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Au Revoir, A Bittersweet Celebration of South Africa By Owen G. Leroy
The ceremony was cancelled due to weather.
BITTERSWEET CELEBRATION
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By Owen G. Leroy
The Consulate General of the Republic of South Africa in Chicago is closing its consular office in December.
The iconic flagship and proud Jewel of the Continent of Africa, here in Chicago, will be swept into the wastebasket of history and will no longer serve our proud city.
What's going on? Why have you forsaken Chicago?
Indeed, ever since its inception in 1987 at 200 S. Michigan Ave, it has been rumored that the Consulate was on the chopping block.
This classic office space laden with polished mahogany is located on the 6th floor of the Borg Warner Building. It opened up its doors to the public with a staff of twenty-five employees. Now there are few diplomats and a bevy of locally-recruited personnel.
Who can forget that extraordinary time when South Africa held its first democratic election?
That day, the Chicago Consulate became a satellite polling station for South Africa.Voters lined up for blocks on Michigan Avenue to cast their precious vote. They came from as far away as the State of Washington. Just to cast a vote, to exercise for the first time in their lives, a right which many of us in this–so called democratic country–take for granted.
Her Excellency, the Honorable Homaindiya Cathleem Mfeketo, Ambassador in Washington DC, was here to review the office and speak to the staff.
Undoubtedly, the officers and the locally-recruited personnel (LRPs) will be sorely missed. We extend our Best Wishes as they move into their next venture. Let’s hope that the decision to close will once again be reversed.