It is a pleasure and a privilege to have you visiting us.
South Africa has a highly developed economy and world class infrastructure. Its economy makes it the leading African economy.
South Africa remains open and ready for business. It is home to the most developed Stock Exchange on the continent, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). It has sophisticated infrastructure and a wealth of natural resources. South Africa has steadily witnessed an increase in the presence of multinationals and new business. 
Continue reading.
For COVID-19 Corona Virus updates, please visit the South African Resource Portal
NB: Appointment for Civic Services
As visits to the South African Consulate General for civic services are strictly by appointment only, South Africans are reminded to kindly ensure they make an appointment before presenting at the Consulate General.
Appointments can now be made directly by emailing: consular.ny@dirco.gov.za.
This notice only deals with foreign nationals who are coming from a High Risk country and do not have a visa to enter South Africa for the following purposes:
- Family reunification
- Medical treatment
- Attend a funeral of family and they are entering South Africa directly from a high risk country
Please ensure that your request contains the following:
1.1 a fully motivated letter on why your travel to South Africa is essential; and
1.2 all the necessary supporting documents such as:
- Copy of Passports
- Copies of South African ID, birth certificate of children, marriage certificate or death certificate where applicable.
- Proof of residence in South Africa
- Any other supporting documentation
Take note that the processing time is 5-10 days as the request is prepared and sent for the Minister's consideration.
The outcome of your application will be sent to you via e-mail. Please only enquire on your request after the 10 days have passed and you have not received an outcome.
Any mail received that falls out of the category mentioned above will not be attended to.
NB: Level 1 Lockdown
Any person from a country listed as having a high COVID-19 infection and transmission rate, who wishes to undertake a business travel into South Africa, may, with effect from 01 October 2020, in writing, apply to the Minister of Home Affairs and demonstrate reasons for their request to enter the Republic for business purposes during the period of the national state of disaster.
Such applications must be directed to email Covid19BusinessTravel@dha.gov.za and supported by:
(a) a copy of passport and/or temporary residence visa;
(b) proof of business activities to be undertaken in the Republic;
(c) proof of travel itinerary; and
(d) proof of address or accommodation in the Republic.
We need to remind our people that the fact that we are at Level 1 lockdown, does not mean that the Covid-19 pandemic is over. We still have to take precautions, and some of them might be very hard decisions to make. But this will be done in such a way that it strikes a balance between saving lives and livelihoods.
List of High Risk Countries
Albania |
Honduras |
Oman |
Argentina |
Hungary |
Palestine |
Armenia |
Iceland |
Panama |
Austria |
India |
Paraguay |
Bahrain |
Iran |
Peru |
Belgium |
Iraq |
Portugal |
Bolivia |
Ireland |
Puerto Rico |
Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Israel |
Qatar |
Brazil |
Jamaica |
Romania |
Chile |
Jordan |
Russia |
Columbia |
Kuwait |
Slovakia |
Costa Rica |
Lebanon |
Suriname |
Croatia |
Luxemburg |
Switzerland |
Czech Republic |
Maldives |
Ukraine |
Denmark |
Malta |
United Emirates |
Ecuador |
Mexico |
United Kingdom |
France |
Moldova |
USA |
Georgia |
Montenegro |
Venezuela |
| Greece | Nepal | |
| Guatemala | Netherlands | |
| Guyana | North Macedonia |
We need to emphasize once more that people who are not allowed from these high-risk countries are leisure travellers only. The exception will be business travelers with scarce and critical skills including diplomats, repatriations, investors and people participating in professional sporting and cultural events. The list of these high risk countries will also be found on the Home Affairs website; http://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/list-of-high-risk-covid-19-countries.
Any person who is allowed entry into the Republic will be subjected to the prescribed screening procedures and isolation or quarantine rules, as the case may be, which include:
- Provision of a valid certificate of a negative COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test obtained not more than 72 hours before the date of travel; and
- In the event of failure to submit a certificate as proof of negative PCR test, such person will be required to quarantine at his or her own costs.
