22 July 2002
President Mbeki today, Monday 22nd July 2002, on behalf of the Government and people of South Africa, congratulated President Mubarak, the Government and people of the Arab Republic of Egypt on the 50th anniversary of the 23rd July Revolution.
"It is with great pride that we also consider the seizure of power by the Free Officers led by Gamal Abd Al Nassar on the 23rd July 1952 as a turning point not only in the history of Egypt but to Africa as a whole," said President Mbeki.
Relations between South Africa and Egypt continue to be mutually beneficial with the fifth session of the Joint Bilateral Commission between South Africa and Egypt, being held in Cairo on 21 and 22 October, headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.
Background
The first Diplomatic Mission in Egypt was established in 1942
In 1960, a group of seven representatives from SA's various liberation movements visited Egypt to solicit Egyptian support for the struggle against Apartheid in SA. On 30th May 1960, relations between the governments of Egypt and South Africa were severed and Egypt began supporting the Liberation struggle.
First signs of normalisation occurred in 1991, when the Egyption Ambassador to Mozambique announced that he would react favourably to visa applications from SA citizens.
At the end of 1993, these improving relations were formalised with the opening of the SA and Egyptian Representative Offices in Cairo and Pretoria respectively. On 11th October 1993, the Egyptian Foreign Minister announced that full diplomatic relations would be resumed after the 27th April 1994 general elections in South Africa. President Mubarak attended the inauguration of Nelson Mandela. Shortly after the elections, both governments announced the upgrading of their respective Representative Offices to that of Embassies.
Over the last few years there have been numerous visits by SA and Egyptian officials to either country.
During April 2000, President Mbeki visited Cairo for the EU-Africa Summit
Foreign Minister, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has visited Egypt on various occasions;
The most recent of which has been the Minister's attendance of the COMESA Summit, held in Cairo during May 2001.
Bilateral trade relations are as follows:
Imports from Egypt
1998 R299 007 924
1999 R82 306 705
2000 R51 058 939
2001 R78 767 985 (from January - June 2001)
Exports to Egypt
1998 R133 201 594
1999 R139 854 381
2000 R107 678 169
2001 R36 779 481 (from January - June 2001)
Tourism figures:
Egyptians visiting SA
Official & Diplomatic 129
Tourist & business 1492
th Africans visiting Egypt
Official & Diplomatic 227
Tourist & business 14 872
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs