BuaNews (Tshwane)
Luyanda Makapela
9 May 2008
Johannesburg — The new State Protocol Lounge which was opened at OR Tambo International Airport on Thursday will serve as the face of the country to international delegates arriving in the country.
Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma said this is because the lounge embraces South African leaders, who fought for liberation.
"We believe it would serve as a great pathway for our national and international delegates," said the minister while unveiling the State Protocol Lounge plaque.
The event, attended by ambassadors and high commissioners of various countries to South Africa, conveyed an unequivocal message to people of the country, the minister said.
"This [lounge] should serve as a reminder to us that we should not treat this as work but as the face and first contact with our people and delegates departing and arriving in the country," said Dr Dlamini Zuma.
She appealed to the staff at the lounge to make sure that people travelling long journeys "rest and pause" before and after embarking on long trips.
The minister thanked Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) for working together with her department in making sure the construction of the lounge was a success.
ACSA General Manager Chris Hlekane said his company would continue working together with other stakeholders to improve conditions at the OR Tambo International Airport.
"This is one of the projects that are in our pipeline and we are proud to deliver products of this nature as we are looking forward, and more than ready, for the 2010 FIFA World Cup," said Mr Hlekane.
In March, ACSA announced that airline passengers with disabilities will soon receive improved treatment.
A meeting, held early March between role players in the industry and representatives from disability organisations, addressed concerns about services at airports for passengers with disabilities and how to find immediate, short and long term initiatives to meet their needs.
"The entire role players indicated that they are committed to working together to improve overall service standards while continuously explore other ways of ensuring that the facilitation of disabled passengers are enhanced," ACSA's Communication Manager, Solomon Makgale said at the time.
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