South Africans Citizens and Permanent Residents Returning to the Republic
- South African citizens will now be able to depart for South Africa without their South African citizenship and residence status being pre-verified by missions/DIRCO with the DHA/NATJOINTS;
- South African missions will no longer be required to issue the so-called Letters of Passage to persons travelling to South Africa and airlines should also no longer require such letters upon boarding;
- DIRCO and missions will no longer assist South African nationals to find and book flights to South Africa. There are no longer any dedicated COVID 19 repatriation flights to South Africa. Travellers should book themselves on available commercial flights as before or make other private arrangements for travel;
- All persons entering South Africa should be in possession of the required negative COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test results not older than 72 hours and subject themselves to whatever screening and health related requirements are in place in South Africa at the time of arrival.
NB: Negative COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Test Certificate
Travelling to South Africa requires provision of a valid certificate of a negative COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test obtained not more than 72 hours before the date of travel.
Self-Quarantine
Please note that since 14 September 2020, South Africa's Department of Health does not accept manually completed/handwritten forms.
People who intend to self-quarantine should apply using the online webform application at https://selfquarantine.silveraxiom.com/.
For enquiries regarding self-quarantine, please email enquiries@health.gov.za at the Department of Health.
Statement by President Cyril Ramaphosa on progress in the national effort to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, Union Buildings, Tshwane 16 September 2020
September is Heritage Month
Heritage Month is celebrated annually in September.
Heritage Month in September and Heritage Day on 24 September in particular is celebrated annually to mark our nation’s diverse culture and heritage. This year the celebrations will take place virtually due to the devastating COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2020 theme for Heritage Month is “Celebrating South Africa’s living human treasures”. The question of living human treasures is very relevant since it is acknowledged that most of what still needs to be excavated, coded and stored is available from the many living archives. The pandemic has exposed many realities in our country such as poverty, inequality, unemployment and gender-based violence (GBV). During Heritage Month we will work to create awareness around GBV, and how we can fight it by inculcating positive societal values.
Government calls on all South Africans to use Heritage Month to foster greater social cohesion, nation building and a shared national identity.
The celebration of Heritage Month has created a conducive environment for all people to embrace and celebrate what was inherited or bequeathed to us by our forebears.
We call on all South Africans to support the culture of reading and incorporate it into their daily lifestyles.
It is important to encourage your children to visit a library and start reading at an early age so that they grow up with the passion for reading as this develop a broader vocabulary and increased general knowledge.
Follow the conversations and celebrations on #HeritageMonth2020 #HeritageDay2020 and #MyHeritageYourHeritage
Vacant Post at the South African Consulate General In New York
| Post Title | : | Senior Maintenance Officer |
| Requirements | : | A minimum of 10 years schooling PLUS 3 years’ experience as a maintenance officer. Candidates must be computer literate and must be client service focused. A valid driver’s license is preferable. |
| Core Functions | : | Building maintenance, repairs, decoration and assessment Facility cleanliness and safety Equipment and appliance maintenance and operation General duties Assessing of and repair of buildings Service delivery |
| Salary Range | : | US$ 30,021 - US$ 48,675 per annum |
All applications MUST include a cover letter, contactable references, appropriate qualifications (e.g. plumbing and electricity certificates etc.) and the application form.
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| FAO: Ms A Solomon South African Consulate General, 9th Floor 333 East 38th Street, New York, NY 10016 |
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Public Service Month
September marks Public Service Month in South Africa. Public Service Month (PSM) is an integrated strategic national event in the calendar of the Department of Public Service and Administration.
The Public Service Month is commemorated under the theme: “Growing South Africa Together for an Ethical Public Service.” Read more.
Tourism Month
Tourism Month is celebrated annually in September, and provides a heightened month-long focus on the importance of the sector to the South African economy.
Tourism Month features themed activities that are aligned to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation’s (UNWTO) World Tourism Day Celebrations that take place annually on 27 September.
