Pretoria: South Africa and the Kingdom of the Netherlands have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation to advance the socio-economic empowerment of women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
According to South African Government News Agency, the agreement was signed during an engagement between Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Lydia Chikunga, and Ambassador Joanne Doornewaard of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to South Africa. The MoU aims to formalise bilateral relations on issues concerning women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
The MoU provides a framework for strengthened bilateral collaboration and cooperation, facilitating opportunities for the exchange of expertise and experience in policy-making and implementation. This is aimed at advancing equality, empowerment, and participation of women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
Speaking at the signing ceremony at the High Commissioner's Official Residence in Pretoria on Monday, Chikunga described the agreement as a significant milestone in the longstanding diplomatic relations between the two countries. She emphasized that the MoU builds on the strong partnership established through the Joint Commission of Cooperation signed in 2015, reflecting both countries' shared commitment to constitutional democracy, human rights, sustainable development, and multilateral cooperation.
"In signing this Memorandum of Understanding, we are transforming our historic diplomatic goodwill into tangible socio-economic opportunities for the citizens of both our nations," the Minister said.
South Africa and the Netherlands enjoy close bilateral ties, with the European nation ranking among South Africa's major investors and trading partners. The Netherlands is also one of the country's largest sources of international tourists. Chikunga expressed gratitude to the Dutch government for its support during South Africa's G20 Presidency, particularly its backing of the Empowerment of Women Working Group (EWWG), which South Africa chaired.
She noted that the cooperation between the two countries will help advance several key legacy projects initiated during the G20 Presidency. These projects include developing a national Care Economy Strategy aimed at recognizing, reducing, and redistributing unpaid care work while creating employment opportunities in the care sector. Other priority areas include promoting positive masculinity by engaging men and boys in efforts to combat gender-based violence and femicide, as well as establishing a Disability Inclusion Nerve Centre of Excellence.
The signing of the MoU comes during a significant year for South Africa, marking the 70th anniversary of the 9th of August 1956 Women's March, the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Youth Uprising, and 30 years since the country's Constitution became the supreme law of the land. Chikunga remarked that key projects emerging from the countries' continued cooperation would honor those who marched to challenge apartheid and build an inclusive society.
The Minister also highlighted multilateral commitments, reinforcing commitments made by both countries through international platforms, including the United Nations Security Council's Women, Peace and Security Agenda and the Commission on the Status of Women. She emphasized the need to promote women's economic empowerment, eliminate gender-based violence, increase women's participation in leadership, and ensure that digital transformation creates opportunities rather than widening inequalities.
Chikunga called on officials from both countries to consult and finalize an implementation plan before the end of August to ensure the agreement delivers measurable outcomes. She also highlighted opportunities for collaboration in agriculture, noting the potential for the Netherlands' expertise to strengthen the economic participation of South African women through skills development, technology transfer, and market access.
"This MoU cannot and should not gather dust," Chikunga concluded.