South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) Wednesday strongly objected to the use of the country’s symbol at a meeting in Morocco where former president Jacob Zuma held a meeting with a senior official.
Zuma, who is the leader of Umkhonto We Sizwe Party, visited Morocco and held a meeting in Rabat on 15 July 2025, with the kingdom’s foreign minister Mr Nasser Bourita.
”Whilst recognition we respect the sovereign right of Morocco to invite individuals and groups, DIRCO, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of South Africa, strongly protests the use of South African national symbols, in this instance the use of the South African National Flag, in the meeting between Mr Jacob Zuma and the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Morocco”.
DIRCO said the use of the South African national flag in a meeting with a member of an opposition party, which is a non-state actor, ”constitutes an abuse of existing protocol and decorum, and undermines official bilateral relations between the Republic of South Africa and the Kingdom of Morocco”.
South Africa said it has indicated to Morocco that the display of national symbols inherently conveys official state endorsement and elevates the perception of the encounter to that of a state-to-state engagement.
”This characterisation is inconsistent with established diplomatic protocol, as the participants did not represent the official positions or engagements of the South African state” DIRCO said in a statement.
”Consequently, this portrayal cannot be recognised as an official bilateral meeting, and the implications drawn from it are firmly rejected” the statement added.
The South African government said it ”holds the firm view that the use of its national symbols in contexts implying official state endorsement of non-governmental engagements is inappropriate, irrespective of setting”.
In the spirit of fostering and maintaining cordial and friendly bilateral relations, and consistent with the fundamental principles of mutual respect between sovereign states and non-interference in internal affairs, South Africa respectfully encourages the government of Morocco to refrain from such actions.
”Upholding these shared principles is essential for the continued positive development of relations between our two nations” it said.
WN/as/APA