Dear SATCC Members and Community,

I am writing to you on behalf of the SATCC to introduce our new South African Ambassador to Thailand, Ambassador-Designate, HE Mr Darkey Ephraim Africa. He arrived in Bangkok on 17 April 2023 and presented his credentials to Chief of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 19 April 2023.

Ambassador Africa was previously South African Consul-General (Lagos, Nigeria) of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) from 2015 to 2022. In the year 2011 to 2015, Ambassador Africa was Head of the North-West Planning Commission of the North-West Provincial Government, assisting the Premier to develop a Strategic Plan on behalf of the Province and coordinating the implementation of the PDP/NDP. He holds an Masters Degree in Global Diplomacy from the University of London (SOAS), a Masters in Developmental Studies (MDS) from the University of the Free State and another Masters in Political Transformation (MA), Governance and Political Transformation from the University of the Free State.

Ambassador Africa is looking forward to working closely with the South African community in Thailand to promote our bilateral relations, advance our common interests and uphold our shared values. He is also eager to learn more about the rich culture and history of Thailand and its people.

I am also pleased to announce that we will be holding a small welcome reception for Ambassador Africa in early June and we will be sending out details shortly. This will be an opportunity for you to meet and greet our new Ambassador and his family, as well as other members of the Embassy staff and SATCC Board.

We hope to see you at the reception and we look forward to your continued support and cooperation.

Sincerely,

Neil van Heerden
Chair
South African-Thai Chamber of Commerce