The Founder and Executive Director of ACCORD, Vasu Gounden, was invited to attend the State Banquet hosted by the South African President His Excellency Thabo Mbeki, in honour of His Excellency Mr. Hugo Chávez, President of the Bolivian Republic of Venezuela.
President Chávez was on a two day State visit to South Africa. The banquet was held at the Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria on 2 September 2008. President Chávez is the first Venezuelan President to pay a State Visit to South Africa.
