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Singapore–South Africa relations refer to the bilateral relations between the Republic of Singapore and the Republic of South Africa. The connections between the two countries are mainly based on the Commonwealth of Nations, which is their common bond, and the interactions in trading, sight-seeing and trading aspects. Both countries cooperate in social and economic development issues.
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Singapore has a High Commission in Pretoria while South Africa has a High Commission in Singapore.
History
On August 9, 1965, Singapore was expelled from Malaysia and became an independent state. However, due to the apartheid policy, it did not establish diplomatic relations with South Africa until 1992, when the two countries signed agreements to do so. In 1994, South Africa joined the Commonwealth, resulting in the Embassies of both countries being renamed High Commissions and the Ambassadors becoming High Commissioners.
On March 5, 1997, Nelson Mandela became the first President of South Africa to visit Singapore, where he met President Ong Teng Cheong and Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew. In 2007, S.R. Nathan became the first President of Singapore to visit South Africa.
In January 2013, International Enterprise Singapore set up a centre in Johannesburg, its first overseas centre in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Trade relations
In 2011, the total trade value between Singapore and South Africa was worth S$2.54 billion (or R16 billion). In 2012, the export value from Singapore to South Africa was worth US$1.31 billion, The export value from South Africa to Singapore was worth US$950 million.
Singapore exports were mainly communication equipment, electrical machines, office and data machines, manufactured articles, general industrial machines, plastics, crude rubber, textiles, coffee and spices to South Africa.
During the same period, South Africa mainly exported organic chemicals, petroleum and its products, iron and steels, non-ferrous metals, metal manufactures, vegetables, inorganic chemicals, metallic ores and scraps and paper manufactures to Singapore.
In 2011, the direct investment value from Singapore to South Africa was worth S$491 million (or R3.23 billion), while the direct investment value from South Africa to Singapore was worth 19.04 million Singapore dollars (or R125 million).
Singapore Airlines operates a flight between Singapore Changi Airport and Cape Town International Airport in South Africa, via O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. During the 1990s, South African Airways also operated direct flights to Singapore. It later established a codeshare with Singapore Airlines on daily flights between Singapore and Johannesburg.