Singapore celebrates diamond jubilee

The High Commission in Pretoria transformed the Chancery into a Singapore hawker centre as nations strengthen economic ties

- Marion Smith

Singapore's high commission in Pretoria pulled out all the stops last week to mark the island nation's 60th anniversary of independence, hosting an elaborate reception that served as both cultural celebration and diplomatic statement.

The 14 August event, commemorating what Singaporeans call SG60, drew 300 guests including senior government ministers, business leaders and diplomatic corps representatives from across the region.

The timing carried special significance, coinciding with South Africa's National Women's Day. High commissioner Zainal Arif Mantaha acknowledged this convergence in his address, invoking the Women's Day slogan "You strike a woman, you strike a rock" as tribute to South African women's courage and resilience.

Among the distinguished guests were the minister in the presidency for planning, monitoring and evaluation, Maropene Ramokgopa, the former international relations minister, Naledi Pandor, and the former public service and administration minister, Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi. ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba and several Tshwane councillors also joined the gathering, reflecting the strong bilateral relationships built over three decades of cooperation.

The evening's centrepiece was the transformation of the high commission's BabaHouse@ZA annex into an authentic Singapore hawker centre. Colourful food stalls recreated the atmosphere of the nation's famous street food markets, complete with communal benches where guests sat side by side sampling iconic dishes.

The menu read like a tour of Singapore's multicultural heritage: Hainanese chicken rice, yong tau foo, laksa noodles, fried kway teow, chicken and tempeh satay, and beef rendang. The meal concluded with traditional sweets including sugee cake, tau huay, ondeh-ondeh, and kueh lapis. This gastronomic experience honoured Singapore's hawker culture, recently recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.