Russian Consulate in Cape Town

Делегация Правительства провинции Северный Кейп во главе с Премьером Замани Саулом прибыла в Республику Карелия 28 августа делегация Правительства провинции Северный Кейп, входящей в состав консульского округа Генерального консульства России в Кейптауне, во главе с Премьером Замани Саулом прибыла в Республику Карелия (г. Петрозаводск) для обсуждения перспектив всеобъемлющего двустороннего сотрудничества. 🤝 В рамках визита запланировано подписание межрегионального Меморандума о взаимопонимании — первого официального соглашения Республики Карелия с представителями Африканского континента. Программа предусматривает посещение промышленных предприятий, представляющих взаимный интерес, а также участие в культурных мероприятиях, направленных на укрепление гуманитарных связей. 🌍 Подписание Меморандума станет новой страницей в развитии российско-африканских межрегиональных контактов, открывая путь к практическому взаимодействию в сферах экономики, образования и культуры. #RussiaSouthAfrica#RussianMFA

✍South African journalist Gillian Schutte has published a critical article titled “The Spectacle of Innocence: How the Narrative of ‘Stolen Children’ Became the West’s Weapon of War,” in response to a piece originally published by The Washington Post under the headline “Thousands of Ukraine’s children vanished into Russia. This one made it back” and later republished by South African IOL Schutte’s article directly challenges the accusations against Russia presented in the original story, offering a sober reassessment of the narrative widely promoted in Western media regarding alleged “child abductions” during the Ukraine conflict. 🔍 Key Points: 📌Discrepancy Between Reported Figures and Verified Data “Ukrainian officials inflate the figure still further: ‘maybe 50,000, maybe 100,000.’ No one knows for sure. No one can prove anything.” "According to Russia’s official delegation at the Istanbul peace talks… the only list ever presented to Moscow by Ukraine includes 339 names. Russia says it has already returned 101 of these children.” 📌Deliberate omission of Russia’s humanitarian actions: evacuation of children from conflict zones by Russian forces “Many [children] were found alone in buildings or hospitals. Others were taken to safety at great personal risk by Russian soldiers, some of whom died in the effort.” 📌 “Western soft power thrives on emotional shorthand: Saddam’s incubator babies, Gaddafi’s Viagra-fuelled soldiers, and now Putin’s child kidnappers.” 📌“A child is the cipher of innocence, the mirror of adult failure, the vessel into which we pour our grief, outrage, and moral certainty.” 📌“The story reads like it was written by a Pentagon-funded scriptwriter, with emotional cues planted at every paragraph break, not to report on the tragedy of war, but to mobilise sentiment for war.” 📌“Western soft power thrives on emotional shorthand: Saddam’s incubator babies, Gaddafi’s Viagra-fuelled soldiers, and now Putin’s child kidnappers.” 📌“Medinsky’s statement in Istanbul was clear. Russia is open to verification. Russia is returning children. Russia is establishing regular exchanges.” 📌 “We should care for every child affected by war. But we should be suspicious of which children we are told to care about, and why.” 🔗Read the full article ✍ Author: Gillian Schutte #russianMFA

🗓SPIEF 2025: St. Petersburg Once Again Becomes a Global Platform for Dialogue and Cooperation From June 18 to 21, the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) is taking place at the ExpoForum Convention and Exhibition Centre. The forum traditionally brings together leading representatives of the global political and economic elite. In 2025, the forum is held under the theme “Shared Values: The Foundation of Growth in a Multipolar World,” reflecting the commitment to building fair and mutually respectful relations in the global economy. The agenda focuses on international partnership development, support for technological sovereignty, digitalization, sustainable development, and social responsibility. 🌍 High-level delegations from more than 140 countries have arrived at the forum, including Indonesia, China, Bahrain, South Africa, and other key nations of the Global South. Such wide representation underscores Russia’s growing role as a responsible participant in global affairs and a hub for international business initiatives. 💼A Platform for Tangible Agreements The SPIEF 2025 program includes over 150 events covering issues of trade and economic cooperation, industrial development, science, healthcare, youth policy, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises. The forum traditionally results in the signing of hundreds of mutually beneficial agreements, reaffirming the resilience of the Russian economy and the trust placed in it by international partners. 🛠A Focus on Innovation and Sustainable Growth Special emphasis is placed on technological advancement, digital transformation, and the creation of future-oriented infrastructure. Russia continues to develop an economy based on domestic resources and international cooperation with sovereign and reliable partners. #SPIEF#RussianMFA

