South Africa values relations with Türkiye: Deputy minister

By Hassan Isilow

PRETORIA, South Africa (AA) - South Africa attaches great importance to its relations with Türkiye and hopes to strengthen ties even further, the country’s deputy minister for water and sanitation said Monday.

“On behalf of the South African government, it’s a pleasure to come and pay homage in celebrations with the people of Türkiye,” Dikeledi Phillistus Magadzi told guests at an event marking Türkiye’s 99th Republic Day celebrations held at the ambassador’s residence in the capital Pretoria.

Magadzi said her government is encouraged by recent visits by officials from both countries, giving the example of the visit by South Africa’s Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor to Türkiye early this year.

Pandor visited Türkiye for the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, an annual conference on international diplomacy. She held bilateral talks with her Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu during her visit.

Magadzi also extended her condolences to Türkiye following the recent tragic coal mine explosion in northern Türkiye which claimed over 40 lives.

She said her country can benefit by tapping into Türkiye’s 99 years of experience by working together to address challenges they face.

The South African government designated Magadzi as well as the Deputy Minister of Social Development, Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, to represent the country at the Republic Day event.

- Relations blossoming

Addressing guests, Türkiye’s ambassador to South Africa Aysegul Kandas said she was happy that relations between the two countries are flourishing at all levels, from politics to trade and investment and person-to-person relations.

Kandas said that next year they expect Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu to visit South Africa, which will pave the way for the inaugural session of the Bi-National Commission later in the year to enhance relations further.

They also hope South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa will visit Türkiye next year.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited South Africa in 2018 to attend the BRICS summit. The grouping comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, countries that share over 20% of the global economy.

This year’s Republic Day celebrations were the largest since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, which restricted gatherings for the past two years.

Quite a few ambassadors accredited to Pretoria as well as representatives of the South African government and the private sector and officials of Turkish institutions including the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), Turkish Airlines, the Yunus Emre Institute and the Maarif Foundation were in attendance as well as Turks living in the country.

There was also live music and an art exhibition at the event.