Negotiations are proceeding between South Africa and the affected Gulf Cooperation Council countries to have the ban lifted as soon as possible. Since succeeding his father in March 1999, the present ruler of Bahrain, Sheik Hamed Bin Issa Al-Khalifa has embarked on a program of liberalisation, which culminated in the referendum of February 2001. The immediate changes include the abolition of oppressive security laws, which were principally passed to quell opposition activity among the island s Shiite majority. Qi tat Jaradah island, ownership of which had hitherto been contested between Bahrain and Qatar. Although South Africa established its first resident embassy in the Gulf in Manama in 1993 it presently has no permanent resident representation on the island.
Bilateral trade is limited.
A Consular Agent in Manama promotes South Africa s interests. South Africa hopes to attract Bahraini investments to its shores. In August 2001 Mr. Ben Ngubane, the Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, visited Iran. The visit led to further forms of mutually advantageous cooperation between the two countries especially between the universities. The universities of Pretoria, Cape Town , the Witwatersrand and the Western Cape are already involved in several cooperation projects, among them the exchange of post-graduate students.