International Focus Magazine Premiere Edition | Page 14

AFRICA INSIGHT SERIES:

SOUTH AFRICA

HIS EXCELLENCY MNINWA JOHANNES MAHLANGU AMBASSADOR
OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA TO THE UNITED STATES
On June 20th, iF Magazine was on hand to cover the visit of H.E. AMBASSADOR MNINWA JOHANNES MAHLANGU at a luncheon hosted
by the Bilateral US- Arab Chamber of Commerce.
The aim of the Ambassador’s visit to Texas was to highlight opportunities in infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare, among others, that offer the
best prospects for successful collaboration between the regions”, said Lucy
Girgawy. “Our Africa Insights programming gives these thought-leaders a
platform to personally address strategically selected business leaders that are
currently doing business in or seeking opportunities in Africa.”
Mr. Mninwa Johannes Mahlangu, commonly known as “MJ” by his colleagues and friends is the current Ambassador of the Republic of South
Africa to the United States of America having presented his credentials on
23 February 2015.
His public and political life started in the late 1960s when he was elected
President of the Student Christian Movement, in the then EasternTransvaal. From 1973 to 1976 he served as assistant Secretary of the Transvaal
United African Teachers Association.
He is one of the leaders who played a critical role in the processes leading
up to the first democratic South Africa. Between 1991 and 1994, he was a
negotiator at the Congress for Democratic South Africa (CODESA) and
the Multiparty Negotiation Forum. In 1993, he became the Co-Chairperson of these bodies. From 1993 to 1994 he was a member of South Africa’s
Transitional Executive Council.
In 2002, he was elected Permanent Deputy Chairperson of the National
Council of Provinces (NCOP) in parliament. After the third democratic
elections in 2004, he was re-elected Permanent Deputy Chairperson of the
Council. In 2005, he was elected the Chairperson of the NCOP and was
re-elected in 2009. He served in this position until the fifth democratic
elections in 2014.
Words by:Val Thompson
Pictures by:Vicky Pink

14 iF Magazine | July 2016

In attendance:
T.H. Helen Giddings, Texas State
Representative- District 109 from
Texas House of representatives
Honorary Consul General for the
Republic of South Africa
Zeljka Momirovic, Director,
International Relations of Houston
Airport System
Mazda Denon, Administrative Affairs
& Events Manager from City of
Houston - Mayor’s Office
Haley Keiffer, Director of Marketing
of Cornerstone Hospital
Val Thompson, Publisher & CEO of
International Focus (iF) Magazine
Sunil Sharma, President of
Sunbelt Medical Corporation
Linda Wuest, Director of
The Yokonfa Project
Lucy Girgawy, Bilateral US-Arab
Chamber of Commerce