Mandela's daughter celebrates 30th anniversary of Korea-South Africa ties

South African Ambassador to Korea Zenani Nosizwe Dlamini, front row seventh from left, poses with guests at the gala dinner celebrating the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Korea and South Africa at a hotel in Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of Embassy of South Africa in Korea

By Kwon Mee-yoo

The Embassy of South Africa in Korea hosted a gala dinner, Thursday, wrapping up the celebrations of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

South African Ambassador to Korea Zenani Nosizwe Dlamini, daughter of anti-apartheid activist and first president of South Africa Nelson Mandela, said this occasion has a special meaning for her.

"This occasion is even more poignant for me, as less than three years after we established this relationship on Dec. 1, 1992, my father conducted the first state visit by a South African president," she said during the event.

She recalled her visit to "the Land of the Morning Calm" with her father at the invitation of Korea's then President Kim Young-sam to further cement the ties between the countries.

"As I joined him when he lay a wreath at Seoul National Cemetery and when he received an honorary doctorate from Seoul National University for his contribution to world peace, I could not have imagined that one day I would represent my country here. And I do so with great pride," she said.

In her speech, Dlamini discussed her father's efforts to challenge racism and other forms of discrimination, and how that spirit continues today.

"When the Republic of South Africa and the Republic of Korea examine our achievements together in the last three decades, we must acknowledge our earlier shared histories of conflict, violence and exploitation. Today we can celebrate the fact among the values we share ― the most important is that of freedom," she said.

She talked about the South African Air Force, which fought for South Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War as part of the United Nations Command, and her father's speech in Korea's National Assembly in 1995.

"My father characterized the 'gukhoe' as a tribute to change, where democracy and human rights found expression. He understood it well that neither an individual nor a country is an island, and that, in our case, the crucial role of international cooperation and investment is to help raise our people from the devastating impact of centuries of colonial rule. To this end, he was encouraged by the growing economic cooperation between us as nations," she said.

"For him, investment was about more than the accumulation of capital ― he wanted this growth in cooperation also to reinforce local initiatives. I am pleased to report that in the 30 years of our diplomatic contact, great strides have been made in this regard,” she said.

South Africa is Korea's largest trading partner in Africa, while Korea is South Africa's fourth-largest trading partner in Asia, and Ambassador Dlamini sees much potential for growth in bilateral relations.

"Similar to the Korean New Deal, the South African government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic came in the form of the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan, which focused on a number of key areas, including energy security, expanding the industrial base to create jobs, infrastructure development, the green economy, food security and reviving and growing the tourism sector," she said.

"Despite the geographical distance between our two countries, there was a steady rise in the number of Korean tourists to South Africa before the outbreak of COVID-19 and I am pleased to say we are now ready to welcome more tourists from the Republic of Korea to our country."

She quoted her father once again, as the two countries look to the future together.

"I remember my father's words as he spoke of the new world being born, a new era that 'eschews blind adherence to ideology as the basis of inter-state relations. It is one in which, at last, the sovereignty of nations ― big and small ― is accorded the respect it deserves. It is a world in which nations, jointly and severally, can concentrate on the basic challenge that humanity has grappled with for centuries: to improve people's well-being and ensure that they live in peace, prosperity and harmony,'" Dlamini said.