/ 19 August 2009

SA strengthens ties with Angola

Agreements to grease the economic wheels driving a deeper partnership between South Africa and Angola will be concluded by Wednesday afternoon, South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said in Luanda.

Nkoana-Mashabane said “visa requirements [for travelling between the two countries] was one of the key issues under discussion” and that agreements to be inked on Thursday included an already concluded bilateral air-service agreement.

These steps appear a recognition of Angola’s growing importance as a local oil-producing nation and the potential it represents for South African companies, especially in the mining and construction sectors. Angola is Africa’s biggest oil producer, exporting about $29,9-billion worth in 2006, but is in urgent need of infrastructure development after enduring almost 30 years of destructive civil war.

Nkoane-Mashabane is part of the South African delegation — which includes 11 Cabinet ministers and more than 180 business delegates — accompanying President Jacob Zuma on his first state visit since his inauguration.

Nkoana-Mashabane stressed the importance of Angola’s natural resources and the potential safeguarding of South Africa’s “oil security” provided by Angola’s vast reserves.

She said “several memorandums of understanding” between departments such as sport and trade and industry were to be signed, while South African businesses were expected to contribute to Angola’s housing and telecommunications infrastructure development.

“It is very difficult to separate the political relations from economic relations and we believe there is a new energy and vigour [between the two countries],” said Nkoana-Mashaabane, alluding to the previously frosty relationship that existed between the two countries while South African president Thabo Mbeki was at the helm.

The mutual wooing by both countries will extend to an annual bi-national commission, which will be led by the respective presidents. A regional diplomatic consultation agreement signed between Nkoana-Mashabane and her Angolan counterpart Ansuncao Afonso dos Anjos will ensure ongoing discussions between the two countries.

Nkoana-Mashabane stressed the importance of the visit with regard to the “ongoing political, social and economic integrity of the SADC [Southern African Development Community]” and said the deepening relationship was vital to ensuring peace and democratic stability in the region.

She added that both countries were committed to ensuring that a “solution from inside Zimbabwe” was achieved in the troubled country.

She said the government’s 15-year review compelled South Africa’s foreign policy to “go back and ensure a strengthening relationship with our neighbours and strengthen democracy”.