Mr. Dumisani Job Sithole, chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, accompanied by eight members of the South African Parliament and the ambassador of South Africa to the Palestinian Authority visited the University today.

The South African delegation met with President Rami Hamdallah and discussed the possibilities of cooperation between the higher education institutions in South Africa and An-Najah.  The meeting was also attended by Dr. Maher Natsheh, vice president for academic affairs.  The two sides exchanged initial ideas in this regard and it was agreed to further explore these ideas.

President Hamdallah also briefed the visiting deleagtion on the history of An-Najah National University as a leading academic institiuon in Palestine and its future plans for expansion including the construction of a new teaching hopsotal.

The South African delegation expressed their admiration of what have been achieved and the level of education offered by the University since its inception in 1977.   They wished the University and the Palestinian people success and prosperity.

The reason for the delegation's visit to An-Najah, said the South African ambassador, is to gain a deeper insight into the academic context in Palestine and it is also hoped that closer links between the University and South African academic institutions will emerge from initiatives discussed during the delegation's visit.
During the visit, Mr. Sithole and the South African Ambassador to the Palestinian Authority, gave a lecture entitled, "The engagement of youth in the South African experience and struggle."

By the end of the lecture, Mr. Sithole and the South African ambassador answered the questions raised by An-Najah's students concerning the South African experience and the plans to improve freindly relations between Palestine and South Africa.  Mr. Sithole ended his lecture with, "Palestinian students are future leaders of free and independent Palestine."