South Africa celebrates 25 years of democracy in 2019

On 27 April 2019, South Africa celebrated 25 years since the date it won its democracy.

1994 was the year the country emerged from the dark shadows of international isolation and took its rightful place among the community of nations.

This day of 26 June is also a very significant day for South Africans, as it is on this day that the Freedom Charter was adopted in 1955.

In the past 25 years considerable progress has been made in improving the material conditions of South Africans. As we enter the next 25 years of freedom we do so with a renewed determination to realise for all South Africans the promise of the democratic breakthrough of 1994.

On 8 May 2019 millions of South Africans again exercised their hard-won right to vote. The elections provided South Africans with an opportunity for rejuvenation and recommitment to speeding up the journey towards the South Africa for which we all yearn.

The South African Government continues to cherish cordial relations between our country and Romania. The SA Embassy’s delegation has had the opportunity of visiting some counties since our last Freedom Day celebration in 2018 and met, among others, with the representatives of the Chambers of Commerce of Dolj, Olt, Prahova, Timis, Mures, Maramures, Suceava and Iasi.

During these visits, the representatives of the Chambers of Commerce and the South African delegation  made it clear that both countries’ business captains need to come closer to each other and work together for the betterment of their countries’ citizens and for ensuring  win-win results on all economic and commercial fronts.

Progress has been made on the education front. Some Romanian Universities in collaboration with their South African counterparts are putting into practise the deepening of relations between South Africa and Romania by honouring their inter-university Agreements.

On the political front, a bilateral mechanism in the form of Agreement on Cooperation between South Africa and Romania signed on the margins of the United Nation’s General Assembly in September 2016 is yet to bear fruit.

On our national day, we reflect on Romania – South Africa strong friendship  and look ahead to forging an even deeper bilateral relationship between our countries.