SA, Namibia to hold 4th Binational Commission in Pretoria

What this episode covers

SA, Namibia to hold 4th Binational Commission in Pretoria President Cyril Ramaphosa and Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah will co-chair the fourth session of the South Africa-Namibia Binational Commission (BNC) on Friday in Pretoria. The high-level presidential session serves as the culmination of a week of bilateral diplomatic engagements following the Council of Ministers Meeting held on Thursday, which was preceded by a two-day Senior Officials Meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday. Spokesperson to the President Vincent Magwenya emphasised that the relationship between South Africa and Namibia is built on an "unshakeable foundation", as both nations forged solidarity during colonialism and apartheid. "Namibia's political stability and close ties with South Africa position it as a key strategic partner within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the African Union (AU), and on the global stage," Magwenya stated. He further noted that both nations share identical views on accelerating the political and economic integration of the African continent, driven by a mutual commitment to Africa's renewal, pan-African values, robust South-South cooperation, active multilateralism, and the preservation of a rules-based international governance system. Namibia remains one of South Africa's most vital strategic partners in the region. Since the BNC structure was officially established in 2013, the nations have successfully convened three sessions, making Friday's meeting a milestone fourth chapter in their structured diplomatic mechanism. According to Magwenya, the bilateral partnership is robust and spans a broad range of activity, including political dialogue, economic cooperation, environmental management, science and technology, social development, as well as defence and security collaboration. The post-apartheid era has yielded significant progress for both countries, reflected in the 75 bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) currently signed between the two States. Magwenya explained that these legal frameworks cover a comprehensive spectrum, ranging from economic and political treaties to defence, social upliftment, and security cooperation. Friday's summit is expected to review the implementation of these existing agreements while exploring new avenues to boost economic trade, regional stability, and sustainable development for both nations. The SA-Namibia BNC will also incorporate the South Africa – Namibia Business Forum which will be held under the theme 'Driving Regional Industrialisation, Investment and Sustainable Growth Through Strategic South Africa–Namibia Partnerships'. The session will bring together government and business representatives from both countries, to engage and collaborate on efforts that will strengthen trade and investment. South Africa and Namibia maintain robust trade and investment relations, with over 50 South African companies investing in Namibia between 2023 and 2025, contributing approximately $1.2-billion in capital and creating around 4 900 jobs across key sectors such as mining, banking, insurance, property, and renewable energy.

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