President Yasser Arafat arrives in SA

Date: 11 Aug 1998
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and Palestinian National Authority president, Yasser Arafat, arrived in Cape Town on his first state visit to South Africa at the invitation of President Nelson Mandela. The visit, from 11 to 13 August, marked continuing good relations between the African National Congress and the PLO. SA recognised the State of Palestine on 15 February 1995. Arafat's visit raised controversy among South Africa's Jewish community. Mandela awarded him South Africa's Order of Merit, Excellence Class, for foreign citizens. In exchange, Arafat gave Mandela the Star of Holy Jerusalem. Arafat died on 11 November 2004. Click here for more on Arafat.

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01Wallis, F. (2000). Nuusdagboek: feite en fratse oor 1000 jaar, Kaapstad: Human Rousseau.
02info.gov,'The President of the State of Palestine',[online],Available at www.gov.za[Accessed: 08 August 2013]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). President Yasser Arafat arrives in SA. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013380

South African History Online (2011) 'President Yasser Arafat arrives in SA', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013380 (Accessed: 6 October 2026).

South African History Online, President Yasser Arafat arrives in SA [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013380, (accessed 6 October 2026).

"President Yasser Arafat arrives in SA." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013380. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

South African History Online. "President Yasser Arafat arrives in SA." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013380.