Japan-Republic of South Africa Relations

January 22, 2025

Basic Data

Number of Residents:

  • Number of Japanese nationals residing in South Africa: 1,065 (as of October 2023)
  • Number of South African nationals residing in Japan: 1,517 (as of June 2024)

Trade between Japan and South Africa (2024):

  • Exports from Japan to South Africa: 288.5 billion yen
    (machinery, auto parts, etc.)
  • Imports to Japan from South Africa: 790.9 billion yen
    (rare metal, automobiles, etc.)

Economic Cooperation (cumulative total as of 2022):

  • List of Exchange of Notes
  • (1) ODA loans: 14.061 billion yen
  • (2) ODA grants: 14.528 billion yen
  • (3) Technical cooperation: 18.366 billion yen

VIP Visits

From Japan to Republic of South Africa:
Year Name
May 1994 Member of the House of Representatives Keisuke Nakanishi, as Special Envoy (to attend the inauguration of President Nelson Mandela)
August 1994 President of the House of Councillors Bunbei Hara
September 1994 Minister of State and Director General of the Defense Agency Tokuichiro Tamazawa
April 1996 Minister for Foreign Affairs Yukihiko Ikeda
May 1996 Minister of Posts and Telecommunications Ichiro Hino
July 1997 Minister of Welfare Junichiro Koizumi
January 2001 Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori
March 2001 Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Yoshitaka Sakurada
September 2002 Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi
March 2003 Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Tetsuro Yano
August 2003 Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Tetsuro Yano
April 2004 Former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori as Special Envoy,
Former Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Seiken Sugiura, as Advisor to Special Envoy (to attend the inauguration of the President Thabo Mbeki)
September 2004 President of the House of Councillors Chikage Oogi
November 2005 Japan-AU Parliamentary Friendship League
June 2006 Minister of the Environment Yuriko Koike
July 2006 Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Yasuhisa Shiozaki
November 2007 Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Akira Amari
November 2007 Minister of Education, Culture, Sports Science and Technology Kisaburo Tokai
September 2008 Joint Mission for Promoting Trade and Investment to Southern Africa
May 2009 Special Envoy and former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori and Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Yasutoshi Nishimura
April 2010 President of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Dr Sadako Ogata
April 2010 Minister for Foreign Affairs Katsuya Okada
June 2010 H.R.H. Princess Takamado
June 2010 Minister of Education, Science and Technology Tatsuo Kawabata, and Senior Vice-Minister of Education, Science and Technology Kan Suzuki
August 2010 Parliamentary Delegation of the House of Representatives
August 2010 Public and Private Trade and Investment Promotion Mission (headed by State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Osamu Fujimura)
October 2011 Senior Vice-Minister of the Environment Katsuhiko Yokomitsu
February 2012 Senior Vice-Minister of Trade and Industry Tadahiro Matsushita (Mining Indaba)
August 2012 Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Toshiyuki Kato
September 2012 Speaker of the House of Representatives Takahiro Yokomichi
October 2012 State Minister of Trade and Industry Isao Matsumiya
February 2013 State Minister of Trade and Industry Isshu Sugawara (Mining Indaba)
March 2013 State Minister for Foreign Affairs Masaji Matsuyama
September 2013 Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Shimpei Matsuhita
November 2013 State Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Yoshitaka Sakurada
December 2013 H.I.H. the Crown Prince, and Special Envoy and former Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda (Memorial Service of the late Mr. Nelson Mandela)
February 2014 Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yoshihiko Isozaki (Mining Indaba)
June 2014 Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Shinichi Yokoyama
August 2014 State Minister for Foreign Affairs Norio Mitsuya
August 2014 Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defense Minoru Kihara
February 2015 State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Daishiro Yamagiwa (Mining Indaba)
May 2015 State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Daishiro Yamagiwa
June 2015 Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Takashi Uto
February 2016 Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry Tsuneo Kitamura (Mining Indaba)
August 2016 Special Advisor to the Prime Minister Katsuyuki Kawai
February 2017 Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry Takumi Ihara (Mining Indaba)
June 2017 State Minister for Foreign Affairs Kentaro Sonoura
February 2018 Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Masaki Ogushi
May 2018 Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hiroshige Seko, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Mitsunari Okamoto, Parliamentary Vice- Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Katsunori Takahashi (First Japan-Africa Public-Private Economic Forum)
August 2018 Members of the House of Representatives Ichiro Aisawa and Hitoshi Kikawada
November 2018 Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Kenji Yamada (IORA Ministerial Meeting)
February 2019 State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yoshihiro Seki (Mining Indaba)
