South Africa
Diplomatic relations between Poland and Republic of South Africa were established on 18 December 1991
Political cooperation
Political cooperation after 1989
The first, semi-official diplomatic contacts were established in 1988. In April 1989, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of both countries agreed on consular protection for the Polish diaspora in South Africa via the Polish embassy in Gaborone, Botswana. In 1990, an agreement was signed to establish both in Warsaw and in Pretoria the Bureaus of Interests, which began operating in April 1991. The protocol on the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Poland and South Africa, at the level of embassies, was signed in December 1991 in Pretoria. The heads of the Bureau of Interests - South African in Warsaw and the Republic of Poland in Pretoria - became ambassadors. Visits in Poland were paid by: the president of F.W. de Klerk and Foreign Minister R. F. Botha (1992); Foreign Minister A. Nzo (1994); minister of culture, art, science and technology L. Mtshali (1999); Vice President J. Zuma (2004) - met with President A. Kwaśniewski and Prime Minister M. Belka; 20-member group of senior officers of the South African National Defense Academy (2005); Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry R. Davis (2008). Minister of Foreign Affairs R. Sikorski invited Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa M. Nkoana-Mashabane to pay a visit to Poland in 2011. Visits to South Africa were also paid by: Foreign Minister K. Skubiszewski – which resulted in establishment of inter-parliamentary contacts (1993); Minister of Foreign Affairs W. Bartoszewski (1995); Minister of Justice H. Suchocka (1998), Minister of Science and Higher Education M. Seweryński (2007). In 2013, Prime Minister Donald Tusk paid a visit to South Africa, and in return, Vice-President Kgalema Motlanthe paid a visit to Warsaw in 2014. Poland perceives South Africa as a priority partner in Africa, both in terms of bilateral relations and in the context of the strategic partnership between South Africa and the EU. Poland and South Africa have a long tradition of bilateral cooperation as well as in the context of multilateral relations. Both countries have cooperated in many initiatives at the UN forum, first of all, in the field of human rights protection. Poland and South Africa are also brought together by the joint history - the 27th anniversary of the abolition of apartheid in South Africa and the 31th anniversary of the first free elections in Poland.
Economic cooperation
In 2005, the first ever economic consultations at the ministerial level between Poland and South Africa (Ministry of Economy and the Department of Trade and Industry) took place in Johannesburg. The next consultations took place in 2007 in Warsaw. In 2007, the undersecretary of state in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs W. Waszczykowski held consultations with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Africa S. van der Merwe. State Secretary in the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland M. Handzlik participated in the inauguration ceremony of President Jacob Zuma (2009) . The framework of cooperation between Poland and South Africa is defined by the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) concluded on 10 June 2016 with six members (including SA) of the South African SADC (South African Development Community), Intergovernmental Agreement on Economic Cooperation Poland – South Africa signed in October 2013 and a number of other agreements, sectoral agreements and MoUs. South Africa is the most important economic partner of Poland in Africa. Despite the economic crisis, Poland's trade with South Africa has maintained a high value of USD 800 million. In recent years, Poland recorded the positive balance in bilateral trade. The biggest share in the commodity structure of Polish exports are mechanical machines and devices as well as mineral products, chemical industry products and metal products. Polish import from South Africa is dominated by low processed products, mineral raw materials and agri-food products. During Donald Tusk's visit in October 2013, an economic cooperation agreement on the establishment of a joint economic commission as well as a cooperation agreement between trade chambers were signed. The launch of the Go Africa program by Poland and ambitious goals of the Polish government influenced the intensification of bilateral cooperation. Redefine Properties, one of the largest South African real estate investment companies, is one of the largest foreign investors in Poland. The total value of the Redefine investment in the assets of the Polish portfolio at the end of 2018 exceeded EUR 1 billion. Through its subsidiary EPP (Echo Properties Polska), listed on the Johannesburg and Luxembourg stock exchange, it is involved in investments in office space and shopping centers in Poland worth more than USD 2 billion. The most famous are: Galaxy in Szczecin, Pasaż Grunwaldzki in Wrocław, Galeria Echo in Kielce, Galeria Solna in Inowrocław, Sudecka in Jelenia Góra, Wzorcownia in Włocławek. Currently, Galeria Młociny and Towarowa in Warsaw are in the implementation phase.
Cultural cooperation
So far, no bilateral agreement on cooperation in the field of culture between Poland and South Africa has been signed. There is no Polish Cultural Institute in South Africa or any other country on the African continent.
The Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Pretoria supports the development of cultural cooperation through implemented projects. Cultural events such as exhibitions, concerts, workshops, lectures and screenings of Polish films are systematically organized. A series of lectures by Dr. Eugeniusz Rzewuski were organized at the universities of Pretoria, South Africa and Maputo in Mozambique on Polish history and Poland's relations with the above-mentioned countries; Professor Przemysław Wiszewski delivered a lecture on the Mieszko I’s baptism and the beginnings of Polish statehood; Polish students of the Lodz University of Technology delivered a lecture on the origins of the Polish solar powered vehicle Eagle One and the practical use of solar energy.
The Embassy organized music workshops for UNISA students, entitled "Poland - South Africa. Music without borders ”as well as a concert and workshops for students of Bloemfontein University entitled "Chopin on five continents". The concert was a Polish-African merger. Elements of Polish traditional and folk songs have been combined with expressive and reflective forms of traditional South African music).
The Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Pretoria has been participating in the European Film Festival for seven years and also presents Polish films on its own. In recent years, among others, the following films: "Warsaw 44", "Secret sharer" based on the novella by Conrad Korzeniowski, "Karski and the Lords of Humanity", "Afterimages", "Birds are singing in Kigali", "Body/Ciało", "Sweat", or presentation of animated films for children and workshops with the participation of the Animated Film Studio in Bielsko-Biała. The presentations attract large audiences, introducing them to the most interesting heritage of Polish cinematography.
Polish musicians who performed in South Africa in recent years: Eliza Banasik, Maria Pomianowska, Joanna Maklakiewicz, Marek Bugajski, Paweł Betley, Beata Rybotycka, Jacek Wójcicki, Konrad Mastyło, Michał Buczkowski, Mateusz Kowalski, Joanna Wicherek, Adam Schmidt, Katarzyna Otczyk.
The Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Pretoria has also organized a number of exhibitions in recent years: “The Pope of Freedom”, “Gusen. Granite and death, memory and oblivion”, “Poland. Architecture” , “Cross and Crown” , “Samaritans from Markowa” , “Traces of Memory”, “Eternity and a Moment” , “Women of Independence” , “Poland in NATO” , “Poland. 15 years in the European Union” , “Founding Fathers of the European Union” , “Fighting and suffering. Polish citizens during World War II” , “Foreigners in the Warsaw Uprising” , “The Girl in the Diary. Searching for Rywka from the Łódź Ghetto”.
The Embassy cooperates in the organization of the annual celebrations of Warsaw Flights, aimed at commemorating the heroic pilots of the South African Air Force, who lost their lives during a military mission to support the Warsaw Uprising in 1944.
The Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Pretoria organized a number of study visits to Poland for South African journalists, promotes Polish cuisine, and participates in several educational fairs.
Recently, as part of the "Nelson Mandela Day" project organized by the EU delegation, the Embassy promoted Polish fairy tales.
The Embassy promoted the remarkably talented South African rising opera star - Simamkele Nela. Only 17 years old, the brilliant artist, a student at Sinikiwe High School in Mdantsane, is gifted with a magical voice. Located near East London, the "township" of Mdantsane is one of South Africa's poorest regions. Sinikiwe High School is one of the schools, beneficiaries of the aid provided by the Polish Embassy in Pretoria.
It is also worth mentioning that the Embassy participates in the projects of the local EUNIC cluster, and also cooperates with the Johannesburg Holocaust & Genocide Centre in order to promote Polish-Jewish dialogue based on historical truth, education about the past, tragic events in the common Polish-Jewish history and the promotion of a positive image of our country.
Cooperation in the field of science
Noteworthy is the development of bilateral scientific cooperation between Poland and South Africa - especially in the fields of astronomy, physics and chemistry. The cooperation between the Polish Academy of Sciences and the Foundation for Research and Development in the fields of medicine, solid state mechanics, physical chemistry, economic sciences, as well as the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań and the University of South Africa in Pretoria are developing successfully. Poland is the third largest shareholder (about 10%) in the design and construction of the large SALT (South African Large Telescope) telescope. The National Center for Research and Development runs joint Polish-South African research projects.
Polish citizens may study at the Universities in the Republic of South Africa. There is also an possibility to recognize education obtained in Polish academic institutions. Polish Universities offer a number of interesting programs for foreign students on paid studies. The South African citizens can also benefit from the Ignacy Łukasiewicz scholarship program.
Recognition of academic qualifications
The Council on Higher Education (CHE)
The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET)
The South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA)
The Department of Basic Education
The Southern African Regional Universities Association (SARUA)
Narodowa Agencja Wymiany Akademickiej
Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange
Polish institutions operating in the country
Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Poland in Durban, Polish Union in Pretoria, Polish Association in Johannesburg, Polish Association in Cape Town, Polish Association in KwaZulu-Natal, Polish Association in Vaal Triangle, Warsaw Flights Commemoration Organising Committee, Polish Association of Siberian Deportees in South Africa, Association of Polish Technicians, Polish Heritage Foundation in South Africa, Polish Folk Dance Group “Orzeł Biały”