Jamaica’s Foreign Minister, Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith, will later today welcome to the island Her Excellency Dr. Grace Naledi Mandisa Pandor, Minister of International Relations and
Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa.
“Dr. Pandor’s visit to Jamaica signals the significance the longstanding friendship between Jamaica
and South Africa. This year, our countries celebrate 30 years of diplomatic relations, which were
forged shortly after the apartheid regime ended in South Africa and Nelson Mandela became its first
black President. Many Jamaicans still recall fondly, that shortly after his release from prison,
Mandela paid a one-day visit to our country, and was conferred with the Order of Jamaica (OJ), the
highest honour a non-national can receive. He was also awarded the Honorary Degree of Doctor of
Laws (LLD) from the University of the West Indies, Mona, and addressed thousands of Jamaicans
at the National Stadium where he described his experience in Jamaica as the happiest day of his life.
Minister Pandor’s visit is therefore an opportunity to reflect on the strength of the connection
between the people of Jamaica and South Africa”, said Senator Johnson Smith.
Foreign Minister Pandor will have the opportunity to call on Prime Minister Holness and the SecretaryGeneral of the International Seabed Authority. She will co-chair with Minister Johnson Smith, a hybrid CARICOM-South Africa Ministerial Meeting, and the two Ministers will also engage in bilateral discussions spanning critical areas and a review of new areas for cooperation in education, healthcare innovation, technological advancement and agricultural development for both Jamaica and South Africa.
On the occasion of South Africa’s Human Right’s Day (March 21), Dr. Pandor will visit the Women’s
Centre of Jamaica Foundation and will deliver a Guest Lecture at the University of the West Indies. She will also visit the Peter Tosh Museum dedicated to the iconic Jamaican musician whose work resonated with themes of African unity and strong opposition to apartheid.
Across administrations, Jamaica was at the forefront of the international fight against apartheid in South Africa. Jamaica’s effort contributed to the mounting pressure which caused the apartheid government to submit after years of repression against political parties and resistance groups. In 1994, after political prisoners were released from prison and freedom of association established, South Africa ushered in a constitutional democracy based on non-racialism.
Former President Jacob Zuma made an official visit in 2012 for Jamaica’s 50th anniversary of independence celebrations. Dr. Pandor first visited the island in 2016 as South African Minister of Science and
Technology.
