The Ambassador
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of South Africa to the French Republic
Her Excellency Ayanda Dlodlo is a distinguished South African stateswoman, diplomat, and governance leader with extensive experience spanning public administration, international development finance, national security, parliamentary affairs, and executive government. She currently serves as the Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa to the French Republic, bringing to the position a distinguished career dedicated to public service, international cooperation, and democratic governance.
Born in Soweto, Johannesburg, Ayanda Dlodlo became involved in the liberation struggle at an early age and joined the African National Congress (ANC) and its former military wing, uMkhonto weSizwe, while in exile. During this period, she received political and military training in Angola and the Soviet Union and undertook a range of organizational, communications, intelligence, and political education responsibilities across several countries in Southern Africa and Europe. In 1990, she was elected Head of the ANC Youth Section for England and Northern Ireland.
Following South Africa’s democratic transition, Ambassador Dlodlo built a distinguished career in both the public and private sectors, holding senior leadership positions in logistics, transport, telecommunications, public safety, and governance. She served as Head of Department for Community Safety in the Gauteng Provincial Government and later as National Deputy Head of the Directorate for Special Operations within the National Prosecuting Authority.
Her parliamentary and executive government service includes thirteen years as a Member of Parliament of the Republic of South Africa and service as Parliamentary Counsellor to the President. Between 2010 and 2017, she served as Deputy Minister for Public Service and Administration, where she played a leading role in public sector reform, governance modernization, and continental governance initiatives through the African Peer Review Mechanism and the Open Government Partnership.
Ambassador Dlodlo subsequently served in several Cabinet portfolios, including Minister of Communications and Cabinet Spokesperson, Minister of Home Affairs, Minister for Public Service and Administration, and Minister of State Security. In these capacities, she exercised executive oversight over key institutions of state and contributed to policy development in areas including public administration, communications, immigration, governance, digital transformation, and national security.
In 2022, she was appointed to the Board of Executive Directors of the World Bank Group in Washington, D.C., initially as Alternate Executive Director and subsequently as Executive Director representing South Africa, Nigeria, and Angola. During her tenure, she served on the Boards of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Development Association (IDA), International Finance Corporation (IFC), Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). She further served as Chairperson of the Human Resources Committee and Vice-Chair of the Ethics Committee of the World Bank Group Board.
Following the completion of her World Bank assignment, Ambassador Dlodlo was appointed Special Envoy for South Africa’s campaign for the Presidency of the African Development Bank Group. She has also served on the Boards of the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and the OR Tambo School of Leadership, and as a member of the Executive Council of the University of the Witwatersrand.
Ambassador Dlodlo holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA), a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management, and a Higher Certificate in Shipping and Transport Management. She has received several prestigious leadership and public service honours, including the International Leadership and Humanitarian Award, the Outstanding Woman in Public Service Award, and a United States Congressional Award in recognition of her contribution to public leadership and governance.
As South Africa’s Ambassador to France, Her Excellency Ayanda Dlodlo brings a unique combination of diplomatic, governmental, multilateral, and development finance experience. Her career reflects an unwavering commitment to public service, international partnership, democratic governance, and the advancement of South Africa’s interests within the global community