Pretoria: The Minister of Transport, Ms. Sindisiwe Chikunga will officially launch South Africa’s campaign for candidature and re-election into the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council for 2024-2025 on Monday, 22 May 2023.
Minister Chikunga, jointly with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) and other key Departments and partners will host over one hundred (100) foreign mission-based Ambassadors in Pretoria to ganer support for the Republic’s candidature into the IMO Council.
Joining Minister Chikunga among other dignitaries for this critical lobby for the Republic will be Transport Deputy Minister, Mr. Lisa Mangcu, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in South Africa, HE Ambassador Salih Omar Abdu and the Dean of African Heads of Mission in South Africa, HE Ambassador Andre Nzapayeke.
The IMO is a United Nations specialized agency and its mission is to develop and adopt international standards which seek to promote safe, secure, environmentally sound, efficient and sustainable shipping through cooperation.
The IMO currently has one hundred and seventy-four-Member States and three Associate Member States and is made up of various organs including the Assembly Council and five (5) main Committees and Sub-Committees which support the work of the technical committees.
The IMO Council membership is elected based on Categories “A”, “B” and “C” of the IMO Convention. Category “A” provide for the election of 10 members from States with the largest interest in providing international services; Category “B” provides for the election of 10 members from other States with the largest interest in international seaborne trade; and Category “C” provide for the election of 20 States not elected under (a) or (b) which have a special interest in maritime transport or navigation and whose election to the Council will ensure the representation of all major geographic areas of the world.
South Africa is contesting for re-election to the Council under Category “C” of the IMO Convention.
The re-election of South Africa will ensure the continued representation of the Southern African Developing Community (SADC) sub-region.
The Republic is the only country contesting the election in the SADC.
IMO Council elections will be held during the 33rd Regular Session of the Assembly in November.
Members of the media are invited as per the details below:
Date: Monday, 22 May 2023
Time: 11h30 for 12h00
Venue: Protea Hotel, Loftus Park, Hatfield, PRETORIA
Members of the media attending the event are requested to confirm their attendance with Mr. Tshegofatso Maake on 063 281 9453 or MaakeT@dot.gov.za/ Ms. Ivy Masale on 076 789 5538 or MasaleI@dot.gov.za.
