Korea and South Africa prioritise the Specially Abled

Enjoying the music of guitarist Khazozo are standing (l-r) Ambassador Chull-joo Park, Deputy Minister Pinky Kekana, Deputy Minister Chana Pilane-Majake and Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane (photo credit: Embassy of Korea)

27 September 2022

The deaf experience music through feeling vibration and responding to the frequency of the beats and the timing of the rhythms generated by the sound waves said Maite Nkoana Mashabane, South Africa’s Minister in the Presidency responsible for Persons with Disabilities. She was addressing guests at a reception celebrating the Republic of Korea’s National Day.

2022 is a year of historical importance in the bilateral relations between the Republic of Korea and the Republic of South Africa because it marks the 30th anniversary since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992, said Chull-joo Park, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to South Africa.

The celebration was held under the stars in the lush surroundings of the Pretoria Botanical Gardens, on the night of the equinox, creating a magical atmosphere. Talented local musician Cebolenkosi Makhaza, popularly known as Khazozo, who lost his sight at just two years old, enthralled his audience with his beautiful guitar playing and song.

Also performing on the evening was a very special music band from Korea, the Dream with Ensemble, a clarinet ensemble consisting of young musicians with developmental disabilities. They also performed at the Heritage Day celebrations at the Union Buildings in Pretoria after performances in Cape Town and Durban.

Park said that the Korean Embassy is working hard to organize a series of projects together with South African counterparts in this momentous year of relations. These include the very 1st Ministerial-level Joint Commission for Co-operation between the Republic of Korea and the Republic of South Africa which will be held this coming October. Dr Naledi Pandor, Minister of International Relations and Co-operation of South Africa, is scheduled to travel to Korea soon. “One of the main products of the Commission meeting in Seoul will be the signing of a Cultural Cooperation Agreement between our two countries. I am sure that this Agreement will be very instrumental in promoting cultural exchanges and co-operation further, and I hope that artists of our two countries will be able to utilize this Agreement for cultural exchanges together,” said Park.

The Korea-South Africa Business Forum will be held at the end of October this year. Park said that this can be a cornerstone for further economic co-operation between the two countries and he thanked Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) for organizing the business forum. Areas that will be explored during the forum include, nuclear energy, hydrogen industry, LNG, and electronic vehicles.

In her congratulatory remarks Deputy Minister in the Presidency of South Africa, Pinky Kekana noted the extra ordinary historic relations that can be traced back as far as the Korean War of 1950-53, when the 2nd Fighter Squadron of the then South African Air Force (SAAF) was part of South Africa’s contribution to the United Nations Command with a total of 826 South Africans who fought in Korea, and where 36 perished. “We have continuously built on that foundation, and that is what makes our diplomatic relationship so valuable,” said Kekana.

She also acknowledged and thanked the Republic of Korea for actively assisting South Africa through valuable knowledge and skills transfer initiatives through the Korea International Cooperation Agency and mentioned the many South Africans, mostly graduates, in South Korea making a significant contribution in teaching English at Korean schools all over the country.

TDS