List of high commissioners of the United Kingdom to South Africa facts for kids
The British High Commissioner to South Africa is like the UK's main representative, or top diplomat, in South Africa. They lead the UK's office there, which is called the High Commission.
Because both the UK and South Africa are part of the Commonwealth of Nations, they send 'high commissioners' to each other instead of 'ambassadors'. The office where the High Commissioner works in Pretoria is called a 'High Commission', not an 'embassy'.
However, from 1961 to 1994, South Africa was not a member of the Commonwealth. During that time, the UK's representative was called an ambassador, and their office was an embassy.
Besides the main High Commission in Pretoria, the UK also has another office in Cape Town. This office is called a consulate-general. For a while, the High Commissioner to South Africa also looked after the Kingdom of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) and the Kingdom of Lesotho. Now, Eswatini has its own resident High Commissioner.
South Africa used to be known as the Union of South Africa. This country was formed on May 31, 1910. It brought together four British colonies: Cape Colony, Natal Colony, Transvaal Colony, and Orange River Colony. These also included areas that were once independent Boer republics. The Union of South Africa was a 'dominion' of the British Empire, which meant it was a self-governing country within the Empire.
In 1961, the Union became the Republic of South Africa. At this time, the country left the Commonwealth. But in 1994, South Africa rejoined the Commonwealth.
High Commissioners to the Union of South Africa (1931-1961)
Before 1931, the Governor-General of South Africa also acted as the High Commissioner. After that, a separate High Commissioner was appointed.
- 1931–1935: Sir Herbert Stanley
- 1935–1939: Sir William Clark
- 1940–1941: Sir Edward Harding
- 1941–1944: William Ormsby-Gore, 4th Baron Harlech
- 1944–1951: Evelyn Baring
- 1951–1956: John Le Rougetel
- 1955–1959: Percivale Liesching
- 1959–1961: Sir John Maud
Ambassadors to the Republic of South Africa (1961-1994)
When South Africa left the Commonwealth in 1961, the UK's representative became an ambassador.
- 1961–1963: Sir John Maud
- 1963–1966: Sir Hugh Stephenson
- 1966–1969: Sir John Nicholls
- 1970–1973: Sir Arthur Snelling
- 1973–1976: Sir James Bottomley
- 1976–1979: Sir David Scott
- 1979–1982: Sir John Leahy
- 1982–1984: Sir Ewen Fergusson
- 1984–1987: Sir Patrick Moberly
- 1987–1991: Sir Robin Renwick
- 1991–1994: Sir Anthony Reeve
High Commissioners to the Republic of South Africa (1994-Present)
When South Africa rejoined the Commonwealth in 1994, the UK's representative became a High Commissioner again.
- 1994–1996: Sir Anthony Reeve
- 1996–2000: Dame Maeve Fort
- 2000–2005: Dame Ann Grant
- 2005–2009: Paul Boateng
- 2009–2013: Dame Nicola Brewer
- 2013–2017: Dame Judith Macgregor
- 2017–2021: Nigel Casey
- 2021–2022[update]: Antony Phillipson
