“So this commission is almost a cleansing process of all the bad things that have happened in our country.”
The two countries, both recently elected to be non-permanent members of the UN Security Council for 2019/20, have also pledged to work together in protecting the current multi-lateral system, which they said was facing a threat from nationalists in various parts of the world.
“Since both our countries have been elected as non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council for 2019/20, we have agreed to work together to promote global peace and security but also to promote multilateralism and strengthen the multilateralism system,” said Ramaphosa.
Steinmeier was the first German president to undertake a state visit to South Africa since 1998.
In Germany, the role of a president is largely ceremonial, with the chancellor (prime minister) carrying the executive responsibility over the country’s government. For the past 13 years Angela Merkel served as chancellor; she has recently announced not to stand for re-election.