H.E Ambassador Tariq Al-Ansari met with the Honorable Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr. Naledi Pandor (MP). The parties discussed strengthening further the distinguished bilateral relations between the State of Qatar and the Republic of South Africa

H.E Ambassador Tariq Al-Ansari addressed the 30th Ordinary Congress of the South Africa Football Association (SAFA) on the state of Qatar’s readiness and preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Sincere appreciation to SAFA President Dr. Danny Jordaan for the invitation and his leadership, thanks all for the support of the Congress for Qatar’s hosting of the World Cup.

H. E. Ambassador Tariq Al-Ansari visited H.E former President of South Africa, Honorable Thabo Mbeki at the premises of the Thabo Mbeki foundation in Killarney, Johannesburg. Honorable Mbeki briefed Ambassador Al-Ansari on the principles and objective of the foundation and common areas of interest.

H. E. Ambassador Tariq Al-Ansari received H.E Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, the Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities,at Qatar embassy where parties discussed cooperation avenues in respective bilateral matters of mutual interests for the two countries.

His Excellency Ambassador Tariq Al-Ansari met with Mr Max Boqwana, CEO of the Thabo Mbeki Foundation. Ambassador Al-Ansari and Mr Boqwana discussed relevant political developments in the international arena and explored cooperative avenues between the Embassy and the Foundation.

H. E. Ambassador Tariq Al-Ansari received H. E. Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool at Qatar residence in a courtesy visit. Ambassador Rasool is a senior figure in the ruling African National Congress, a former Premier in the Western Cape Province and former South African Ambassador to USA.

H. E. Ambassador Tariq Al-Ansari received Mr. Solly Malatsi, member of parliament of Mpumalanga in South Africa. They discussed the use of sport in promoting a culture of peace and friendship among children on the occasion of the hosting of the World Cup by Qatar in November-December.

H. E. Ambassador Tariq Al-Ansari received H. E. Claude Morel, Ambassador of the Republic of Seychelles, at his office at the Embassy. The parties discussed ways and means of cooperation between the Republic of South Africa, Seychelles and Qatar and other matters of mutual and trilateral interest between the respective countries.

His Excellency Ambassador Tariq Al-Ansari attended the South African launch of the Amnesty International report on Israel’s apartheid against Palestinians. The event was co-hosted by the Afro-Middle East Centre (AMEC), Amnesty International, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) South Africa and the Centre for Mediation in Africa at the University of Pretoria. Saleh Hijazi of the Jerusalem office of Amnesty International delivered the keynote address. The panelist’s included South Africa’s former Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils, and Zane Dangor of DIRCO. The launch and the related discussions was moderated by Zeenat Adam of AMEC.

His Excellency Ambassador Tariq Al-Ansari met with General Fabian Zimpande "Zakes" Msimang of the Department of Military Veterans and Iqbal Parker, a veteran of Umkhonto We Sizwe (Spear of the Nation), the military arm of the ANC during the struggle for liberation in South Africa. Msimang is a South African Air Force veteran who served as the Chief of the South African Air Force. The meeting follows closely upon the address of President Ramaphosa on Armed Forces Day in South Africa on Monday – a day which commemorates the sinking of the troopship SS Mendi in the English Channel on 21 February 1917 in the name of struggle and rival for freedom.