Historical Relations

South Africa and India have shared a century-long, mutually beneficial relationship, solidified by the presence of a substantial South African population of Indian descent that is deeply integrated into South African society.

The initial arrival of Indians in South Africa dates back to the Dutch colonial era, when they were brought as slaves in 1684. However, the majority of the modern South African Indian community can trace their lineage to Indians who arrived in South Africa from 1860 onwards. These individuals came to South Africa in two distinct categories: indentured workers and ‘free’ or ‘passenger’ Indians. The first group of 342 indentured labourers from Madras (Chennai) arrived on 16 November 1860, aboard the SS Truro, followed by another group from Calcutta (Kolkata) on the Belvedere.

South Africa and India have produced two twentieth century icons in the persons of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela. Mahatma Gandhi arrived in South Africa in 1893. He stayed in South Africa for 21 years and played a significant role in advocating for the rights and welfare of indentured labourers during his time as a lawyer and activist in South Africa. One of Gandhi’s notable contributions was his involvement in the formation of the Natal Indian Congress (NIC) in 1894, an organisation dedicated to representing the interests of Indian immigrants. Gandhi introduced the Satyagraha philosophy of passive resistance in 1906. He returned to India in 1914.

Gandhi’s philosophy and teachings impacted on the liberation struggle in South Africa and were an inspiration for millions of South Africans as witnessed by the mobilisation during the 1952 defiance campaign. India was Gandhi’s country of birth, South Africa his country of adoption.

India, which gained independence in 1947, was an active supporter of the international liberation struggle and also a staunch supporter of the fight for freedom and democracy in South Africa. India was the first country to terminate economic ties in the late 1940s since it was absolutely against and opposed to the apartheid policy. Later, India imposed full diplomatic, commercial, cultural, and sporting sanctions on South Africa.

India made a concerted effort to bring the apartheid issue up at nearly every multilateral forum, including the UN, NAM, Commonwealth, and other regional organisations, to impose comprehensive sanctions on the apartheid regime. By permitting the African National Congress (ANC) to establish an office in New Delhi in the 1960s, India helped enabling South Africans to gain access to international forums. In January 1987, India organised the International Youth Conference against Apartheid in New Delhi to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the African National Congress.

In 2002, South Africa bestowed the Supreme Order of the Companions of O.R. Tambo in Gold on Mahatma Gandhi. Other recipients include Jawaharlal Nehru in 2005, V K Krishna Menon in 2008, Rajni Kumar in 2012 and Enuga Sreenivasulu Reddy in 2013.

Diplomatic Relations and Strategic Partnership

After a forty-year gap, the two nations’ diplomatic, cultural, trade, and sporting ties were restored on 22 November 1993 during trip to India by the former South African Foreign Minister, Mr Pik Botha. This was preceded by the opening in May 1993 of an Indian cultural centre in Johannesburg.

After the end of Apartheid, South Africa established its High Commission in New Delhi and opened a Consulate General in Mumbai in April 1994. The Indian High Commission in Pretoria (https://www.hcipretoria.gov.in/) was officially opened in May 1994 and India is also represented through Consulates in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town.

The inaugural State Visit to India by a South African Head of State occurred in March 1997. Former President Nelson Mandela laid the groundwork for the Strategic Partnership between the two nations by signing the Red Fort Declaration, which outlined the parameters for a revitalised relationship. This Strategic Partnership was subsequently reaffirmed in the Tshwane Declaration in October 2006. These declarations embody the shared vision, common values, and comprehensive scope of bilateral and multilateral engagement between the two countries, identifying areas of substantial mutual interest based on a shared agenda. Fundamental principles, encompassing democracy, human rights, sustainable development, and the imperative to challenge the prevailing global system and financial architecture, are pivotal in the aforementioned documents. India and South Africa are leading voices in challenging the status quo and agitating for a more inclusive, equitable and just world-order. Poverty alleviation and underdevelopment are mutually acknowledged as shared challenges.

The most recent State Visit to India was in 2019, when President Cyril Ramaphosa served as the Chief Guest at the 70^th Republic Day festivities held in New Delhi on 26 January 2019. Subsequently, on 9 and 10 September 2023, President Ramaphosa embarked on a working visit to New Delhi to participate in the G20 Leaders’ Summit.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s most recent visit to South Africa took place from 22 to 24 August 2023, for the 15^th BRICS Summit. In July 2018, Prime Minister Modi paid an official visit to South Africa to participate in the 10^th BRICS Summit. His last bilateral visit to South Africa was from 7 to 9 July 2016.

