Issued by: The Department of Foreign Affairs
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Alfred Nzo, today announced the appointment by President Mandela of the following Ambassadors:
PROFESSOR RE VAN DER ROSS: AMBASSADOR - MADRID, SPAIN
Prof Richard van der Ross (75) has had a long and distinguished career in education, serving at numerous educational institutions. He still serves as a member of the governing bodies of several Cape Town based organisations for children with disabilities, and is a Member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education. Throughout his career, Prof van der Ross was closely involved in community matters and served on a number of community organisations such as the South Africa Red Cross Society. He chairs the Cape Utility Homes and the Foundation for Social Development and is a member of several other organisations providing shelter and care for the aged.
His comprehensive knowledge in the field of education and community affairs is well known, and he has been called on in the past to serve on the Theron Commission and the Government Commission on Land Allocation.
Throughout his career, Prof van der Ross travelled widely on study tours and delivered commemorative lectures in several countries.
MR K MACKERDHUJ: AMBASSADOR - TOKYO, JAPAN
Mr Krish Mackerdhuj (58) has been a member of the ANC since his youth. During the Apartheid years, he was actively involved in the isolation of South Africa's establishment sport from both membership and participation of International Federations. Since the introduction of full democracy, he has been active in the reconstruction of South African sport. He was Vic-President and then President of the United Cricket Board of South Africa in 1993, a position he still holds. He serves on several other sports councils.
Mr Mackerdhuj holds a B Sc Hons degree and a university diploma in Education. He is married and has two children.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS PRETORIA 10 NOVEMBER 1997