Association leader Tony de Oliveira believes that the meeting of the people of Portugal in Pretoria, the capital of South Africa, with the president of the republic next week is “the greatest event in the last 30 years.”
“We are very happy, the leadership and our community in Pretoria and beyond, there are already many people trying to confirm their place. [no jantar] but for us emigrants, this is fantastic, of course, a lot of things are not as we wanted, but it will be a unique day,” he added.
Tony de Oliveira, chairman of the Association of the Portuguese Community of Pretoria (ACPP), one of the oldest Portuguese communities in the country, explained that “everything is organized” after “four months of meetings in Pretoria and Johannesburg” in preparation for the “Gala Dinner” hosted by the head of state of the Portuguese community in the South African capital on 7 June.
“I am very happy because hosting an event like this in our capital and in the association, the mother house of Pretoria, will be very fantastic and also very beneficial for the future of our community,” he stressed.
“More than 100 people come from Portugal from the embassy and consulate, and then we have all our organizations, which we estimate at 400 people, as well as those who helped us in these last difficult years, who would like us to be together. “, stressed Tony de Oliveira in Portuguese.
Born in Santa Maria da Feira, the leader of the Portuguese association has been in South Africa since 1985 after a seven-year emigration to France and estimates a “full house” of about 700 people, including members of 40 associations from various provinces of the country. except for the Western Cape.
“We’re trying to make Portuguese food, and according to the people who are most involved in putting together the menu, it’s possible that this also has to do with South African traditions,” he said, without elaborating.
Asked by Lusa about the expectations of the Portuguese community in Pretoria regarding the official visit of the Portuguese rulers, Tony de Oliveira expressed regret at some distancing.
“We have a very strong community in South Africa, but something is missing here,” said Tony de Oliveira, advocating the need for closer contact between the Lisbon authorities and the South African authorities at the highest national level.
The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, officially visits South Africa from 5 to 8 June on the occasion of the celebration of the Day of Portugal, Camões and Portuguese Communities, starting a program of visit to Cape Town. , as part of the patrol ship NRP Setúbal and the submarine Arpão, according to the Portuguese Navy.
Prime Minister António Costa will also travel to South Africa, where he will be with the President of the Republic on June 7, as part of the June 10 celebration program with the Portuguese community, as announced.
The head of government visits Angola from 5 to 6 June. The last official visit of the Prime Minister to Angola took place in September 2018.
In June 1999, President Jorge Sampaio was in South Africa for the inauguration of President Thabo Mbeki. On this occasion, the former head of the Portuguese state visited the solidarity institutions of the Portuguese community and presented awards.
Jorge Sampaio also made an official visit to South Africa in July 1997 for talks on Timor-Leste.
President Anibal Cavaco Silva has visited South Africa twice. The first, in July 2012, in transit from Maputo to Lisbon, after participating in the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the CPSU countries.
He traveled to South Africa for the second time in December 2013 to participate on behalf of Portugal in the state funeral of former President Nelson Mandela.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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