President Thabo Mbeki on Tuesday used the state visit of Canadian Governor General Michaëlle Jean as an opportunity to raise concerns about Europe’s treatment of migrants from Africa.
Mbeki held talks with Jean at the Union Buildings in Pretoria and at a press conference afterwards said she was an example of how migrants could succeed in their new countries if given a chance.
The Haitian-born Jean last year became the first black Canadian governor general, a position that gives her most of the powers of a head of state.
Mbeki, asked about his feelings that Jean was the first such person to hold such a position, said: ”It conveys a very strong message. It communicates a message that it is actually possible everywhere else in the world to have black people in power even to the point that you have a governer general,” Mbeki said.
He said there is concern among African leaders about what happens to Africans who migrate to Europe. There are feelings of exclusion and an absence of social cohesion.
”There is a strong feeling on the continent that these migrants are not being treated properly,” he said.
This leads to conflict on the streets of European cities.
The problem will not go away because migration will continue as long as there is poverty and under-development in Africa and greater opportunities in Europe, Mbeki said.
Jean was welcomed by a 21-gun salute, and inspected a guard of honour.
Jean arrived in South Africa over the weekend on one of the stops on her five-country visit, which has already seen her in Algeria, Mali and Ghana.
Accompanied by a delegation of lawmakers and representatives of Canadian businesses, she hopes to cement ties — especially in South Africa where the bilateral relation between the two countries has grown over the past few years.
After her welcoming she held talks with President Thabo Mbeki. Later in the day she was due to meet Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.
During her stay Jean will visit several schools, talk with business people and meet Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
She is due to leave for Morocco on Saturday. — Sapa