List of high commissioners of South Africa to Australia

The high commissioner of South Africa to Australia is an officer of the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation and the head of the High Commission of the Republic of South Africa to the Commonwealth of Australia. The position has the rank and status of an ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary and holds non-resident accreditation as Ambassador to the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia. The high commissioner is based with the High Commission in Yarralumla in Canberra.

High Commissioner of South Africa to Australia
since 1 March 2017
StyleHis Excellency
AppointerCyril Ramaphosa
Inaugural holderDr Philip Rudolph Viljoen
FormationFebruary 1949
WebsiteSouth African High Commission, Canberra

The high commissioner is currently Beryl Sisulu, a career diplomat, and South Africa and Australia have enjoyed diplomatic relations since 1949. On South Africa's departure from the Commonwealth of Nations in 1961, the High Commission became an Embassy. Following the end of Apartheid and South Africa's return to the Commonwealth on 1 June 1994, the High Commission was re-established to replace the former Embassy.

Office-holders

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The South African High Commission in Yarralumla, Canberra.

High commissioners from the Union of South Africa, 1949–61

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Incumbent Start of term End of term
Dr. Philip Rudolph Viljoen[1][2] February 1949 14 November 1951
G. C. Neil (acting) 15 November 1951 20 February 1954
Johann Kunz Uys 21 February 1954 10 June 1957
Anthony M. Hamilton 10 September 1957 27 March 1961

Ambassadors from the Republic of South Africa, 1961–94

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Incumbent Start of term End of term
Herbert Hans Woodward 31 May 1961 8 October 1964 - also served as the last High Commissioner from the Union of South Africa from 8 April to 30 May 1961.
Johan Christiaan Holm Maree 24 June 1965 14 January 1969
Johann Kunz Uys 3 February 1969 1971
John Brent Mills 1971 1977
Alan John Oxley 1977 1983
Denis Worrall 1983 1984
Cornelius A. Bastiaanse 13 August 1984 1988
Francis David Tothill 1988 1992
Naudé Steyn 8 September 1992 1 June 1994

High commissioners from the Republic of South Africa, 1994 to date

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High Commissioner Anthony Mongalo (right) in June 2013.
Incumbent Start of term End of term
Naudé Steyn 1 June 1994 1996
Bhadra Ranchod June 1996 2003
Anthony Mongalo 2003 2009
Lenin Magigwane Shope 26 February 2009 2010
Mauritz C. Lindeque 21 November 2010 2011
Koleka Anita Mqulwana 17 February 2011 2015
S'bu Ndebele 13 May 2015 February 2017
Beryl Sisulu 1 March 2017 14 April 2019
Marthinus van Schalkwyk 15 April 2019

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "SOUTH AFRICAN REPRESENTATIVE." The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) 25 Mar 1949: 5. Web. 14 Nov 2015. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27579155
  2. ^ "SOUTH AFRICA." Cootamundra Herald (NSW : 1877 - 1954) 16 Feb 1949: 1. Web. 14 Nov 2015. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article143552110
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