Pretoria — The South African government has recommitted its support to Egypt's diplomatic effort to find a lasting and peaceful solution to the political situation in Sudan and the Middle East.

Delivering her address at the 58th Anniversary of the Arab Republic of Egypt held in Pretoria on Thursday, Social Development Minister Edna Molewa said South Africa supported the cause of achieving peace and development in Africa.

"The South African government will within the framework of regional and global structures of the African Union and Non- Aligned Movement, and as a member of the United Nations, support the lofty cause of achieving peace and development in Africa and will be ready to join hands with the Arab Republic of Egypt and other African countries to work for a new world of lasting peace, mutual respect, unity and cooperation, and common prosperity," Molewa said.

She noted that even though formal diplomatic ties were interrupted between the two countries during the apartheid era, ties with the liberation movement remained strong and after the first democratic elections the countries were able to restore formal diplomatic ties.

In 1995 South Africa and Egypt established the South Africa/Egypt Joint Bilateral Commission (JBC), which provides a forum for the exchange of ideas and formalising and implementing bilateral political and economic agreements.

During the 8th session of the South Africa/ Egypt JBC in March this year, the countries committed to a new framework for further development of diplomatic relations as part of consolidating the African century.

Molewa said she was convinced that the outcome of 8th session would allow government to expand the scale of mutually beneficial relations, particularly in the area of social development.