Ambassador of Kazakhstan attends the Social Compact Convention of South Africa in Pretoria
Ambassador of Kazakhstan attends the Social Compact Convention of South Africa in Pretoria
On 6-7 February 2020 H.E. Mr. Kanat Tumysh, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Republic of South Africa, participated in the meeting of the Social Compact Convention (SCC), organized in Pretoria by the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture (DSAC, the agency, mandated to coordinate government’s social cohesion and nation building programme). The event was attended by the leadership of some state and regional authorities, both from the government and the opposition, MPs, prominent public figures, traditional leaders, representatives of civil society, leading media, business and academic circles of the country, as well as High Commissioners and Ambassadors from the diplomatic corps. The SCC meeting was preceded by consultations held during the course throughout 2019 with key stakeholders in South Africa to understand the priorities of each sector. The stakeholders consulted, include traditional authorities; youth; labour; women; people with disabilities; media; business; society and the public service sector.
The meeting themed: “The Decade of Unity and Renewal: Towards a Social Compact for Cohesion and Nation Building”. In general, it was dedicated to drive the process of facilitating the creation of a social compact among key role players in South African society, built around the need for social cohesion and nation building.
The mandate to build a united nation is laid down in the Preamble to the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of 1996, which states the need to "build a united and democratic South Africa able to take its rightful place as a sovereign state in the family of nations".
This task entails propelling the country towards “Vision 2030” of the National Development Plan, which advocates for a transformed South African society, based on the values of freedom, justice, constitutional democracy and equality. As a result, recommendations were adopted for promoting further social dialogue and conflict prevention. Proposals for institutional capacity building, modernization of social policy and building an inclusive economy will contribute to this end.
On the margins of the event, Ambassador Tumysh held meeting with H.E. Mr. Nathi Mthethwa, Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture of South Africa, highlighting the timeliness and vital importance of holding this meeting of the SCC. In this vein, the Ambassador informed the DSAC leadership about the relevant provisions of the Constitution of Kazakhstan, according to which social compact and public accord are among the fundamental principles of the Republic. In addition, he noted the great potential value for South Africa of the experience of a unique constitutional body - the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan, aimed at implementing national policy of the state, ensuring socio-political stability and increasing the effectiveness of interaction between public and civil society institutions in the field of interethnic relations. At the same time, Mr. Tumysh brought to Minister Mthethwa’s attention upcoming 25th Anniversaries of the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan, to be commemorated throughout this year, while expressing the proposal for the participation of the South African side in the celebration events, scheduled in Nur-Sultan in this regard.
In addition, in the framework of the SCC meeting, Ambassador of Kazakhstan also met with H.E. Mr. Kgalema Motlanthe the Third President of South Africa; MP, General Bantu Holomisa, President of the United Democratic Movement; as well as H.E. Ms. Nokawe Mafu, Deputy Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture.
During the meetings, various topics of mutual interest were discussed, such as the creation of friendship groups in the parliaments of Kazakhstan and South Africa, cooperation between the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan and the SCC, cooperation in the field of aerospace industry and other matters.
The Kazakhstani diplomat also informed about the 175th birth Anniversary of Abay Qunanbaiuly, great Kazakh poet, composer, enlightener, thinker, public figure, founder of Kazakh written literature and its first classic, reformer, representative of the enlightening Islam; as well as the 1150th birth Anniversary of Abu Nasr Al-Farabi, famous scientist – the “Second Teacher” of the World, one of the largest representatives of medieval Eastern philosophy, renowned mathematician, music theorist, and jurist; to be celebrated throughout this year under the auspices of UNESCO. He invited the South African side to take an active part in events dedicated to these important commemorations.
The parties expressed hope for further fruitful cooperation in various fields.