South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile arrived in New Delhi on Friday, 30 May 2025, for a six-day official visit to India, accompanied by his wife Humile Mashatile and a high-level ministerial delegation. The visit marks the first senior South African leadership engagement in India since President Cyril Ramaphosa served as Chief Guest at India's Republic Day celebrations in 2019.

Key Engagements Scheduled

Deputy President Mashatile is scheduled to hold formal talks with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on 2 June. He will also call on President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan on the same day, according to a statement from India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

After concluding his engagements in the capital, Mashatile will travel to Hyderabad as part of the visit itinerary.

Investment and Business Roundtable

A central objective of the visit is economic outreach. 'Through this Working Visit, Deputy President Mashatile is expected to cement the bilateral relations with the business leaders and investors from India through a Roundtable discussion which aims to attract more investment for both countries,' the South African Presidency said in an official statement.

The delegation accompanying Mashatile includes Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi, Minister of Small Business Development Stella Ndabeni, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Thandi Moraka, Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Nomalungelo Gina, and Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Mondli Gungubele.

Bilateral Ties: Shared History and Global South Vision

The South African Presidency described the bilateral relationship as rooted in 'shared history, cultural ties, and a shared vision of the world through its principled approach on non-alignment and supporting the development of the Global South through its promotion of South-South partnerships.'

Both nations are members of several key multilateral formations, including the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), BRICS, IBSA, G20, and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). Mashatile will be only the second South African Deputy President to visit India in an official capacity.

Diplomatic Groundwork Already Laid

The visit builds on recent diplomatic momentum. On 13 May, EAM Jaishankar met South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola in New Delhi, where both sides reviewed the strategic partnership and discussed multilateral issues of mutual interest. 'Glad to meet FM Ronald Lamola of South Africa this evening. Reviewed different aspects of our Strategic Partnership. Also discussed multilateral issues of mutual interest. Agreed on the need to intensify our interactions through institutional mechanisms,' Jaishankar posted on X after the meeting.

Lamola, in turn, acknowledged India's role in facilitating the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting and reaffirmed South Africa's intent to deepen the bilateral relationship. 'South Africa and India have enjoyed close and meaningful relations since the establishment of Diplomatic Relations over 30-years ago,' he wrote on X, adding that his country is 'committed to deepening and strengthening ties with India on a bilateral level.'

This visit follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's trip to South Africa last November for the 20th G20 Leaders' Summit, on the sidelines of which Modi met President Ramaphosa. Mashatile's arrival signals that both nations are actively seeking to translate high-level political goodwill into tangible economic and institutional outcomes.