SA to turn on charm for UN

PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma is due to embark on a charm offensive this week at the United Nations General Assembly as he campaigns for South Africa’s third turn as a non-permanent member of the Security Council.

Zuma and his delegation‚ which includes at least seven cabinet ministers‚ have arrived in New York for a busy schedule of speeches‚ meetings‚ and negotiations.

Deputy permanent representative for the South African mission to the United Nations, Mahlatse Mminele, said Zuma and the ministers of International Relations‚ Defence and State Security would be focusing on securing South Africa a seat on the Security Council for 2019-2020.

This would be the country’s third term on the peace and security decision-making body since 1994‚ if successful.

“South Africa will be in a lobbying mood and will be going on some kind of charm offensive‚” Mminele said.

Zuma’s first order of business would be taking part in a high-level discussion of sexual exploitation and abuse by troops deployed in areas of conflict as peacekeepers‚ taking place today.

Mminele said Zuma was one of a select few heads of state invited to attend the event.

South Africa is one of the top 10 countries in terms of troop contribution‚ and has‚ in the past had some challenges in regard to incidents of sexual exploitation‚ with some members of the SA National Defence Force implicated in cases of sexual assaults in foreign countries.

“We have managed to turn a corner and have become a very good example‚” he said.

Zuma is due to address the general assembly late tomorrow, and attend a reception hosted by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for heads of state and their spouses.

On Wednesday, Zuma will be one of 16 heads of state at a luncheon with US President Donald Trump.