Brasilia – The Deputy Minister of Public Enterprises of South Africa, Mr Obed Bapela, has concluded a productive working visit to the capital of Brazil, where he engaged with key stakeholders in the defence sector and explored Brazilian defence manufacturing and testing facilities. The visit aimed to enhance bilateral cooperation and strengthen relations between the two nations.
Accompanied by a delegation that included Ambassador Vusi Mavimbela, Ms Unathi Sityata, Head of the Deputy Minister’s Office, Mr Christian Green, Specialist in Research and Economic Modeling at the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE), as well as representatives from Denel, Col Victor Khasapane and Mr Everton Guilhão de Paula, Deputy Minister Bapela engaged in a series of high-level meetings during the visit.
Notable figures and institutions that Deputy Minister Bapela met with include the Minister of Defence of Brazil, the Secretary of Defence Products, the Deputy Chief of the Brazilian Air Force, and the Chief of the Brazilian Army Department of Science and Technology. These meetings aimed to foster dialogue and explore opportunities for collaboration in the defence sector.
During the visit, the South African delegation also visited the Brazilian Company, Components and Defence Systems (CSD), as well as the Command of Army Artillery (Formosa), where a range of Brazilian defence products were showcased.
In addition to the defence sector engagements, Deputy Minister Bapela received a courtesy call from officials of South African Airways, based in Sao Paulo. The officials briefed him on the relaunch of direct flights between Sao Paulo and Johannesburg by South African Airways, as well as the newly launched flights between Sao Paulo and Cape Town.
