Ireland–South Africa relations as premature. The Irish embassy opened in Pretoria in 1994. From the early 1960s Ireland vehemently opposed apartheid in South Africa. South African Nelson Mandela, then a dissident, later president, was awarded the Freedom of the City of Dublin in 1988 while a political prisoner; he collected the award upon his release in 1990. Diplomatic ties between the two countries were established in 1994. In November 2003, Brian Cowen, while touring Africa as Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, promised South African President Thabo Mbeki that Ireland would highlight African problems when it ascended to the Council Presidency of the European
1994 South Africa rugby union tour of New Zealand 1994 South Africa rugby union tour of New Zealand The 1994 South Africa rugby union tour of New Zealand was a series of rugby union matches played in New Zealand by the South African national rugby union team, from June - August 1994. The team played 14 matches in total; 11 against several provincial rugby teams and 3 against the New Zealand national rugby union team. South Africa won 10 out of the 11 matches against provincial sides, losing one match to Otago. They lost their first two test matches against the New Zealand national side and drew the last