Namibia and South Africa have agreed to hold mid-term review sessions between the Bi-National Commission meetings as they forge ahead with a new era of cooperation.

During the mid-term review, the relevant ministries and agencies are expected to assess the implementation of joint decisions as well as all legal instruments.

The third session of the BNC has taken more than hundred joint decisions, covering a wide range of areas.

For these agreements to have the desired impact in all aspects, the approach to implementation does not need to be business as usual.

Namibia and South Africa reaffirmed their continued support for the pursuit of self-determination in Western Sahara.

The countries declared their support during the Bi-National Commission Ministerial Meeting held in Windhoek. The United Nations classified Western Sahara as a non-self-governing territory.

While the Sahrawi people have been waiting for a referendum, Morocco has invaded and occupied the territory since 1975 and has been profiting from the resources of Western Sahara.

President Hage Geingob is hopeful that the long-standing issue of the Orange River border will be resolved amicably.

Dr. Geingob and his South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa, are co-chairing the presidential segment of the 3rd session of the Namibia-South Africa Bi-National Commission meeting underway at State House.

The Ministerial Session of the Namibia-South Africa Bi-National Commission has reviewed the 75 legal instruments between the two countries.

These are in the areas of infrastructure development, transport and communications, health, minerals, and energy, among others.

The ministerial session will be followed by the meeting between President Hage Geingob and his South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa, tomorrow.

Energy supply tops the agenda of the ministerial meeting between Namibia and South Africa.

The meeting preceded the third Bi-National Commission (BNC) of the two Heads of Sate.

During the opening of the Ministerial Meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation urged NamPower and Eskom to strengthen existing cooperation on power supply and interconnectivity.

The Presidency has announced that President Hage Geingob will host South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday.

The two leaders will co-chair the presidential segment of the third session of the Namibia-South African Bi-National Commission.

The Presidency says the Bi-National Commission serves as a vital platform for enhanced bilateral cooperation.

South Africa has the highest number of companies doing business in Namibia, while Namibia is one of the biggest investors in that country's economy.

President Hage Geingob and his South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa, have also directed that a business forum be convened between the two countries.

The proposal is that the business forum takes place on the sidelines of the Bi-National Commission meeting to be held in Windhoek.

Leaders would be engaging the business community from both Namibia and South Africa. 

President Hage Geingob and his South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa, have directed that an audit of all legal instruments of cooperation be carried out before the meeting of the Bi-National Commission.

The directive was issued following official talks between Dr. Geingob and Ramaphosa at the Union Building in Pretoria.

The presidents, Geingob and Ramaphosa, say they evaluated progress in the implementation of previous decisions and agreements.