It’s been a dreary old winter in Cape Town – lots of rain and wind. It’s probably not what the Speaker of the House of Commons, Rt Hon John Bercow was expecting on his recent visit to the South African Parliament (which, incidentally, for historical reasons is based here, rather than the country’s capital city, Pretoria).
The weather meant that we had to juggle the Speaker’s programme a bit e.g. a visit to Robben Island was delayed a day. Storms of another kind (service delivery protests) also prevented us from visiting British Council affiliated schools in the Townships. Nevertheless, a great visit which did much to cement the excellent relationship between the UK and South African Parliaments.
As part of his programme, the Speaker met all the political parties, as discussed South Africa with civil society and students from the University of Capetown, who quizzed him on his role. The visit to Robben Island, accompanied by former prisoners, was particularly poignant, and the South African Parliament, especially its own Speaker, Honourable Max Sisulu, could not have been more welcoming.
Far less positively, you may have seen news about the violence in Marikana – awful for all those involved and a significant test for modern South Africa to confront. Lots of concern and debate about the cause of the violence and the results, beyond the immediate impact on those directly involved, to the hit on investor confidence, and psychological blow to the country in general.
Looking forward to the month ahead, which includes visits by the FCO Director, Nick Kay and the UK’s Space Agency, as well as the Cape Town marathon, and hopefully a little more sunshine!