Welcome to South Africa
Heads of Mission Present Letters of Credence
Seated (l-r) Director General in the Presidency Phindile Baleni, Republic of Austria, HE Mrs. Romana Königsbrun, Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, HE Mr Dan Bahadur Tamang, Republic of the Philippines, HE Ms. Noralyn Jubaira Baja, President Cyril Ramaphosa, Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, HE Prof. Gamini Gunawardena, Kingdom of Norway, HE Mr. Gjermund Saether, Kingdom of Belgium, HE Mr Paul Jansen and Director General of Dirco Zane Dangor
Standing (l-r) Islamic Republic of Pakistan, HE Mr Aftab Hasan Khan, Republic of Slovenia, HE Mr Sašo Podlesnik, Republic of Kazakhstan, HE Mr Yerkin Akhinzhanov, Commonwealth of Australia, HE Ms Tegan Elizabeth Brink, St Kitts and Nevis, HE Ms Verna Uwana Mills, Republic of South Sudan, HE Mr Simon Duku Michael, Republic of The Gambia, HE Mrs Fatoumata Jahumpa-Ceesay, Syrian Arab Republic, HE Mr Bassam Darwish, Japan, HE Mr Ushio Shigeru, Republic of Botswana, HE Ms Sanji Mmasenono Monageng, Republic of Mozambique, HE Mrs Maria Manuela dos Santos Lucas and Democratic Republic of East Timor, HE Mr Francisco Miranda Branco (Photo: Siyabulela Duda/GCIS)
14 March 2023
All the continents of the world were represented at Sefako Makgatho Guest House in Tshwane as Heads of Mission presented their Letters of Credence to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, officially beginning their tour of duty. Ramaphosa said that South Africa has always endeavoured to maintain friendly relations with all countries and that it firmly believes in the indivisible unity of humanity and share a responsibility to continuously strive to settle differences between countries peacefully and permanently. Speaking about Africa Ramaphosa said, “The African Continental Free Trade Area is very much aligned with South Africa’s economic growth and development strategy, which places emphasis on regional and continental integration. Therefore, the benefits for Africa is immense as it will also create conditions for greater flows of trade and investment between Africa and the rest of the world.”