SOCHI, February 28. /TASS/. South African Ambassador to Russia, Nomasonto Maria Sibanda-Thusi has expressed the hope that the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to that country will take place in 2017.

"We look forward to the visit of His Excellency President Putin. He has been invited by President (Jacob) Zuma to visit South Africa. We hope it might happen in 2017," she told TASS at the Russian Investment Forum in Sochi.

The ambassador added that South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, is expected to visit Russia later this year "for the 15th anniversary of the Intergovernmental Committee." "He will be meeting with (Russian Foreign Minister Sergey - TASS) Lavrov and Natural Resources Minister (Sergey - TASS) Donskoy," she said.