STATEMENT DELIVERED BY AMBASSADOR RAPULANE MOLEKANE, RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE/GOVERNOR OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, AT THE IAEA BOARD OF GOVERNORS, 4 MARCH 2024, VIENNA, AUSTRIA

AGENDA ITEM 3 - NUCLEAR SECURITY REVIEW 2024

Chair,

South Africa associates itself with the statement delivered by Ambassador Gil on behalf of the G77 and China, and by Ambassador Johnston on behalf of the Africa Group.

South Africa remains fully committed to maintain a strong national nuclear security regime. 

We reiterate the principles that nuclear security in a state is entirely the responsibility of that state and that the Agency has a central role in strengthening the nuclear security framework globally and in coordinating international cooperation in nuclear security activities. 

At the same time, it is essential that efforts to strengthen the nuclear security framework should not hamper international cooperation in the transfer of nuclear energy, science and technology for peaceful purposes.

We note the potential benefits of taking into account the safety, security and safeguards considerations in the operation and design of NPP.  At the same time, we need to emphasize the importance that the Agency’s work in this area upholds and proceeds in strict conformity with States’ legal commitments, the Statute and the General Conference resolutions.   

Chair,

We welcome the growing adherence to the relevant international legal instruments and in this regard, we are pleased to announce that we deposited our instrument of adherence to the Amendment of the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material during February 2024.

Chair,   

Looking forward, we welcome the preparations for the ICONS 2024 under the able stewardship of the co-chairs.  We believe it important to build incrementally with the now well-established nuclear security framework, as inter alia developed through the nuclear security resolutions and previous ministerial conferences.   

My delegation also notes that the Nuclear Security Plan 2022-25 is nearing its completion and wish to express readiness to cooperate with the Secretariat and Member States in developing the next Plan through a Member States led process. 

Chair, with these remarks my delegation takes note of the Nuclear Security Report 2024.

back