Members of South Africa's Somaliland community also showed up at Cape Town International Airport. Kahin is on his first visit to SA and will meet with business and political leaders in order to learn how to strengthen his country's democracy.Somaliland is the north-western portion of the Somali Democratic Republic and attained its independence from Somalia in 1991.

During his 11-day visit, Kahin is due to meet South Africa's top business and political leaders to learn how the country had achieved cohesion, as well as the lessons and dangers of federalism, Jhazbhay said. While Somaliland had "reasonable peace and stability" Kahin hoped to take the lessons of South Africa's experiences home "in order to build and strengthen Somaliland's emerging democracy and its hard-earned peace in the Horn of Africa".

Other areas of interest included lessons for negotiating with adversaries and ways to advance progressive African political parties. Among the "top five" business leaders Kahin is due to meet is Tokyo Sexwale, the executive chairperson of Mvelaphanda Holdings, and the Oppenheimer family. He will also meet African National Congress leaders.

Source: SABC News