President Cyril Ramaphosa to Meet Botswana Head of State Mokgweetsi Masisi for Bi National Commission

• President Cyril Ramaphosa and Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi are set to meet at the South African-Botswana Bi-national Commission
• The presidents will co-chair the one-day South Africa-Botswana BNC on Friday morning, 22 April
• There are several issues to discuss, including the Covid-19 pandemic and economic relations between the countries

PRETORIA - President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to meet with the head of Botswana, Mokgweetsi Masisi, on Friday morning, 22 April. The fifth session of the South African-Botswana Bi-national Commission (BNC) is set to take place.

Masisi is currently in South Africa to discuss bilateral and regional matters. The pair of presidents are set to also communicate about their efforts to develop the economy, which has been unsettled by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Both presidents will lead the one-day SA-Botswana BNC led by the ministerial meeting on Thursday, 21 April. Speaking during an interview with SABC News, President Ramaphosa said:

Read also

Hawks leader Godfrey Lebeya tells MPs they will arrest corrupt politicians and focus on priority crimes in SA

“There are a number of areas of co-operation that we need to enhance and solidify. Economy dealings at a social level, political level, environmental level, and climate change issues are the broad issues we need to cover.

He also added that:

"We also discussed the Covid challenge in our region and in our two countries. We agreed that Covid should give us an opportunity of enhancing and deepening our integration.”

The Spokesperson for Presidency Tyrone Seale explained that the BNC is made up of political, diplomatic, defence and security, economic and social committees and is aimed at creating co-operation. A total of 38 agreements and memorandums have been signed since the formation of the BNC in 2019, TimesLIVE reported.

Read also

China donates R1m to assist with KZN flood relief to rebuild homes, South Africans react to aid

Social media users weigh in on the BNC

Shakespeare Mk Shakespeares said:

"Amongst other things to discuss there is how the Botswana government deported back the illegal immigrants or undocumented."

Motsile Sentsho commented:

"And please Mr President get advice on keeping the crime rate lower, Botswana have good strategy for keeping criminals away. Get that advice and use it, it will work."

Dan Masebe wrote:

"He should ask him about the progress of the electric car plant he promised The Botswana people during election campaigns."

Nicol Maimela posted:

"Good initiative, the best man."

President Cyril Ramaphosa discusses war with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, offers Russian mediation

Briefly News also reported President Cyril Ramaphosa and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed the ongoing war in the European country via a telephone call. The South African government recently urged citizens to not take sides in the war against Ukraine by Russia.

Read also

KZN floods: Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga says R442m needed to replace infrastructure

The Russian invasion of Ukraine began on 24 February and has left thousands dead and displaced. Zelensky took to Twitter to discuss the conversation with Ramaphosa. He said several topics, including the violence brought on by Russia and a global food crisis. Another matter discussed was:

“Deepening relations with the Republic of South Africa and cooperation within international organisations.”

Source: Briefly News