President Thabo Mbeki Appoints Two Foreign Affairs Deputy Directors-General as Ambassadors to China and the EU

Tshwane- President Thabo Mbeki has appointed two Foreign Affairs Deputy Directors-General Ndumiso Ntshinga and Dr. Anil Sooklal as Ambassadors to China and the EU respectively with effect from the 1 April 2006.

In this regard, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has expressed her confidence in the ability of the two Ambassadors to continue to build the necessary partnerships with a view to attracting foreign direct investments requisite to ensure a faster and shared economic growth in South Africa.

It is Minister Dlamini Zuma's view that bilateral political and economic relations with China and the European Union have been established and accordingly the two Ambassadors task is to consolidate and strengthen these strategic relations with the South Africa.

Ndumiso Ntshinga is a former Deputy Chief of Mission in the South African Embassy in Washington, a term served under then Ambassador Franklin Sonn. He also served as former ANC Chief Representative in Australia during the struggle against apartheid. He is currently the Head of the Europe and Americas branch of Foreign Affairs.

Dr. Anil Sooklal, who will also serve as South Africa's Ambassador to Belgium and the Luxembourg is the current Head of the Middle East and Asia branch at the Department of Foreign Affairs. He previously served in the South African Embassies in India and Geneva.

Simultaneously the Director-General of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Ayanda Ntsaluba welcomed Jerry Matjila, Deputy Director-General who served as South Africa's Ambassador to Brussels, back to Foreign Affairs Headquarters in Pretoria.

The Director-General expressed his conviction that the return of Jerry Matjila to Headquarters will add invaluable expertise and experience to the management of the Department of Foreign Affairs in Pretoria. Jerry Matjila will now serve as Head of the Asia and Middle East Branch of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853

Department of Foreign Affairs
P/Bag X152
Pretoria 0001

19 March 2006