South African Dy President arrives in India for 6-day working visit to "reinforce", "impart fresh impetus" to India-SA ties
New Delhi, May 29
The Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, Paul Mashatile, arrived in India on Friday for a six-day working visit aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation and giving "fresh impetus" to India-South Africa ties.
Welcoming the visiting dignitary, the Ministry of External Affairs said the visit would further deepen the longstanding strategic partnership between the two countries.
"Warmly welcome Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile of the Republic of South Africa on his arrival in New Delhi. His visit will reinforce and impart fresh impetus to India-South Africa strategic ties," the MEA said in a post on X.
The South African government, meanwhile, stated that the Deputy President arrived in the national capital, along with the second lady Humile Mashatile and a delegation for the working visit scheduled from May 29 to June 3.
Mashatile was received by the MEA Joint Secretary for East and Southern Africa, Janesh Kain.
The South African government, in a post on X, highlighted that India and South Africa share a historic relationship rooted in shared struggles, cultural linkages, and a common vision shaped by non-alignment and South-South cooperation.
"South Africa and India have a longstanding relationship grounded in shared history, cultural relations, and a mutual vision rooted in non-alignment, aiming to advance the Global South through South-South partnerships," the post read.
According to the MEA schedule, the Deputy President will hold a series of high-level engagements during the visit, including a call on External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on June 2 in the national capital.
He is also scheduled to call on President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President CP Radhakrishnan at Rashtrapati Bhavan during his stay.
The visit itinerary also includes engagements in Hyderabad before the delegation's departure on June 3.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good step but let's see tangible outcomes. Many high-profile visits happen but ground-level impact is slow. Would love more student exchanges and easier visa processes for Indian businesses in SA. The Global South partnership sounds great on paper but needs to translate into jobs and investments back home.
India-SA ties are genuinely special—shared history, similar challenges, and both rising economies. The fact that the Deputy President is spending almost a week, including Hyderabad visits, shows they're serious about cultural and business links. Let's hope it's not just photo ops but real cooperation in pharma, mining, and agriculture.
As someone who follows Global South dynamics, this visit is significant. South Africa is a key BRICS partner and gateway to Africa. India's engagement with SA can counterbalance Chinese influence on the continent. The shared non-alignment and South-South cooperation narrative is powerful. Really hope this results in more joint ventures and infrastructure projects.
Happy to see this! 🇮🇳❤️🇿🇦 But I wish the media covered such visits more thoroughly. Most Indians don't realize how deep our connection with South Africa goes—from the Indian diaspora there to cricket and Bollywood. This is not just diplomacy; it's family ties! Hoping for some exciting cultural exchanges in return.
While I appreciate the diplomatic warmth, I hope we're not ignoring issues like the treatment of Indian-origin communities in South Africa or trade barriers our IT and pharma companies face. "Reinforce" is good, but "impart fresh impetus" requires addressing practical hurdles. Let's
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