The 2020 theme is 'Tourism and Rural Development'. Upon researching the definition of Rural Tourism a number of definitions emerged but there was a common thread that defined rural tourism as the movement of people from their normal places of residence to a rural area for a minimum period of 24 hours and upward, for the sole purposes of leisure and pleasure. Read more.
August is Women's Month
Every year, in August, our country marks Women’s Month. We also pay tribute to the more than 20,000 women who marched to the Union Buildings on 9 August 1956 in protest against the extension of Pass Laws to women. A system meant to control women even further and reduce women to passive beings, at the mercy of men.
We will celebrate this year’s Women Month under the theme: “Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights for an Equal Future”. The concept of Generation Equality is a global campaign and links South Africa to global efforts to achieve gender equality by 2030. Read more.
July is Nelson Mandela Month
In July, South Africa celebrates former President Nelson Mandela's birthday. 18 July has been declared Nelson Mandela International Day, but as South Africans we embrace the chance to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s life for the whole of July. This gives everyone the opportunity to heed the call to action for people to recognise their individual power to make an imprint and change the world around them.
A global movement for positive change begins with small actions. As each person acts, they fuel momentum toward positive change, raising awareness and expanding the reach of Mr Mandela’s values – fighting injustice, helping people in need and practicing reconciliation.
June is Youth Month
June is dedicated to the youth of 1976 who stood up against the Apartheid government and laid down their lives fighting for freedom and the right to equal education. This year marks 44 years since the uprising in which many children lost their lives while standing up against a system that sought to strip them of their identity, and break their spirit. Read more.
NB: Update on the Repatriation of South African Citizens in the United States
Payments that have already been made:
- Please note that for everyone that has already made their payments to SAA for a flight and has their proof of payment as well as the biometric page of their passport to Mr Msiza (Msizas@Dirco.gov.za) and Ms Moleko (MolekoF@dirco.gov.za), these are being received and processed as per the guidelines given to the Embassy by SAA for each passenger.
- SAA has indicated that they are still accepting bookings and payments, as such those who still wish to take up this opportunity may still do so.
- Current SAA ticket holders: SAA is giving credit to tickets already issued. Holders can now send an email to one of the email addresses listed below with their e-ticket number for assistance.
NB: Update on the Repatriation of South African Citizens in the United States
29 April 2020
The South African Embassy and its Consulates in the United States wish to advise Citizens as follows:
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation and the relevant Government Departments are confirming the personal details of all South Africans for the repatriation flights scheduled. Please see the confirmed flight information and take note these are the only and last repatriation flights that will be facilitated by the Embassy of South Africa in Washington, DC.
South Africa Celebrates its Freedom Day
NASDAQ, Times Square, New York City, 27 April 2020.
[WATCH] President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers the keynote address on 27 April 2020 to mark #FreedomDay under the theme: "Solidarity and Triumph of the Human Spirit in these Challenging Times." #StayHome
Statement by Ambassador Nomaindiya Mfeketo on the Repatriation of South Africans from the United States of America
Published April 19, 2020
Dear South Africans,
I trust that you are safe and well under the circumstances. My deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones from COVID-19 and a speedy recovery to people in hospitals, nursing homes and in isolation owing to the virus.
Read the full statement at bit.ly/2XYljYn.
Watch it at bit.ly/2VLDq14.
The President calls on citizens to demonstrate their solidarity with fellow South Africans by displaying our inspiring national flag on social media, outside their homes and other prominent places, as an act of compassion and unity during the national #COVID19 #LockdownSA. #PrayForSouthAfrica #StayAtHome
COVID-19 Advisory
Issued on 25 March 2020
Excerpts from the statement of the Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula, on the Occasion of Unpacking Lockdown Implications for Transport
Aviation
- All international and domestic flights are prohibited, irrespective of the risk category of the country of origin.
- Only essential air cargo will be allowed. However, cargo from high risk country must be sanitized.
Read the full statement at bit.ly/2QMXWwq.
