Establishment of Bilateral ties through the formation of the Hungarian – Southern African Friendship Association [HSAFA]

Members of the Solidarity Movement and various Hungarian Role-players establish the HSAFA

The official visit by members of the Solidarity Movement in June 2021, culminated in the establishment of the Hungarian – Southern African Friendship Association. The official name of the non profit organisation in Hungary is the : Magyar Dél-Afrikai Baráti Társaság

eNews Media Articles about the establishment of the Hungarian – Southern African Friendship Association

Social Media Articles about the establishment of the Hungarian – Southern African Friendship Association

Solidariteit Beweging wil samewerking tussen SA en Hongarye bevorder Junie 2021

https://beweging.co.za/solidariteit-beweging-wil-samewerking-tussen-sa-en-hongarye-bevorder/

Solidariteit vergader met Hongaarse leiders / Marcela Media

https://maroelamedia.co.za/nuus/sa-nuus/solidariteit-vergader-met-hongaarse-leiers/

Hungarian Media interview and Article

A high level delegation from the Solidarity Movement (SM) embarked on an exploratory mission, to investigate and pursue the possibility of establishing and developing bilateral ties between Hungary and the Solidarity Movement.

This visit would pave the way to establishing a more institutionalised relationship between the associated organisations, affiliates, members and Afrikaner based community networks of the Solidarity Movement; and Hungarian Christian organisations, cultural heritage institutions, academia, think-tanks, civil society, influential media, public and private sector role-players.

Background to the Solidarity Movement

The Solidarity Movement is a broad-based, Christian, conservative movement encompassing more than 24 civil organisations in South Africa and it has almost 600 000 members; however, in total this group encompasses and represents the common interests of about 2,5 Million Afrikaners, their families, communities and businesses. The Solidarity Movement with various dynamic, diverse organisations and institutions, comprises of the following major umbrella Organisations :
Solidarity (with Trade Union, with its own Investment and financial services); AfriForum (Civil Rights organisation with community safety, development and business network); SAAI (South African Agricultural Initiative); Akademia (independent private tertiary University education); Soltech (independent skills development centre); Helping Hand (social welfare and social development); etc.
Related, independent but affiliated business organisations include Sakeliga with 12 500 + direct Business Chamber Members, and a network of 40 000+ businesses and business people across Southern Africa, currently spreading its wings internationally.

Solidarity Movement website: https://beweging.co.za/en/

June 2021 – Visit to Hungary

• A representative delegation from the Solidarity Movement & it’s affiliated Partners, traveled to Hungary between the 5 – 15 June 2021, on its fact finding mission, including engagements with influential role-players, and across public and private sector spheres of Hungarian Society. The delegation comprised of the following members:
• Jaco Kleynhans : Head of International Relations for the Solidarity Movement
  • https://twitter.com/jacokleynhans?lang=en
• Werner Human : Deputy CEO at Solidarity
  • https://twitter.com/WernerHuman18
• Piet Le Roux : CEO of Sakeliga
  • https://twitter.com/pietleroux?lang=en
• Ernst Roets : Deputy CEO of AfriForum
  • https://twitter.com/ernstroets?lang=en
• Dr. Theo de Jager : Chairman of SAAI
  • https://twitter.com/TheoDJager

Meetings and Engagements

Meetings with:

• Mr. István Jakab – Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian Parliament

• Prof. Richárd Hörcsik – Parliamentarian & Chairman of the Hungarian Parliamentary Committee for European Union (EU) Affairs

• Mr. Balázs Győrffy – President of the Hungarian Chamber of Agriculture (NAK).

• Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
  o Mr. Levente Magyar – State Secretary & Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade
  o Dr. Orsolya Pacsay-Tomassich – State Secretary: Hungarian Stipendium Hungaricum Program (Scholarships and Programs for Foreign Students)

• Dr. Zoltán Dubéczi – Secretary General of the Hungarian Rectors’ Conference
• Dep. Mayor of Debrecen
  o Reps from EDC Debrecen Urban and Economic Development Centre
  o Rector of the Protestant University of Debrecen
• Deputy Minister of the Hungarian Finance Ministry

• Dr. Dávid Bencsik – Deputy State Secretary: Ministry of Agriculture – International Affairs

• Prof. Dr. István Szabó – Vice Rector: MATE University
  o MATE – Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences
• Various representatives from the private sector

Media Interview with Magyar Demokrata – News magazine & eNews

• Dr. Theo de Jager – Hungarian Media Interview
  • https://demokrata.hu/magyarorszag/szamitunk-onokre-396809/

Social Media posts about the visit by the Solidarity Movement & Partners

• Jaco Kleynhans Twitter
  • https://twitter.com/JacoKleynhans/status/1402181933602377732
  • https://twitter.com/jacokleynhans/status/1404383965788741634
• Ernst Roets Twitter
  • https://twitter.com/ErnstRoets/status/1402180030650798082
• Dr. Theo de Jager FaceBook
  • https://www.facebook.com/Saai.org/posts/dr-theo-de-jager-chairman-of-saai-and-president-of-the-world-farmers-organisatio/4573261789399535/

Social Media coverage in Hungary about the visit by the Solidarity Movement

Hungarian Agricultural Ministry – Dr. Dávid Bencsik FaceBook Post titled: “Vannak barátaink Dél-Afrikában is! We have friends in South Africa!” https://www.facebook.com/108094741380905/posts/146755520848160/?d=n

Although much of the initial introductory groundwork had already been undertaken in South Africa between 2017 – 2019 by various role-players, the first real bilateral engagements took place in Hungary at the beginning of 2020.

Delegation from SAAI visits Hungary – January 2020

Executive delegates from the South African Agricultural Initiative (SAAI), traveled to Hungary to participate in various official bilateral engagements. SAAI https://saai.org/en/ This delegation comprised of Dr. Theo de Jager – Chairman and Executive Director of SAAI, and the Mr. Francois Rossouw – CEO of SAAI.

Media Links to this visit:

SAAI / AfriForum: https://afriforum.co.za/saai-op-pad-om-landboubande-in-hongarye-en-duitsland-uit-te-brei/

Meetings took place with various important role-players in Hungary

Meetings and engagements with:

• Mr. István Jakab – Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian Parliament
  o President of the Association of Hungarian Farmers and Cooperatives (MAGOSZ),
• Prof. Richárd Hörcsik – Parliamentarian & Chairman of the Hungarian Parliamentary Committee for European Union (EU) Affairs
• Hungarian Chamber of Agriculture (NAK)
  o President of NAK – Mr. Balázs Győrffy (also member of Parliament)
  o Dr. Balázs Szabó – Director of International Affairs and Trade (at NAK)
• Hungary Helps
  o Representatives of the Christian Communities Assistance Organisation

We started this friendship group to connect Hungarians and South Africans, with common interests.

Do you have Hungarian ancestry and are interested in connecting with your Hungarian roots?

Are you interested in connecting with South Africans living in Hungary?

Are you interested in connecting with South Africans doing business in Hungary and Central Europe?