Acting Director-General of Public Service and Administration, Mr Willie Vukela, represented the South African government at the Italian Republic Day reception in Pretoria, using the occasion to reaffirm the deepening partnership between South Africa and Italy across diplomacy, trade, agriculture and academia.
02 June 2026, Pretoria – The Embassy of Italy in Pretoria hosted its annual Italian Republic Day reception on Tuesday, 2 June 2026, at the Residence of Italy, Waterkloof, Pretoria. The event, attended by ambassadors, high commissioners, members of the diplomatic corps, and the Italian community in South Africa, was graced by Acting Director-General (ADG) of the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA), Mr Willie Vukela, who delivered remarks on behalf of President Cyril Ramaphosa and the South African government.
Italian Ambassador to South Africa, Mr Alberto Vecchi, hosted the reception, which celebrated 80 years of the Italian Republic. The event brought together senior diplomats, government officials and members of the Italian diaspora to mark the occasion in a spirit of bilateral goodwill.
ADG Vukela’s Remarks: Key Highlights
In his toast remarks, ADG Vukela delivered a comprehensive address covering the breadth of South Africa–Italy relations, from high-level diplomatic engagements to grassroots academic partnerships. He opened by extending greetings on behalf of the President and the government of South Africa:
“It is my pleasure, on behalf of President Cyril Ramaphosa, the Government and the people of the Republic of South Africa, to extend warm greetings to the President, Government and people of the Republic of Italy, as well as to the Italian Diaspora in South Africa, on this joyous occasion marking the celebration of the National Day of the Republic of Italy.”
Highlighting a year of significant diplomatic milestones, Vukela pointed to Italy’s engagement at the G20 Summit hosted by South Africa in 2025 as a turning point in the bilateral relationship:
“Over the past year, relations between South Africa and Italy have reached new heights, reflecting the shared commitment of both countries to deepen political, economic and cultural cooperation. In this regard, South Africa greatly appreciated the participation of the Prime Minister of Italy, Her Excellency Giorgia Meloni, during the G20 Summit hosted in South Africa in 2025. Prime Minister Meloni’s participation reaffirmed the strong and growing partnership between our two nations, as well as our shared commitment towards addressing global challenges through multilateral cooperation and dialogue.”
The ADG also referenced President Ramaphosa’s courtesy call on Italian President Sergio Mattarella in November 2025, noting that the two heads of state had held substantive discussions on expanding bilateral cooperation and that a reciprocal state visit to South Africa had been extended. He further expressed anticipation for the upcoming 3rd South Africa–Italy Bilateral Consultations, at which Italy is expected to send a delegation to South Africa.
Agriculture, Trade and Academic Cooperation
A significant portion of Vukela’s address was devoted to practical cooperation, particularly in agriculture. He signalled the imminent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Agricultural Cooperation between the two countries and previewed an upcoming bilateral business forum:
“We look forward to the South Africa–Italy Agriculture Business Forum, scheduled to take place in South Africa from 9 to 10 June 2026. The Forum presents an important opportunity to further strengthen agricultural trade, investment and technical cooperation between our two countries.”
On the academic front, Vukela highlighted the scale of existing collaboration, noting that South African educational institutions maintain more than 50 cooperation agreements with at least 23 Italian universities, with active collaboration spanning agriculture, veterinary sciences and food security. He also acknowledged Italy’s contribution to skills development through two training initiatives in 2026, delivered through LUISS Guido Carli University and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
A Toast to Friendship
Vukela closed his address on a note of optimism for the future trajectory of the bilateral relationship, before proposing a formal toast:
“Today, we celebrate the Italian people, their resilience and their enduring commitment to building a more prosperous and inclusive world for all. … I remain confident that relations between our two nations will continue to grow exponentially in the years ahead. May the friendship between our two nations continue to flourish for many years to come.”
The celebration of Italian Republic Day serves as an annual affirmation of the enduring ties between South Africa and Italy. The attendance and remarks of Acting DG Vukela underscored the South African government’s commitment to nurturing this partnership at the highest institutional levels.
