Valling South African Expats

Brand South Africa encourages South African expats in New Zealand to strengthen ties with South Africa

15 October 2018

Brand South Africa encourages South Africans living in New Zealand to strengthen their ties with their homeland and embrace its opportunities.

Brand South Africa, the organisation responsible for managing the country’s reputation, along with South African Tourism, will this week visit New Zealand for the first time to engage with some of the South Africans expatriates living there.

“We look forward to having conversations with Global South Africans to not only update them of the performance of the country, but also to promote a spirit of pride and patriotism for their homeland,” says Brand South Africa’s General Manager for Stakeholder Relations, Mpumi Mabuza.

The New Zealand visit will culminate with an engagement on 15 October with more than 100 South African expats expected to attend. The South African High Commissioner in New Zealand, Ms Vuyiswa Tulelo will also be in attendance at the Auckland event.

The engagement will focus on how South Africans can Play their Part as ‘brand ambassadors’ for the country. The Global South Africans initiative is a flagship programme of the organisation that is aimed at building the nation brand amongst South Africans living abroad.

“As one of the most sophisticated and promising emerging markets, South Africa has proven that it is resilient, our institutions of governance remain robust and we are committed to legal and regulatory frameworks which provide certainty,” she said. “We look forward to meeting global South Africans in Auckland as we partner together to take South Africa forward.”

Promoting South Africa as a dynamic, diverse and investor-friendly destination is key for Mabuza as she meets to update expats on the range of reforms and developments under new president, Cyril Ramaphosa, who took over the country’s presidency in February.

Since then government has embarked on a drive to mobilise US$100bn in new investments in the country over the next five years and implemented a raft of political and economic reforms to spur economic growth.

These include overhauling governance at state owned entities; instituting a state capture enquiry to deal with alleged corruption; and implementing a visa review to attract skilled workers and tourists to the country. In addition, a responsible land reform programme is being developed through a process of consultation that seeks to drive growth in the agricultural sector, strengthen property rights, ensure food security and provide certainty for investors and land owners alike.

“We’re reaching out to South Africans living and working abroad to work with us as we promote South Africa’s unique combination of highly developed first world infrastructure with the opportunities that come with a vibrant emerging market economy,” says Mabuza. “This is an exciting visit as it is the first time we’ll be meeting with Global South Africans in New Zealand on the ground.”

ENDS

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