Relations between South Africa and India are managed through a Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) with Sub-Committees and Joint Working Groups (JWG), as well as the Foreign Office Consultations (FOC), which is held at senior officials’ level. The FOC also acts as a review mechanism of the implementation of the JMC decisions.

The most recently held JMC was the 10^th JMC, which was co-chaired by former Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Naledi Pandor, and the Indian Minister of External Affairs, Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on 17 January 2020 in New Delhi. Key achievements of the 10^th JMC included implementation of the Visa Simplification Agreement as well as the roll out of the e-visa system for Indian nationals, the announcement of the hard launch of the Gandhi Mandela Artisan Skills Centre, the identification of two agricultural products for Indian market access, as well as positive consideration of customised training courses for South African civil servants. The most recent FOC meeting was held in New Delhi on 3 August 2022.

Over the last three decades, South Africa and India concluded several bilateral agreements in diverse areas ranging from economic and commercial cooperation, defence, culture, health, human settlements, public administration and science and technology.

Economic relations between South Africa and India have grown exponentially since 1993. In 2023, South Africa was India’s largest trading partner on the African Continent and India is South Africa’s second largest trading partner in Asia.

According to the South African Revenue Services, India was ranked as the eighth largest export destination for South Africa and the fourth largest source of imports in 2023. Total trade between the two countries in 2023 was USD 13 billion with South African exports to India at approximately USD 5 billion and imports from India approximately USD 7 billion. Mainly due to an increase in the imports of refined fuel products, South Africa’s deficit with India grew from USD 2.2 billion in 2022 to USD 2.75 billion in 2023. Distillate fuel products account for about 33% of South Africa’s total imports from India. Other imports from India include predominantly manufactured goods such as vehicles, cell phones, pharmaceuticals, mechanical appliances, and electrical machinery. The bulk of South African exports to India are primary commodities, with coal alone contributing 71% of total exports to India.

India has emerged as an essential source of foreign direct investment for South Africa and continues to actively contribute to the country’s investment drive. According to latest information, India’s total Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in South Africa is approximately USD 8 billion, whilst South Africa’s investment in India is approximately USD 2 billion. Key priorities for future investments in South Africa are in the health-care sector, global business services, defence and aerospace, energy, automotive components, and agro-processing. South Africa is also pursuing exchanges in critical skills, higher education, and training opportunities.

The absence of a direct flight between India and South Africa is a barrier from both a business and tourism perspective. The potential for tourism cannot be underestimated. Close to 80 000 Indian travellers visited South Africa in 2023 making India South Africa’s largest source market in Asia and the sixth largest in the world.

Defence Cooperation

Defence Cooperation between India and South Africa officially commenced in 1996 with the signing of an MoU on “Cooperation in the field of Defence Equipment” which was further revised by an MoU on “Defence Cooperation” in 2000. Consequently, an India and South Africa Joint Defence Committee (JDC) co-chaired by the Defence Secretaries of both countries was instituted, with eight editions of the same held till date.

India and South Africa have a shared interest in keeping the Indian Ocean region safe and secure, both from maritime and environmental threats, and regularly exchange high-level military delegations to enhance military cooperation between the two countries as well as multilateral defence cooperation, such as the 8th edition of Exercise IBSAMAR, a joint naval exercise involving South Africa, Brazil, and India, which was successfully concluded from 06 to 18 October 2024.

A South African defence delegation led by former Ms. Thandi Ruth Modise, Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, visited India from 18 to 22 October 2022 to participate in DefExpo 2022 at Gandhinagar and on the sidelines of DefExpo, the delegation also attended India-Africa Defence Dialogue and Indian Ocean Region Defence Ministers’ Conclave.

The South African Defence Forces regularly participates in training programmes hosted by India, most notably:

• 3-week sail training capsule for South African naval trainees in 2022 in Goa
• the MILAN exercises held in India from 18-27 February 2024 where a SA Navy delegation led by the Chief of SA Navy participated in and in February/March 2022 another delegation led by Director Maritime Warfare.
• two SAN officers were trained on the functioning of the Centre, and the importance of maritime information sharing to ensure maritime security challenges in common areas of the Indian Ocean Region.

In a first, an eight-member Indian Navy team undertook an Operational Sea Training and Safety Audit of SAS Mendi, at Simons Town, South Africa from October 2-13, 2023. The Indian Navy team from Headquarters Sea Training (HQST) worked in collaboration with the South African Navy (SAN) Operational Sea Training Team (OST) Team.

