Ambassador’s Message
Dear Friends of South Africa,
Welcome to the website of the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa in Portugal.
It is a pleasure to be able to address all of those who take a keen interest in South Africa either because of a personal relationship with our country or for any other reason.
Besides being a gateway to our Embassy, our website is also one more way in which you can remain informed about all that is happening in our great country. South Africa is a nation that bustles, and you are certain to find valuable information here, including many great links to all that is going on. Whether you are interested in travelling to South Africa, doing business or discovering the country’s diversified culture you will surely find a link related to your area of interest.
Our two countries have a close relationship that dates back many centuries when Portuguese navigators sailing towards India would stop off on our shores. To this day many places in South Africa are known by the names given to them by these navigators, such as Saldanha Bay, Cape Agulhas and Natal, now the province of KwaZulu-Natal. Of course we must not forget that a large Portuguese community, estimated at between 300.000 and 400.000 Portuguese covering various generations, has made South Africa its home, helping to keep the bond between the two countries strong culturally and economically.
It is the continuing wish of the South African Government that we re-invigorate our links by finding new ways to develop the relationship between us even further, and particularly in areas yet unexplored. We therefore welcome your suggestions and ideas, to make this website one that is an interactive forum through which we can communicate with all those who share the same goals.
For as so eloquently stated by Fernando Pessoa, the distinguished Portuguese poet who grew up in the city of Durban, “everything is worthwhile if the soul is not small”.
Kind regards,
Keitumetse Matthews
South African Ambassador to Portugal
Welcome to the website of the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa in Portugal.
It is a pleasure to be able to address all of those who take a keen interest in South Africa either because of a personal relationship with our country or for any other reason.
Besides being a gateway to our Embassy, our website is also one more way in which you can remain informed about all that is happening in our great country. South Africa is a nation that bustles, and you are certain to find valuable information here, including many great links to all that is going on. Whether you are interested in travelling to South Africa, doing business or discovering the country’s diversified culture you will surely find a link related to your area of interest.
Our two countries have a close relationship that dates back many centuries when Portuguese navigators sailing towards India would stop off on our shores. To this day many places in South Africa are known by the names given to them by these navigators, such as Saldanha Bay, Cape Agulhas and Natal, now the province of KwaZulu-Natal. Of course we must not forget that a large Portuguese community, estimated at between 300.000 and 400.000 Portuguese covering various generations, has made South Africa its home, helping to keep the bond between the two countries strong culturally and economically.
It is the continuing wish of the South African Government that we re-invigorate our links by finding new ways to develop the relationship between us even further, and particularly in areas yet unexplored. We therefore welcome your suggestions and ideas, to make this website one that is an interactive forum through which we can communicate with all those who share the same goals.
For as so eloquently stated by Fernando Pessoa, the distinguished Portuguese poet who grew up in the city of Durban, “everything is worthwhile if the soul is not small”.
Kind regards,
Keitumetse Matthews
South African Ambassador to Portugal