Ambassador Sejosingoe attends Commonwealth Remembrance Day ceremony 2026

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Ambassador Sejosingoe on Sunday 8 November 2026 attended the annual Remembrance Day wreath laying ceremony at the Commonwealth War Cemetery in Prague, a solemn tribute to honour the courage, service and ultimate sacrifice of military personnel and civilians who died in war.

The cemetery contains the remains of 256 Commonwealth soldiers who perished during the Second World War, including 19 South Africans. Six of the South Africans were crew members of a 34 Squadron SAAF Liberator bomber aircraft shot down on 11 September 1944, while the remaining 13 were prisoners of war who died in German captivity and were later transferred to the Prague cemetery, most notably from the Stalag IV-C Prisoner of War camp cemetery which was situated in Most (Brüx in German) in the northwestern corner of the current Czech Republic.

Ambassador Sejosingoe laying the wreath at the foot of the Memorial Cross.

 

Ambassador Sejosingoe and the Ambassador of Canada signing the Book of Condolence.

 

The Czech military band at the event.

 

Ambassador Sejosingoe and Ms Kim Holmes, a member of the South African expatriate community in the Czech Republic, at one of the graves of the 19 South Africans interred in the cemetery. Ms Holmes’ great grandfather, Mr Montague Holmes, fought in the First World War and her grandfather, Mr William Holmes, in the Second World War. Her grandfather was awarded the MBE for his tireless efforts in ensuring that veterans who served alongside Britain received the pensions they were owed but sadly passed away before he could receive it.

Ambassador Sejosingoe hosts Ms Marie Chatardová, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, for a luncheon

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Ambassador Sejosingoe on 20 October had the pleasure and honour to host Ms Marie Chatardová, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, for a luncheon at the Official Residence.

The luncheon provided an opportunity to discuss the upcoming 7th round of bilateral political consultations between the governments of South Africa and the Czech Republic to be held in Pretoria in November 2026, which will be co-chaired by Deputy Minister Chatardová and her South African counterpart, Deputy Minister Alvin Botes, as well as matters related to the African Group of Ambassadors in the Czech Republic, of which Ambassador Sejosingoe is the Dean.

Ambassador Sejosingoe and Deputy Minister Chatardová

 

Ambassador Sejosingoe delivers remarks at the Perrot Hill British School Model United Nations (PerriMUN)

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Ambassador Sejosingoe delivered remarks during the opening ceremony of the 2026 edition of the Perrot Hill British School Model United Nations (PerriMUN) held at the Bio Oko theatre in Prague on 9 October 2026. The annual event is a 4-day simulation designed to challenge and inspire learners, allowing them to build public speaking, negotiation and international relations skills while debating critical world issues. It offers a platform for delegates to engage in debates on pressing global issues. This year’s edition was also attended by learners from several other European countries.

The other guest speakers were Dr Martin Smolek, lawyer, former diplomat and Czech Constitutional Court judge since 2025 and Ms Edita Hrda, Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the European Union.

As one of the major themes on the agenda of this year’s event was human rights, Ambassador Sejosingoe was requested to talk on how South Africa overcame apartheid. In her remarks, she highlighted that it was ended through a combination of three powerful forces, namely internal resistance, international pressure and a negotiated political settlement. She left the students with the lesson from South Africa that societies succeed when people choose cooperation over division, that diplomacy, dialogue and global solidarity matters.

Ambassador Sejosingoe and the two other guest speakers, Dr Martin Smolek and Ms Edita Hrda, together with the Deputy CEO of the Perrot Hill British School, Dr Michal Hájek.
Ambassador Sejosingoe delivering her remarks.
Ambassador Sejosingoe delivering her remarks. To her left is Ms Lucie Dušková, Head Teacher at the Children’s Home.

Embassy celebrates Nelson Mandela Day 2026 at the Children’s Home in Dolní Počernice

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Ambassador Sejosingoe, Embassy staff members and their spouses and partners celebrated Nelson Mandela Day 2026 at the Children’s Home in Dolní Počernice on the outskirts of Prague on 21 July 2026. The main focus of the event was the installation by the Ambassador of a bronze plaque to commemorate the planting by her of a butterfly bush at the Home in 2024 in celebration of that year’s Nelson Mandela Day.

During her remarks, Ambassador Sejosingoe emphasised that Mandela Day is not just a date on the calendar, but a reminder of the power each of us has to make the world kinder, brighter, and more hopeful. She also noted that the bush was planted as a symbol of growth, transformation, and beauty, the same qualities President Mandela believed every young person carries within them. She left the children with the wish that when they walk past the bush, they remember that President Mandela believed in young people more than anyone else, that they can change the world not someday, but starting now, with kindness, courage, and curiosity.

  Ambassador Sejosingoe delivering her remarks. To her left is Ms Lucie Dušková, Head Teacher at the Children’s Home.

Ambassador Sejosingoe delivering her remarks. To her left is Ms Lucie Dušková, Head Teacher at the Children’s Home.

 

Ambassador Sejosingoe and Ms Dušková with the plaque installed next to the butterfly bush.

 

 

Close-up of the plaque.

 

 

Group photo following the installation of the plaque.

 

 

Ambassador Sejosingoe interacting with the children.

 

 

Children, Embassy and Children’s Home staff enjoying the food provided by the Embassy staff.