Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has on behalf of South Africa congratulated Bronislaw Komorowski on his inauguration as the new President of the Republic of Poland.
"President Jacob Zuma wishes His Excellency Mr Bronislaw Komorowski everything of the best with his new position and expresses the hope that the two countries will continue to enjoy close and friendly relations during the tenure of President Komorowski as Head of State of the Republic of Poland," said the Presidency in a statement.
Komoroskwi was inaugurated on 6 August following the death of the former President, Lech Kaczynski, and 96 others in a plane crash in western Russia in April.
Kaczynski, along with his wife and a Polish delegation, including the Head of the Reserve Bank, the Army Chief and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, were travelling to Russia for the 70th anniversary of the Soviet massacre of Polish army officers in the village of Katyn when their plane crashed at Smolensk airport as it tried to land in heavy fog.
The Presidency said that it could be seen as a positive development that the people of the Republic of Poland had elected a new Head of State.
"This demonstrates the strength and courage of the people of the Republic of Poland," it said.
