State visit to the Republic of South Africa

Topic: Report

18 November 2018

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender paid a state visit to the Republic of South Africa from 18 to 21 November. On Monday, the Federal President met members of civil society in Johannesburg and visited the Apartheid Museum. In Cape Town he held political talks on Tuesday, including with President Cyril Ramaphosa. Furthermore he attended the signing of an agreement on the project Climate Initiative for Urban Waste Water Treatment in Cape Town.

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender visiting the Apartheid Museum exhibition in Johannesburg on the occasion of the state visit to the republic of South Africa

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender paid a state visit to the Republic of South Africa from 18 to 21 November.

On Monday, the Federal President opened a business round-table discussion in Johannesburg and met members of civil society. He also visited the Apartheid Museum, where he gave a speech at the invitation of the Nelson Mandela Foundation. The Federal President held political talks in Cape Town on Tuesday, including with President Cyril Ramaphosa. He also visited the Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA) and attended the signing of an agreement on the project Climate Initiative for Urban Waste Water Treatment in Cape Town.

As a stable democracy and the second-largest economy in Africa, South Africa is a key country and political partner for Germany in Africa. The last state visit to South Africa by a Federal President took place 20 years ago.

Overview of the programme:

Sunday, 18 November 2018

  • Flight to Johannesburg

Monday, 19 November 2018

  • Arrival in Johannesburg
  • Visit to Ponte City Tower
  • Turbine Hall
    Talks with business people
  • Delegation hotel
    Lunch with members of civil society
  • Talks with Mmusi Maimane, Parliamentary Leader of the Democratic Alliance
  • Apartheid Museum
    Tour of the exhibition
    Thereafter speech by the Federal President
  • Flight to Cape Town

Tuesday, 20 November 2018

  • Cape Town, Official Residence of the President
    Welcome with military honours by Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa, followed by talks and a joint press conference
  • Genadendal
    Lunch hosted by President Ramaphosa in honour of the Federal President
  • Visit to the Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA)
  • Signing of a development loan from Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau for a water project in Cape Town in the presence of the Federal President and boat trip in the bay of Cape Town
  • Ambassador’s Residence
    Reception hosted by the Federal President

Wednesday, 21 November 2018

  • Visit to Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
  • Flight to Botswana