President Jacob Zuma has this morning, 24 April 2016, arrived in Tehran in the Islamic Republic of Iran on a State Visit taking place from 24 to 25 April 2016.
This is the second South African State Visit to Iran, the first having been undertaken by President Nelson Mandela in 1999.
The President’s State Visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran will serve to cement the strong fraternal relations between the two countries that originated during the apartheid era when Iran refused to oil the apartheid machinery and instead cut ties with apartheid South Africa.
The visit takes place during an opportune moment, following the strong momentum in bilateral relations, including the Official Visit to Iran by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa last year, the 12th Joint Commission meeting in Iran in May 2015, the 6th Deputy Ministerial Working Group visit to Iran in August 2015 and other high-level Ministerial and Deputy Ministerial visits to Iran and South Africa in 2015. In addition, the lifting of nuclear-related sanctions against Iran provides immense potential for closer commercial and investment cooperation between South Africa and Iran.
President Zuma is accompanied by Ms Noma-India Mfeketo, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation; Dr Rob Davies, Minister of Trade and Industry; Mr Pravin Gordhan, Minister of Finance; Ms Tina Joemat-Pettersson, Minister of Energy; Ms Nomvula Mokonyane, Minister of Water and Sanitation and Mr Ebrahim Patel, Minister of Economic Development and a business delegation.
Enquiries:
Bongani Majola
Cell: 082 339 1993
E-mail: bonganim@presidency.gov.za
