Republic Day event cements Jewish-Indian cooperation 

South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) KwaZulu-Natal Council President Alana Pugh-Jones Baranov was invited to attend the 77th Republic Day of India on Tuesday, 27 January. 

The event, which brought together members of the diplomatic corps in KwaZulu-Natal, local and provincial government, as well as business and community leaders, highlighted the deepening friendship and cooperation between India and South Africa. 

Pugh-Jones Baranov was invited by the consul general of India in Durban, Niteen Subhash Yeola. 

“We look forward to engaging further with the Indian Consulate in Durban and continuing to work closely with the Indian South African community,” said Pugh-Jones Baranov. 

“As well as having met the Indian consul general one-on-one towards at the end of last year as SAJBD KwaZulu-Natal president, I and other SAJBD KwaZulu-Natal council members met the national leadership of the Hindu community in South Africa, the Hindu Maha Sabha, based in KwaZulu-Natal,” said Baranov. 

“It is clear that the Indian and Jewish communities in South Africa have many similarities and similar concerns and challenges, and that we share many cultural and community links with lots of areas for cooperation and friendship.”