TEHRAN – The South African embassy in Tehran has marked the 29th anniversary of the country’s Freedom Day with the participation of its Ambassador to Iran Vika Mazwi Khumalo and heads of diplomatic missions and Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Diplomacy Mahdi Safari.
Freedom Day is the commemoration of the first democratic elections held in South Africa on April 27, 1994. The elections were the first in post-apartheid South Africa where anyone could vote regardless of race.
On the first commemoration of the holiday, Nelson Mandela whose successful struggle against South Africa’s apartheid system of racial segregation and discrimination made him a global symbol for the cause of human rights and earned him the Nobel Prize, addressed the parliament.
The South African ambassador called Freedom Day the most important day in the country’s calendar.
“It marks the liberation of our country and its people from the vicious shackles of colonialism and apartheid,” he said.
Khumalo pointed to the support of Iran for the liberation movements in South Africa, saying the Islamic Republic played a pivotal role by severing all diplomatic and economic relations with apartheid South Africa and supporting the various South African liberation movements between 1979 and 1994.
Safari also addressed the event, saying the anniversary “reminds us of the efforts and sacrifices of the people of South Africa as well as the support they received from their friendly countries in the world”.
After the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979, Iran immediately cut relations with the apartheid regime with a view to supporting the oppressed people of South Africa, he said.
“Immediately after the victory over the Apartheid regime, Iran re-established diplomatic relations with South Africa. The relationship has been since maintained, strengthened and upgraded,” he added.
Safari further pointed to the bilateral relations between the two countries, saying, during 29 years of friendly relations with South Africa, they have organized 14 joint commissions between the two countries, where excellent agreements and cooperation arrangements have been concluded in economic, cultural, political, scientific, health, agricultural, and other fields.
“We hope to hold the 15th session of the Joint Commission in the very near future in Pretoria which will certainly cement further development in our relations.”