Members of the African diplomatic community in South Africa gathered in Pretoria for a Diplomatic Social Evening dedicated to friendship, solidarity, fellowship and the strengthening of relationships among African Heads of Mission and the wider diplomatic corps.

The gathering, convened under the leadership of H.E. Ambassador André Nzapayeké, Ambassador of the Central African Republic and Dean of the African Group of Ambassadors, brought together diplomatic representatives from across Africa, members of the African diaspora, international organisations and partners for an informal evening of engagement and fellowship.

Serving as Programme Director, Ambassador Nzapayeké guided the proceedings and set the tone for an evening centred not only on diplomacy, but on the human relationships that underpin the diplomatic community.

An Evening of African Fellowship

In his opening remarks, Ambassador Nzapayeké welcomed colleagues to what has become an important informal gathering within the African diplomatic community.

He explained that the purpose of the Diplomatic Social Evening was to create an opportunity for African representatives from across the continent’s regions—as well as friends from outside Africa—to meet, mingle, exchange views and strengthen relationships outside the formal diplomatic setting.

The gathering brought together representatives from the different regions of Africa and members of the African diaspora, reflecting the diversity of the African diplomatic community in Pretoria.

Ambassador Nzapayeké noted that diplomats frequently encounter one another at official functions and formal engagements, but do not always have sufficient opportunities simply to meet as colleagues and friends.

The evening was therefore designed as a space for conversation, fellowship and the renewal of relationships.

He also expressed appreciation to Nedbank for its continued support of the African diplomatic community, describing the relationship as an important partnership. He similarly acknowledged the presence and engagement of the Collaborative Africa Budget Reform Initiative (CABRI), a Pan-African institution working with African governments on public financial management.

A Community That Welcomes and Says Farewell

A central feature of the evening was the recognition that diplomatic postings are temporary, while the relationships established during those assignments can endure long after ambassadors leave their countries of accreditation.

Ambassador Nzapayeké noted that one of the purposes of the gathering was to provide an opportunity to welcome colleagues who had recently joined the diplomatic community while also saying farewell to those whose assignments in South Africa were coming to an end.

The evening therefore became both a celebration of new beginnings and an occasion to honour departing colleagues.

Among those recognised were H.E. Ambassador María del Rosario Mina Rojas of Colombia and H.E. Ambassador Stella Ndau of Malawi.

CABRI Highlights African-Led Solutions

The programme featured remarks by Dr Kay Brown, Chief Executive Officer of the Collaborative Africa Budget Reform Initiative (CABRI).

Dr Brown introduced CABRI as a member-based Pan-African organisation working principally with ministries of finance and other government institutions to strengthen public financial management capabilities and systems across Africa.

She outlined CABRI’s evolution from an informal network of African budget officials into a Pan-African institution focused on peer learning, capacity building, policy dialogue, technical assistance and knowledge generation.

CABRI’s motto—“Connect, Share and Reform”—encapsulates its approach to strengthening public financial management through African experience, collaboration and locally driven solutions.

Dr Brown also highlighted the increasingly complex fiscal environment facing African states, including debt pressures, conflict, health challenges and reductions in development assistance.

She stressed that these challenges make African cooperation, peer learning and demand-driven reform increasingly important.

New African Heads of Mission Welcomed

Speaking on behalf of the newly accredited African Heads of Mission, the Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of the Congo expressed gratitude to the Government and people of South Africa for their hospitality and continued commitment to African solidarity.

He warmly welcomed newly arrived colleagues to South Africa, describing the country as the land of Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo and highlighting the country’s history of sacrifice, human dignity, solidarity and Pan-Africanism.

He expressed confidence that the new Heads of Mission would enrich the collective perspectives of the diplomatic community and further strengthen the bonds of fraternity and friendship among African nations.

Farewell to Colombia’s Ambassador

One of the evening’s emotional moments came during the farewell remarks of H.E. Ambassador María del Rosario Mina Rojas, Ambassador of Colombia.

Reflecting on her time in South Africa, Ambassador Mina Rojas expressed profound gratitude for the warmth, friendship, support and affection she had received from colleagues.