🇷🇺The 28th St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2025) is scheduled to convene in St Petersburg from June 18 to 21, 2025 📍The venue, in accordance with tradition, is the ExpoForum Convention and Exhibition Centre. The SPIEF has solidified its reputation as a distinguished international platform for dialogue among business leaders, government officials, academia, and expert communities, tackling issues in the global economy, sustainable development, and technological transformation. Anticipated participants include heads of state, leaders of international organisations, representatives of major corporations, as well as civil society and media. 🤝The focal theme of the forum is the pursuit of common benchmarks and the formulation of sustainable development strategies amidst global turbulence. The business programme encompasses over 150 sessions covering topics such as the digital economy, environmental sustainability, healthcare, international collaboration, technological innovation, and regional development. International interest in the SPIEF continues to be robust: in 2023, it drew more than 17,000 participants from 130 countries, whereas in 2024, attendance surpassed 21,800 delegates from 139 nations. The most recent forum resulted in 1,073 agreements valued at approximately 6.5 trillion roubles, highlighting the high level of trust and business engagement. Under the patronage of the President of the Russian Federation since 2006, the SPIEF is organised by the Roscongress Foundation with the support of pertinent ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation. ❗️We believe that the St Petersburg Forum remains an essential instrument for constructive international engagement, promoting a multipolar world, reinforcing economic stability, and seeking balanced solutions to contemporary challenges. Senior officials and representatives of the Foreign Ministry will take part in thematic sessions and panel discussions on issues devoted to shifts in the global economy and trade, integration processes, regional cooperation, energy and food security, technological advancement, as well as country-specific business dialogues and BRICS and SCO business forums. Noteworthy sessions include “Shaping a Multipolar Economy: The Role and Place of Russia and Eurasia”, “International Trade and Climate Regulation: Barrier-Free Solutions for BRICS, SCO, EAEU, and APEC”, and “The Yalta-Potsdam System of International Relations: Lessons from the Past or a Vision of the Future”. #SPIEF#RussianMFA

🎥 Накануне празднования 80-летия Победы во Второй мировой войне Генеральное консульство России в Кейптауне провело показ художественного фильма «Воздух» режиссёра Алексея Германа-младшего, посвящённого подвигу советских женщин-лётчиц. Картина получила высокую оценку зрителей за глубокое художественное воплощение темы и достоверную передачу атмосферы военного времени. В съёмках фильма использовались полноразмерные модели военной авиации, реконструированные аэродромы и тщательно воссозданные костюмы. «В условиях попыток пересмотра итогов Второй мировой войны сохранение правды о тех событиях приобретает особое значение. Наша общая история живёт не только в архивах, но и в сердцах людей — в таких вечерах, как сегодняшний. Мы признательны южноафриканским друзьям за поддержку, проявленную в годы войны, и за ту атмосферу дружбы, которую мы ощущаем и сегодня», — отметил в приветственном слове Генеральный консул России в Кейптауне Алексей Маленко. #Victory80#RussiaSouthAfrica#RussianMFA

Andrei Stenin Press Photo Contest international roadshow has kicked off with an exhibition in the Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town. 📸Guests of the function organized by 'Rossiya Segodnya' news agency with the support of the Consulate General of Russia in Cape Town, African News Agency and Independent Media could familiarize themselves with the best out of around 2 000 entries submitted from almost 50 countries across the globe. “Every year the geography of the Andrei Stenin International Press Photo Contest keeps growing. Once again, Cape Town joins the list of cities that host the best works of the Contest. The exhibition evokes a great interest among South Africans and especially Capetonians, a number of local photojournalists submitted their entries and won in its various nominations. The Andrei Stenin International Press Photo Contest plays an important role in promoting cultural collaboration as well as offers young people an opportunity to present their view of the world and demonstrate their talent. Photography is a universal language understandable across borders in different nations,” - emphasised Russia’s Consul General in Cape Town Mr. Aleksei Malenko 🎞 Andrei Stenin, whose name the competition bears, was killed in 2014 in a shelling while on a media assignment in Ukraine. Submission of works for the contest opens annually on 22 Dec, Andrei Stenin’s birthday. The works were already exhibited in the capital cities of South Africa, China, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Mauritius and Serbia. #andreistenin#stenincontest#stenincontest2024#sputniknews#RussianMFA#RussiaSouthAfrica

