The talks coincided with symbolic milestones, marking 32 years of SA’s democracy and 37 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall.
SA’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, and Germany’s Foreign Minister, Johann Wadephul, led discussions on strengthening bilateral cooperation and coordinating positions on peace and security challenges in the Middle East, Europe and Africa.
The meeting marked 30 years since the commission’s establishment by former President Nelson Mandela and former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl. A major outcome was the signing of a joint action plan covering 15 areas of cooperation, including climate action, energy, trade, skills development and multilateral reform.
Announcing key commitments, Lamola said Germany will provide a $235.88 million concessional climate loan under the Just Energy Transition Partnership, alongside more than $318.44 million in German and European Union funding to expand cooperation in green hydrogen and battery value chains. He said the investment position SA is “at the heart of the global green industrial economy”.
Lamola highlighted the visible impact of the partnership on SA streets, pointing to BMW and Mercedes‑Benz manufacturing as symbols of deep cooperation in industry, vocational training and skills development. He also thanked Germany for its support of SA’s G20 presidency, noting Berlin’s solidarity amid recent diplomatic tensions.
Wadephul described SA as a key political and economic partner, saying bilateral relations have only strengthened since the commission was founded three decades ago. He noted that SA is Germany’s largest trading partner in Africa and home to around 600 German companies, accounting for the bulk of German investment on the continent.
–ChannelAfrica–
