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Topnews, Statements

25. July 2019

SOUTH AFRICA’S STATEMENT BY DR JOHNNY PITSWANE, ALTERNATE RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, DURING THE SPECIAL SESSION OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS, 25 JULY 2019, VIENNA, AUSTRIA

AGENDA ITEM 2: APPOINTMENT OF THE DIRECTOR GENERAL

Madam Chair,

South Africa aligns itself with the statement delivered by the distinguished Permanent Representative of Egypt on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. We make the following remarks in our national capacity.

Madam Chair,

South Africa believes that the process of appointment of the Director General should be thorough, fair and transparent and geared towards identifying the best possible candidate. The process should also be in line with the relevant Board approved procedures for this purpose.

My delegation wishes to outline the importance, therefore, to strike a balance between the immediate pressing need to appoint a Director General and the imperative of ensuring that the process is extensive and exhaustive.

Madam Chair,

The appointment process should ensure that Member States presenting candidates are given adequate time to nominate, undertake lobbying and outreach processes. In some countries such as mine, the process involves engagement at the highest level of state.

In this regard, my delegation is of the view that it would be ideal that the new DG be in office at the earliest in January or March 2020 at the latest. This would allow sufficient time for the election process to unfold.

I thank you.                                

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