Author: YANG Chen (Correspondent)

You might have heard the blending richness of the Rainbow Nation, lying on the very south point of the captivating African continent, where God of Nature has left traces of secrets and unhindered reticulation, for pre-destined ones to explore—South Africa.

The nation vibrates so energetically for its featured nature and urban safari, splendid scenery and outdoor activities. I cannot tell you all about the valleys, waterfalls, jungles, adventures, wilds, cities, and sun-soaked coasts—the miracles on this land might be as many as leaves on a mountain. But we have encountered Mr. Mojalefa Mogono, the Consul General of South Africa in Hong Kong and Macau S.A.R., who grew up in a village on this land, to share with us about one of the heaven places on the earth.

South Africa & Hong Kong:

Hop ON & OFF

Q: Would you please share with us about one most impressive place or activity in your memory?

Mr. Mogono: Actually I don’t want to say one place—for me it’s two. I love Cape Town, which is more like a tourist destination. One of the wonders here in the world is Table Mountain. When I see the Mountain, it always reminds me of the Ocean Park in Hong Kong, where you use the Cable Car to move around—it is the same in Cape Town—you move by Cable Car to go to the top of the Mountain. Cape Town is well known for having the best wine farms—that’s why South Africa has got good wines.

The second place would be Kruger National Park, which is the biggest National Park in South Africa. You can see the Big-Five animals and enjoy the best safari of the nation. If people would like to come to South Africa, they get to experience these two. We do have private reserves but initially the National Park is one of the best. Even for myself, I do go to the Kruger National Park and Cape Town when I want to enjoy myself.

I grew up in villages, so I would say I enjoy both worlds. If I happen to be in the rural part of the country, I do enjoy that—this is where you get quietness and serenity; when I’m in cities, I just navigate what’s there.

Just like Hong Kong that is famous for its biological diversity (I wouldn’t talk about the sus scrofa, monkey, and buffalo that Hong Kongers need to deal with during hiking), the Big-Five animals (elephant, rhino, leopard, lion, and buffalo) in South Africa also resonate signally, consisting of the impressive attractions of the wild adventures in the nation. South Africa gets nine provinces. Each one of them has its own treasures for people to relax with and explore.

With such paralleled similarities between the two places on the planet, South Africa has also been looking for potential cooperations with Hong Kong:

Mr. Mogono: We currently have a problem of energy in South Africa. China is the first country that has come on board and is willing to provide some assistance to us. Companies from Hong Kong have also come to participate in assisting us with finance and technology—they just come at the exact right time.

Talking about finance and technology in Hong Kong, we firmly believe that there’s a lot to learn from Hong Kong. We still regard Hong Kong as an international financial hub. More than that, there are so many countries believing that Hong Kong is one of the best financial sectors in the world. On the other hand, we are very concerned about the development of AI technology. Hong Kong has performed well in many technological fields, like solar panels and the Science Park.

What Awakens Freedom is the Core Spirit of Passion

The conversation with Mr. Mogono about Freedom—one of South African DNAs was triggered by chance, when he shared cultural exchange and when I asked their “iconic” day: Nelson Mandela International Day on July 18th:

Mr. Mogono: Not only the cooperation between China and South Africa, but also between Hong Kong and South Africa. I’m proud to say that recently the National Arts Council of South Africa has signed an MOU with Hong Kong Arts Development Council to make sure that arts are considered in future cooperation.

I firmly believe that cultural exchange is important. Before business, I think that people should understand each other through culture. Once I understand your culture better, it’s easy for you to trust me and than we can do business. It’s culture first and business after. Through cultural exchange, we could have a better world market because of the understandings among us. Culture in Asia and in China plays a crucial role. It’s easy to have the fear of the unknown, and not easy to make business with anyone who just comes—culture is even more important to this extents. So far, the signed MOU has shown that how much we regard the importance of this point.

What might be the exact culture of South Africa? It is not easy to have a certain single answer to this question; whereas, there is one undoubted fact: people of South Africa cherish their democracy.

South Africa has had the first democratic elections since 1994. This year marks the thirtieth anniversary of Freedom. In about one and a half month on July 18th, it is Nelson Mandela’s birthday.

Mr. Mogono: Every time when I talk about this old man, it’s easy to become emotional. One cannot being called as an icon for doing nothing. Imagine staying for twenty seven years in prison, fighting for freedom, and coming out without pissing off but saying to people “Let’s just build this country.” I don’t think that it can be anyone who would ever do what Mandela did—no one. It is very emotional to talk about Mandela because where we are is because of him.

