The South African government today welcomed the state visit of Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan and recognized the importance of her country in the struggle for democracy in South Africa.
The Minister for the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said this in Pretoria when he was speaking to reporters at the cabinet meeting held on Wednesday.
“On South Africa-Tanzania relations, Cabinet welcomed the State Visit to South Africa on Thursday, March 16 by President Samia Suluhu Hassan of the United Republic of Tanzania, at the invitation of her counterpart, President Ramaphosa,” said Ntshavheni.
The visit followed the South Africa-Tanzania Bi-National Commission (BNC) meeting held on Wednesday in Pretoria.
“It will also crown the 2nd Session of the South Africa-Tanzania BNC, which comprises four committees: political and diplomatic; defence and security; economic affairs and social and cultural affairs,” she said.
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“In addition to its solidarity with South Africa’s liberation Struggle, Tanzania is one of the country’s foremost trading partners, with total trade between the two nations increasing from R6.89 billion in 2021 to R8.71bn in 2022.
“There are more than 250 South African companies in diverse sectors in Tanzania,” said Ntshavheni.
Over the weekend, the presidency announced that Ramaphosa had invited Hassan for a state visit, touching on the deep historical ties between the two African countries.
“South Africa and Tanzania enjoy deep historical relations arising from Tanzania’s solidarity with South Africa’s liberation Struggle.
“The ruling party in Tanzania, Chama Cha Mapinduzi, supported the ANC and the PAC in the Struggle against apartheid,” the Presidency highlighted.
“These ties culminated in the establishment of official diplomatic relations when South Africa achieved freedom in 1994 and have since evolved into excellent political, economic and social relations.”
