Exclusive Interview
Prior to assuming the role of Consul General in Toronto in March 2010, Ms. Tselane Mokuena served as Consul General in Munich. Prior to this, she was the Chief Director for Southern Africa in South Africa’s Department of Foreign Affairs overseeing bilateral relations with the Southern African Development Community (SADC). She also advised the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Presidency on issues of bilateral concern and worked closely with the Presidency on the Presidential Economic Commissions between South Africa, Namibia, Tanzania and Mozambique. She played a key role in South Africa’s assistance of the 2007 elections in the DRC and programme for post conflict reconstruction and development in both the DRC and Angola.

TABJ: Thank you for meeting with us and sharing your experience so far. How does this post differ from your work in Munich?

TM: Since moving to Toronto, I have had to orientate my mind completely out of the automobile sector and into the mining sector, but it’s been an interesting shift because I was born in the mining towns in South Africa. I was born in the small town of Winburg in the Free State, but a year after I was born my parents moved to an area called the Gold Fields of Free State. It’s one of the greatest gold mining areas in the whole of South Africa. The transition dealing with the mining sector is a very welcome transition.

TABJ: How do you think your knowledge of South Africa mining will translate to Canada?

TM: I think the advantage we have in South Africa in terms of mining comes from having some of the deepest mines in the world. We have developed the kind of expertise over time which I think Canadian mines are only now really beginning to get. South Africa has a lot of skills it can transfer, skills we can introduce to the Canadian market.

The Canadian Minister of Trade has just come back from South Africa. His mission really there was promote Canadian interest and build on investor relations in key South African industries. This has greatly assisted in the improvement of South African and Canadian relations. This visit was quite key. His main point was there could be a lot of skills transfers on both sides. He acknowledged there could be mutual skills transfer which we could build on.

TABJ: Please describe the work you have been doing at the Consul.

TM: The very first week of my arrival, I found the Consul quite welcoming. It was a very nice transition to be welcomed into the community like that. South Africa is a very diverse country and there are other consuls and communities which I have not yet met. In a country as vast as Canada and you have an embassy, but if the government wants to reach out to certain sectors, you establish a Consul to link up to the economic sector and with the South African community because we provide civil and immigration services.

We have come a long way with Canada. Canada was one of the first countries who provided sanctuary to South Africans who fled apartheid. Recently, we had the Freedom Day celebrations where I met families who have been here 40 years, some of whom have come to my office to say hello. It humbles me to know we have so many of our freedom fighters who were hosted by Canada. It brings warmth to your heart to know what they have gone through for all of us to be free, and for them to not be part of that freedom in their country.

TABJ: How do you feel the mining industry has helped or hindered the country of South Africa?

TM: It’s a bit of a difficult question. I come from a mining town and have seen certain things first hand. Companies would come to South Africa and mining cities to extract and then vanish once they were done. The devastation that was left at the time prior to the demise of apartheid stems from the fact that companies were not obligated to do much for the communities in which they worked and, as a result, there was not very much economic activity once the mines shut down. The best employment was offered by the mine, but if that employment ceased, there was no alternative. That has been the plight of most mining cities in South Africa. However, following the New Government coming into being in 1994, the mining charter was announced and mining laws were promulgated which put obligations on mining companies to behave a certain way. There is an emphasis now on beneficiation around communities. We require the companies to be socially responsible and adopt programs around the communities.

TABJ: That is an international movement for mining, certainly. You mentioned before that Canada has been beneficial to South Africa. What are your thoughts on South Africa’s vitality and the overall state and potential of the country?

TM: Of course, I am optimistic! I have seen a lot of changes in our society since 1994. Having come from a community of historically disadvantaged people we can marvel at the steps the government has made to improve the lot of South African who were affected by the vestiges of apartheid. Things you would ordinarily take for granted are improved: having shelter, running water, plumbing, to improve health and sanitary conditions. It means a lot to me. Growing up, I didn’t have these things. There are certain things I appreciate that my children would not because they are “born free”— those are the things we can never take for granted.

There have been improvements in a number of areas for participation in the economy of the country, introducing the BEE legislation to ensure companies recognize and give a stake to Africans, enabling everyone to participate in the economy of the country. Now, you find participation in various economic entities: mining, provision of infrastructure, farming, wine, energy, and so on.

It is getting better. In every society there will be people who want change to happen yesterday. With South Africa, it’s difficult, but change is happening every day. We can’t improve on 300-plus years in 16 years. In 16 years, you cannot have dealt with all the challenges we faced. However, our generation is feeling the changes and experiencing changes our government brought 16 years ago.

I can tell you we have produced more houses during this period than ever produced during that period of apphartied. We have been able to electrify houses including rural areas. People are now able to telephone loved ones. We have also introduced the cell phone system.

TABJ: How do you and your colleagues use this position to help that cause?

TM: Part of my responsibility is to meet companies, promote exports and investments. Of course, part of our responsibilities is to meet with companies, talk to them, present to them opportunities that exist within south Africa, and present to them requirements of our country if you really want to do business in our country. There are many ways companies can give back, so we explain the government requirements for participation in South Africa. Really, it takes those that really understand where the country comes from to understand that it’s not asking too much. If we do not take that step, South Africa will not change because the wealth has been in the hands of just a few and we need to distribute it more, and make sure everyone participates.

To have been part of my government and to be part of these changes, because part of what I do is make sure I integrate our people into the work force, is rewarding. Pre-1994, the civil service in South Africa was quite under-represented; part of my journey was to ensure we get representation into the civil service of our government. That has been quite fulfilling. I have brought in young deployments and bright minds—it has been a pleasure.

TABJ: Of course, there will be an unprecedented party when the World Cup comes to South Africa. Would you like to share some thoughts on that?

TM: Interesting subject—it’s going to be fun, fun, fun! My husband tells me that I will not recognize my country when I go back. Infrastructure is booming! The government invested a lot of money to ensure we have state-of-the-art infrastructure. I think we have surprised a lot of countries, and people coming to South Africa for the first time are in for a rude surprise. We have also made a lot of improvements on existing stadiums, roads bridges, houses and so on. The amount of money set aside by government was not only for stadiums, but also to improve the lives of the people.

I now always conclude any speech with saying this is a party that the world has never seen before. This is the mother of all parties!

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