Russia - SA relations
RUSSIAN-SOUTH AFRICAN RELATIONS
Diplomatic relations between the Russian Federation and the Republic of South Africa were established on February 28, 1992. The Russian Embassy is located in Pretoria, and the Consulate General is in Cape Town. The South African Embassy operates in Moscow.
Russian – South African relations are based on a solid legal platform of about 70 various documents and covers the spheres of investment protection, double taxation avoidance, energy, agriculture, exploration, mining and procession of natural resources, intellectual property etc. The key documents include the Treaty on Friendship and Partnership, signed during the official visit of President of Russia Vladimir Putin to South Africa (Cape Town) in September 2006, and the Joint Declaration on Establishing Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, signed during President Putin's working visit to South Africa, timed with the BRICS summit in Durban in March 2013. In 2018, the Presidents of the two countries signed a Joint Statement on the Strategic Partnership between the Russian Federation and the Republic of South Africa.
A trust-based political dialogue is maintained between Russia and South Africa at the highest and senior levels. Intensive contacts between the heads of the two states continued in 2024, with two telephone conversations and one face-to-face meeting between Vladimir Putin and Cyril Ramaphosa on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS summit in Kazan (October), during which mutual intent to further strengthen cooperation in bilateral and multilateral formats was confirmed.
In the area of foreign policy close approaches to shaping the world order based on multipolar principles and respect for international law, strengthening of the UN’s leading role, settling regional conflicts, countering terrorism are characteristic of both Moscow and Pretoria. Active and regular dialogue of foreign policy departments facilitates the countries’ coordination in the international arena particularly within UN, BRICS and G20 formats.
Senior officials from the Russian Federation are expected to visit South Africa in 2025 to participate in the events under South Africa's G20 presidency.
The coordinating body for trade and economic cooperation is the Joint Intergovernmental Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation (JICC). Since 2021, the Chair of the Russian part is the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation, Alexander Kozlov, and the Chair of the South African part is the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, Ronald Lamola. The 17th JICC meeting took place in Pretoria from March 27-30, 2023, and the 18th is scheduled for the first half of 2025 in Moscow.
To support business operators from both countries, the Russian-South African Business Council has been functioning since 2006. The Mixed Intergovernmental Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation, the Joint Commission on Scientific and Technical Cooperation, the Joint Coordination Committee on Cooperation in the Peaceful Use of Atomic Energy, as well as working groups on energy, agriculture, healthcare, and medical science have also been established.
Approximately 3,000 Russian compatriots live in South Africa, mostly in Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Pretoria. In 1998, the first Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) parish south of the Sahara was established in Midrand, located between Pretoria and Johannesburg, under the patronage of St. Sergius of Radonezh (the consecration of the temple complex took place in 2003), which gained cathedral status in 2024. Following the establishment of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa by the Moscow Patriarchate in December 2021, the church was incorporated into its South African diocese.
In 2016-2017, Russia and South Africa organized reciprocal cultural seasons, during which art exhibitions and performances by music and dance groups were held. In December 2018, the Russian section of the “Wall of Names” was solemnly opened at the Freedom Park memorial complex in Pretoria, listing the names of 67 Soviet soldiers who participated in the liberation struggle in Southern Africa. In 2024, Days of Russian Spiritual Culture were held in South Africa with the support of the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, and the Russian Orthodox Church.
Since 2010, Russia and South Africa have had a visa-free entry regime for holders of diplomatic and service passports. In March 2017, a similar regime was introduced for holders of regular passports (for stays up to 90 days).
The Russian Ambassador to South Africa is H.E. Mr. Roman Ambarov (appointed by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation on September 6, 2024, No. 748; credentials presented on March 27, 2025).
The Consul General of Russia in Cape Town is Mr. Alexey Malenko.
The Russian Trade Representative in South Africa is Mr. Pyotr Pavlenko (appointed by the Order of the Government of the Russian Federation on November 15, 2024, No. 3265-r).
The South African Ambassador-designate to Russia is H.E. Ms. Tandiwe Mqxwati.
The Honourary Consuls of South Africa from among Russian citizens work in Vladivostok (Mr. Yuri Sivachenko, appointed on October 19, 2009), St.Petersburg (Vladimir Borisenko, appointed on February 3, 2020), and Yekaterinburg (Mr. Sergey Mazurkevich, appointed on March 10, 2023).