May 2019 Special Envoy of the Prime Minister (State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry) Yoshihiro Seki (Presidential Inauguration Ceremony for H.E. Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa)
February 2020 State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yoshihiro Seki (Mining Indaba)
December 2020 Minister for Foreign Affairs, MOTEGI Toshimitsu
May 2022 Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry IWATA Kazuchika (Mining Indaba)
February 2023 State Minister for Foreign Affairs YAMADA Kenji (Ministerial Meeting of the Minerals Security Partnership), Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry SATOMI Ryuji (Mining Indaba)
July 2023 Minister for Foreign Affairs, HAYASHI Yoshimasa
From South Africa to Japan:
Year Name
October 1990 Deputy President of the African National Congress Nelson Mandela
August 1991 African National Congress Head of the Department of International Affairs Thabo Mbeki
March 1992 Minister of Foreign Affairs Pik Botha
June 1992 President F. W. de Klerk
November 1994 President of the Senate Hendric Coetsee
January 1995 Minister of Foreign Affairs Alfred Nzo
May 1995 Minister of Finance Chris Liebenberg
July 1995 President Nelson Mandela
August 1995 Speaker of the National Assembly Dr. Frene Noshir Ginwala
December 1995 Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Dawie de Villiers
November 1996 Minister of Post, Telecommunications, and Broadcasting Jay Naidoo
April 1997 Minister of Public Enterprises Stella Sigcau
June 1997 Minister of Finance Trevor Manuel
July 1997 National Party President F. W. de Klerk
August 1997 Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology Lionel Mtshali
October 1997 Minister of Trade and Industry Alec Erwin
April 1998 Deputy President Thabo Mbeki, Minister for Health Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma
September 1998 Minister of Minerals and Energy Affairs Dr. Panuel Maduna
October 1998 Deputy President Thabo Mbeki, Speaker of the National Assembly Dr. Frene Noshir Ginwala (TICAD II)
October 1998 President of the National Council of Provinces Patric Mosiuoa Lekota
March 2000 Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, and Deputy Minister of Arts, Culture, Science, and Technology Brigitte Mabandla
March 2000 Deputy Minister of Education Fr. Smangaliso Mkhatshwa
May 2000 National Assembly Portfolio Committee on International Affairs Ebrahim Ebrahim
June 2000 Minister of Public Enterprises Jeff Radebe
July 2000 Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (Dialogue between the G8 Foreign Ministers and Foreign Ministers of Developing Nations)
July 2000 President Thabo Mbeki (Dialogue between the G8 Leaders and Leaders of Developing Nations), and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Aziz Pahad
August 2000 Premier of the Northern Province Dr. Ngoako Ramathlodi
September 2000 Chief Whip of African National Congress Tony Sithembiso Yengeni
October 2000 Minister of Trade and Industry Alec Erwin
October 2000 Minister of Arts, Culture, Science, and Technology Dr. Ben Ngbane
November 2000 Gauteng Provincial Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs Jabu Moleketi
April 2001 Minister of Trade and Industry Alec Erwin
October 2001 President Thabo Mbeki, Minister of Foreign Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology Ben Ngubane, Minister of Trade and Industry Alec Erwin, Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Valli Moosa, Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs Thoko Didiza, and Minister of Health Manto Tshabalala-Msimang
December 2001 Minister of Foreign Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (TICAD Ministerial Meeting)
January 2002 Minister of Foreign Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (International Conference on reconstruction assistance to Afghanistan)
May 2002 Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Aziz Pahad (Japan-South Africa Partnership Forum)
November 2002 Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces Naledi Pandor
September 2003 President Thabo Mbeki, Minister of Foreign Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (TICAD III)
September 2004 Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Aziz Pahad (Japan-South Africa Partnership Forum)
December 2004 Minister for National Intelligence Agency Ronnie Kasrils (International Conference on Integrated Water Resources Management)
February 2005 Minister of Education Naledi Pandor (Japan Education Forum II)
April 2005 Minister of Transport Jeff Radebe
June 2005 Minister of Science and Technology Mosibudi Mangena
July 2005 Minister of Trade and Industry Mandisi Bongani Mabuto Mpahlwa
October 2005 Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces Mninwa Johannes Mahlangu
April 2006 Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
July 2006 Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Marthinus van Schalkwyk
September 2006 Minister of Science and Technology Mosibudi Mangena
December 2006 Minister of Foreign Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma
August 2007 Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry Lindiwe B. Hendricks
October 2007 Minister of Science and Technology Mosibudi Mangena
October 2007 Minister of Public Enterprises Alec Erwin
October 2007 Minister of Minerals and Energy Buyelwa Patience Sonjica
April 2008 Deputy Minister of Finance Jubulani Moleketi (G8 Development Ministers' Meeting)
May 2008 Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Marthinus van Schalkwyk (G8 Environment Ministers' Meeting & TICAD IV)
May 2008 President Thabo Mbeki and Minister of Foreign Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (TICAD IV)