On February 19, 2025, an exhibition dedicated to the 81st anniversary of the lifting of the Siege of Leningrad was opened in Cape Town. The event was organized by the Russian Consulate General with the support of the management of the Castle of Good Hope. The exhibition, prepared by the Russian Presidential National Center for Historical Memory in cooperation with the Permanent Mission of Russia to the UN, was ceremoniously opened in the presence of distinguished guests, including members of the diplomatic corps, local activists, veterans of the ANC’s military wing, and representatives of the "Volunteers of Victory" movement. The event also featured a screening of the film “Nuremberg“ (2023), dedicated to the Nuremberg Trials. A key theme of the event was the recognition of the crimes committed by the Nazi regime during World War II. Consul General A. Malenko emphasized that "the factual evidence presented at the Nuremberg Trials of Nazi crimes against the civilian population of the Soviet Union and Poland, along with the legal assessment, clearly point to these acts as genocide, particularly in the occupied territories of the USSR and Poland." Additionally, the prospects for cooperation between Russia and the Republic of South Africa within the BRICS framework were discussed, including the creation of an independent payment system and a single currency, which would strengthen financial sovereignty and contribute to the development of a fairer multipolar world. The exhibition will be on display at the Castle of Good Hope, and we invite all interested parties to visit. #RussianMFA#RussiaSouthAfrica#Victory80

🎙️Excerpts from the interview with the Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov for "Izvestia" Multimedia Information Centre (Moscow, February 11, 2025) ❓Question: The Russian approach as a "security provider" has been successfully implemented in Sudan, the Central African Republic, and Mali. Are there requests from other African countries to cooperate with our country in this area? 💬Answer: Our cooperation in the field of security in Africa extends far beyond the countries you mentioned. At the same time, Russian assistance in this area is always provided exclusively at the request of local authorities. It is with regret that we must acknowledge that the political and socio-economic situation in many parts of Africa remains highly unstable. Inter-ethnic and national conflicts have not been resolved, and the increasing activity of numerous terrorist organizations on the continent is of particular concern. The conflict potential in the Sahara-Sahel region, the Central African Republic, the Great Lakes region, and the Horn of Africa remains high. The situation in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo has also significantly deteriorated. However, long-term peace and stability in Africa are fundamental prerequisites for the further sustainable socio-economic development of the continent’s states. Against this backdrop, Russia, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, is making every effort to resolve current conflicts and prevent the emergence of new ones. We are actively engaged in the specialized structures of this global organization, including initiatives from the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, aimed at preventing the spread of weapons to terrorist groups, among other programs. Furthermore, we are strengthening our joint efforts with African partners to achieve peace and security, prevent and resolve conflicts, and fight against terrorism. Relevant provisions are enshrined in the current memorandums of cooperation between Russia and the African Union, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS). We are ready to assist in the formation of African countries’ own crisis response forces. In the framework of bilateral cooperation, Russia conducts annual courses for the training of African peacekeepers at specialized Russian educational institutions. We remain open to cooperation and are ready to share our experience with our African friends. #RussianMFA

🇨🇳🇷🇺Chinese New Year Festival opened in Moscow The event will unite two dozen locations: Manezhnaya, Tverskaya and Bolotnaya squares, Kamergersky and Stoleshnikov lanes, Tverskaya Boulevard, Novy Arbat, VDNKh. The festival is part of the cross program of events within the framework of the Years of Culture of Russia and China and will last until February 9. The opening ceremony of the festival was attended by Maria Zakharova, Director of the Department of Information and Press, official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Zhang Hanhui, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Russian Federation and Deputy Mayor of Moscow Natalia Sergunina. "The festival's events are aimed at making Russians and Chinese more familiar with each other's customs and traditions." "A colorful program awaits guests, which will last 13 days. Last year the festival was held for the first time, but already then it was visited by more than 700 thousand people. I think this year the record will be broken," emphasized the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova. 🧧On the main platform of the festival - Manezhnaya Square - there will be performances with the participation of Chinese artists. In festive chalets, stylized as pagodas, visitors will be offered traditional cuisine - from Hong Kong waffles to Peking duck. And those who wish will be able to play xiangqi - an analog of chess. #HappyLunarNewYear#RussiaChina#RussianMFA

