Collaboration in medical sector very important, says outgoing South African HC |24 November 2016

Collaboration in the medical sector is for me very important because health is everything, outgoing high commissioner of South Africa to Seychelles, Dr Nomvuyo Nokwe, has said.

She said this yesterday after paying a farewell visit on President Danny Faure, adding that placing Seychellois medical students back in universities will remain a priority and a concern for her successor.

The outgoing high commissioner said it was an honour and privilege to have served her country and developed strong bilateral relations with Seychelles, adding that he has fallen in love with our country and will surely come back on holidays.

Speaking to the local media, Dr Nokwe, a medical doctor by profession, said “collaboration in the medical sector is for me very important because health is everything. If you do not have good health and you do not have good doctors, and you do not have specialists it is a problem for the nation”.

When she spoke about the accomplishments during her four-year mandate, Dr Nokwe said her biggest achievement was the opening of the honorary consul office in Seychelles in March 2016.

Local businessman Rod Thorrington is the honorary consul for South Africa and Dr Nokwe said “in terms of filtering certain consular work, it is done by our honorary consul Mr Thorrington, and he has done an outstanding job”.

The signing of air services agreement between the two countries and a memorandum of understanding in the tourism industry are two other highlights of her tenure.

Dr Nokwe, who was accredited in June 2012, added that Seychelles being a member of the African Union (AU), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) as well as French-speaking country, it is an advantage for pushing South Africa’s agenda.

Asked to update the local population on the university fees protest in South Africa, Dr Nokwe said the issue will remain a priority and concern for the next South African high commissioner. 

Twelve out over 40 Seychellois students enrolled in South African universities returned home last month to avoid violent protests by university students and last week five returned to South Africa to continue their studies.

Meanwhile, the Agency for National Human Resource Development (ANHRD) has said the remaining students have expressed the wish to discontinue their studies with their respective universities in South Africa and opt for a transfer in another country.

The agency is doing its best to ensure that the students continue their studies even if they do not do it in South Africa.