Minister of International Relations and Cooperation

The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation is the foreign minister of the South African government, with political responsibility for South Africa's foreign relations and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation. The present minister is Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, who was appointed by President Jacob Zuma on 10 May 2009.

After the creation of the Union of South Africa as a British dominion in 1910 its foreign relations were initially carried out by the British Foreign Office. However, in 1927 the South African government established a Department of External Affairs. From 1927 until 1955 the Prime Minister also served as foreign minister.