June 2008 Minister of Science and Technology Moslbudi Mangena (G8 Science and Technology Ministers' Meeting)
July 2008 President Thabo Mbeki, Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Marthinus van Schalkwyk (G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit)
August 2008 Minister of Home Affairs Nosiviwe Mapisa Nqakula
October 2008 Minister of Science and Technology Mosibudi Mangena (Japan-Africa Science and Technology Ministers' Meeting)
January 2009 Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Fatima Nagdee Hajaig (The 9th Japan-South Africa Partnership Forum)
September 2009 Minister of Tourism Marthinus van Schalkwyk
October 2010 Minister of Science and Technology Naledi Pandor (2nd Japan-Africa Science and Technology Conference)
October 2010 Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs Thizwilondi Mabudafhasi
November 2010 Former President F. W. de Klerk (11th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates)
January 2011 Speaker of the National Assembly Max Sisulu
June 2011 Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane
June 2011 Minister in the Presidency Trevor Manuel
September 2011 Deputy Minister of Public Works Hendirietta Bokopane-Zulu
November 2011 Speaker of the National Assembly Max Sisulu
March 2012 Premier of the KwaZulu-Natal Province Dr. Zweli Mkhize
April 2012 Minister of Tourism Marthinus van Schalkwyk
May 2012 Minister of Trade and Industry Dr. Rob Davies
September 2012 Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Public Entreprise Peter Maluleka
October 2012 Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan (IMF and World Bank Annual Meeting)
November 2012 Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs Thizwilondi Mabudafhasi
March 2013 Deputy Minister of Women, Children and Persons with Disability Hendirietta Bokopane-Zulu
May 2013 Minister of Mineral Resources Suzan Shabangu
June 2013 President Jacob Zuma; Minister of International Trade and Cooperation Maite Nokoana-Mashabane; Minister in the Presidency Colins Chabane; Minister of Trade and Industry Dr. Rob Davies; and Minister of Tourism Marthinus van Schalkwyk; Deputy Minister of Economic Development Prof. Hlengiwe Mkhize, Deputy Minister Nhlanhla Nene, Sindiswe Chikunga (TICAD V)
September 2013 Minister of Women, Children and Persons with Disability Lulu Xingwana
October 2013 Minister of Science and Technology Derek Hanekom (STS Forum)
November 2013 Minister of Energy Ben Martins
February 2014 Premier of the North West Province Thandi Modise
June 2014 Deputy Minister of Basic Education Enver Surty (OECD Japan Seminar)
October 2014 Minister of Science and Technology Naledi Pandor (STS Forum)
November 2014 Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga (UNESCO World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development)
March 2015 Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Pravin Gordhan
May 2015 Minister of Mineral Resources Ngoako Ramatlhodi (2nd Japan-Africa Ministerial Meeting for Resources Development)
August 2015 Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa
October 2015 Minister of Science and Technology Naledi Pandor (STS Forum)
December 2015 Minister of Health Dr. Pakishe Motsoaledi (UHC Conference / GEF Conference)
October 2016 Minister of Mineral Resources Mosebenzi Zwane
January 2017 Parliamentary Advisor to the President Ebrahim Ebrahim
March 2017 Premier of the Western Cape Province Helen Zille
September 2017 Minister of Tourism Tokozile Xasa
October 2017 Minister of Science and Technology Naledi Pandor
June 2018 National Assembly delegation from the Portfolio Committee on Science and Technology
August 2018 Former President Thabo Mbeki (Core Group Meeting of the Eminent Persons Group on Peace and Stability in Africa)
October 2018 Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Luwellyn Landers, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Bulelani Gratitude Magwanishe (TICAD Ministerial Meeting)
June 2019 Minister of Communications Stella NDABENI-ABRAHAMS, Minister of Trade and Industry Ebrahim PATEL (G20 Ministerial Meeting on Trade and Digital Economy in Tsukuba, Ibaraki)
President Cyril RAMAPHOSA, Minister of Finance Tito MBOWENI, Minister of Health Zweli MKHIZE, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi PANDOR, Minister of Trade and Industry Ebrahim PATEL (G20 OSAKA SUMMIT)
August 2019 President Cyril RAMAPHOSA, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi PANDOR,
Minister of Trade and Industry Ebrahim PATEL, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr. Blade NZIMANDE (TICAD7)
September 2019 Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Nathi MTHETHWA (Rugby World Cup)
October 2019 Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Candith MASHEGO-DLAMINI (Enthronement Ceremony)
Minister of Tourism Mmamoloko KUBAYI-NGUBANE (G20 Tourism Ministers’ Meeting)
November 2019 President Cyril RAMAPHOSA, Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Nathi MTHETHWA (Rugby World Cup)
Speaker of the National Assembly Thandi MODISE (G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit)
September2022 Minister of Toursim Lindiwe SISULU (State Funeral for the Late Prime Minister ABE Shinzo)
October 2022 Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr. Blade NZIMANDE (STS Forum)
Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi PANDOR (The 13th Japan-South Africa Partnership Forum)
August 2024 Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald LAMOLA (TICAD Ministerial Meeting)
December 2024 Minister of Electricity and Energy Kgosientsho RAMOKGOPA
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