The 21-days lockdown begins on Thursday, 26 March at 23h59.
COVID-19 Advisory
Issued on 23 March 2020
Following the address to the nation by President Cyril Ramaphosa, on Government's response to the COVID-19, South Africa will go on lockdown for 21 days in an effort to combat the spread of the virus.
The following regulations will apply:
- South African citizens and residents arriving from high-risk countries will automatically be placed under quarantine for 14 days.
- Non-South Africans arriving on flights from high-risk countries we prohibited a week ago will be turned back.
- International flights to Lanseria Airport will be temporarily suspended.
- International travellers who arrived in South Africa after 9 March 2020 from high-risk countries will be confined to their hotels until they have completed a 14-day period of quarantine.
Watch: https://bit.ly/2xYcWkA.
Read: https://bit.ly/3adcUU9.
Media Release
South African Airways Suspends All International Flights Until 31 May 2020
JOHANNESBURG, 20 March 2020 –South African Airways (SAA) has announced that it will immediately suspend all international operations until 31 May 2020 in response to a government travel ban aimed at stopping the transmission of the Coronavirus (Covid-19). The COVID-19 pandemic and attendant travel restrictions, resulted in substantial decline in demand for air travel. The situation caused many airlines across the world to ground aircraft, release their employees, and to cancel flights. In the case of SAA, this decision means that SAA will only render services on its regional and domestic routes.
SAA customers are advised to either contact their professional travel advisor, visit www.flysaa.com or for direct bookings, SAA Reservations at 1 (800) 722-9675.
NB: South African Measures to Mitigate the Spread of COVID-19
Issued on Tuesday, 17 March 2020
South African Citizens South African Citizens (passport-holders) returning to South Africa from travel in the U.S. will undergo thermal checks, screening and may be required to produce a “COVID-19 clearance certificate” at the international ports of arrival. Travelers will also have to undergo a period of self-isolation/quarantine for a minimum period of 14 days.
Non-South African Citizens / Foreign Travellers wishing to travel to South Africa The South African Government has identified the following countries as high risk: China, Iran, South Korea, Italy, Spain, Germany, United States of America, United Kingdom and Ireland. As such, any foreign national travelling from one of these countries or those who have visited any one of these countries, in the last 20 days will be denied entry into South Africa from 18 March 2020.
NB: South African Consulate General in New York COVID-19 Advisory
Issued on Tuesday, 17 February 2020
Following the statement delivered by South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa on 15 March 2020 and the rapid increase in cases of COVID-19 in the US, the Consulate General in New York will not be providing any Immigration services (visas) effective from 17 March 2020 until further notice.
South African citizens in distress and/or those who require emergency civic services (i.e applications of ETC, death of family members) may reach the South African Consulate General at the following contact details:
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Emergency Line |
: | + 1 (917) 200-8396 |
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For general inquiries please call |
: | + 1 (212) 692-2436 or, |
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Email |
: | consular.ny@dirco.gov.za |
Visits to the South African Consulate General for emergency services will be strictly by appointment only. Read more.
From the Desk of the President
16 March 2020
Yesterday, I declared a national state of disaster, a measure proportionate to the severity of the threat to our people, society and economy. This will enable us to have an integrated and coordinated disaster management mechanism and set up response systems. Read more bit.ly/2x0B5q6
Human Rights Month is commemorated in March to remind South Africans about the sacrifices that accompanied the struggle for the attainment of democracy in South Africa. Human Rights Day on 21 March falls within this period. Read more.
