20 February 2001
Foreign Affairs Deputy Director-General Jerry Matsila has been appointed South Africa's Ambassador to Brussels with effect from the end of February 2001. Mr Matsila is the current Deputy Director-General responsible for Middle East and Asia branch of the Department Foreign Affairs.
Mr Matsila joins a team of new High Commissioners and Ambassadors recently appointed by President Thabo Mbeki and include among other:
Mr Matsila distinguished himself as a diplomat during the anti-apartheid struggle as the ANC's Chief Representative to Japan. With the advent of democracy in 1994, he was among the first diplomats appointed to represent democratic South Africa abroad. In this regard, Mr Matsila was appointed in 1995 as SA's High Commissioner to India. He returned to South Africa in 1999, to take up his current position as Deputy Director-General of Foreign Affairs.
Among the highlights of his career were the leadership qualities that he demonstrated that led Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma to appoint him the Co-ordinator of the Philippines Hostage Task Team which resulted in the successful negotiated release of Callie and Monique Strydom from the Philippines.
For more information contact Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4843.
Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs P/Bag X152 Pretoria 0001