Poland in South Africa

The invited guests included representatives of South African government institutions, Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), heads and members of the local diplomatic corps, South African media, representatives of think-tanks, non-governmental and social organizations, academia, business and clergy, as well as Polish diaspora.

Ambassador Adam Burakowski delivered an occasional speech in which he pointed to the strong ties and very good cooperation between Poland and the Republic of South Africa. The Ambassador referred to the meeting of the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, and the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, in June this year. He also recalled two important events in the history of Polish-South African relations:

- 80 years ago, the government of the Union of South Africa welcomed a group of 500 Polish children and their guardians, survivors of deportation to Siberia, and gave them safe shelter in Oudtshoorn;

- 79 years ago, the heroic "Warsaw Flights" of the South African Air Force and Allied pilots who participated in a military mission to support the Warsaw Uprising in 1944, took place.

The Ambassador also referred to Russia's unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine, and outlined Poland's position towards the conflict in the Middle East. Poland unequivocally condemns violence and hostilities against the civilian population.

The well-known and popular South African trio "Trio Gloriosa" played the Polish and South African anthem, and also masterfully played the Polonaise in C major by Fryderyk Chopin and the Mazurka "Obertas" by Henryk Wieniawski. After the official part of the ceremony, numerous guests had the opportunity to view the exhibition "Nicolaus Copernicus. Life and creation".

On the anniversary of Poland Regaining Independence, Holy Mass was celebrated in Johannesburg with the participation of the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in South Africa, Polish diplomats and representatives of the Polish diaspora.

On November 11, 2023, at the initiative of Mrs. Joanna Majksner-Pińska, editor of the Polish publishing house "Dwukropek" and in cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Pretoria, a concert of Polish classical music was held in Cape Town to commemorate the 105th anniversary of Poland Regaining Independence. The program included works by Fryderyk Chopin, Henryk Wieniawski, Ignacy Jan Paderewski, Mieczysław Karłowicz, Witold Lutosławski and Michał Kleofas Ogiński performed by students of Westerford High School. The concert was also an opportunity to celebrate the 250th edition of the monthly cultural and educational magazine "Dwukropek". The event was attended by a representative of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Pretoria, Consul of the Republic of Poland Robert Rusiecki, who in his speech introduced the audience to the importance of Poland regaining independence in 1918. The artistic values of the concert were enthusiastically praised on social media by Derek Auret, head of the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra and recognized in South African music expert.

The Polish Association in Cape Town organized a solemn celebration of Independence Day on November 12, 2023. A large group of participants participated in the celebrations.

The Polish School at the Embassy organized a solemn celebration of Independence Day on November 18, 2023 with the participation of students of the Polish school and teachers.

We invite you to watch snapshots from the concert in Cape Town.