Ramaphosa's visit reaffirms India-South Africa bonds: Pravasi Bharatiya

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's participation as the chief guest at India's Republic Day celebrations on Saturday reaffirms the special relationship between the two countries, a Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awardee has said.

Ramaphosa is the second South African president to be invited to the event as the chief guest.

Former South African president Nelson Mandela was the chief guest at the Republic Day parade in 1995.

Anil Sooklal, who received the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman for his lifelong contribution in promoting relations between India and South Africa at the Bharatiya Divas in Varanasi, said the ties between India and South Africa have grown "exponentially since the dawn of democracy under President Nelson Mandela in 1994."

He said Ramaphosa's presence at the Republic day "is a clear message that the Indians are serious about South Africa and President Ramaphosa accepting the invitation by India is a message that South Africa treasures this relationship."

Sooklal lamented ...