Dean of Mumbai Consular Corps leads visit to Governor

25 January 2023

Members of the Consular Corps of Mumbai, India (CCAM) had the honour of engaging with the Hon’ble Governor of Maharashtra Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari at Raj Bhavan on 16 January 2023.

The new Dean of the Consular Corps in Mumbai, Andrea Kühn Consul-General of South Africa, who is representing over 100 Diplomatic Missions in Mumbai, Maharashtra, conveyed appreciation for the excellent cooperation rendered by the office of the Governor and that the CCAM looked forward to continued cooperation in 2023 especially in relation to India’s Presidency of the G20 and SCO.

Forging Arab-Africa Partnership for Recovery, Resilience and Sustainable Development - BADEA

25 January 2023

Former President of the Republic of South Africa Mr. Kgalema Motlanthe and Former First Lady Madame Gugu Motlanthe, shared the stage with African and Arab leaders from the public and private sectors; members of the United Nations (UN); NGO’s; and civil society, at the 2023 Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) High-Level Summit in Dubai, UAE, on 12 January 2023.

Russia-Ukraine conflict should end through diplomacy, negotiation - Pandor

24 January 2023

International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor, has reiterated South Africa’s position that the only path to peace is through diplomacy, dialogue and commitment to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.

This includes the principle that all Member States will endeavour to settle disputes by peaceful means.

24 January 2023

This year, 2023, is symbolized by the Rabbit which has a profound influence on Chinese culture as depicted by the discovery of a fresco showing three rabbits sharing ears which was painted during the Sui Dynasty that ruled between 581 and 618. More recently China’s lunar rover that landed on the moon in 2019 was named Jade Rabbit 2 or Yutu 2, the pet rabbit of moon goddess Chang’e from Chinese legend. A rabbit deity of the pet named Tu’er Ye or Lord Rabbit is found in Beijing.

SA's navy exercises between China and Russia to benefit nations

23 January 2023

Defence and Military Veterans Minister, Thandi Modise, says she is confident that the multinational maritime exercise between South Africa, Russia and China that will take place over a 10-day period will benefit all three participating nations.

“The envisaged exercise will benefit all countries involved through interoperability of the naval systems, joint disaster systems management enhancement, maritime cooperation and anti-piracy exercises.”

18 January 2023

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa extends his best wishes to the Government and people of the People’s Republic of China on the occasion of the Chinese Lunar New Year and Annual Spring Festival.

President Ramaphosa has, on behalf of the Government and people of South Africa, expressed his wish that the advent of the Year of the Rabbit will indeed endow citizens of the People’s Republic of China with the longevity, peace and prosperity associated with the zodiac sign for the year ahead. South Africa values the vibrant economic relations and political cooperation that characterise its partnership with the People’s Republic of China.

Frene Ginwala (photo credit: SA History online)

by Shireen Hassim

Frene Ginwala, feisty feminist, astute political tactician and committed cadre of South Africa’s governing party, the African National Congress (ANC), has died at the age of 90. In a country blessed with exceptional leaders, Ginwala must surely count among the best. Typically for her, but unusually for the ANC leadership, she will be laid to rest in a private ceremony. While she was modest about her achievements, she has left an indelible mark on South Africa’s constitution and democratic institutions.

16 January 2023

A 17-member government and private sector delegation of Nigeria visits Dhaka, led by Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, Minister of Communication and Digital Economy of Nigeria.

The visit which was facilitated by the Nigeria- Bangladesh Business and Technology Forum (NBBTF), at the invitation of Foreign Minister Dr. A K Abdul Momen, MP.

Taking climate responsibility

By Kirtan Bhana  

The Earth Summit, also known as the Rio Conference, was held in Brazil in 1992. It was in response to the euphoria that marked the end of the Cold War and the beginning of collaborative and cohesive global cooperation and international relations. Thirty years later, the reality of the present planetary situation was laid bare at the 27th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, in November 2022. 

10 January 2023

South Africa and Türkiye remain committed to strengthen bilateral relations, says International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor. The Minister held Bilateral Political Consultations with Foreign Affairs Minister, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu of the Republic of Türkiye on Tuesday.

Kahlo, Sher-Gil, Stern: Modernist Identities in the Global South

The Diplomacy of Art by Dilon Bhana

11 January 2023

As a young, South African art enthusiast, I had the pleasure of visiting the Joburg Contemporary Art Foundation (JCAF). They are currently hosting the exhibition ‘Kahlo, Sher-Gil, Stern: Modernists Identities in the Global South’ which is running from 25 October 2022 until 23 February 2023. The exhibition showcases three artists from three distinct parts of the globe, each with their own triumphs and controversies and all with so much in common. These three artists have inspired me in my life before and I was surprised to discover them in a joint gallery experience where I further found their art and lives impacting mine 100 years after their creations.