The out-going South African Ambassador to Rwanda, Ezra M. Sigwela, on Friday bid farewell to President Paul Kagame at the end of his diplomatic mission.

"Our season of staying and working for our country in Rwanda, building the relations between Rwanda and South Africa, has come to an end,” he said at Urugwiro Village.

"And as we go back, our hearts are definitely in the country,” said Sigwela who was accompanied by his wife Gladys.

"We have lived with the people of Rwanda, we have seen that they are brothers and sisters, culturally and otherwise,” Sigwela said.

He emphasised that what is needed now was for both countries to identify with each other, with regard to shared challenges.

"I am going back to South Africa with a report that we need to continue strengthening our relations with Rwanda rather than let them fall,” he noted, adding that many triumphs had been registered during his stay, including their assistance in building a school, Remera academy, in Kigali.

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