The South African High Commission in Wellington has received a courtesy visit from the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Fiji and Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Hon. Lenora Qereqeretabua, ahead of her delegation’s upcoming visit to South Africa.
The engagement provided an opportunity to discuss South Africa–Fiji relations and preparations for Fiji’s participation in the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC), which will take place in Cape Town in September 2026.
Courtesy Call Highlights South Africa–Fiji Relations
During the courtesy call, the South African High Commission in Wellington welcomed Hon. Lenora Qereqeretabua and members of the Fijian delegation.
The meeting focused on strengthening connections between South Africa and Fiji while providing an opportunity to exchange views ahead of the Fijian delegation’s participation in the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference.
Qereqeretabua currently serves as Fiji’s Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade. Fiji’s government directory confirms her role in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade.
Fiji Delegation to Attend Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference
The Fijian delegation is scheduled to travel to South Africa to participate in the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Cape Town.
The conference is scheduled for 13 to 19 September 2026 and is being hosted by the Parliament of South Africa and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) South Africa Branch.
The gathering will bring together Speakers, Members of Parliament, parliamentary officials and governance experts from across the Commonwealth.
The conference will be held under the theme:
“Strengthening International Law and Parliamentary Democracy in a Changing World Order: Commonwealth Leadership.”
The programme will also include the CPA General Assembly, parliamentary workshops, the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Conference and other Commonwealth parliamentary meetings.
Strengthening Parliamentary and Diplomatic Connections
The courtesy engagement comes at an important time for parliamentary diplomacy between Commonwealth countries.
South Africa and Fiji are both members of the Commonwealth, creating opportunities for cooperation through parliamentary exchanges, multilateral engagement and dialogue on issues affecting the wider Commonwealth community.
For Fiji, participation in the 69th CPC will provide an opportunity to engage with parliamentarians from across the Commonwealth on issues surrounding democratic governance, international law and parliamentary cooperation.
Qereqeretabua has previously been involved in Commonwealth parliamentary initiatives. In February 2026, she chaired a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association partner side event at the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting in Fiji, where discussions focused on human rights, humanitarian law and strengthening cooperation across the Commonwealth.
Cape Town to Host Major Commonwealth Parliamentary Gathering
The 69th CPC will be one of the major international parliamentary gatherings hosted by South Africa in 2026.
The Parliament of South Africa says the conference will bring together the Commonwealth’s parliamentary community from its nine geographical regions, creating a platform for knowledge-sharing, cooperation and discussion around the future of parliamentary democracy.
The upcoming visit by the Fijian delegation therefore provides an additional opportunity to strengthen people-to-people, parliamentary and diplomatic links between the two countries.
The South African High Commission in Wellington expressed its appreciation for the courtesy visit and welcomed the opportunity to connect with the Fijian delegation ahead of its participation in the Cape Town conference.
