Poland in South Africa

Today marks 1 year since Russia launched its full-scale aggression against Ukraine. Russia’s barbaric actions continue to shock the world. We encourage you to listen to the message by the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda.

The text has been published in cooperation with the Polish monthly “Wszystko co Najważniejsze” as part of a historical project involving the Institute of National Remembrance and the Polish National Foundation.

“Poland. Solidarity for freedom”, a figurative and word mark designed by Czesław Bielecki, EngD, is a visualisation of Poland and Poles’ solidarity, which is a Polish national brand, and aims to support the increasingly active promotion of our country across the world. Its official launch took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, 8 February 2023.

On 28 January 2023, Poland will mark the 450th anniversary of adopting the Warsaw Confederation by the Convocation Sejm in 1573.

The Johannesburg Holocaust & Genocide Centre, in cooperation with UNIC Pretoria and the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation commemorated the International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 26, 2023. This year's memorial ceremonies were held under the theme "Home and Belonging".

22 January marks the 160th anniversary of the January Uprising. This was the largest armed struggle for independence of the peoples of the former Commonwealth against Russian rule. The Uprising had a unique symbol, a tripartite coat of arms depicting the Polish Eagle, the Lithuanian Pahonia, and the Ruthenian Archangel Michael.

One hundred sixty years ago, in September 1863, during the January Uprising, the Russians demolished the Zamoyski Palace in Warsaw, throwing the piano once played by Fryderyk Chopin out of the building’s window. The moment made history.

The National Institute of Music and Dance is organizing the third edition of the International Polish Music Competition, which will take place on July 2-9, 2023 at the Artur Malawski Podkarpacka Philharmonic in Rzeszów Applications from pianists and chamber ensembles worldwide can be submitted until February 15, 2023. Participation in the contest is a chance to gain international prominence for emerging musicians. The prize pool in the third edition of the Competition will amount to euros 100,000.

The Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Pretoria organized a gala concert on December 8, 2022 performed by the outstanding South African artist Loyiso Bala and the rising opera star Simamkele Neli. The concert was intended to celebrate and commemorate 3 decades of fruitful diplomatic relations between Poland and South Africa, as well as to celebrate the Foreign Service Day.

On December 3, 2022, the pupils of the Polish School in Pretoria were visited by Santa Claus, who gave the children small Christmas gifts. Due to the fact that these were the last school classes in 2022, the meeting was an opportunity to celebrate the past year and share plans for the new year. Consul Michał Gierwatowski extended his best New Year's and Christmas wishes to all those present.