South African HC pays courtesy call on foreign affairs principal secretary |02 March 2022

Dr Manzini (centre, front row) in a souvenir phototograph with Ambassador Fock Tave and her team from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Tourism

On the occasion of her accreditation to the Republic of Seychelles, Dr Hlamalani Nelly Manzini, High Commissioner of the Republic of South Africa, paid a courtesy call on the principal secretary of the foreign affairs department, Ambassador Vivianne Fock Tave, on Monday at Maison Quéau de Quinssy.

Accompanying Ambassador Fock Tave was the principal secretary for tourism, Sherin Francis, and senior officials of the foreign affairs department.

Seychelles and South Africa have shared good bilateral and multilateral relations throughout the years. As member states of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc), Ambassador Fock Tave expressed the government’s gratitude for the South African government’s support to Seychelles, describing South Africa as a critical partner. They briefly spoke of certain concerning regional security developments which affect the whole region and the actions undertaken aimed at reinforcing the unity and fraternity that bind the area together.

The delegates discussed matters of cooperation and mutual interest for both countries. Amongst which was the tourism sector whereby tourism principal secretary Sherin Francis acknowledged South Africa as a key secondary touristic market for Seychelles.

Mrs Francis described her exchanges with her counterpart in South Africa as excellent. With the continued transformation of the tourism sector, both parties agreed that South Africa and Seychelles should explore new touristic avenues.

Other areas addressed were to re-initiate collaboration in the health sector, training opportunities for Seychellois athletes, and the importance of strengthening maritime security in the Indian Ocean.

Both countries’ economy has not been spared by the effects of Covid-19, with the aim of responding effectively in the eventuality of a pandemic the diplomats emphasised on having open dialogues to share each other’s knowledge and experiences.

Dr Manzini was accompanied by Biswanee Poongavanan, political secretary in the high commission of South Africa and Rod Thorrington, honorary consul of the Republic of South Africa.

Seychelles and South Africa established diplomatic relations in 1993.

Press release from the department of foreign affairs