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Consul General Motumisi Tawana paid a courtesy call to Ambassador Collen Kelapile of Botswana. They had constructive discussions about bilateral cooperation, consular, trade and commerce issues. |
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Consul General Motumisi Tawana paid a courtesy visit to the New York Stock Exchange, 20 February 2020 |
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Pleasure to meet Fiki and Atandwa Kani, who reached out to the Consul General. We had fruitful discussions about the role the Consulate can play in its jurisdiction, in partnership with all stakeholders. 18 February 2020 |
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The Consul General paid a courtesy visit to SAPPI Limited in Boston, Massachusetts on Friday, 14 February 2020. He met with Ms. Sarah Manchester, General Counsel of SAPPI North America. SAPPI is a South African pulp and paper company with global operations; manufacturing in over 20 countries across three continents. It is a leading global provider of sustainable woodfibre products and solutions. |
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Meeting with Mr. Mark Sullivan, Executive Director of Massachusetts Office of International Trade and Investment (MOITI) on 13 February 2020. |
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One-of-Each Pop Up at West Elm Broadway
1870 Broadway, New York, NY 10023
Thursday 13 February 2020, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Saturday 15 February 2020, 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
| Consul General Motumisi Tawana attends ONE OF EACH Pop up event showcasing South African products at the Roth Law Firm on 12 February 2020. | |
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Consul General Motumisi Tawana visits Apropo Showroom showcasing Zambezi Grace's South African products during its New York City launch on 12 February 2020. Zambezi Grace combines age-old master craftsmanship and innovative designs to create luxurious items in limited numbers. |
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Fashion designer David Tlale paid a courtesy visit to the South African Consulate General. David Tlale’s craftmanship and attention to details in bold, elegant designs have captured the imagination of fashionistas and celebrities around the world. His clothing line has graced New York Fashion Week multiple times. 11 February 2020 |
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Consul General Motumisi Tawana met with #Jamaica's Consul General Alsion Wilson on 11 February 2020. They had constructive discussions on bilateral cooperation, trade, commerce, arts and culture, providing services to their respective diasporas and consular best practices. |
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Dr. Wilmot James and Dr. Delicia Forbes met with officials at the South African Consulate General on Friday, 7 February 2020. Dr. James presented the Vital Signs report to the Consulate. |
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Courtesy meeting with New York African Film Festival's Mahen Bonetti and Jacki Fischer on 6 February 2020 |
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"Pleasure to meet the Consul General of #Australia, the Honourable Alastair Walton, on 4 February 2020. We had in-depth discussions on maximizing our presence in the respective areas of jurisdiction, reflected on trade, commerce, arts and culture and consular best practices". 6 February 2020 |
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Consul General Motumisi Tawana and Consul Ogaufi Masibi-Mampane met with Standard Bank of South Africa's Representative, Mr. Mark Chiaviello, and Vice President for Client Coverage, Corporate & Investment Banking, Ms. Ru Nyambuya, to discuss possible areas of collaboration and business opportunities. 5 February 2020 |
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Courtesy call on the Consul General of #Mexico, Dr. Jorge Islas Lopez, on 5 February 2020. Consul General Motumisi Tawana and Consul General Jorge Islas Lopez exchanged ideas on consular issues, trade, service to their respective diasporas and consular best practices. |
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"Privileged to meet with Consul General Enio Cordeiro of #Brazil. We reflected on bilateral cooperation, consular matters, arts and culture, trade and industry, and serving our respective diasporas in the US. We also discussed best practices in the consular field of work". 4 February 2020 |
Reasons to Invest in South African Mining
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Newly arrived Consul General of South Africa in New York, Mr. Motumisi Tawana, meets with Consul General of Nigeria in New York, Mr. Ben Okoyen on 31 January 2020. The Consuls General discussed bilateral cooperation, trade, commerce, arts and culture, and issues of the African Diaspora. |
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Consul General Motumisi Tawana pays courtesy call to the Consul General of Ghana in New York, Professor Samuel Amoako on 29 January 2020. They shared ideas about best practices, collaboration on consular, commerce and trade, as well as issues of the African Diaspora. |
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Brand SA's Country Head in USA, Mr. Mudunwazi Baloyi, met with the new Consul General of South Africa in New York on 24 January 2020. #TeamSA |
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Consul General Motumisi Tawana met with Consul General of India in New York, the Honourable Sandeep Chakravorty on 23 January 2020. They had a robust discussion on diaspora matters and consular best practices. |
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