Pretoria - Congratulatory remarks continued to pour in following the official declaration of South Sudan as an independent State on Saturday.
President Jacob Zuma joined other African leaders in wishing the new country, which was formed in accordance with the provisions of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), well.
"This historic moment is a fulfillment of the wishes of the people of South Sudan for self determination," the Department of International Relations and Cooperation said on Zuma's arrival to South Sudan on Saturday.
It said the President was also expected to use his attendance as an opportunity to strengthen political and economic relations between Khartoum and Pretoria.
"The independence of the Republic of South Sudan marks the beginning of a new journey during which South Sudan institutions must work together to consolidate democracy, government and parliamentary institutions and address the pressing challenges that the country faces," the department said.
South Africa welcomed the recent signing of two crucial temporary arrangements for the administration and security of the Abyei region between the Government of the Republic of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM).
The agreements also included the signing on 28 June 2011 of the Framework Agreement on Political Partnership between the National Congress Party (NCP) and SPLM (Northern Sector) on Political Partnership and Political and Security Arrangements in Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan between the Government of Sudan and the SPLM (Northern Sector).
"These significant developments come at a crucial time when the two parties to the CPA need to apply all efforts to ensure the peaceful transition and birth of a new State. South Africa has confidence that the African Union High Level Implementation Panel, led by former President Mbeki, will reap more positive results in the negotiations between the parties to the CPA over the outstanding post-referendum issues."
The department added that Pretoria will continue to support efforts aimed at ensuring a peaceful and stable environment in South Sudan that will create conditions for the entrenchment of democracy and the development of government institutions for the betterment of the people of that country.