Vice President C P Radhakrishnan on Tuesday, 2 June held wide-ranging talks with South African Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile at Uprashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, covering trade, investment, defence cooperation, skills development, and people-to-people ties. The two leaders also discussed advancing the shared priorities of the Global South and deepening cooperation in multilateral forums.

Key Discussions at Uprashtrapati Bhavan

The Vice President's Office confirmed that Mashatile was accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising senior ministers and officials of the South African government. According to the official readout, both sides held 'productive discussions on further strengthening the India–South Africa bilateral relations,' with particular attention to economic and strategic linkages.

Mashatile, in posts on X following the meeting, underlined the depth of the bilateral bond. 'The close relations between the Parliament of South Africa and the Parliament of India are a testament to our bond. The ability to learn from one another strengthens our governance and enriches our democratic institutions,' he wrote. In a separate post, he added, 'Together, our nations must continue to leverage on shared values to promote peace, equality, and fairness in global institutions.'

Jaishankar–Mashatile Meeting on Economic Ties

Earlier on the same day, Mashatile met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in New Delhi. Jaishankar said he was 'pleased to meet with Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile' and noted discussions on 'opportunities in trade, investments, MSMEs, digital and infrastructure domains.' He also confirmed that both sides 'agreed that India and South Africa must work closely in international forums.'

Mashatile, responding on social media, said both delegations agreed that 'South Africa and India should expend its relation to other facets of relationships, especially economic relations.' He further stated a shared commitment to 'fulfilling the objectives of the Declaration and the Strategic Partnership,' with emphasis on addressing poverty, unemployment, and inequality.

Shared Multilateral Platforms and Strategic Context

The South African Presidency noted in an official statement that the bilateral relationship is 'based on shared history, cultural ties, and a shared vision of the world through its principled approach on non-alignment.' Both nations hold membership in several multilateral formations that align with Global South development goals, including the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), BRICS, IBSA, G20, and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).

This convergence across forums gives the India–South Africa partnership a structural weight beyond bilateral trade, positioning it as a pillar of South-South cooperation at a time when both nations seek greater agency in reshaping global governance.

What Comes Next

Mashatile, who arrived in New Delhi on 29 May for a six-day visit to India, was scheduled to travel to Hyderabad after concluding his engagements in the capital. The visit is expected to yield follow-up action on trade and investment frameworks, with both sides signalling intent to move beyond declarations toward concrete sectoral outcomes.