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A lecture by His Excellency Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa in Poland Simon Jabulani Ntombela

A lecture was given by His Excellency Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa in Poland Simon Jabulani Ntombela on 1st December 2015 in the Council Chamber of the Institute of Political Science and International Relations. It was organised within the framework of the fourth edition of the Jagiellonian Diplomatic Encounters series.

Earlier, His Excellency visited the Collegium Maius of the Jagiellonian University Museum and met with the Rector of the Jagiellonian University, Med. Prof. Wojciech Nowak, the Dean of the Jagiellonian University Faculty of International and Political Studies, Prof. Bogdan Szlachta and the Director of the Jagiellonian University Institute of Political Science and International Relations Prof. Robert Kłosowicz. The conversation focused on the prospects of establishing cooperation between the Jagiellonian University and South African universities.

The lecture given by His Excellency Ambassador of South Africa, entitled The International Policy of South Africa, was on South Africa’s foreign policy in a broad sense, its sources and the transformations it has undergone since the apartheid era ended. Special emphasis was placed on the roots of modern-day South African foreign policy, including the Ubuntu tradition – based on strong interpersonal relations, the culture of sharing, inclusion, compassion, loyalty (conveyed through the idea of “I am because you are”), propagated by the Archbishop Desmond Tutu; and the understanding of the origin of power transmitted by the Ndebele saying – one of the ethnic groups inhabiting South Africa and neighbouring Zimbabwe – Inkosi Yinkosi Ngabantu (a king is a king because of the people), according to which it is the people who are the source of political power, not the ruler, thus emphasizing the democratic significance of the old tradition. His Excellency also discussed South Africa’s most recent history, beginning with the formation of the Union of South Africa in 1910, through the struggle for independence during apartheid (in which he himself participated actively), ending with the 1994 elections won by the African National Congress. His Excellency also drew attention to South Africa’s current involvement in regional and international organisations, emphasizing that one of the most important qualities of present-day South African politics is its openness. Finally, His Excellency voiced the hope that the cooperation between Poland and the Republic of South Africa, both in economic and cultural dimensions, would develop successfully, because “our hearts beat to one rhythm”.

Following the lecture, a meeting took place in the office of the Director of the Jagiellonian University Institute of Political Science and International Relations, during which His Excellency and Prof. Robert Kłosowicz talked about the prospects for mutual cooperation and possibilities for the South African Embassy to provide support for the initiatives of the Jagiellonian Research Center for African Studies.

 
Joanna Mormul

Data publikacji: 31.12.2015
Osoba publikująca: Jakub Mormul