Remarks by Deputy Minister Mhlauli on the occasion of Statehood Day (National Day), celebrated on 15 February in Serbia to commemorate the outbreak of the First Serbian Uprising in 1804, which evolved into the Serbian Revolution against Ottoman rule

Chargé d’Affaires of the Republic of Serbia, to the Republic of South Africa, Mr Goran Gvozdenovic, thank you for having us here today: 
• To what I understand will be your final time hosting a National Day event in South Africa, as your tour of duty unfortunately reaches its conclusion. 
• I wish you all the best with your endeavours going forward. Please know that you have served your nation and people proud. 

Your Excellency, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps (if present), 
Excellencies, Ambassadors, High Commissioners and Heads of International Organisations, 
Members of the Diplomatic Corps, 
Distinguished Guests, 
Ladies and Gentlemen. Good afternoon! 

I am honoured and happy that we got the opportunity to meet again with our Serbian hosts and colleagues and to stand before you today on behalf of the People and Government of South Africa; It is my distinct privilege to convey warm greetings and congratulations. This afternoon marks a significant occasion and milestone in the history of the Republic of Serbia as it celebrates Two hundred and Twenty-one (221) years of Statehood. There is no doubt in our minds that South Africa values her bilateral relations with Serbia and the Serbian people. 

Official diplomatic relations between South Africa and Serbia were established on 2 April 1992. Both countries share common interests and support in various multilateral forums, including the United Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement. 

I would like to acknowledge that we need to work on enhancing exchange of high-level visit to strengthen political consultations and exchange views on various issues. The last high level meeting engagement between the respective Ministers of International Relations and Cooperation /Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Africa and Serbia took place in 2011, when Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane visited the Republic of Serbia to attend the 50th Anniversary of the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM) Conference in Belgrade. It was during this visit that Minister Nkoana-Mashabane met with the Serbian Foreign Minister, Mr Vuk Jeremić, on the side-lines of the Conference. In 2012, Ministers Nkoana-Mashabane and Minister Jeremić met on two separate occasions on the sidelines of multilateral conferences (January 2012 at the AU Summit in Addis Ababa and May 2012 at a NAM meeting in Egypt). 

This was followed by the visit of the Deputy Minister of DIRCO, Mr Alvin Botes, who met with the Serbian Foreign Minister, at that time Mr Nikola Selaković, during a Business Forum Meeting in Belgrade as part of the 60th NAM Anniversary Meeting in October 2021. 

I must commend, Your Excellency, Charge d’Affaires, Mr Goran Gvozdenovic with the efforts to strengthening these relations and continuing to identify areas for cooperation between South Africa and Serbia. We are aware that of the challenges posed to both of our countries, both internally and externally and we appreciate your concerted effort in bettering our relations. 

Nonetheless, we remain steadfast in our commitment to strengthen our relations by exploring different opportunities and avenues of engagements even through virtual means. Through these engagements we hope to broaden the conversation to include the business sector to expand the economic relations and opportunities for both countries mutual benefit.

Your Excellency, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, 

Serbia regularly makes scholarships available for South African students to study at its tertiary institutions through its NAM World in Serbia Project. For the academic year 2024/25, South Africa (through the DHET) was again invited to nominate candidates for the World in Serbia Scholarships. 

For the year 2024/2025, Five (5) students were nominated of which Three (3) were successfully awarded the scholarship and will commence their studies in March 2025, with their compulsory Serbian language training programme which they recently successfully completed. 

This relationship has grown in leaps and bounds since the first students that have been accepted into this programme. 

As His Excellency, President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa recently highlighted in his State of the Nation Address, there was a reason to celebrate—South Africa recorded its highest matric pass rate of 87%, and the government is stepping up efforts to improve early childhood learning, TVET colleges, and university access. That means more funding for students, better skills training, and hopefully, a smoother transition from school to employment. Hence these scholarships are invaluable for South Africa. 

This engagement therefore could not have come at a better time. As South African officials we have a huge responsibility on our shoulders, that of addressing South Africa’s economic growth in order to address the current socio-economic challenges facing our government and the people of South Africa, such as high youth unemployment rate and poverty. Through interactions of this nature and others, by increasing our bilateral relations and we are seeking mutual inclusive creative solutions to some of the challenges we face. 

We look forward explore other sectors of cooperation that will contribute to both our economies, including the tourism, and agriculture. We would therefore like to see the outstanding legal instruments finalised where possible as these are instruments towards achieving these goals. 

Trade and economic relations need to be strengthened. Therefore, the convening of regular political consultations would assist our countries to work together in building 5 partnerships that would enhance political and economic relations for the benefit of our countries. It was also brought to my attention that efforts are being taken by the officials responsible for Trade and Industry of our respective countries to resuscitate a platform for collaboration to explore mutually beneficial trade opportunities, address barriers, and perhaps lay the groundwork for future partnerships. 

The task that faces us, going forward, is to ensure that we make tangible progress in taking this co-operation forward between our two countries. 

In conclusion, it is my expressed wish that we shall continue to maintain engagement between our two countries in our quest to strengthening our relations for now and in future. 

Your Excellency, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, 

Please join me in raising our glasses in toast to the Government and People of the Republic of Serbia on this momentous occasion of the Statehood Day. 

May your journey continue to be long and prosperous! 

Cheers! 

I Thank you.