South African embassy hosted Ramadan ghabga for journalists

• Dr. Manelisi Genge, the ambassador of South Africa to Kuwait, reiterated that his country will continue to do everything within its power to contribute to the Palestinian cause and to end all acts of apartheid and genocide against them.

Dr. Manelisi Genge, the Ambassador of South Africa to Kuwait, hosted a Ramadan Ghabga gathering for local media members on March 24, as part of the embassy’s engagement with journalists.

During the event, ambassador Genge discussed the shared stance of the embassy and Kuwait regarding the Palestinian cause. He stated, “South Africa has a longstanding history of supporting the Palestinian cause, a commitment further emphasized by former President Nelson Mandela’s declaration that South Africa’s freedom is intertwined with the freedom of the Palestinians.”

The ambassador reiterated that his country will continue to do everything within its power to contribute to the Palestinian cause and to end all acts of apartheid and genocide against them.

Elaborating on the bilateral relations between South Africa and Kuwait, the ambassador said his country values its relations with Kuwait and is working hard to consolidate the growing cordial relations between the two countries into a solid strategic partnership.

“The year 2024 marks 30 years of South Africa’s diplomatic relations with Kuwait, during which they have signed various agreements and MoUs,” Genge said, noting that Kuwait has become an important market for South African high-quality food products, including fresh fruits and vegetables, chilled meat, juices, spices, salad dressings, cereals, and dairy products, among others.

Regarding tourism, he indicated that the South African tourism sector is on the rise, with a noticeable increase in the number of travelers from the Middle East, including Kuwait. Almost 55,000 arrivals to South Africa were recorded from January to December 2023, representing a 33.7 percent growth compared to the same period in 2022.

“South Africa’s inbound tourism figures from Kuwait increased in 2023 to 1,477, compared to 262 in 2021 and 1,179 in 2022,” the ambassador said.

Genge pointed out that South Africa’s strength lies in its diversity of culture, religious faiths, and history, among other aspects. “In this regard, the embassy has successfully participated in many events, exhibitions, and engagements hosted by various entities in Kuwait to showcase and promote the South African brand. These engagements have provided the embassy with the opportunity to advance South Africa’s public diplomacy and promote South Africa as a tourist destination (leisure and medical), as well as an education, trade/business, and investment destination of choice for Kuwaitis and expatriates,” he said.