She explained that, coming from a human rights background rather than a traditional diplomatic career, she had always viewed relationships as continuing beyond geographical boundaries.

Her departure, therefore, was not regarded as an ending, but as the beginning of a new chapter in which the friendships developed in South Africa could continue across borders.

Ambassador Mina Rojas also reflected on the mandate she had undertaken during her assignment: strengthening relations between Colombia and South Africa and Colombia’s engagement with the Southern African region.

She described her diplomatic experience in South Africa as deeply rewarding and expressed her hope that the relationships established would continue well into the future.

She extended an open invitation to colleagues to visit Colombia and expressed her intention to return to South Africa whenever possible.

Malawi’s High Commissioner: From Diplomatic Mandate to Family

The evening’s farewell programme continued with deeply personal remarks from H.E. Ambassador Stella Ndau, High Commissioner of Malawi.

Reflecting on her diplomatic career in South Africa, Ambassador Ndau noted that she had delivered many speeches on Malawi, African aspirations, trade, investment, migration and development.

Yet, she said, the farewell address was among the most difficult.

Although she was speaking as Malawi’s High Commissioner, she explained that she wanted to speak on this occasion simply as Stella—a sister, colleague and friend.

When she arrived in South Africa, she came with a diplomatic mandate to represent Malawi, strengthen bilateral relations, promote Malawi’s interests and serve her people.

What she had not expected, she said, was to leave with something even more valuable: a family.

Over the years, colleagues had become friends, friends had become brothers and sisters, and some had become family.

She recalled the many experiences shared within the diplomatic community—from boardrooms, conferences and receptions to dinners, birthdays, celebrations, difficult moments and laughter.

These, she said, were the memories she would carry with her.

“One Continent, One African Family”

Ambassador Ndau spoke particularly warmly about the solidarity among African Heads of Mission.

Despite representing different countries and national flags, African diplomats shared an understanding that they belonged to one continent and one African family.

She recalled how colleagues had supported one another through difficult periods, celebrated each other’s national days, welcomed new colleagues and stood together when Africa needed a collective voice.

She expressed the hope that this spirit of sisterhood, brotherhood and solidarity would continue beyond individual diplomatic assignments.

For Ambassador Ndau, sometimes the simplest gestures of friendship were the most meaningful. A colleague calling simply to ask, “Stella, are you okay?”, could carry greater significance than any formal diplomatic gesture.

Regional Cooperation and South Africa’s SADC Chairship

The programme also addressed broader regional issues.

Speaking on behalf of African colleagues, the Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of the Congo acknowledged South Africa’s role in the Southern African Development Community and congratulated President Cyril Ramaphosa on South Africa’s assumption of the SADC chairship.

The remarks highlighted the importance of South Africa’s leadership in advancing regional political, economic and security cooperation, as well as deeper regional economic integration.

Particular emphasis was placed on the theme of South Africa’s SADC tenure:

“Resilient, Sustainable and Inclusive Industrialization for Shared Prosperity.”

The theme was described as timely, with the potential to support greater intra-regional trade, infrastructure development and collective resilience in responding to external shocks.

The remarks also raised concerns regarding xenophobic tensions affecting African nationals living in South Africa and acknowledged the efforts of diplomatic missions to support their nationals during periods of difficulty.

Diplomacy Beyond Formal Engagements

The Diplomatic Social Evening ultimately demonstrated that diplomacy is about more than formal meetings, negotiations and official engagements.

For the African diplomatic community in Pretoria, such gatherings create a valuable space to build trust, develop friendships, welcome new colleagues and honour those whose diplomatic assignments are coming to an end.

Under the programme direction of H.E. Ambassador André Nzapayeké, the evening brought together representatives from across Africa and the wider diplomatic community in an atmosphere of fellowship and solidarity.

The gathering reflected a simple but powerful principle: while ambassadors may change, diplomatic postings may end and representatives may return home, the relationships and friendships built through diplomacy can endure across borders and across generations.

The evening was therefore not simply a social gathering. It was a celebration of African solidarity, diplomatic friendship and the enduring bonds of the African diplomatic family in South Africa.