PRETORIA - Friends and relatives of former South Africa's envoy to Nigeria and the United Nations in Switzerland, Ambassador Sipho George Nene, gathered at the department of international relations and cooperation (Dirco) in Pretoria on Thursday, paying tribute to the highly-regarded diplomat who died last week.
Former deputy minister of foreign affairs Aziz Pahad said after serving in Nigeria, Nene was appointed to serve as South Africa’s permanent representative in Geneva.
"Once again, George had to use all his experience and expertise to deal with the complex multilateral challenges including human rights -- which had become a smokescreen for pressures on governments for regime change, refugees, migration, and weapons of mass destruction. It is now commonly known that George became one of the most active and popular diplomats in Geneva,” Pahad told the sombre gathering.
He said when Nene finished in Geneva he returned to the department of foreign affairs, and was appointed as deputy director general for multi-lateralism.
Pahad said Nene’s long career as a diplomat has many lessons for young South Africans.