Review 2005 to 2009
On 14th December 2009 the 3rd Meeting of Honorary Consuls of the Republic of South Africa under the direction of His Excellency, Ambassador Eddie Funde and Consul General Tselane Mokuena took place in Dresden, which was opened by a dinner at Schloss Eckberg on 13th December 2009.
During the meeting, the past and future activities of diplomatic missions were discussed.
From 24th until 30th of July 2009 a delegation from Free State, South Africa, headed by Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Mr Kgothule and Minister of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, visited Mr Dukwana accompanied by ministers and mayors in Saxony.
A letter of intent was signed with the city of Freiberg.
From 9th to 18th June 2009 South African bronze sculptor Louis Chanu (www.chanuart.co.za) visited Germany and Switzerland. During his stay he visited some well-known galleries in Dresden and Berlin, including the Walentowski galleries and Galerie Alexander Raeber, where he presented his bronze sculptures. A "traveling exhibition" of his works is planned for one or two weeks in selected galleries in Germany towards the end of the year.
From 28th November to 3rd December 2008 a delegation from the Thabo Mofutsanyane district was under the direction of the district administrator in Saxony. The delegation including two artists from the Clarens, Free State region and took part in the Stammtisch South Africa in Leipzig. The artists presented about 90 paintings by different artists. During the visits of the universities in Mittweida and Freiberg, i.a. talked about possible starting points for cooperations. Furthermore, the relations with the partner city Augustusburg could be further expanded.
On 1st December 2008 this year's Stammtisch South Africa took place in the "Manege" in the Spiegelpalast in the Kongresshalle in Leipzig. About 130 guests from politics, economics, culture and science met for an entertaining evening, which was dedicated to the exchange of experience and information around the country South Africa. The event opened with a vernissage of South African artworks from the Clarens region and surrounding area.
The evening was arranged by a gospel choir, South African acrobats Andrew Scordilis & Craig van Deventer and master drummer Kwashie Safroh.
On 27th August 2008 the new Ambassador, Mr. Sonwabo Eddi Funde, was officially announced by Federal President Dr. Horst Köhler. On 31st October 2008, His Excellency attended the HOPE Gala 2008 (benefit gala in aid of the Aidshilfe project HOPE Cape Town in South Africa) in Dresden.
On Saturday, 1st November 2008, he visited the Gemäldegalerie "Alte Meister".
On 24th June 2008 there was a meeting with the Christian Association of Young People (CVJM) -Landesverband Sachsen e.V. and some employees of the organization "Youth Alive" from Soweto, South Africa with honorary consul Prof. Dr. Scharff in a relaxed atmosphere at the Brauhaus am Waldschlösschen in Dresden. The organization "Youth Alive" was represented by the leader Mr. Abe Matlou and his colleague Mrs. Thabile Chiliza in Germany. Among other things, the YMCA is active as a youth association, which combines the emphasis on working with children, young people and families with the Christian faith. Mr. Johannes Neudeck, Secretary General of the YMCA, is working in a partnership project with the Christian youth organization "Youth Alive" in Soweto / South Africa. At the heart of the partnership are encounters and exchanges with young people across cultural boundaries. The goal is to benefit from each other and to discover similarities in youth work. On the other hand, concrete help is provided for the people of South Africa, so that the good work can be continued.
From 10th until 17th July 2008 a delegation from the Thabo Mofutsanyana district (Clarens Free State Region) was in Saxony to continue the cooperation initiated by the city of Augustusburg. Members of the delegation were District District Chief Mr Mosebenzi Zwane, Ms Mathokoana Mopeli, Parliament Spokesperson and Council Members Mr Reverend Pontsho David Lengoabala, Ms Malitaba Sarah Moleleki, Ms Nnei Mable Mosupa and Ms Mamosebetsi Chrestina Mollo, Personal Assistants to the District Administrator.
There were i. a. Talks with the mayor of Augustusburg, Mrs. Evelyn Jugelt as well as with the companies Rosskopf & Partner Kunnersdorf, Agrar GmbH Hennersdorf and SolarFactory GmbH Freiberg.
Another reason for the visit was the participation in the Museum Night at Schloss Augustusburg on 12th July 2008. The delegation was accompanied by the artists Karla van den Bergh and Junior Mopeli, who presented artworks by 12 different artists of the Clarens region in the oat floor of the castle.
On 20th June 2008 two expert groups from southern Africa met to get to know each other and share experiences in Dresden. The post-grade student group from Saxony headed by the VDI Chemnitz welcomed the postgraduate students from Baden-Württemberg, who are currently undergoing their internship as part of the Students Experience Program (STEP) under the leadership of the SAFRI association.
