EMBASSY OF SOUTH AFRICA

RUSKÁ 65, 100 00 PRAGUE 10

NEWSLETTER - AUGUST 2017 (No.8)

OPENING WORD

It is an honour for me to be transferred to the

Czech Republic and more specifically to the

very picturesque city of Prague, as the new

Counsellor (Political & Trade Affairs) at the

South African Embassy, replacing my friend

and colleague Ms Karen Hosking. Ms

Hosking has done some sterling work at the

Mission during the period she served on

relief duty at our Embassy as both

Counsellor and then Charge d’Affaires a.i.

after the departure of Ambassador Franki

Verwey at the end of June 2017. My arrival

and settling into my new environment has

thus far been made easy thanks to Ms

Hosking and my fellow South African

colleagues, notably Mr Vivian Ncongwane

and Ms Dipuo Madiba as well as the local

staff at the Embassy. For this I wish to

express my gratitude and appreciation. I will

take over the role of Charge d’Affaires a.i

from Ms Hosking with the objective to do

my best, with the support of my colleagues,

to prepare the ground for the anticipated

arrival of our new Ambassador. I am looking

forward to working with my new colleagues

and making new friends for South Africa

during my placement, for the next four years,

in Prague.

Johan Oberholzer

STAFF NEWS/SA CITIZENS

Arrival of Mr Oberholzer

Mr Johan Oberholzer

arrived in Prague on 4

August 2017 to assume the

post of the Counsellor. He

also acts as a Chargé

d’Affaires a.i. until the

arrival of the Ambassador

designate.

Departure of Ms Hosking

Ms Karen Hosking who served

as Counsellor Political on relief

duty from August 2016 left

Prague for South Africa on 11

August 2017.

We wish Mr Oberholzer a nice stay in

Prague and much success and happiness at

his job; and Ms Hosking much success in her

further career.

Ms Madiba, Ms Hosking, Mr Oberholzer and

Mr Ncongwane at a farewell-welcome tea,

SA Embassy in Prague, 7 August 2017

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EMBASSY NEWS

Social meeting

A special social meeting was held on 7

August 2017 to say good-bye to Ms Hosking

and welcome Mr Oberholzer.

Farewell to Ms Hosking and welcome to Mr

Oberholzer, SA Embassy in Prague, 7 August 2017

Ms Vinická, Mr Stifter, Mr Walters, Mr Rubešová

and Ms Růžičková

Ms Madiba, Ms Hosking, Ms Mahmoud,

Mr Oberholzer and Mr Ncongwane

Meeting with Mr Růžička Ms Hosking and Mr Oberholzer met the

President of the Czech-South African

Chamber of Commerce, Mr Vilém Růžička,

on 9 August 2017 to discuss further

cooperation.

For more details about the Czech-South

African Chamber of Commerce please see

http://www.sachamber.cz/

Visit to South African Airways

Mr Oberholzer

visited the South

African Airways

on 22 August

2017. He met Ms

Tereza Prokůpková, Sales Manager of the

company to discuss possible joint projects.

The Embassy has been closely cooperating

with the SAA for several years.

Diplomatic events

August is traditionally a quiet month in the

Czech Republic. Mr Oberholzer attended a

reception hosted by the Ambassador of India

and the opening of exhibition of paintings by

Ivan Stepanovych Marchuk, hosted by the

Embassy of Ukraine.

He also met several representatives of the

Czech Foreign Ministry.

Mr Oberholzer, Ms Madiba and Mr Mahlangu

attending a local sporting event

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SOUTH AFRICAN NEWS

SADC Summit in Pretoria

15 Heads of State and Government of the

South African Development Community

(SADC) attended the 37th

SADC Summit

which was held in Pretoria from 19-20

August 2017 under the theme Partnering

with the Private Sector in Developing

Industry and Regional Value Chains. The

Summit is responsible for the overall policy

direction and control of functions of the

community. The 37th

Summit admitted the

Union of Comoros as a new Member of

SADC.

President Zuma at the Opening Ceremony of the 37th

SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government,

Pretoria, South Africa, 19 August 2017.

Picture: Katlholo Maifadi

Council of Ministers Meeting was held from

15-16 August 2017, ahead of the 37th

Summit. It oversaw the functioning and

development of SADC.

Group photograph of the SADC Council of Ministers,

O R Tambo Building, Pretoria, South Africa, 16

August 2017. Picture: Jacoline Schoonees

From 31 July to 4 August 2017 South Africa

hosted the SADC Industrialisation Week in

Johannesburg, aimed at fostering new

opportunities for trade and investment.

President of Liberia visited RSA

President of Liberia Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

paid a State Visit to South Africa on 11

August 2017 to review bilateral cooperation

between the two countries and strengthen

intra-trade relations.

President Jacob Zuma and President Ellen Johnson

Sirleaf of Liberia brief the media during President

Sirleaf's visit. Picture: The Presidency

SA- Mozambique Bilateral Commission

The 2nd Session of the South Africa

Mozambique Bi-National Commission was

held in Maputo, Mozambique on 24 August

2017.

Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane and the Minister

for Foreign Affairs and Co-operation of Mozambique,

Mr Oldemiro Julio Marques Baloi, Maputo, 24

August 2017. Picture: Katlholo Maifadi

Visit to Zambia

President Jacob Zuma undertook a working

visit to Lusaka, Zambia on 5 August 2017.

