South Africa–Turkey relations are the current and historical relations between the Republic of South Africa and the Republic of Türkiye.
Political relations
1991 - Formal diplomatic relations established at consular level. 1992 - Relations upgraded to ambassadorial level, consulates closed. 1994 - South Africa and Turkey normalize relations after the end of apartheid. 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).
Economic relations
2025 - South Africa is Turkey's leading trading partner in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Cultural relations
1861 - Ottoman Empire establishes relations with colonial South Africa. 1863 - Ottoman Sultan sends a qadi to Cape Town to teach Muslims. 1877 - The qadi publishes "Bayan ad-Din" in Arabic Afrikaans. 1948-1994 - Turkey consistently opposes apartheid government in South Africa.
See also Foreign relations of South Africa Foreign relations of Turkey Turks in South Africa
Notes
References
External links South African embassy in Ankara Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with South Africa