Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
19 APRIL 2000
Ambassador Nozipho Mxakato-Diseko who leaves Vienna for South Africa in a few week's time, was bestowed with Austria's top honour today during a farewell luncheon hosted by the Austrian Foreign ministry in her honour. Director-General Dr Albert Rohan bestowed the Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold with Sash for Distinguished Services to the Republic of Austria in the name of Federal President Thomas Klestil on the parting Ambassador. The order, which is only given to selected Ambassadors and is the highest order that can be bestowed to Representatives of foreign countries and distinguished Austrians, is also seen as a symbol of recognition of the friendly relations between the Republic of Austria and the respective States.
Dr Rohan thanked Ambassador Mxakato-Diseko, "the first Ambassador from the Rainbow Nation" to Austria, for her personal contribution to the remarkable improvement to the bilateral relations after her arrival in the Austrian capital in 1996 - not only at the federal, but also at the provincial and local government level. He stressed that during her period as Ambassador in Vienna, where she was accredited not only to Austria but also to Slovenia, Slovakia and the International Organisations based in Vienna, she had made a difference in all areas of her work. This is not only manifested by the number of reciprocal high-level visits between Austria and South Africa which took place during her term but also by her support for closer cultural exchanges between the people of Austria and South Africa. Also in the multilateral for a, Ambassador Mxakato-Diseko had ensured that South Africa could play a meaningful role in contributing to world peace and international respect for democracy and human rights.
South Africa remained an important political and economic partner for Austria, and was its most important trading partner in Africa, Dr Rohan said. Austria recognised South Africa's "quietly increasing leadership role" in seeking peaceful and sutaiable solutions in Africa and elsewhere in the world.
Earlier this year, Ambassador Mxakato-Diseko was also honoured by the City of Vienna, by naming a newly created educational bursary after her. The bursary to the amount of R35 000 is to be used for a child for their first seven years of primary education at Masibambane College at Orange Farm in Gauteng.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT MR R MAMOEPA AT 082 990 4853