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