Poland in South Africa

On October 17, 2023, the Institute of National Remembrance "Ambassador of Polish History" awards were presented. The ceremony took place at the Palace at the Royal Łazienki Park in Warsaw. Vice-President of the Institute of National Remembrance, Dr. Mateusz Szpytma, recalled that the place where the IPN awards were presented was a witness to history, including events such as the fall of the First Polish Republic, the outbreak of the November Uprising and the destruction of Warsaw in 1944-1945.

On October 17, 2023, Ambassador Adam Burakowski presented his credentials to the President of the Republic of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, during an official ceremony at the State House in Lusaka.

The tenth edition of the very popular and recognized European film festival in South Africa has begun on October 12, 2023. As in the previous years, the films have been presented in a hybrid format, also online.

Ambassador Adam Burakowski recently met with Mrs. Bathandwa Kwababa, founder of the South African non-governmental organization The African Show – Coalition Institute (TASCI) and a group of South African youth.

On October 4, 2023, Ambassador Adam Burakowski presented his credentials to the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa. The Ambassador of the Republic of Poland was ceremoniously welcomed by the South African Honour Guard. The ceremonial presentation of credentials took place in Pretoria in the Audience Hall of the Sefako Makgatho, the Government Building.

Please be informed that due to the public holidays the Embassy of the Republic of Poland and Consular Section in Pretoria will be closed on November 01, 2023.

To mark the 80th anniversary of the arrival to the Union of South Africa (now South Africa) of a group of 500 Polish children who managed to escape from Siberian labour camps, solemn commemorations were held in Oudtshoorn on September 22-24, 2023. The event was organized by the Polish Association of Siberian Deportees of South Africa in cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Pretoria, the CP Nel Museum and the South African Infantry School.

The Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Pretoria organized a meeting with Carlos Conde, Head of the Department for Eastern and African Affairs at the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) and the heads of diplomatic missions of OECD member countries on September 22, 2023.

Ambassador Adam Burakowski presented his credentials to King Letsie III in the Kingdom of Lesotho. The ceremony took place at the King's Palace in Maseru on September 21, 2023.

The commemoration of the 79th anniversary of "Warsaw Flights" took place on September 9, 2023 at the Katyn Monument in Johannesburg. The event was organized by Warsaw Flights Commemoration Organizing Committee to commemorate the heroic "Flights over Warsaw" of the South African Air Force and Allied pilots who participated in the military mission to support the Warsaw Uprising in 1944 r.