US President Bill Clinton arrives in Cape Town

Updated: 30 Sep 2019

US President Bill Clinton arrives in Cape Town — Caption Image source

The first American president to visit SA with his wife, President Bill Clinton, arrived with his wife Hillary at the Cape Town International Airport. Clinton was on a tour of two weeks in Africa, showing a level of interest in Africa unprecedented for a Western head of state. In an address to Parliament, Clinton said: "America has a profound and pragmatic stake in your success." The Clintons were hosted by President Nelson Mandela, who also accompanied them to Robben Island, where Mandela had spent 18 years in prison.

How we know this

01Wallis, F. (2000). Nuusdagboek: feite en fratse oor 1000 jaar, Kaapstad: Human & Rousseau.

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). US President Bill Clinton arrives in Cape Town. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013358

South African History Online (2011) 'US President Bill Clinton arrives in Cape Town', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013358 (Accessed: 10 November 2026).

South African History Online, US President Bill Clinton arrives in Cape Town [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013358, (accessed 10 November 2026).

"US President Bill Clinton arrives in Cape Town." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013358. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.

South African History Online. "US President Bill Clinton arrives in Cape Town." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013358.