It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the official website of the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa in Rome.

Located in Rome’s distinctive Coppedé district, our Embassy serves as the official representation of South Africa to the Italian Republic. The Embassy is also accredited to the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Albania, the Republic of San Marino, and the United Nations agencies based in Rome, including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the World Food Programme (WFP).

South Africa and Italy enjoy a longstanding friendship dating back to 1929, founded on mutual respect, shared values and a commitment to international cooperation. An important chapter of this relationship is the history of the Zonderwater prisoner-of-war camp during the Second World War, where thousands of Italian prisoners of war preserved their dignity through education, culture, sport and artistic expression. The legacy of Zonderwater continues to serve as a powerful symbol of reconciliation and the enduring ties between our peoples.

With the advent of democracy in 1994, South Africa and Italy entered a new era of partnership. President Nelson Mandela’s historic visit to Italy marked the beginning of a strengthened relationship built on shared democratic values, human rights and a common commitment to peace, multilateralism and sustainable development. Since then, bilateral cooperation has expanded steadily across political dialogue, trade and investment, science and innovation, higher education, culture, tourism and business.

Italy also occupies a special place in South Africa’s democratic journey. Throughout the struggle against apartheid, Italian institutions, civil society organisations, trade unions, churches and citizens stood in solidarity with the South African people. The City of Reggio Emilia became an international symbol of this solidarity through its longstanding partnership with the African National Congress and its support for South African exiles, educational initiatives and humanitarian programmes. This legacy continues to inspire the close friendship that exists between our two nations today.

This website serves as a gateway to information on the work of the Embassy and the services we offer to South African citizens, our Italian, Maltese, Albanian, San Marinese and UN partners, and all those wishing to strengthen relations with South Africa. It also highlights the many opportunities our country offers as a dynamic economy, an attractive investment destination and a vibrant, diverse and multicultural society.

As we continue to deepen our partnerships across our countries of accreditation and within the United Nations system, we remain committed to promoting dialogue, expanding economic cooperation, advancing sustainable development and strengthening the people-to-people ties that unite our nations.

I invite you to explore our website to learn more about South Africa, the work of the Embassy and the many opportunities for collaboration. We look forward to working together in further advancing the strong and enduring friendship between South Africa, Italy, Malta, Albania, San Marino and the international community.

H.E. Ms Nosipho Nausca-Jean Jezile
Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa to the Italian Republic