South Africa–Turkey relations

South Africa–Turkey relations are the current and historical relations between the Republic of South Africa and the Republic of Türkiye.

South African-Turkish relations

South Africa	Turkey
Diplomatic mission
Embassy of South Africa, Ankara	Embassy of Turkey, Pretoria

Political relations

• 1991 - Formal diplomatic relations established at consular level.^[1]
• 1992 - Relations upgraded to ambassadorial level, consulates closed.
• 1994 - South Africa and Turkey normalize relations after the end of apartheid.^[2]
• 1998 - Turkey opens Consulate General in Cape Town.
• 2024 - Turkey joins South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).^[3][4][5]

Economic relations

• 2025 - South Africa is Turkey's leading trading partner in Sub-Saharan Africa.^[1][6]

Cultural relations

• 1861 - Ottoman Empire establishes relations with colonial South Africa.^[1]
• 1863 - Ottoman Sultan sends a qadi to Cape Town to teach Muslims.^[2]
• 1877 - The qadi publishes "Bayan ad-Din" in Arabic Afrikaans.
• 1948-1994 - Turkey consistently opposes apartheid government in South Africa.^[7]

See also

• Foreign relations of South Africa
• Foreign relations of Turkey
• Turks in South Africa