We celebrate July 18th because we are celebrating humanity. On that day, we go and assist disadvantage people, all walks of life. Mandela has taught so many things to the country: the first thing is peace and forgiveness; the last thing is education. We have seen a change of education in the country because of the positivity that Mandela has supported to those disadvantage students. He is great, he left, but his thoughts and spirits will be taken good care and be passed through generation to generation, forever. Then we know where we come from and where we are going to. It’s something that can’t be taken away from us.

He was a very smart man, in terms of what he did to unify the country. Someone didn’t want us to be unified, but he foresaw the importance of peace, which was what he spread throughout the world. Through him, so many people have a better solution to conflicts because of his act of kindness.

Currently, we are promoting better human rights—this is to say that let’s respect each other, let’s treat each other better, and let’s develop each other, let’s just work hand in hand so that we can promote each other and live in a better world, for all. This is what we are looking for. We want to make sure that Africa becomes a beautiful continent that is sustainable and independent, and I think it is doable.

Q: Please name three things that you would like the world to know about South Africa, but they might not know.

Mr. Mogono: South Africa has produced many famous people in the world, for example the actress Charlize Theron, Charlene the Princess of Monaco, and the billionaire Elon Reeve Musk was born in South Africa.

South Africa is a resilient and creative country.

South Africa is quite useful in terms of Democracy, meaning the potential growth of economy is quite high.

Most importantly, we just love life. South Africa has happy and forgiving people and we just love life.

I am not sure what has been created and reserved by the Miracle of Life on the southernmost part of the African continent. But the life-born Ocean has raised both a thinker and a practitioner of humanity, who brought the world seeds and displays resilience and creativity of human beings “whose conclusion is UNCERTAIN”.

DIPLOMACY

Q: This year marks the 26th anniversary since South Africa and China have started the diplomatic relations. Looking back, what are the key factors do you think that will maintain and promote South Africa-China relations in the future?

Mr. Mogono: We’re celebrating the success of trade relations and wish to strengthen the relationship that we have and enjoy. On the other hand, we are also exploring ways that most companies in China could come and buy more goods from South Africa. Currently, South Africa is buying more goods here in China. When enjoying this trade relations, I am seeing that there are other cooperation opportunities developing, for example cultural exchanges and tourism are happening. Chinese people come to South Africa, and vice versa, people from South Africa come and explore more in China. South Africa is the first African country and the trade leader to China in the whole African region. It is more like a super-connector to Africa for all nations, and the best place to enter and explore other parts of Africa as a whole.

TRADING

Q: China has been South Africa’s largest trading partner for fourteen years, and South Africa is China’s largest trading partner in Africa. Would you please share with us about your prospects for future cooperations in what fields and industries between the two nations?

Mr. Mogono: The prospects are quite promising. The industries include manufacturing, construction, and mining. There are potential cooperation on the pharmaceutical industry and fishery as well. As you know, South Africa has the best abalone which is very popular in China. Other potential fields can be education and exchange programmes. More and more Chinese people like to come to South Africa, and there are a lot of students from South Africa studying in China. I think that the prospects are quite promising.

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

Q: South Africa has joined the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2015. We would like to invite you to share some stories of the BRI with our audience on three key phrases—modernity, flexibility, and dreams in life.

Mr. Mogono: I’m gonna start with this—China has been good to Africa, and most important to South Africa. Strategically, the infrastructure projects are concerned. Mind you to say this: China has never colonized any country in Africa, and yet they want to seek proper development paths like helping Africa, especially about my country. I’ve seen what they have done in South Africa.

By driving this Belt and Road Initiative formed by China, it is more visible on many infrastructure projects that have been in progress. One coming to my mind is the ports in South Africa, because China have seen the importance of developing ports to make sure that moving off goods and materials becomes so flawless, for example goods coming from China and from South Africa going to China, and because the trade relation has be consented.

The BRI stories in South Africa are quite significant and very interesting. The visibility—it is very tangible—things that China is doing are to make sure that the BRI is not just a dream but something feasible and tangible. I can tell you—you go to the ports in South Africa and you can see a huge investment which has been put by China to make sure that the infrastructure development becomes a success.

（This article was published in the June 2024 issue of Bauhinia Magazine）