Following from the Indian Navy’s visit to South Africa, a nine-member delegation from South African Navy (SAN) led by RAdm (JG) Nevielie Kurt Howell, visited Headquarters Sea Training (HQST) at Southern Naval Command (SNC) from 21-31 October 2024. The visit was aimed at enhancing bilateral Naval training cooperation between the two Navies through Operational Sea Training (OST) of ships and submarines conducted by Indian Navy’s FOST Organisation.

The visit focused on understanding various facets of conduct of Work Up through exposure to Harbour and Sea training activities undertaken by Indian Naval Work Up Team at Kochi. It also included visits to various training schools and establishments under SNC.

The diplomatic relations between South Africa and Bangladesh have evolved significantly since their formal establishment on 10 September 1994. This relationship was initiated following the end of Apartheid in South Africa and the election of Nelson Mandela as President, marking a new era of international cooperation and goodwill.

Before the end of apartheid, Bangladesh had imposed a ban on its citizens traveling to South Africa. However, with the advent of democracy in South Africa, Bangladesh quickly moved to establish formal diplomatic ties. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh attended Nelson Mandela’s inauguration, symbolizing the beginning of a strong bilateral relationship.

Bangladesh has a High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa, which was opened on February 27, 1995. Both countries are also members of the Commonwealth of Nations, which further strengthens their diplomatic and cultural tie.

Economic cooperation between the two nations has been relatively balanced. In 2014, South African exports to Bangladesh were valued at approximately 852 million rand, while Bangladeshi exports to South Africa were worth around 745 million rand. This trade relationship highlights the mutual benefits and the potential for further economic collaboration.

There is a significant Bangladeshi community in South Africa, estimated to be around 300,000 people as of 2020. Many Bangladeshis in South Africa are involved in entrepreneurial activities, contributing to the local economy and fostering cultural exchange between the two nations.

In recent years, there have been several notable developments in the diplomatic relations between South Africa and Bangladesh. In August 2023, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh attended the BRICS summit in South Africa, where she actively sought to strengthen business ties and attract South African investment to Bangladesh. During her visit, she emphasized the potential for economic collaboration and invited South African entrepreneurs to explore investment opportunities in Bangladesh.

Additionally, in February 2023, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam of Bangladesh held bilateral talks with Deputy Foreign Minister of South Africa Candith Mashego Dlamini in Pretoria. They discussed various areas of cooperation, including the potential for a visa waiver agreement for diplomatic and official passport holders, and an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation. These discussions aimed to facilitate contacts and increase trade and investment between the two countries.

The diplomatic relations between South Africa and Bangladesh are characterized by mutual respect, economic cooperation, and cultural exchange. The foundation of this relationship lies in the shared values of democracy and development, inspired by the legacy of leaders like Nelson Mandela. As both nations continue to work closely, their partnership is expected to grow stronger, contributing to regional and global stability.

The bilateral relations between South Africa and Nepal have been marked by growing mutual trust and deeper understanding. Nepal, as vice-chair of the United Nations Special committee against Apartheid, significantly contributed to the elimination of apartheid in South Africa. South Africa and Nepal hold similar views on issues relating to the promotion of peace, democracy, human rights and right to development of developing countries at the United Nations and other international forums. Both countries are active members of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and involved in UN Peacekeeping operations.

Trade relations between South Africa and Nepal remain modest. The major economic interaction with Nepal remains the flow of adventure tourists from South Africa. Niche areas with potential for South African companies exist in the areas of defence- and mining equipment and agro-processing and agro-products.

The first by Senior Officials of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) to Nepal since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1994, took place from 13 to 16 June 2012. This laid the groundwork for the first visit by a Deputy Minister, Ms Mfeketo, to Nepal from 20 to 22 August 2015.  Key outcomes of the visit, which reviewed bilateral relations, was the identification of new areas of co-operation specifically in the field of economic diplomacy.  

The last senior level exchange between the two countries was the SA-Nepal inaugural bilateral consultations held on 10 March 2022 in Pretoria. The Consultations were co-chaired by the DIRCO Acting DDG: Asia and Middle East at the time, Ms Sindisiwa Mququ, and the Nepali Joint Secretary: Central Asia, West Asia and Africa, Mr Harishchandra Ghimire.

South Africa and Nepal celebrated 30 years of diplomatic relations in 2024 and are pursuing tangible outcomes emanating from the signing of its Declaration of Intent in 2022.