At the invitation of Zambian President Edgar

Lungu, he opened the 91st Agricultural and

Commercial Show organized under the

theme The Promotion of Green Economy.

President Jacob Zuma inspects the Guard of Honour

on arrival during a working visit to the Republic of

Zambia. Picture: The Presidency

No confidence vote

President Jacob Zuma won the no-

confidence vote in the National Assembly

on 8 August 2017. The motion was defeated

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by 198 votes to 177; 9 MPs of the total 384

votes cast abstained. For the first time, the

motion was held as a secret ballot.

Women’s month

This year marks the 61st anniversary of the

Women’s March to the Union Buildings on 9

August 1956.

On 9 August 2017, President Jacob Zuma

delivered a keynote address at National

Women’s Day celebration at Galeshewe,

Kimberley, the Northern Cape under the

theme: The Year of OR Tambo: Women

United in Moving South Africa Forward.

Launch of the African Regional Centre of

the BRICS New Development Bank

President Jacob

Zuma launched the

African Regional

Centre of the New Development Bank in

Johannesburg on 17 August 2017. New

Development Bank was established by

BRICS countries in 2016.

The launch of the Africa Regional Centre of the New

Development Bank. Picture: The Presidency

Dumi Masilela died

South African actor Dumi Masilela, 29, was

shot and killed in an attempted hijacking on

2 August 2017. He was best known for his

role as 23-year-old street kid Sifiso Ngema

on popular soap Rhythm City.

Actor

Dumi Masilela.

Picture:

Instagram.

CZECH NEWS

Prime Minister Sobotka visited Iraq

Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka visited

Iraq from 27-28 August 2017 to discuss

Czech support in the battle against Islamic

State, humanitarian aid and possible

participation in the post-war renewal of the

country.

Prime Ministers Bohuslav Sobotka and Haider

al-Abadi. Picture: The Government

Jordan Prime Minister visited Prague

Jordan Prime Minister Hani Fawzi Al-

Mulkim paid an Official Visit to the Czech

Republic on 22 August 2017. The

development of business and security

cooperation and Middle East situation, as

well as the use of nuclear energy for peace

reasons, defence cooperation and fight

against terrorism has been discussed.

Prime Ministers Bohuslav Sobotka and Hani Fawzi

Al-Mulkim. Picture: The Government

Meeting in Salzburg

French President Emmanuel Macron was the

guest of the fourth meeting of the Slavkov

format, i.e. of the Prime Ministers of the

Czech Republic, Austria and Slovakia, which

took place in Salzburg on 23 August 2017.

The main topics of the meeting were future

of the European Union, economic and social

convergence, free movement and posting of

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workers, industrial policy, safety, common

defence and migration.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, French President

Emmanuel Macron, Austrian Chancellor Christian

Kern and Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka.

Picture: The Government

HoM meeting in Prague

The annual meeting of the Czech Heads of

Mission was held at the Foreign Ministry in

Prague from 28 August to 1 September 2017.

Key areas in Czech foreign policy and Czech

interests were outlined during the meeting.

Foreign Minister Lubomír Zaorálek addressing the

Heads of Mission. Picture: MFA

Visit to Botswana

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr

Lukáš Kaucký, Deputy Minister of Defence

Mr Tomáš Kuchta and a delegation of

representatives of Czech companies visited

Botswana from 14 to 16 August 2017. The

visit focused on cooperation in security and

business sector.

Deputy Minister Lukáš Kaucký with Minister of

Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi. Picture;MFA

Cartoonist Pavel Kantorek died aged 75

Czech scientist and

cartoonist Pavel Kantorek

died on 3 August 2017 in

Toronto where he

emigrated after the 1968

Russian–led invasion of

Czechoslovakia.

His cartoons appeared in newspapers of

many countries.

WWII veteran General Klemeš died

WWII veteran and war

hero Brigadier General

Jaroslav Klemeš died on

7 August 2017 at the age

of 95. He was the last

surviving paratrooper

sent from Britain to the

occupied Protectorate of

Bohemia and Moravia in 1945.

International Association of Athletic

Federation (IAAF) World Championships

London

4 – 13 August 2017

SOUTH AFRICA CZECH REPUBLIC

29 competitors 27 competitors

in 19 events in 17events

Medals: 6 Medals: 3

3 gold, 1 silver, 1 gold, 1 silver,

2 bronze 1 bronze

Rank: 3 Rank: 11

For more details see the attachment to the

Newsletter.

Attachment

4 -13 August, 2017

SOUTH AFRICA

Medals

Ranked 3rd

Gold Silver Bronze Total

3 1 2 6

Medal Athlete Event Date

Gold Luvo Manyonga Men's long jump August 5

Gold Wayde van

Niekerk Men's 400 meters August 8

Gold Caster Semenya Women's 800 meters August 13

Silver Wayde van

Niekerk Men's 200 meters August 10

Bronze Ruswahl Samaai Men's long jump August 5

Bronze Caster Semenya Women's 1500 meters August 7

Wayde van Niekerk Luvo Manyonga Caster Semenya Ruswahl Samaai

CZECH REPUBLIC

Medals

Ranked 11th

Gold Silver Bronze Total

1 1 1 3

Medal Athlete Event Date

Gold Barbora Špotáková Women's Javelin throw August 8

Silver Jakub Vadlejch Men's Javelin throw August 12

Bronze Petr Frydrych Men's Javelin throw August 12

Barbora Špotáková Jakub Vadlejch Petr Frydrych