President Zuma meets Chancellor Merkel

Cape Town: The President of the Republic, Mr Jacob Zuma today met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is in the country as a guest of FIFA. The German Chancellor paid a courtesy call on President Zuma in Cape Town, where Chancellor Merkel, accompanied by three Members of the German Parliament discussed a wide range of issues.

Bilateral discussions centred on the recently held G20 Summit in Toronto, the UN Security Council reform, and Somalia. President Zuma used the occasion of the meeting to express South Africa’s gratitude to Germany for its continued support in social programmes like health, education and job creation. The President also briefed the German Chancellor about Zimbabwe including the political processes underway. Chancellor Merkel also used the occasion of the meeting to praise South Africa for a well-planned and well-coordinated 2010 FIFA World Cup tournament. She also extended an official invitation for President Zuma to visit Germany. The President wished Germany luck in its continued impressive participation in the World Cup.

For more information, please contact the Chief Director for Public Diplomacy, Mr Saul Kgomotso Molobi on 082 940 1647 or President Zuma’s Spokesperson, Mr Vincent Magwenya on 072 715 0024.

Issued by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation
Private Bag X152
Pretoria, RSA
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