On the terrace of the Citybeach Dresden was chatted in a relaxed atmosphere about experiences and experiences of Germany stay. On the official side were Mr. Ismail Esau, Counselor of the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa, Mr. Ferdinand Ruchay, Director of the Office for Economic Development of the City of Dresden Prof. Dr. Wolfram Scharff, Honorary Consul of the Republic of South Africa for Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt and Mrs. Joanne Dittrich, STEP- Project Coordinator present. Mr. Martin Hiersemann represented the VDI Chemnitz.
A ride on the historic horse bus rounded off the visit to Saxony culturally.
From 5th until 9th March 2008 the International Tourism Fair ITB took place in Berlin. The Free State presented itself at the South African Tourism stand by Ms. Phomolo Mokuele, Managing Director of the Free State Tourism Authority Board.
During a stay of the Honorary Consul in South Africa from 18th until 22nd February 2008 talks were held with the mayors of the Local Municipalities of the Thabo Mofutsanyane district. The focus here was on the exchange of art and culture in the cities of Clarens, South Africa and Augustusburg, Germany. Furthermore, the possibilities of increasing tourism in the Free State, especially in the eastern part of the province, were discussed
From 5th until 16th February 2008 the State Youth Orchestra of Saxony was on a concert tour in Cape Town; supported by Prime Minister Prof. Georg Milbradt and the Saxon Music Council e.V. The program included numerous concerts in Cape Town and the surrounding area.
From 11th to 17th December 2007 a delegation of 8 young specialists from the Free State Province was part of an exchange program of post-graduates in Saxony. Contacts were made with Erfurth + Mathes GmbH, IfU GmbH, Hiersemann Prozessautomation GmbH and G.U.B. AG, which will provide internships in 2008 for one of 2-3 months.
Furthermore, the State Chancellery in Dresden, the Regional Council Chemnitz, the Association Initiative Southwest Saxony, Saxony Economic Development and the VDI in Chemnitz as organizer and various scientific institutions (TU Chemnitz, Zwickau University, Mittweida University and the Bergakademie Freiberg) visited.
From 15th to 21st November 2007 a delegation from the provinces of North West and Free State visited Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. The delegation of the North West Province, consisting of a representative of the Economic Development Invest North West (Ms. Zodwa Mvulane) and representatives of the Association Mafikeng Industrial Development Zone (Ms. Sophie Mosime - President, Mr. Tebogo Kebothlale - Managing Director) was led by MEC Darkey Africa , Minister of Economy and Tourism. The Free State is represented by Mr. Bongani More, Chief of the State Chancellery.
The delegation took part in the "Ball der Künste" in Chemnitz on 17th November on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the Förderverein Die Freunde der Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz e.V. On 19th November, the two provinces presented themselves for the "3rd Round Table South Africa" in Halle.
On 29th October 2007 the working group "South Africa" met for one of their regular meetings. In addition to the working group members the representatives of the Saxon State Ministry of Economics and Labor, the IHK Chemnitz, Saxony Economic Development GmbH, the Geocompetenzzentrum Freiberg, the Leipzig Chamber of Crafts and the VDI West Saxon District Association Chemnitz also participated a representative of the Free State government. Mr. Alec Moemi is responsible for special projects in the Department of the Prime Minister.
From 12th until 14th September 2007 a political delegation from the Free State province headed by Prime Minister Beatrice Marshoff, accompanied by Minister of Agriculture, Ms. Susan Mnumzana and Minister of Education, Mr. Modise Mokitlane, was in Saxony.
Ms Prime Minister Marshoff and State Secretary Mangold from the Saxon State Ministry of Economic Affairs and Labor signed a letter of intent to cooperate between the Free State of Saxony and the Free State Province.
From 12th until 18th May 2007 a delegation from the Free State province headed by the Minister of Finance, Mr. Tata Makgoe and the Minister of Local Government and Mr. Joel Mafereka, as well as five mayors of the province in Saxony.
The delegation visited during your stay the cities Dresden, Leipzig, Chemnitz, Zwickau, Freiberg, Mittweida and Dessau. Contents of the visits were u.a. the general administrative structure of German cities, building the budget in local government, designing twinnings and developing industrial parks and technology centers. Initial agreements have already been signed between the companies accompanying the delegation and Saxon partners.
