe to combat the virus and ensure that we are able to rebuild a safer world where the development needs of all its people are fulfilled. Following the end of our term on the Security Council, South Africa will continue its commitment to multilateralism and work in other multilateral forums including the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission and other bodies of the United Nations to achieve these goals.
Enquiries: Mr Clayson Monyela, Spokesperson for DIRCO, 082 884 5974
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION
OR Tambo Building
460 Soutpansberg Road
Rietondale
Pretoria
0084
Rev. Thursday, 28-Mar-2024 11:59 AM