“Decoding the Ukraine Crisis: Historical context and current implications” ✍🏻 An article by Aleksei Malenko, Consul General of the Russian Federation in Cape Town (January 24, 2025) Key points: • In a desperate bid to maintain their waning dominance, the West is actively promoting the narrative that Russia initiated aggression against Ukraine. However, international conflicts are rarely straightforward, and interpretation of events is often manipulated to serve the interests of specific states. The history of diplomacy of our Anglo-Saxon counterparts is full of episodes where deception and coercion were employed without hesitation. • In 2013, Ukraine’s turn toward closer ties with the European Union marked a significant shift in its foreign policy. This decision triggered a series of events, culminating in political instability within the country — the Maidan protests. Ultimately, the then-President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted. Western interference in Ukraine’s domestic affairs played a decisive role in reshaping both its internal governance and its foreign orientation. • One of the central accusations against Russia was the annexation of Crimea. In February 2014, following the change of government in Kiev, a referendum on the status of Crimea was held. An overwhelming majority of residents — more than 95% — voted to join Russia. • The Kiev regime flagrantly violated the Charter’s provisions focused on language and religion, officially banning Russian and persecuting the Orthodox Church. If we are to uphold the UN Charter, it must be respected in its entirety, rather than selectively applied to suit convenient narratives. • Russia’s active involvement in peace negotiations, including the signing of the Minsk Agreements in 2015, was an effort to resolve the conflict in eastern Ukraine. These agreements, which called for a ceasefire and autonomy for Donetsk and Luhansk, were signed by then-leaders Angela Merkel of Germany, Francois Hollande of France, Peter Poroshenko of Ukraine and were never honoured any of them. Instead, Western powers used the agreements as a pause to rearm Ukraine. • Zelensky’s presidential term officially ended on May 20, 2024, yet he has refused to call elections, likely aware of his dwindling support. According to Ukraine’s constitution, power should have transferred to the Verkhovna Rada, the parliament. This transfer did not occur, rendering Ukraine’s government illegitimate. At the end of August this year, the mandate of the Verkhovna Rada also expired. As a result, there is no legitimate authority left in Ukraine, neither executive nor legislative one. 👉🏻 Read in full #RussianMFA

🇳🇬Nigeria becomes 9th BRICS partner country The Brazilian government, as the current BRICS Chair in 2025, announced the formal admission of Nigeria as a partner country of the BRICS group. As Africa’s largest country by population and one of its leading economies, Nigeria is expected to bring substantial influence to the partnership. 🤝The nation’s role in South-South cooperation aligns closely with the priorities of BRICS under Brazil’s presidency, as reported by the official website of the Brazilian government. Nigeria joins the ranks of eight other partner countries, including Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan. The partner-country category was introduced during the 16th BRICS Summit, held in Kazan in October 2024. 🇮🇩On 6 January 2025, Indonesia became a full member of the group. 🔗read in full #RussianMFA#BRICS

🇿🇦SA hosts G20 Framework Working Group meeting Tuesday, January 14, 2025 Technical meetings under the Group of 20 (G20) Finance Track have begun this week with a meeting of the Framework Working Group (FWG). This after South Africa kicked off its G20 Presidency with the hosting of the G20 Sherpa and Finance Track Meetings in December 2024. “The National Treasury and the South African Reserve Bank are jointly responsible for overseeing the work of the G20 Finance Track. “The mandate of the FWG is to promote strong, sustainable, balanced, and inclusive growth, and does so by identifying, monitoring and assessing global macroeconomic risks, vulnerabilities and uncertainties and recommending suitable policy responses to global shocks and cross-cutting global challenges,” National Treasury said in a statement. The G20 is a grouping of developed and developing countries which together form a powerful bloc representing at least 85% of the world’s Gross Domestic Product and some 75% of international trade – making the FWG critical. The first day of the meeting on the main headwinds to global growth, ongoing supply and demand risks to inflation, and the main fiscal risks to growth and inflation. It will also discuss the economic outlook for Africa. South Africa’s outlined priorities include: • enhancing global economic resilience in light of growth risks like fragmentation and macroeconomic imbalances; • strengthening macroeconomic foundations and growth reforms in light of climate change and • assessing labour productivity, technological development and demographic change This week’s FWG meeting is the first of four to be held. “The remaining three meetings for this Working Group are scheduled for April, June and September, in person, in venues across the country. “The outcomes of these meetings will inform discussions at the meetings of the Finance and Central Bank Deputies and Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors,” the statement concluded. The G20 Leaders’ Summit is expected to be held in the latter half of 2025. – SAnews.gov.za #RussianMFA#RussiaSouthAfrica#G20