The Consulate General of France in Cape Town is a consular representation of the French Republic in South Africa. The consular district includes the three Cape provinces, Prince Edward Islands and the British territory of Saint Helena (Saint Helena Island, Tristan Da Cunha Archipelago, Ascension Island). Three honorary Consuls, in Port Elizabeth, East London and Saint Helena depend on the Consulate of Cape Town. People living in Lesotho or in one in the six other South African provinces depend on the French Consulate General of Johannesburg. The Consulate General is currently located on 78 Queen Victoria Street.
Under the authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development (France), the Consulate General of France is responsible for the protection and administrative affairs of French nationals settled or traveling within South Africa.
The Consulate General provides many services to the French community and those who desire to travel to France.
History
The French Consulate General in Cape Town, according to the archives of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs is, the oldest in Southern Africa. In 1803, Napoleon Bonaparte nominated a certain Gaillande "superintendent of trade relations in Cape Town", equivalent to what is now the rank of Vice-Consul. His responsibility was to provide supplies to the naval division of Rear-Admiral Linois. Gaillande stayed in this post until January 10, 1806, the date when Cape Town was taken over by the English.
A Consular Agency, dependent of the French Consulate General in London, was recreated after the fall of the First Empire in June 1817 and Count des Escotais was appointed. The latter began his job on August 3, 1818. The Consular Agency was erected as a Consulate in November 1818.
The first civil status act registered in the French Consulate of Cape Town was on January 6, 1871, between Charles Marie Ernest de la Cornillière, from Cape Town and Miss Stella Hendrina Hampt, from Paarl.
Consular services
Visas service
A visa allows a foreigner and non-European Union member, to enter and travel temporarily within French territory.
The Chancellery
The chancellery provides all of administrative services to French citizens abroad. It is necessary to contact the chancellery as soon as your documents have been lost or stolen, regarding the renewal of passports or to obtain scholarships, grants, or other scholar financial aides. This service establishes itself as a direct interface between migrants and their nation of origin.
Cultural services
The Alliance Française in Cape Town possess a cultural service department that satisfies the following missions:
Encourage French cultural productions by helping professionals and artists in South Africa, Promote the French educational system by managing the careers of French teachers, professors, and research workers in the South Africa, establishing guidance for students and parents, organizing national exams, Support all possible efforts towards artistic events, cultural establishments, and higher education.
France Abroad
The Consul
The current Consul General of France is Sophie Bel, incumbent since 2023.
Consuls of France in Cape Town Dates Émile Samuel Rolland ? –1872 Richard Sonthen 1872–1884 Comte de Tunemy 1884–1887 Charles de Coutouly 1888–1888 Joseph Napoleon Perrette 1892–1894 Marie Jacques Achille Raffray 1894–1904 Fernand Aymot 1904–1905 Louis-Pierre Vossion 1905–1906 Adrien Laurent Cochelet 1906–1910 Émile Jore 1911–1915 Consul de Belgique, Gérant du Consulat-général de France au Cap 1920–1921 Paul-Marie Suzor 1921–1922 Louis de Francquevilly 1922–1923 Paul Suzor 1923–1925 Marie Charles de Francqueville 1923–1923 Henri Soiray 1925–1930 Emile Feer 1930–1932 Maurice de Semouin 1932–1938 Marc Édouard Batezat 1938–1941 Pierre Armand 1941–1942 Louis Morand 1942–1944 André Brénac 1944–1948 Eugène Edmond Haimet 1948–1952 Guy de Coulhac 1953–1956 Claude Cansou 1956–1961 Max de Montalembert 1962–1965 Jean-Joseph Ortoli 1966–1968 Louis Pannier 1968–1971 Hubert Isnard 1971–1973 Gilbert Février 1973–1978 Marcel Fleury 1978–1982 Jean Biron 1982–1985 Gérard Perrolet 1985–1990 Jean Michel 1990–1993 Claude Berlioz 1993–1996 Jean-Christophe Belliard 1997–2001 Bruno Clerc 2001–2005 Jean-Luc Bodin 2005–2008 Denis François 2008–2009 Antoine Michon 2009–2013 Xavier d'Argœuves 2013–2017 Laurent Amar 2017–2020 Laurent Alberti 2020–2023 Sophie Bel 2020–present
Honorary Consuls
Three honorary Consuls, in Port Elizabeth, East London and Saint Helena depend on the Consulate of Cape Town.
French Presence
The Consulate General collaborates regularly with numerous French associations and organizations abroad.
The French community in Cape Town
As of December 2013, there are about 7300 French citizens in South Africa and 2804 living in Cape Town.
See also List of diplomatic missions of France Foreign relations of France
References
External links Official Website of the French Consulate General in Cape Town Official Website of the French Consulate in Johannesburg Official Website of the French Embassy in Pretoria