Diplomatic relations between South Africa and the United Mexican States was established in 1993 and the South African Embassy opened in Mexico City in 1994. South Africa has an Embassy in Mexico City on a residential basis and is currently manned by Ambassador Beryl Rose Sisulu since October 2023.  The South African Embassy is also accredited non-residentially to the Central American countries, namely, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama

The South African Embassy in Mexico City is supported by a network of Honorary Consuls based in Mexico (Yucatan Peninsula and Cancun; the Western State of Jalisco, which includes the second largest city in Mexico, Guadalajara and Monterrey in the State of Nuevo Leon); and six Central American countries of accreditation mentioned above. It is important to note that Mexico is geographically a vast country that is composed of 32 States.

In February 2009, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed to establish a Bi-National Commission (BNC) between the two countries at Ministerial level.

Mexico is South Africa’s third largest trade partner in Latin America after Brazil and Argentina.   Over the years, bilateral trade has been growing, but there has been a slump in South Africa’s exports to Mexico in recent years.  There are several areas that South Africa pursues its relations with Mexico, these include technical cooperation in Border Management, Tourism, Agriculture, Education, Science and Technology, Arts, Sports and Culture among other areas.

South Africa and Mexico have similarities in terms of stages of development and the two countries trade mainly in similar products. Furthermore, Mexico is a competitor for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), especially in manufacturing due its advantage of a well-developed and diverse manufacturing sector that benefits significantly from skilled and low-cost labour, proximity and predictable access to the lucrative USA market.

The launch of the Friendship Group South Africa – Mexico provides the opportunity to strengthen and deepen cooperation with Mexico’s legislative branches. The Group can also act as a catalyst for improved relations in terms of parliamentary diplomacy and economic and commercial cooperation.

The current Mexican legislature has a total of one hundred Friendship Groups with states from across the world. The Friendship Groups are cross party groupings including members from all of Mexico’s political parties. The key objective of the Friendship Groups is to widen and strengthen political and commercial links across the world, especially in relation to parliamentary diplomacy and cooperation.

According to the South African Revenue Service trade volume data of 2024, the total bilateral trade between South Africa and Mexico was R 18.4 billion (with South Africa recording a trade balance of R 4.7 billion). According to Statistics South Africa, 4 819 Mexican tourists visited South Africa in 2024.