13 October 2021
His Excellency President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa received Letters of Credence from Heads of Mission Designate accredited to the Republic of South Africa.
The diplomats from 15 countries from across Europe, Asia, North and South America and Africa and were appointed by their respective countries to serve as Ambassadors and High Commissioners to the Republic of South Africa.
While meeting the President, the diplomats took the opportunity to commit to strengthening ties between South Africa and their respective countries.
South Africa’s biggest trading partners on the African continent, outside of Southern and East Africa, Nigeria and Ghana also presented their credentials to the President on Tuesday.
New Ghanaian High Commissioner, Charles Owiredu reflected on the two countries’ shared past going back to the apartheid era.
“We in Ghana are happy to learn that yourself and [Ghanaian President] Nana Akufo-Addo, have escalated our Joint Commission to the level of a Bi-National Commission…this will further strengthen the relationship in terms of trade and investment and also, the people to people contact,” Owiredu said.
Incoming Nigerian High Commissioner Haruna Manta said his presence in the country would be to deepen exchanges in education, military training and other areas.
“I’m here to build on the solid foundation laid by my predecessors…to promote trade between our two countries and to also promote our cultural exchanges,” he said.
Two of South Africa’s biggest international trade partners, Germany and the United Kingdom also committed to reinforcing bonds.
The new German Ambassador Andreas Peschke said that President Ramaphosa’s recent visit to Germany underlined the importance of the ties between the two countries, which would be strengthened moving forward.
“Among the priorities for me by my government…are the following, first [is to] enhance the economic relationship between our countries by increasing the level of trade and investment. Second, [is to] cooperate in the field of skills development and education, third, cooperation in the area of health and particularly in the area of vaccines against COVID-19 and others and fourth, cooperation on a fair, just and green energy transition,” Peschke said.
Incoming United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland High Commissioner Antony Phillipson, who was born in South Africa, described links between the two countries as “deep and enduring ties”.
“Our aim is to strengthen this partnership through more trade and investment, enhancing bilateral engagements with a focus on inclusive economic growth and creating opportunities for all. That includes forging new links in areas like science and research.
“We must also stand together to face global challenges. The most immediate of course is COVID. As we tackle it nationally, we must work together in the G7, the G20, the Commonwealth and elsewhere,” he said.
The following Heads of Mission presented their Credentials:-
Republic of Bulgaria 🇧🇬 – Ms Maria Pavlova Tzotzorkova-Kaymaktchieva
Republic of Ghana 🇬🇭 – Mr Charles Asuako Owiredu
Oriental Republic of Uruguay 🇺🇾 – Mr Jose Luis Rivas Lopez
Republic of Seychelles 🇸🇨 – Mr Claude Morel
Republic of Burundi 🇧🇮 – Mr Alexis Bukuru
Republic of Turkey 🇹🇷 – Ms Ayşegül Kandaş
Republic of Sierra Leone 🇸🇱 – Mr Adekunle Joliff Milton King
United Kingdom of Great Britain 🇬🇧 – Mr Antony John Phillipson
Federal Republic of Nigeria 🇳🇬 – Mr Haruna Manta
Republic of Maldives 🇲🇻 – Mr Omar Abdul Razzak
Dominican Republic 🇩🇴 – Mr Reymundo Antonio Garrido Lantigua
Canada 🇨🇦 – Mr Christopher Cooter
Federal Republic of Germany 🇩🇪 – Mr Andreas Peschke
Republic of Singapore 🇸🇬 – Mr Zainal Arif Mantaha
Republic of Djibouti 🇩🇯 – Mr Yacin Elmi Bouh
Republic of Cyprus 🇨🇾 – Mr Antonis Mandritis
The Diplomatic Informer Magazine SA, welcomes the new Heads of Missions and wishes them the best during their tour of duty in the Republic of South Africa.
Photos: Dirco and GCIS Source: Presidency, Dirco and GCIS