South Africa has achieved greater economic growth since apartheid ended in 1994 than it did in the preceding decade, according to South Africa's Ambassador to Ireland, Ms Melanie Verwoerd.
She said industry had become more competitive, nominal and real interest rates had fallen and manufactured goods constituted a growing proportion of exports.
Delivering the Oliver Tambo lecture in Dublin last night, Ms Verwoerd said her country needed to "deal creatively and comprehensively with HIV/AIDS".
The current rate of economic growth was running between 3 and 4 per cent, which was no small achievement for a country which had negative growth until recently, but to meet the demands on the economy, growth needed to be increased to 6 per cent. This required increased foreign direct investment, trade and above all tourism.
"We dare not allow our vision, in South Africa and here in Ireland, to be clouded by exaggerated perceptions of the crime situation in South Africa," Ms Verwoerd said.