The Vietnamese Embassy in South Africa on May 26 presented a package of food and protective equipment to a representative of Mbizana district, Eastern Cape province – one of the localities hardest hit by COVID-19 in the African nation.

Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to South Africa Hoang Van Loi said the gift reflects the Vietnamese Government and peoples' sentiments to and solidarity with the South African government and people in the fight against the pandemic.

He expressed his belief that under the leadership of the South African government led by President Cyril Ramaphosa, people in South Africa and Mbizana district in particular will overcome difficulties, thus creating conditions for bilateral diplomatic ties.

Governor of Mbizana district Daniswa Mafumbatha, for her part, hailed Vietnam as an example in the fight against COVID-19 and wished that Vietnam would share its experience with the African country.

She said Mbizana has a population about 320,000 people, 70% of them are young people and jobless. Therefore, the Vietnam’s gift reflects the continuation of traditional relationship between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the ruling African National Congress.

The South African National Department of Health said as of the end of May 26, the country recorded 24,262 patients infected with SARS-Cov-2, including 524 deaths.

Eastern Cape reported the country's third largest number of infections with 2,864 cases, accounting for 11.8% of the total nationwide.