Poland in South Africa

The International Holocaust Remembrance Day is commemorated on January, 27, on the anniversary of the liberation of the former German Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. The memorial day was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2005. On this day, numerous commemorative events are held around the world. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, this year's commemorations of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day was primarily virtual.

The Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Pretoria announces with deep regret that Ms. Barbara Kukulska, a long-time president of the Polish Association in South Africa and an active campaigner for the Polish community abroad, passed away on Sunday, January 17, 2021.

On 7-15 of January the Consulate is closed for sanitary reasons. At this time, please, contact us via e-mail or phone (link do danych kontaktowych: https://www.gov.pl/web/southafrica/embassy). Only URGENT collection of documents is allowed during the current operating hours.

The Polish Academy of Sciences launched the PASIFIC Fellowship Programme co-financed by the European Union under the MSCA COFUND scheme. Its main goal is to enable 50 scientists of any nationality, with a doctoral degree or equivalent, to spend two years at the institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences and the International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology. The PASIFIC fellows will be selected in two calls announced in 2021.

Christmas is an extraordinary time, a holiday that has become a permanent part of our Polish tradition. In the minds of Poles, Christmas has become a special time for the family. We all meet at one table, forgetting about old regrets and disagreements, we wish each other all the best for the coming year. Although, due to the pandemic, this year's Christmas will be slightly different from all the previous ones, we are waiting for it with longing and we will spend it solemnly, but exceptionally this year with only the closest family.

The Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Pretoria kindly informs about the rules regarding functioning of the Consular Department during the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Karol Wojtyła, known to the whole world as Pope John Paul II, and the 210th anniversary of the birth of Fryderyk Chopin. John Paul II proved to be an advocate of dialogue whose activity dominated and influenced the history of the 20th century. He was a great religious leader who touched consciences and who never forgot his roots. Fryderyk Chopin is one of the greatest, most original and innovative composers in history. Chopin's strikingly distinct style, recognizable after just a few chords, is internally rich and varied. The works of Fryderyk Chopin greatly influenced the further development of piano music in the 19th century.

The German daily newspaper "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" published on December 3, 2020 an interview with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki, which is devoted to the EU budget issues in a comprehensive manner. We encourage you to read the content of the interview

“As the Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Army, I hereby notify belligerent and neutral governments and nations of the existence of an Independent Polish State, within all the territories of the united Poland” – with these words Józef Piłsudski addressed the heads of world powers and notified them about the formation of the Second Polish Republic.

On 11 November 1918, 102 years ago, Poland regained its independence. On this day, after his release from the Magdeburg Fortress, Józef Piłsudski took over military command from the Regency Council and, three days later, assumed supreme authority over civilian matters, to finally “as Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Army [...] notify belligerent and neutral governments and nations” of the reappearance of “the reborn and independent Republic of Poland” on the map. After 123 years of captivity, Poland became a sovereign and internationally recognised state.