DIPLOMATS TO INDIA EMPIRE
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SOUTH AFRICA
OCTOBER 2024
Under apartheid, universities were segregated according to race groups. I was the first person of Indian origin to have been appointed as a lecturer, as a staff member, in the University of South Africa. Subsequently, I took up a lectureship at the University of Kwazulu Natal where I spent 10 years, lecturing on Indian philosophy and history. During this time I was actively involved in our struggle against apartheid. I worked with the African National Congress and other resistance movements during this time. I was quite an activist in the movement. My whole philosophy was based on the Bhagwat Gita and Sri Krishna's teachings to stand up for dharma. For me, the apartheid regime was an 'adharmic' force. I was inspired by the teachings of Sri Aurobindo, Subhash Chandra Bose, etc, how they stood up for India's independence and freedom, and the values and principles that inspired them to fight against colonialism and British rule. It resonated within me in my fight against apartheid, it was an unjust system against humanity. I was recognised as a community leader, an activist.
-Ambassador Anil Sooklal
JUNE 2019
South Africa and India enjoy a strategic partnership as established by the Red Fort Declaration of 1997. It is underpinned by a shared history of friendship and solidarity. Both countries held elections this year and President Ramaphosa and Prime Minister Modi both returned to Office after clear victories in May 2019. Over the term of both new administrations, we will be working to further bolster our relations. In doing so, the outcomes of the successful State Visit by President Ramaphosa in January 2019 will provide a good basis for our efforts. Through the implementation of the Three-Year Strategic Programme of Cooperation (2019-2021), which was signed during the aforementioned State Visit, South Africa will work towards enhancing all facets of our strategic relationship. Our primary focus will be to heighten our economic relationship, which has tremendous potential for expansion - with a special focus on attracting FDI from India. This is in line with South Africa's goal to attract $100 billion in investments over the next five years. We will also focus on cooperation in agro-processed goods, defence procurement, mining equipment and technology as well as cooperation in the financial services sector. With our shared history and mutual icons, South Africa will be redoubling her efforts to enhance people-to-people relations, including by increasing tourism flows between our respective countries. This solid bilateral foundation enables us to extend our cooperation into various multilateral fora, such as BRICS, IBSA, IORA, and the G20. Expect the growth curve to head steeply upwards in the next five years...
-H.E. Mr BJ Joubert (Acting High Commissioner of the Republic of South Africa to India)