India-South Africa India-South Africa 2019 | Page 14

Cyril Ramaphosa, President
of the Republic of South
Africa attend "At Home”
Reception by the President of
India in Rashtrapati Bhavan,
January 26, 2019
Chigozie Udensi*
I
ndia – South Africa relations date back several
centuries. Often underlined by the trade of
both goods and labour, this relationship has
endured. India’s relationship with South Africa is
both fundamental and unique, dating back several
centuries and is anchored in common ideals, ideas,
interests, and icons – like Mahatma Gandhi and
Nelson Mandela.
India was part of South Africa’s struggle for
freedom and justice; this dates back to the period
when Mahatma Gandhi started his Satyagraha
movement in South Africa, over a century ago. With
other international communities, India championed
the anti-apartheid movement. India was the fi rst
nation to impose trade sanctions on the apartheid
Government in 1946. Consequently, total sanctions,
including diplomatic, commercial, cultural and
sports were imposed on South Africa. India also
strived to inform international organisations
such as the United Nations and other multilateral
organisations about the situation in South Africa
under apartheid. The aim was to further enforce
international sanctions on South Africa.
India and South Africa’s shared common
experiences and collective strength have shaped
how they both view the world together. As two
14 • India-South Africa • 2019
nations who have shared their struggle to freedom,
the responsibility to improve the lives of others
is embedded within India and South Africa’s
consciousness. After South Africa achieved
democracy in 1994, a strategic partnership was
initiated between India and South Africa. The
document was signed in March 1997 by then PM
Shri Deve Gowda and Mr Nelson Mandela, which
laid the foundation for a rekindled relationship.
The ANC established a diplomatic offi ce in New
Delhi in the 1960s. After nearly 40 years, relations
between India and South Africa were finally
restored following talks between the then South
African Government and the ANC. This memorable
event was marked with the opening of a cultural
centre in Johannesburg in May 1993. Diplomatic
relations were restored in November same year
when the then foreign minister of South Africa,
Pik Botha visited India. A Consulate General was
thereafter established in Johannesburg. The Indian
High Commission in Pretoria and the Consulate
General in Durban were opened in May 1994. A
permanent offi ce of the High Commission was also
opened in Cape Town in 1996 near the House of
Parliament. This eventually became the Consulate
General of India in January 2011. Adding to the