President Thabo Mbeki extends SA's Congratulations to newly elected Prime Minister of Mauritius

Gleneagles - President Thabo Mbeki, today Wednesday 6 July 2005, on behalf of the government and people of South Africa extended South Africa's congratulations to Navin Ramgoolam as the newly - elected Prime Minister of Mauritius following their recent National Assembly General Elections held on 3 July 2005.

South Africa joins the countries of the SADC Region in welcoming the determination of the SADC Observer Mission in declaring the elections as free, fair, professionally managed and transparent and conducted within the SADC Guidelines on elections. Mauritius' successful election is yet another milestone on the irreversible road towards the creation of a better life for all Africans.

South Africa is also impressed by the level of political tolerance and maturity displayed during the period leading up to and immediately after the elections. Accordingly, we express our conviction that the elections were indeed and expression of the will of the people of Mauritius.

South Africa will continue to work closely with the new Government of Mauritius in strengthening the already existing bonds of friendship between our two countries. In this regard, South Africa will continue to count on the support of the government and people of Mauritius in the quest to push back the frontiers of poverty and under-development in our SADC region in particular and the continent of Africa in general.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853

Department of foreign Affairs
P/Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

6 July 2005