To mark the 30th anniversary of Masibambane College, Christian Meidlinger, President of the Vienna Provincial Parliament, travelled to the province of Gauteng in the north of South Africa. Located in the Orange Farm township near Johannesburg, the school was built and expanded between 1996 and 2007 with support from the City of Vienna. Today, more than 1,200 children and young people attend the school, from primary through to secondary level graduation.
Meidlinger emphasised that the City of Vienna is very proud that this school project has given hope and the chance of a better life to so many children and their families. He thanked the NGO Education Africa, which has supported the project from the very beginning, as well as the many private organisations and sponsors who ensure its continued success.
Vienna's goal of climate neutrality makes a strong impression
As well as taking part in the celebrations, Meidlinger used the trip to Johannesburg, Africa's economic hub, to hold numerous high-level talks. The focus was on discussions with Panyaza Lesufi, the Premier of Gauteng Province, who expressed great interest in Vienna's dual vocational training system. The meeting was attended by the Austrian Ambassador, Romana Königsbrun, and the Deputy Trade Commissioner, Sabrina Fuchs.
Morakane Mosupyoe, Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, was impressed by Vienna's goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2040 and expressed a wish to intensify the exchange of ideas on this topic. She also gave Meidlinger a tour of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature's premises in the historic Johannesburg City Hall.
Vienna's waste management as a role model
The Mayor of Johannesburg, Dada Morero, expressed particular interest in Vienna's waste management and incineration systems. He showed great interest in knowledge exchange and was invited to visit Vienna to see its best-practice models.
Another highlight was the discussion on workers' rights with the International Secretary of COSATU, the Congress of South African Trade Unions.
The programme, organised by the Austrian Embassy in Pretoria, also included visits to two preschools in the townships of Diepsloot and Orange Farm, which are supported by Education Africa. Meidlinger was deeply impressed by the work of the teachers, who are also being trained with the support of the association Friends of Education Africa in Vienna.
Background
South Africa is Austria's most important trading partner in Africa. Following Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen's visit in July 2025, cooperation has intensified further. The visit by the First President of the Vienna Provincial Parliament expands the positive momentum to provincial and municipal levels. Despite major challenges such as unemployment and infrastructure deficits, South Africa remains an economic powerhouse on the continent, with a population of around 65 million living in its nine provinces. Education and dual vocational training, as successfully implemented in Vienna, are regarded as the key to the future.