On 12th April 2007 the Consular Corps of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia met for a sightseeing tour in the porcelain manufactory Reichenbach in Thuringia. Mr. Scheland, U.S. Consul General and Prof. Dr. Scharff, Honorary Consul of the Republic of South Africa, welcomed the numerous representatives of the General and Honorary Consulates of the three countries as well as the Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa, Mr. Moses Chikane and the Ministerial Councilors of the State Chancelleries of Thuringia and Saxony.
On their small excursion through the manufactory Experience the production of traditional Thuringian porcelain. Subsequently, they found themselves in the community center with a hearty grilled sausage for talks and discussions together. The district administrator Mr. Andreas Heller gave an insight into the Saale-Holzland region.
On 19th December 2006 the traditional Round Table South Africa took place already for the second time. This year representatives from economy, politics and culture met at the so called Bavarian Station in Leipzig to discuss about South Africa and the development of the relations between our both countries.
We would like to thank all participants for this nice evening.
From 11th until 17th October 2006 the Premier of the South African province Free State, Ms Beatrice Marshoff as well as the Ministers Mr Neo Masithela (MEC for Tourism, Environmental and Economic Affairs), Mr Seiso J Mohai (MEC for Public Works, Roads and Transport), Ms Susan K Mnumzana (MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture) and Mr Joel Mafereka (MEC for Local Government and Housing) visited Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt. Target of the visit was amongst others the conclusion of agreements for the education of post-graduated students, cooperation in mining/geology and alternative energies as well as the involvement of enterprises in the preparation of the Soccer World Cup 2010.
During their stay the Premier and her delegation remained in Dresden, Leipzig, Freiberg and Magdeburg. Amongst other conversations with the Prime Minister of Saxony, Prof. Georg Milbradt, representatives of the aforementioned cities, the VDI, the Chamber of Trade and Commerce in Chemnitz as well as with interested enterprises of both Federal States have been realised.
On the 4th October 2006 a delegation of Ministers from the North West province of South Africa to Saxony.
The delegation is going to visit enterprises of the beef-processing industry. From 13:00 - 15:00 o'clock the Chamber of Trade and Commerce in Chemnitz organises a conversational event with selected company organisations.
From 6th to 10th July 2006 a delegation under the direction of the Executive Mayor of the City of Tshwane (Pretoria), Mrs Dr G Ramokgopa, had stayed in Leipzig/ Saxony. The main interests were arrangements about the utilisation of the know how in the urban transportation; amongst others there have been conversations with senior experts in Dresden and Leipzig.
From 6th to 15th July 2006 we received a delegation from the North West Province under leadership of Minister D Afrika and Minister H Yawa and the Mayors of the four districts, the Mayor of the City of Matlosana (Klerksdorp), Mr C Dodovu as well as representatives of the business development Invest North West in Saxony. Main objective was the exchange of experiences in preparation of the Football World Cup 2010 in South Africa; amongst others meetings in Chemnitz (Chamber of Trade and Commerce), Leipzig (Chamber of Trade and Commerce, FIFA office of the City of Leipzig, central stadium) and Gera (Chamber of Trade and Commerce) have been hold successfully.
From 17th to 24th February 2006 a business delegation of Saxon companies headed by the IHK Südwestsachsen Chemnitz-Plauen-Zwickau was in South Africa. There were u. a. Talks with business development agencies and South African companies are held in order to initiate economic contacts and future cooperation. A goal of the stay was the support and intensification of the bilateral economic relations between the countries Saxonia, Saxonia-Anhalt and South Africa.
On 19th of December 2005 the Round Table South Africa took place for the first time at Schlosshotel Pillnitz. With the collaboration of Wirtschaftsförderung Sachsen it was a brilliant evening on which representatives from economy, politics and culture got together to discuss common interests in cooperation with the Republic of South Africa.
Mr George H. Johannes, Minister of the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa, emphasizes the significance of the in the last years positive developed economic relations between Saxon and South African enterprises. He argues for the active participation of Saxon organisations and companies in the preparation of the Soccer World Cup 2006.
Amongst others the director of the Free State Development Corporation in Bloemfontein, Mr Max Makhubalo; Mr Christian Ramm, Key Account Manager at South African Airways as well as directors of Saxon enterprises and responsibles from political and public organisations took part.
The Regular’s Table South Africa which serves the development of economic, cultural and political connections should take place regularly in the future.
On 9th of June 2005 the official Ceremony of the nomination of the Honorary Consul took place in the castle Eckberg in Dresden.
The speeches have made:
- Moses M. Chikane, Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa
- Prof. Dr. Wolfram Scharff, Honorary Consul of the Republic of South Africa for Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt
- Dr. Horst Metz, Minister of Finance of the Free State of Saxony
Here are some pictures of this event:
