Embassy Activities

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the South African Embassy website. 

The number of deaths from coronavirus recently passed the 2,000 mark in South Africa. Among those who have lost their lives are health care workers, consummate professionals who cared for the ill, and were a support and comfort to those in hospital isolated from their families.

We salute these brave South Africans who leave their homes, families and loved ones to report without fail for duty every day in clinics, hospitals and other health facilities. There they provide medical care, administrative support and other services like cleaning and catering.

We know what causes the virus and what we can do to protect ourselves from becoming infected. We know we have to maintain social distancing, to self-isolate if we have come into contact with those infected and to present to a hospital if we have symptoms. We must continue to be guided by facts. We shall overcome this virus and rebuild our society.

We urge for everyone in Turkey and South Africa to consider adhering to the rules and regulations that are aimed at reducing the spread of the virus. It’s summer season in Turkey and we wish everyone to enjoy holidays, with caution and safety.

While webinars or online meetings are becoming a new reality, the COVID 19 situation allows us to explore our capabilities within the frame of innovation and initiatives. Unfortunately COVID 19 continues to disrupt the usual way of doing things. Fortunately the Embassy is proud to have taken precautionary measures to ensure service delivery facilitation / coordination of bilateral relations. It is only through constructive initiatives and innovation that we can improve the lives of people and contribute towards creating a better and safer world.

Please find below the highlights for this month;

Nelson Mandela Month 2020

In July, South Africa celebrates former President Nelson Mandela's birthday on the 18^th of July which has since been declared “Nelson Mandela International Day”.

As South Africans we embrace the chance to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s life for the whole of July. This gives everyone the opportunity to heed the call to action which asks each and every one of us throughout the world to please donate 67 minutes of our time towards a worthy cause.

This is a global movement for positive change with small actions. As each person acts, they fuel momentum toward positive change, raising awareness and expanding the reach of Mr Mandela’s values – fighting injustice, helping people in need and practicing reconciliation.

As a volunteer here are some suggestions of what to do on Nelson Mandela Day website; https://www.mandeladay.com/pages/what-can-i-do%C2%A0.

“Make everyday a Mandela Day: Contributing 67 minutes of our time to help those in need”

Moral Regeneration Month 2020

July marks the commemoration of Moral Regeneration Month, an initiative of the Moral Regeneration Movement (MRM), which is aimed at encouraging people to recommit to efforts of building communities grounded on positive values and rededicate to building a caring society in pursuit of creating lasting peace and prosperity in the country.

The commemoration takes place specifically in July to:

Coincide with the celebration of Mandela Day on 18 July and the birthday month of former President Nelson Mandela, an icon who is considered to be the main leader of the formation of the Moral Regeneration Movement, and Mark the adoption of the Charter for Positive Values on 28 July 2008.

World Population Day 11 July 2020

As an extension of the day of five billion celebrated on 11 July 1987, World Population Day seeks to focus attention on the urgency and importance of issues facing the world’s population

As the world population edged to 7 billion people in 2011 (up from 2.5 billion in 1950), it has had profound implications for development. A world of 7 billion is both a challenge and an opportunity with implications on sustainability, urbanisation, access to health services and youth empowerment.

In 1989, in its decision 89/46, the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme recommended that, in order to focus attention in the context of overall development and programmes and the plans that are required to find solutions for these issues, 11 July should be observed by the international community as World Population Day.

International Nelson Mandela Day 18 July 2020

Nelson Mandela International Day was launched in recognition of Nelson Mandela’s birthday on 18 July 2009 via unanimous decision of the UN General Assembly.

Read more on; https://www.mandeladay.com/

World Hepatitis Day 28 July 2020

World Hepatitis Day (WHD) takes places every year on 28 July bringing the world together under a single theme to raise awareness of the global burden of viral hepatitis and to influence real change. In 2020 the theme is ‘Find the Missing Millions’.

Worldwide, 290 million people are living with viral hepatitis unaware. Without finding the undiagnosed and linking them to care, millions will continue to suffer, and lives will be lost.

Read more on; https://www.worldhepatitisday.org/

The South African Embassy in Ankara, Turkey suggests you to continue staying at home and protecting your families. Please try to avoid travelling and wear a face mask whenever you leave home.

The wearing of masks has become mandatory in all public areas in Adıyaman, Afyonkarahisar, Amasya, Ankara, Ardahan, Aydın, Balıkesir, Bartın, Batman, Bitlis, Bolu, Burdur, Bursa, Çanakkale, Denizli, Diyarbakır, Düzce, Elazığ, Erzurum, Eskişehir, Gaziantep, Giresun, Iğdır, Isparta, İstanbul, İzmir, Kahramanmaraş, Karabük, Kayseri, Kırklareli, Kocaeli, Konya, Kütahya, Malatya, Mardin, Muğla, Muş, Nevşehir, Rize, Osmaniye, Sakarya, Şanlıurfa, Siirt, Sivas, Şırnak, Tokat, Tunceli, Uşak, Yalova, and Zonguldak. 

A fine of 900 TL will be imposed on those who do not comply with the requirement. Similar to a traffic fine, these fines will be mailed to the individual’s home address, and be payable only at the following government-affiliated banks: Halk Bank, Vakif Bank and Ziraat Bank. 

For Turkey’s remaining provinces, citizens are required to wear masks in venues such as shopping malls, supermarkets, restaurants, cafés, and hairdressers.

Have a safe and healthy month.

Tshepo Ranamane
South African Embassy in Ankara, Turkey