Egypt's interim President Adly Mansour met on Sunday with senior South African officials in Cairo who affirmed their country’s support for Egypt's democratic transition and its war against terrorism.

According to Al-Ahram's Arabic news website, the delegation brought a message from South African President Jacob Zuma extending his support and acknowledging Egypt's crucial importance regarding African and Middle Eastern affairs.

Zuma's statement further said that South Africa is looking forward to seeing Egypt regain its status on both regional and global levels.

For his part, Mansour expressed his gratitude for Zuma's initiative to “heal the rift” between the two African states.

South Africa was among the most-vocal critics of the ouster of president Mohamed Morsi, describing his removal and the suspension of Egypt's national charter as "unconstitutional" and a breach of the norms and standards adopted by the African Union (AU).

Egypt's AU membership was suspended on 5 July, two days after Morsi's removal, in accordance with the union's strict rules against unconstitutional changes of government.

However, Sunday's meeting in Cairo was arranged to bring the South African delegation up to speed on current events in Egypt so that it could relay a "correct and honest image" to President Zuma, according to Mansour's presidential spokeman Ihab Badawi.

The South African delegation consisted of state security minister Siyabonga Cwele, presidential legal advisor Michael Hulley, director-general of state security agency Sonto Kudjoe and South Africa's ambassador in Cairo, Noluthando Mayende-Sibiya.

Hamdy Loza, Egypt's deputy foreign minister for African affairs, was also present at the meeting.

Mansour said that he hoped the exchange of good will between the two countries would translate into tangible actions to benefit the joint interest of African states in general and Egypt and South Africa in particular.









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